Wrestlers!

You just don't always know where your day will lead.  

Fei, Luk and I went to Nanaimo to see Super Dogs.

The dogs were great.  Truly inspiring.

What we didn't know was that Super Dogs was at the fair. Once again that car placard saved us. 

We had a few share snacks.

It was fun trying new things.

And then we got to watch five wrestling matches.  Which was a ton of fun and Luk loved it. 

Fresh grape cotton candy, yum.  

Luk had a wicked fall just before we left today. Eric was washing floors, they were wet.  Luk was told not to run. And then he ran.  Almost immediately after being told not to. He slid from the kitchen doorway all the way to the temp gate put up to keep guest dogs out of the utility room.  In an abundance of caution we made him use his chair today.  He wasn't impressed with us.  At all. However...how do you know if there is pain, tenderness or bruising if he can't 'feel' it?!  He has a full range of movement so I'm not really worried but some rest was definitely warranted.  

We got home to discover Eric is converting their beds to bunk beds. Fun. They don't really convert so he's making things up. I wasn't totally delighted with all of his plan so we made a quick trip to Home Depot so more safety modifications can happen tomorrow. 

Check out Thelonious hanging with his bio siblings.  We normally see him stick with Teddy but for the last few days he's been following me and my three quite closely.  Teddy has been enjoying his alone time ;)

How gelato is made.

Field trip to the lab.  The kids and I went to pick up Eric at Albi's lab where we got a tour.

Interesting stuff.

Treats included.  Apparently this summer we ate a lot of gelato.

We ran a few errands and stopped for won ton soup for lunch. It turns out it's way easier to fit work into our personal life than to fit the personal life into work.  

It's getting harder and harder to budge this one out of the house.  I have no clue how we'll get her back into school.  

Count down is on for the big girls. They get their place on Monday. Four more sleeps.

Stolen Gelato

Eric painted the roof of the gelato truck.  They finished up last night while some of us were lounging on the front porch so as Albi was leaving he told us to help ourselves to gelato.  Haha.  So not stolen but it sort of felt that way.  I think Eric had fun in the truck being the ice cream man for his kidlets.

Kai couldn't come to the truck.  He was busy being besieged.  We don't care for him climbing over the gate anyways.  Plus he always asks for peanut butter.  

Look who suddenly figured out the stairs up and the stairs up into bed!  He's an office dog now.  This causes me huge anxiety.  We might need to carpet those stairs again with super plush foam and a landing pad at the bottom.  Or I let him live like a normal dog and just calm down.  Some of you are laughing since we ALL know I won't/can't stop worrying about my Finny.  

PRIDE - better late than never.

These were fun to take.  Not often the family has fun on a photo shoot! Celebrating everyone's right to love.  

I had a problem getting these online.  I kept trying, calling, emailing.  The account said I already had them. At one point I even handed the issue to Lili.  I finally met the photographer on Sat and got them put on a disk.  Today Eric moved my computer around so the tray could open.  It's just been the stupidest series of gafs trying to get these.  I'm feeling a bit triumphant today ;)

The girls have begun packing and sorting. Exciting for them.  Dreadful for me.

Our little house guests are settling in.  Learning the routines.  A whole day with no accidents or marking! Gates still in place for cat protection but we were able to open up doors on the inside today. They've figured out that I'm the one to follow but they can't hang out upstairs with me in Esmei's space.  So when I finished work today this is where they were waiting.  So cute. 

Flex Day

Up and at it.  Chores done.  Showered.  Wasn't sure how to deal with a flex day from home.  So settled on massively reduced computer time.  

It's cold and Finn was shaking so we warmed up by the fire.  A nap was had mid day.  

It's time for me to come home so I've given up on an adventure happening today and I'm in my jammies.  Just checking emails one last time.

My newest co-worker.

What a doll.

Finding her places. 

Kai finally did this puzzle by himself.  Proud moment.  Luk got his picture for me.  

Jia grew another inch!!  So she's sleeping the week away.  

Not much else going on. 

Bedtime...she watches me sleep.  A little creepy and funny.

8 Dogs

Shannon and Ken are off to a wedding today.  We got three of their kids and two dogs. Teddy and Thelonious were dropped off last night for the week while their family is on a holiday.  The kids are super easy.  Let loose with no rules.  The dogs are doing way better than expected.  

We did have a moment of panic when Thelonious showed us he knows how to walk to front deck railing!  When I attempted to get near him to get him down he ran along the railing and fell.  It was super dramatic. Mom and I were calling for help.  I closed the gate.  Mom kept her eye on him.  I figured he'd be hurt for sure and was mentally planning what I needed to do, gather, prepare for me to leave 7 dogs and 6 kids with Eric while I rush to the emergency vet in Nanaimo.  Against all odds, he seems perfectly fine.  The bush must have broken his fall.  Fei brought Teddy out and Thelonious went to his Teddy.  Thank God.  Phew.  So no more free range front porch this week.  He can leap out the cat hole on the back deck too.  Agile tiny thing.  

There has been a LOT of peeing/marking going on so they're all banned from the dining and living room.  We've also gated the utility room for the cats and the upstairs gate, again for the cats.  We're living in the kitchen and using the side yard only.  Also trying to get them all out on the hour for outside pees.  Except my three littles who are happy with their pad.  Plus, Finn still can't do stairs.  

Coco isn't happy with the visitors on my lap and Jasper isn't so sure this group cuddle thing is for him.  Haha.  So I'm trapped in the best way.  

The day showed me my dream of being a stay at home dog mama is really just too much work with this many ;)

She was stressed all day but finally got a nap late afternoon.  She figured out how to get to the top of the couch for some peace and quiet.

The kids are all staying busy. Lots of screams and giggles.  Kai is having a hard time upstairs and is jumping on his bed today.  Sounds like elephants coming through the roof.  So he's spending some time with me.

Escaped

Eric and I did a grocery run.  Brought it all home with a deli lunch for the kids then escaped for a walk at the Farmers Market with Coco.

Home for a nap.  The house is spooky quiet.  None of he kids wanted an outing today. 

Working from home.

No pictures today.  I knocked off early.  Eric asked how it went.  I said it feels like I'm a little kid pretending to work with crayons.  The phone is in.  I'm totally operational.  It looks nice.  I did resist doing any dishes so far today. The girl dogs stayed with me, poor Finn still hasn't figured out stairs.  Monday I'll pack him up ;)  

Lili and Fei are both off work.  It's Friday night and we have no plans.  Lili and I just discussed a mall trip but half the house is napping.  Sigh.  Perhaps a drive and ice cream later.

Set Up

It's a puzzle.  All drawers just open ;)  

It does feel pretty homey.

Hard wire for the computer.  

Finn and I called a meeting and the vote for nappy naps was unanimous.  Hard at work.

The thrift store provided the perfect winter coat for Finn today.  $1.75.  Win.

And a Ladybug costume for Coco.  Plus toys with no plastic eyes for Poppy when she's over.  

Office visitors.  Haha.  

How do people work at home?  So much going on here.  I've managed to keep the kitchen super clean all day.  

My Office Moved Home

Eric got Al to help him today.  Thank you, thank you to Al! It would have taken us two days on our own. 

My Gramma's hope chest was still waiting for me to empty it.  It's finally sorted and is moving to storage for Fei.  If she wants it one day.  A lot of fine tuning still needs to be done but in general everything is here and put away.  The computer is running.  Another noise to get used to.  It needs hard wire so no internet yet. Shaw comes Friday for the phone line.  Tomorrow boxes are being shredded and Sue and I have to finish cleaning the empty office.  

I can NOT imagine working from home.  Home is for ignoring work.  

The kids are completely unphased. Esmei has been all over everything a few times already.  Sasha has been quite concerned this evening.  Keeping a very close eye on me.

Too cute. 

This nut really wanted to try the new hot cheetos pasta.  It smelled seriously nasty.  She didn't care for it.  

Coco had a lump.

She had a lump on her head.  I panicked and booked her an appt. Our vet got us in right away but Eric had to take her while I was away with Luk and Fei.  Turned out they couldn't aspirate the lump because it was too close to her open fontenal and therefore to close to her brain matter.  Ugh.  They said to just watch it a few months.  If they couldn't aspirate then it seems unlikely they'd be able to remove it either. So I've spent days staring at the lump and gently feeling it for size.  Fei thought it was shrinking.  I'm too far into the worry and worst case scenario to feel any difference.  However, sitting outside in the sun with the boys right now and I can't see or feel it today!  Thank God.

Brio time.

Such concentration.

Kai loves to just fiddle and see things turn. 

I had a day off.  Doing super glamorous things.  Dropped off a data stick to the accountants then grocery shopping.  Came home to a text from Jia saying "can you help me?".  I ran upstairs and she wanted me to clean Isabel puke up.  Told you, glamorous.  Haha.  Isabel suffers every time she steals the cat food or the puppy food.  Poor girl just can't eat carbs anymore.

Eric is helping Albi refinish the roof of the gelato truck. Practice for when he removes and repaints the decals on our moho.

Malcolm is here for a visit.  Always fun to catch up.

Lili always gets the fridge ready and organized for new groceries.  Today she's in a hurry so just loaded it in.  Wow.  No clue how she did this puzzle.  I laughed out loud when I saw it. It was hard just to fit an uneaten sandwich in there.  Clearly we need a bigger fridge.