the dog ate my laundry room

I've been holding out on you.  Mainly due to time restraints but also because this story is so darn unbelievable.

Jake, our yellow lab, is part wonder dog.  Wonder dog in a crazy, dogs can't really do the things he does and live kind of way. We've loved him-- one of us more than the other-- through all his antics these last eleven years.

Until I came home one Thursday and found this:

Ignoring the terrible phone photo, please focus on the shredded drywall, eaten insulation, and the hole. The shredded drywall goes all around the entire laundry room.  On the other side of the hole?

Just my bedroom.  

If I hadn't been running by the house to grab Motrin for Reese on my way to a doctor's appointment I would have killed him.  My sanity prevailed, though, and I went along my merry way. 

The next day was a Friday and off I went, credit card in hand, to Lowes.  I believe my text to Lofton was something along the lines of "I'm done with this and it's time I take my house back." What can I say?  I'm dramatic. I bought a wireless invisible fence and an extra collar.

I'm over the dog tearing up the walls.  He's already eaten through a door in this house, ripped his metal kennel to shreds, and scraped the vinyl tile {granted it was ugly} off the same laundry room floor. None of that includes the damage he caused to our other two houses.  He's crazy.

It's truly a wonder he's still alive. Because he literally eats the drywall and insulation.

Needless to say we are now planning and saving for a laundry room makeover.

Tile was our first purchase.  I wanted hex tile, but at almost five dollars per square foot I compromised on something with the same general aesthetic at a significantly lower price. The picture above is the store sample.  We are going to use a darker grout.

Lofton will be re-insulating and rehanging the drywall soon.  I've been pinning away on Pinterest trying to come up with some ideas for the space.  Truthfully, I don't anticipate spending copious amounts of time in there so we just need it to be functional with a hint of style.

I think we are going to build in a linen closet {it's currently in our bathroom but I want it gone} and a place for a drying rack.  Anyone have something in their laundry room they can't live without?

{side note: The fence works like a dream.  Jake has torn my shade garden to pieces and dug a few holes, but since the damage isn't actually inside the house, I can deal for now.}

patriotism

Election time is not my fave.  The back and forth insults, constant media analysis, and general ridiculousness just gets on my nerves.

But, my sweet boy is all about some patriotism this week.  And while he insists he learns "nothin" at school, he very clearly does--

Melt my heart into a little all-American puddle.

drive by

Just stopping in to say hi.

Soccer keeps our week flying.  We are all thankful for only 4 more games {ugh, two more weeks}. The luster has worn off for the kids and the coach.

And although we practice our "game face" before kickoff, Reese doesn't actually use it.  He is, for lack of a better term, non-competitive.  Our whole team is non-competitive, actually.  But it's been fun, and we've made new friends.  The point of it all, I guess.

Other than soccer, our life has been work, work, work.  Lofton's and mine.  Lofton is crazy busy, but being top salesman for the entire company TWO months in a row will keep you that way.  We are grateful for the increase in business, so we don't complain.  Much.

Last week we officially joined a church.  It was a long time in the making and we are thankful we have found a church home.  There are lots of kids, one of our main criteria, and Reese is slowly coming around.  We had a fall picnic Wednesday night and he actually left my side long enough to play for a bit.  He's a cautious one, this boy. 

In keeping with our efforts to have fun, sans child, Lofton took a Pure Barre class with me this afternoon.  It was entertaining.  I tried to give him some tips before class, but since he knows everything AND thought class was going to be a joke {he says I don't come home sweaty enough to have exercised} he didn't listen.  

Lesson learned. Score one for the wife.

I won't share the actual words he used, but we can now agree that Pure Barre is no joke.

And now the work week begins again. Here is to hoping this week flies.  We are headed home Friday for a little R&R.  Sometimes you just need to go home...

thirty!

Happy birthday to my handsome husband!

I'm so thankful you are my mine.

XOXO,
E

** PS.  Pinterest for the win.  The sprinkle cake is awesome. And no, there is no rhyme or reason to having eight candles on the cake.  It's just what was left over from Reese's cake last week.  Sorry hubs.  Another reason to be forever glad Reese wasn't born on his due date, October 9th. 

shots and stats

I put in for today as a personal day over a month ago.  Way before I knew Reese's shots would be yesterday.  It was meant to be, though, because he definitely wouldn't have made it through a whole day at school.  The whine factor alone would have prompted them to call us to pick him up.

We had our four year old check up yesterday.  Everything checked out great, and Dr. Glaze pacified my list of concerns.  I was SO glad Daddy-O tagged along, though, because the shots put me over the edge.  It was bad.  I've never heard Reese yell that way.

Lofton said later, "At least now we know what it will sound like if someone is trying to kill him.  If we EVER hear that sound coming from him again, we should run to him.  Quickly."

Five shots total-- four in his legs, one in his right arm.  His arm doesn't seem to be bothering him, but his leg is already bruising.  Poor buddy.

Regardless, we've enjoyed our day.  Chai tea {my new favorite beverage} and yogurt {for Reese} in bed, a trip to Target for more children's Motrin and Cinderella {you should have heard me trying to sell a movie with a princess on the front}, and the only thing I really wanted to do today-- a pedicure.  Buddy was an angel.  He sat in the chair with me and was perfectly content to play with his cars and place Super WHY on my phone.

His stats---

Weight: 43 pounds {91 %}
Height: 46 1/2 inches {97%)

What can I say?  He's big.  Although his weight seems to be slowing.  Slightly.

happy birthday to my favorite thing

Happy birthday, sweet boy!  Truthfully it pains me to call you a little boy.  In my mama heart you are forever my baby.  I can't dare tell you that though.  It makes you mad.

As your daddy carried you to bed a few nights ago, and I followed dutifully behind {you like us both to take you to bed}, I asked you how long you thought it would be before we could stop carrying yo around.  {Yes, you are probably the only fifty pound child who still gets carried everywhere.  Except maybe Suri Cruise!} You told me maybe when you are eight! We laughed very hard.  You love for us to cart you around, and we love to do so, so we don't complain much.

It blows my mind that you are four.

What a glorious four years we've had together.  I remember holding you in my arms on that late Thursday night and marveling at so many things... your nose, your little fingers, your bright blue eyes. My heart was so full that I don't think I could have fathomed loving you any more than I did in that moment.  But I do.  My heart just continues to grow.  Every single day.

You are my shadow in so many ways.  Recently another Mama told me she and her daughter were like oil and water.  You and I are the complete opposite.  We are two peas in a pod.  There is no one else {except for your Daddy} that I'd rather spend my day with.  I fully believe your confidence and strong will come from us-- your daddy and I-- and the abundance of love and attention we give you.  You can light up a room with your spirit and joy.

As you turn four, there are some things I want you to know.  You are smart.  People tell us all the time you talk like an adult.  You remember every little thing, whether we want you to or not.  You love to sing along with the radio.  Your favorite foods are grapes, yogurt, and easy mac.  You still will not let the dentist near your teeth.  You love books, and race cars, and building with your blocks.  You would play outside for hours upon hours if we would let you.  Football and soccer are your favorite sports.  Orange is your favorite color.  You say your prayers every night.  You are a grateful child.  You sleep with three stuffed animals in your bed; Leo the Lion, Mr. Rabbit, and Po the Panda.  Emo gave them all to you.  You have sweet, sweet friends.  Thayer, Ella and Rankin are your best friends.  I'm already sad that you'll be going to school without them next year.  You can write your name and most of your letters.

I want you to know more than anything how proud you make your Daddy and I! We could never have imagined the joy you would bring us.  Although parenting is hard work, we are so blessed by you.

Happy birthday to my favorite thing! I love you, all my heart.