New pics of our new girl!

Here she is waiting to be old enough to come to us! November 13 is when we will get her. Everyone in the family seems to like the name Coco for her - so unless it seems wrong when we get her I think it is a good fit. I have been reading up on my puppy training books, I have a crate ordered, vet appointment made, signed up for training classes ... what else besides getting the puppy in the house?

Aren't they so cute?

Graham and Amara - at the Harvest Festival at the farm - it must of been from someone's phone. I copied it from facebook.

Can anybody get married?

My sister sent me an email asking me to donate to a worthy cause - after making my donation I told her that she and I should both post about this need. She posted on her blog first and I can't think of any better way to say than she has ...

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Hey folks - it’s a political see-saw around here these days. Obama’s chances are looking up, but here in CA, Prop 8 is struggling. Here’s the deal: right now, gays are allowed to marry in California. If Prop 8 passes, that right will be taken away. Religious groups are pumping millions of dollars into the Yes on 8 campaign. Polls are showing growing support for Prop 8. If you can, please donate anything - even $10 - to the No on 8 campaign. I know times are tight and it’s hard to give money with the fear everyone has of their financial security - but if you could forgo a couple of expressos or lattes or a dinner out (you elitist, you) - that money could go to protecting equality in our society.

PLEASE DONATE NOW

www.noonprop8.com

Why do I care? Mostly, I believe that everyone is equal. I believe that everyone should be treated equally under the law. If a particular religious sect doesn’t want to grant gay marriages, it is their absolute right to refuse to marry gays. However, our constitution grants every person equal civic rights. And I believe that to protect our democracy we must uphold those rights.

Then I think about children. According to the American Psychological Association (and, more convincingly, conversations with gay friends), homosexuality is an inborn trait. You can’t “make” someone become gay or stop being gay. In large part, due to discrimination against gays, the suicide rates for gay teens are much greater than their straight counterparts. One study shows that while straight and gay teens attempt suicide at equal rates, gay teens are two to six TIMES more likely to try again. I don’t want that to be my kid. Or any kid I know. Or any child at all. I want all children, especially teens, to know that their future can include marriage if they choose it. How heartbreaking it must be to realize that your society is trying to limit your future just as you are starting to create it.
-Christina
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For all these reasons and more please support this cause.

www.noonprop8.com

Shouldn't everyone be able to realize their childhood dream of getting married?

Mommy & Daddy

Daddy



Mommy

I have to say I am so happy with these parents for our dog. The poodle allergy needs from the daddy - but the personality of the mom - the laid back goldendoodle.

I'm sooooo excited. It is a much better choice than what we did first. I'm glad we were able to change breeders/dogs.

Coco!

This is her! Our new addition. Well we don't have her yet, she is still too young. BUT, we have done it! I actually changed which puppy I wanted. I have been thinking about what puppy we are getting none stop - which I should! I realized that I have really wanted a chocolate girl - Graham gave clear feedback early on NOT wanting a chocolate colored dog. Today I realized I really did. He doesn't seem to have an opinion any more.

I'm so excited. We just have to figure out what day we will get her. She will be ready to "come home" November 12 - but then we leave for California on November 22, returning on the 30th. I can't get a ticket to bring her with us to California - luckily the breeder said they would keep her while we were gone.

I'm soooooo excited. I feel much better about getting this dog than the previous one ordered. I was just trying to please Graham and didn't think about how much it meant to me. Coco seems fitting - unless when we see her it feels wrong.

I might have to go down for a visit next week - they are 3 hours away! We will see.

Happy Birthday Slade!

Happy Birthday Baby!

Slade is in New York for work and is missing his birthday with the family. But, we will celebrate this Friday night with a night out on the town with the whole family! We miss you baby and can't wait to have you back home!

We love you and miss you

A long weekend at the lake house

We just spent the last four days up at the lake house. We pretty much spent our time reading, playing board games, and poker (of course!).

When we first arrived we had many chores to do - there were a disgusting amount of flies that needed vacuuming up! There was also a soda that exploded in the fridge, so the whole fridge had to be cleaned out. Zane was funny about wanting/NEEDING to help clean up with all of this. First he did a lot of the vacuuming, then he moved on to help me clean out the fridge.



All four boys played a bit of Monopoly - with cards that Cody wrote for the game. And he also added $1,000 bills to the bank.





All the leaves were off the trees - well there looked to be a small handful of trees that had not lost their leaves yet - otherwise all the leaves were on the forest floor. And if you like walking thru piles and piles of crunchy leaves - then this was the place to be this weekend. Seby and Zane were in heaven. Of course we all enjoyed it and were amazed at how loud it was to just take a walk in it. On one of our walks we tried to NOT make any noise and it was very difficult.



The lake is lovely no matter what the season.



We got the house ready for the next time we will be up there - right after Christmas. We were all wondering what kind of weather will we have then? And how much snow???

Murder Mystery Party

We hosted a Murder Mystery Party this past weekend. It was big job - but also a really fun party. As Slade says, it wasn't difficult to get most of the attendees (there were 40 characters) to come out of their shells. It was quite hilarious.