Beach...pics... POSTED!!!

Holy crap, I finally got over 200 pics uploaded to Shutterfly (of the over 800 that I took at the beach). Geez louise!

Take a look or walk the plank, ya scurvy dawg!!!

Grooooovy!

Can you guess what this week's camp theme was? This shirt was a do-it-yerself-er the day before Thumpin' Thursday, when they really celebrate the theme o' the week (did ya guess it?).

I'll bet you're jealous....

For those of you unfortunate enough to have a canineless household, I thought I'd put together a short list of things you're missing out on:

1. You can just leave stuff lying around on the floor, edge of the counter, or table, and it will still be there when you come back. No one will have chewed it up, used it for a game of tug, or just moved it somewhere else in the house. Where's the fun in THAT?
2. All of your underwear are probably intact (see item #1). No excuse to go shopping for new lingerie!
3. Sure, you've been telling yourself you'll get around to cleaning the carpet, but nothing shuts down those tired old excuses like a fresh pile of poop, or throw-up containing items 1 and 2. Our carpets have never been so clean (albeit for very brief intervals).
4. There's an element of surprise when you go down the stairs at the same time as two dogs who are trying to anticipate exactly where you are going to be in the very next second, so that they can beat you to it and occupy the same space at the same time. Physics refreshers, served up by the minute!
5. You're never *really* clean until you've been licked with the same tongue that licks... um... well, you know. Nothing like stepping out of the shower, fresh as a daisy, and then getting a second once-over to lick the inferior clean off of you, replacing it with "doggie clean".
6. Were you tired of that old chair in your living room? Using as a chew toy not only keeps your dogs teeth clean (saves on vet bills!), but gives you a reason to replace something that you though you liked*.
7. We get so much done every day, since our dogs are good enough to wake us up at the ass-crack of dawn. No more lazy lying around, wasting the day!
8. If you ever thought you'd forget that it was 3:00 SHARP... Merle will let you know with a kindly nip on the asscheek that lovingly says "it's time to eat right NOW". Without this miraculous mutt, you are missing out on a daily opportunity to keep your clock synched.
9. Just when we thought we were missing the early years with our son, along comes a puppy that pees everywhere, every time we leave the house. Miss those diapers? (well, kinda, yeah, maybe we should get some for the dog).. it's like we still have a baby!
10. And the number 10 fun thing you are missing out on by not having dogs: the joy that comes with them fighting/playing around the house (they look like the Tasmanian Devil), and feeling the need to be touching one of us while they are doing it... we always get included in the fun! It's even better when they run around your legs so much that it builds up static... free energy! How's THAT for green?

*mom, we really do like the chair and are going to get it fixed. if you don't know what I'm talking about, then never mind.

Have you EVER...????

... seen a child THIS NASTY? I told him, "James, I don't want you coming home this nasty again tomorrow", to which he replied, quite patiently but insistent, "Mommy, I'm going to come home nasty every day.". Awesome.

To top it off, his buttons were all off by one, so his shirt was buttoned up crooked. There was sand in his hair and TEETH, and on the way home he actually said, somewhat surprised, "wow, how did sand get behind my ears?". Your EARS?? How did it get in your TEETH!?!?

There's no in between!

Last week he gets kicked out a day for hitting someone, this week he's Honor Camper. Go figure!

It's good to have goals

.... like staying alive. That's a good goal.

Sometimes that boy is so doggone sweet I could eat him up. I was putting James to bed just now, when he put a hand on each of my shoulders, looked in my eyes, and said, "I hope you don't die". I said, "aw honey, what made you say that?", and he said, "I just hope you don't die. I hope you stay the same age you are right now". (Sterling helpfully pointed out that I probably wished I could have stayed the age I was about 20 years ago.. thanks, fathead).

I told him "I try to take pretty good care of myself, I exercise and I eat good stuff, and I always wear my seatbelt, I think I'll be around for a while, but I sure love you for saying that!". There were lots of hugs and "I love yous" (to the ends of the universe, and around Saturn, and to the next galaxy, and back), and we snuggled for a bit.

We always end our nighttime snuggle/chats with "Are you going to have good dreams? Are you going to sleep tight?". He confirmed, and then said, "and don't forget... don't die, ok?". Deal.