Collar Embarassment

The Dogs went to Petco for their monthly "spa" day.  I take them to Petco for two reasons.  First, the Dogs are both big enough to be a pain to bathe at home without making the whole Zoo smell like wet dog.  And second, I hate smelling like a wet dog after I finish bathing them!

"Spa" day is one of the Dogs favorites.  It combines some of their favorite pass times: car rides, water, attention, and snacks.  When I pull in at Petco, they start whimpering in the back because I won't take them inside fast enough.

This is what I found when I picked them up a few hours later:

Duchess

Bantley

They turned my Dogs into poodles!  Usually, the Dogs come home with a bandana tied around their necks.  The bandanas they love - if you take them off before they fall off, the Dogs will whimper.  The frilly collar was in place of the bandana for the holidays.

My Dogs look like lapdogs - but they love the collars!  Heathen #1 took it off Bantley, who promptly tried to stick his head back into it!

Here's the best part: instead of looking ferocious when they play, they look STUPID!

As each of the Heathens arrived home from school, I heard from the front door, "Momma, WHAT is on the dogs?"  Looks like I'm not the only one to think they look ridiculous.



Bobcats & Jingle Bells

Last evening was the Cub Scout Pack meeting for the month of December. Heathen #3 earned his Bobcat badge!  After a lot of work, the boys in Heathen #3's den were thrilled to get their patches.

Heathen #3 (right) and his cousin (left)
are so excited to get their patches!

The den gets their patches.  I'm in the green t-shirt, with
Heathen #3 in front of me.

Also at the Pack Meeting, our favorite December person paid a visit!  Unfortunately, the Asst. Zookeeper wasn't able to be there (he was at "work").

Heathen #3 with Santa

Heathen #2 with Santa

We were home from the Pack meeting for approximately 15 minutes before the Asst. Zookeeper arrived home from "work."  The younger two Heathens were convinced that the Asst. Zookeeper had played Santa that evening at the Pack meeting. 

The Asst. Zookeeper promptly called his evening maintenance foreman at the mine and asked him to explain to the Heathens that he had been at work all evening.  Thanks to Mike Gerber for talking to the Heathens so that they knew Daddy had been at work!

"Rescue Stupid" Boots

Every morning, the Dogs eagerly wait at the back door so that they can go out and stare at the Huge Rabbits that moo at them.  It has become a morning ritual at our house.  Wake the Heathens.  Put a Dog outside.  Listen to the barking and mooing commence.  All Creatures seem happy with the arrangement.

While Duchess is smart and never gets tangled, Bantley can NOT say the same.  It is only 8:00 and for the third time this morning, I looked outside and found this:

Doesn't he look pitiful?

For some reason, if he is outside for more than a minute, he manages to tie himself around this handrail.  This "figure 8" isn't the worst he's done.  Last night, he literally managed to tie himself to part of the railing.  How he did it, I have no idea.

The best part isn't that he continually does this.  It isn't even the pitiful look on his face when you discover him.  Or even the excitement when he realizes you are coming to rescue him.

The best part is that he thinks you are trying to kill him while you try to unwind him, so he struggles the entire time to tangle himself up farther!

Considering I plan to die in this house, and Bantley is only about 4 years old, I have many more mornings of this to look forward to.  In preparation, this morning I placed an old pair of boots at my back door that I can just step into.  I've dubbed them my "Rescue Stupid" boots.

Another Milestone Reached

This year marked another milestone in my "Momma-Life."  The youngest Heathen was finally old enough to join Cub Scouts.  Now all three are fully involved and in uniform.  After spending his entire life (literally) being taken to scout meetings and events, Heathen #3 was impatient for this day to arrive.

And like the crazy-picture lady I am, I had to get the photos to go with it.  I've been waiting several YEARS to have these photos taken.

The 3 Heathens and the Asst. Zookeeper.
These gentlemen are my life.

Heathen #1 is currently a Star Scout
in BS Troop 217.

Heathen #2 is a Webelos I Scout
in CS Pack 217.

Heathen #3 is a Tiger Cub
in CS Pack 217.

Yes, Scouting takes up TONS of time for our Zoo.  Yes, it takes up TONS of my time, even though I'm just one of the mothers.  Yes, it involves evenings, weekends, and summers.

Yes, it has been a true asset to our Zoo.  Yes, it has made our Zoo stronger.  Yes, the Heathens all love it and so does the Asst. Zookeeper.  Yes, Scouting is where I met my best friend.

And, yes, given the choice, I would still sign up the Heathens again.

Mother of the Year Nominaton

I am so proud of myself.  And it is COMPLETELY justified. 

Friday was a busy evening at the Zoo.  The younger two Heathens had gymnastics in Richland.  The largest Heathen had swimming practice in Ebensburg.  Both events required Heathens to be there at 5:00 and they are about 20 minutes apart.  And the Asst. Zookeeper was at work.

No worries!  To the rescue, here comes:

I had it ALL figured out!  I'd drop the largest Heathen off for swimming a little bit early.  I told him to pack a book.  Then I could drive back into Johntown to make it to gymnastics on time with the other two.  The Asst. Zookeeper would pick up the oldest on his way home from work - it was perfect.

But it didn't go as planned.  I ended up having to stop for gas on my way home from work in Ebensburg on my way to pick up the Heathens.  This had us running later than I had planned.  We raced to Ebensburg and I only slowed the car enough for Heathen #1 to hop out - reminding him that the Asst. Zookeeper was coming to pick him up.

Then I headed for Johnstown with the other two Heathens in the back seat.

Approximately 10 minutes later, my cell phone rang - it was Heathen #1.  "Um, Mom?  We don't have swim practice here tonight.  Some other team is in the pool."

After quickly calling the swim coach, it was confirmed.  Swim practice had been there on THURSDAY night.  And I had just stranded my oldest in Ebensburg for an hour and a half!

I quickly called the Asst. Zookeeper at work.  He was just getting out of the shower and headed over on the rescue mission.

Meanwhile, the younger two Heathens and I were 15 minutes late for gymnastics due to hitting traffic.

It was so well planned out in my head.  When I win "Mother of the Year" (because I know this event will DEFINITELY put me over the top!) I will invite all of my friends with children!

Now, if you will excuse me, I have an acceptance speech to write...

Properly Named Aristocracy

The Zoo adopted Duchess about four years ago.  We found a great Dog for our Zoo that day at the SPCA.

The Asst. Zookeeper had commented for years that one day he wanted to own a mutt, that had one blue eye and one brown eye, and he wanted to name this dog Duke.

I found that Dog at the SPCA one afternoon.  But there was one glitch - she had to be a Duchess and not a Duke.  But otherwise, she fit the Asst. Zookeeper's qualifications perfectly.

The day we named her, we didn't know how perfectly her name would fit.  This Dog is a human stuck in a dog's body.  She thinks she is a person.  Her feelings get hurt when she doesn't get to participate in things we do.  On the rare occasion that she doesn't behave, she mopes around for hours with a pathetic look on her face.  She always has a very regal attitude - as though she simply tolerates the rest of us.

Last night, I was changing the curtains in the living room.  We bought the new Zoo from an 80+ woman (who is actually MY grandmother's childhood friend!).  Needless to say, the Zoo is currently decked out in ruffled curtains - and that SO does NOT work for me.

I took the curtains down and dropped them on the floor while putting up MY curtains.  Turning around, this is what I found:

When I asked her to move so that I could get rid of the curtains, she just looked at me and didn't move.  This is where she slept last night.

While she was lounging in her curtains this morning, Bantley was sliding across the floor on his pile.  He'd get a running start on the far side of the room and jump on them so that he slid across the floor.  Then he would stick his nose in them and toss them in the air. 

Duchess just lounged and watched him.  He's SUCH a commoner.  Sniff!

Morning Coffee View

I had the perfect view while drinking my coffee this morning.  Here's what I watched from my dining room: