Tesa

Man oh man, have I got a lot of catching up to do.  As I thought about what's been going on over the past months that I have failed to write about, Christmas popped into my head first.  Not only because it's Christmas and all things magical and wonderful happen during that month.  And not only because some of my family drove and flew all the way to be with us for the holiday.  So grateful for sisters and parents who love me.  Those were definitely highlights.

But, this is the reason Christmas was a biggie for us this year....

Cutest Dog Ever!

Let me just backup and say that our kids have been asking for a dog since the beginning of time.  They begged, they pleaded, they cried.  Brent has always been adamantly against it.    I started pushing it harder this fall and he eventually caved.   I quickly said "no take backs" and started shopping around.

To make a long story short, we found a liter of puppies in Utah and my parents offered to drive her down to us in time to surprise the kids on Christmas.  It was two long months of waiting for me.  I was dying to have her.  I was dying to surprise the kids.  Brent was just dying inside wondering what he'd gotten himself into. 

We arranged to have the puppy at a friends for a day and then went and picked her up after the kids were asleep Christmas Eve.  Shara, my sweet sister, slept downstairs with her so she wouldn't get too loud.

Then, Christmas morning, the kids came downstairs to see a large wrapped box near the tree.  We made it clear that this present was from mom and dad (in order to get the glory and to make sure the kids knew we had condoned this).   Once they opened it, they all squealed.  Sydney bent right down and told the dog, "I love you, I love you."   I may or may not have choked up.

Her name is Tesa (Taylor, Emma, Sydney, Aiden).  She is a lot of work.  She is a lot of fun.  Really, I think I enjoy her more than the kids do.  She is my buddy.  We love her so much (even Brent when nobody is looking).

Grandma and Puppy.  

Best. Christmas. Ever!