Anna..a Red Bridge...a Beautiful Evening.

Loo-a-vul....Loo-e-ville.....Low-a-vul....fun weekend!

This past weekend we took a quick trip to Louisville (pronounced Loo-a-vul for all you non-Kentuckians out there).

Please ignore the fact that I look quite stumpy in this picture.  It's the angle, I tell you!

The highlight of the trip, by far, was seeing Les Miserables.  It was incredible.  Amazing.  Awesome!  I loved it!

While we were hanging around the city we decided to take a tour.  I know, we have lived in this area for years - almost a decade - but I personally have seen very little of the city outside of the few specific places we visit (ZOO!).  After searching through a few different tours, I settled on City Taste Tour.

http://www.citytastetours.com/

Book a tour with them.

Now.

Seriously.

We had so much fun!  The two ladies who own it, Leslie and Eli, make a great team.  We learned alot about Louisville's history, visited some important historic sites, and....wait for it....ATE our way through the city.

Yes, that is what I said.

Our first stop was Schimpff's Confectionery.

http://www.schimpffs.com/

They are the oldest continously run, family-operated candy maker in the U.S. 

Or, something like that.

They make really good stuff and have a fun cand museum.

Ted's Kisses, anyone?  Always a pleasure...

I didn't know I loved Fat Emma, but mmkay...

Yeah, take a guess what she's got...

We also had the chance to visit this amazing old mansion.  Did you know Louisville can boast the largest Victorian neighborhood in the U.S.?

This particular mansion was built for a family's retirement home.  Can you imagine what their earlier homes looked like??

Fantastic details hinting toward their French heritage...

But, back to more food....

A visit to Nords, a box full of beautiful sugar cookies, a bag of benyas, and...

bacon donuts!!

They were delicious!

We also drove around Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetary and stopped for a quick peek at Colonel Sanders' gravesite.

Going back into town, we found Lady GaGa's bus parked outside of the Yum! Center.  She was doing a concert that night and - oh my! - the fans were something to watch!  Did you know that caution tape is acceptable clothing?  Yeah, I didn't either!

The kids had a blast back at home with Nana and Plap Plap.  Libby went back to Pennsylvania with them and will be there for the next few weeks.  She loves her time on the farm, and we love the time to have some fun adventures with Anna.

Stay tuned....

Not to Be Left Out...

Ella!

Is There Anything

cuter

than a

 

baby kitten?

 

I seriously doubt it.

=)

This is Indiana, named after the state from whence he came.  We call him Indy for short.  We picked up Indy and his sister, Cinderella (Ella), in Jeffersonville last night.  Ella is a calico with a black smudge on her little nose.  Anna picked her out first thing....over the two other beautifully marked calicos.  I guess it was love at first sight!  I picked out Indy here.  It was a pretty easy choice since the other black and white kitten was a realllllly long haired fuzzball.  Indy has the softest fluffiest fur. =)  I love it!  For some reason Ella's picture is not working, but I'll get it fixed soon.

For now....enjoy the kitten love.

When Enough is Enough

It wasn't when Baker had an accident on the carpet...

...it wasn't when he spewed dog snot all over the house...

...it wasn't the begging at the table....

...it wasn't the constant trail of water coming from his water bowl...

...it wasn't the muddy doggy footprints...

...it wasn't when he chewed the kitchen chairs...

....it wasn't the vomitting on the carpet....and the rug....multiple times...

...it wasn't when he started snagging things from the counters and table...

...it wasn't even the barking every.single.time he was put outside.

Enough was him whining every morning around 5 am (sometimes around 3am as well)....always waking us and usually Libby as well.  I need sleep!  I expected the chewing and barking and accidents and messes, but getting up multiple times a night??  No.  I did not consider that aspect of doggy ownership.  (For the record, he was well over a year old and capable of going 7-8 hours without a potty break.  A call to the rescue gave me the advice to "throw a shoe at him" when he tried to wake us up.  Uhmmm....no, no I don't think so.)

So Baker returned to the rescue yesterday.  He actually seemed very happy to get back.  While we feel bad that it didn't work out, he was a spoiled rotten pup during the month he lived at our house.  He packed on some much needed pounds, got good medical care, learned some fun tricks, and got lots of lovin'.  I suppose the rescue may have benefitted as well since they basically got a sizable donation from us in fees and supplies. ;-)

I have no doubt he will be adopted soon; he's a good lookin' puppy!  And we learned a valuable lesson - perhaps we are just not dog owning people.  At least not dog-and-toddler-owning people.  Not that I'm nervous about Libby being around dogs, but just the work it takes to make sure toddler and dog are both staying out of mischief.  It's an exhausting, 24/7 job!  In any case, there will not be another canine in the Smith house for many, many years.  Well, not one that stays, anyway.

I don't miss the constant surveillance that Baker required, but I do miss the happy furry greetings. 

So, we have decided to get a pet that doesn't need as much work - a cat.  Independent, quiet (relatively), small, able to go extended periods without needing to be let out of the house.  Yes, I think a cat will fit our lifestyle much better.

Tails of a Hectic Life

Baker is settling in well. Long gone is the lazy dog we brought home. I guess he was just depressed. He's certainly full of energy and mischief now!  Overall he is a very good dog.

But here's the thing.

I like dogs.

I always had a dog (or two....and cats....and birds....and hamsters...and fish...and all manner of other small furry creatures....and some more feathery creatures....although some we ate....but I digress...)  growing up.

But.

There's always a but.

I'm not sure I like having one in my house.

Like, FULL time.

Even one who looks at me like this.

He kinda looks like the good luck dragon!

And he really is a good dog.

I mean, sure, he does

...chew up toys...

...and leave (BIG) piles in the backyard...

...and always seems to be underfoot...

...and spreads doggy slobber and snot all over the house...

...and steals the girls' pillows...

...and blankets...

....but he's a dog so he's supposed to do that.

I don't mind it!

No, really!

I'm serious.

I expected it...

....put it on my "things to consider before getting a dog" list.

I'm a list person.

Although this was more of a mental list.

Anyway.

So Baker is basically a good dog.

He does have a few annoying habits that I'm really hoping will be corrected by a snipsnip next week, however.

Poor, poor Baker.

He's sitting on my feet as I type this.

=)

But he's still a dog.

And dogs require time

attention

training

somebody home on a regular basis for potty breaks.

He is cute though, dontcha think?

And he and Libby are two peas in a pod.

Whatever that really means.

They torment each other all.day.long.

Well, when we are home anyway.

Bringing a dog home is alot like bringing home a new baby.

A very big baby.

With lots of hair.

Who chases the older siblings.

and knocks them down.

and chews up their stuff.

and steals their food.

and poops in the yard.

and

okay, maybe Baker isn't that much like a new baby.

heh

Anyway.

I don't want to send Baker back.

But

I'm not sure I want him in my house

Like, full time, either.

For the next 15 years.

Oi vey!

Oh, decisions

...Stay tuned...

Introducing....

...the newest member of the family....

...the one...

...the only...

Baker!

Anna started asking for a puppy for Christmas.  Of course, our response was, "Absolutely not!"  But then Earl got bit by the puppy bug.  And I said, "Absolutely not!"  Fortunately, he agreed.  So we started stalking Craigslist and looking at all the dogs coming and going.  A trip through PetFinder revealed the Kentucky Lab Rescue.  We filled out the application, were approved, and made the trek to Winchester where we met this handsome guy, amoung others.  Baker impressed us with his great manners and labby good looks so we decided to take the plunge into dog ownership.  Assuming his gas doesn't do us all in first, I hope it will be a pleasant experience.  I think adding a dog to the family is a far scarier experience than adding another kid.

Anyway, Baker is a one year old fox red Dudley lab.  He lacks pigment in his face so his nose and eye rims are reddish pink.  It doesn't mean anything except he can't be shown (not an issue) and he may be prone to getting his nose sunburnt. 

So far he's been a very good boy.  No accidents, no jumping, no barking, very little chewing...hopefully it will continue!