There's a new Face on the farm with a great big personality behind it. Meet our Great Pyrenees puppy.
Tonight N and I were working with puppy on the "sit" command. I decided to examine the dog's feet more closely. Imagine my surprise when I found two extra toes on each paw! Was this puppy somehow "defective?"
Chalk up another "thank goodness for the internet" moment when I learned that extra toes are part if the breed standard for a Pyr.
Our Chechen son loved to modify things with tape, rocks and paper. He would, for example, take a toy truck and attach a homemade second level and action figures to fashion an odd-looking double decker bus. He would then "steal" the rocks from my garden beds to make roads, mountains, and buildings as a landscape to drive the truck on.
W learned well from Khamzat. Throw in some of his father's tendency toward design and my father's mathematical acuity and you have a rock, tape, paper genius (mini madman).
I observed him at work yesterday afternoon, prostate on the floor as he fitted himself for body length armor. He measured, snipped, taped, folded and taped some more, eventually covering his fingers, arms and torso.
Instead of bemoaning the fact that we are always out of tape, I would like to be able to shop for some extra supplies. Instead of complaining about paper snippets all over the floor I want to cherish his playfulness and creativeness.
Here's to putting on the full armor.
I overslept this morning, pulling myself out of bed at 6:20. I'm not feeling so well, and I gather it's because my stress level is high, I've been working a lot, and I've eaten way to much junk food lately.
It was cold upstairs. A boy had his bedroom window open. Downstairs was a sauna as the geothermal system worked overtime to make up for the sub zero air pouring in.
I couldn't find clean uniforms for the little boys but I did find some old pizza slices under the spice cabinet. Curious.
There's rice cereal on the living room coffee table, two full boxes, and a strange blue paint spattered on the chimney.
And I'm bringing in a puppy to add to this mess? What have I done?!
I'm really proud of our 14-year old.
He recently starred in the musical "Annie" as "Daddy Warbucks." His performance was professional and solid. He was humble and grateful when complimented.
He carried himself with grace and charm.
And did I mention that he sang beautifully and remembered every line? He waltzed with style and carried a sleeping "Annie" from the stage all the way back to the theater exit doors.
Those who know us commented that they had never seen this side of "N."
I'd like to remember this as a pivotol moment in his life. He really made a name for himself, as opposed to being "someone's younger brother" or "part of The Westberry Clan."
Thank you God, once again, for the gift of this child.
This week was, one again, full of joy stealers...burglary at one neighbor' s house, by another nneighbor...a new nephew I'm not welcomed to see...conflicts with my bosses...arriving with a friend at court so late that the public defender had already left chambers...my poor, sick husband and oldest son.
When asked if I'd like to watch him in his misery I politely replied (and rolled my eyes),"No. Thank you, I do NOT want to watch you use the netit pot."
But then, I had the privilege tonight of taking three teens and the five year old out for pizza. Then I had the chance to witness drum line practice and do a little marching and shaking myself.
There is something exhilarating about walking through the high school corridors while making an enormous amount of noise. I was NEVER allowed to do THAT before!:)
