Dog Shopping... Fur Real!

So... Remember when Randy told Mikayla she could get a dog as soon as she earned $100 dollars?

SHE DID IT!... even after we said it needed to be $111 because of tithing. Frankly, she probably would have a LOT more if I remembered to pay her more often. Or if I let her aunts (Rachelle being the biggest culprit) or Uncles Nick and Spencer pay her as much as they were willing to...

Here we are. 6 weeks until her birthday, money in hand (I put in all my tip money from school), and wondering to ourselves- what kind of dog do we get?

Remember the last dog?


The GIANT SCHNOODLE, Noche, that was incontinent whenever around Randy... Noche -would seriously pee ALL OVER whenever Randy came home(please note-the bigger the dog the bigger the puddle.)

And let's not forget the Christmas tree. You know, the one he ripped down even after I tied it to the wall, ate all the 'indestructible ornaments', and then peed on repeatedly. And I do mean repeatedly. It's a good thing the apartment flooded at least twice while we were there because we would have had to pay for a new carpet I'm sure. I could only shampoo that thing so much, and all the enzyme cleaner (we bought several gallons) in the world couldn't have save it. So at least one blessing came from the backed up problems with the water heater and all the nastiness that came with it. Who knew?

Noche was a good dog,albeit a little ugly when he was shaved for the summer. (Randy thought this was cuter... ewwww.) Aside from his morning breath that didn't help me out so much with my morning sickness, and his urinary tract issues, I guess we could say he was ok. I liked him most of the time. I don't think anyone else liked him. He peed on Jim, Mere and Braden's kids weren't fans, and uh... oh wait. The neighbor. She LOVED him. And he LOVED her. And Mikayla LOVED LOVED LOVED Noche. I do have to say this... I have NEVER NEVER seen a dog so good with kids or at least kids that actually like dogs. Never.

It was Noche's one redeeming grace.

Even though he peed. A LOT, I was still a little sad when he grew to be so much bigger than I ever thought and out grew the apartment. And I started working full time and it just was not fair to leave a dog alone for 13 hours a day. I tell you what though... I felt guilty for giving him to a new family at first. But NO! Don't feel sorry for him. He now lives in a castle. Literally. With people that are SO NICE, responsible in taking him to the vet (I checked) and have the means to care for him should he ever get some horrible disease that needs some horribly expensive treatment.... he went to a family of lawyers that run Hundred Oaks Castle in Winchester, TN.




The Kent Bramlet Foundation has been restoring the castle in memory of their son. Noche splits his time between the castle, and a home in Green Hills. I'm glad I was a little snooty about who he could go to... I did like him, and he was Mikayla's best friend after all.

So...back to the beginning. We are again in the market for a dog. We have taken so many surveys, looked at so many dog websites. First and foremost, we want to adopt. There are so many breed specific rescues that we feel like we can shop around. Surveys consistently tell us to get Great Danes- uhhhh again, Bigger dog, bigger puddle... yikes!

We want a dog that will:
-go with me on my 5 am workout for 30-45 minutes of good strong cardio (this is imperative!)
-be great with kids
-easy enough to groom. I am down with brushing daily... tweezing ear hairs is my limit.. that's just gross
-lower shedding would be nice, but since I can brush daily it doesn't matter tons and tons...
-medium to large. Rowan would flatten a little dog and he is scared to death of them for now. He seems happy with big dogs though. Go figure

So, any suggestions? This time around we have what we need- fenced in yard, time, energy, an actual routine, the whole family is in on it, and just enough money that I won't be freaking out anytime I have to buy food, take the dog to the vet etc.

So now we need to go shopping...

oh yeah, the exciting news- most of you called and asked, and some of you missed the comment stating that we are NOT pregnant (sorry Janae)

Randy and I have a job! I get to teach a Domestic Violence Prevention course to Juvenile Delinquents in Wilson County, TN and Randy gets to write the curriculum. We had to get approved by a committee consisting of judges, lawyers, and a few other teachers. I'm really excited and scared. No felonies though so I should be safe and sound! I taught a similar course during my internship in college and loved it... And this job sort of found me and it feels really good. I like hair, but I did get a degree and it is really validating to actually use it to benefit people outside of my family. Pray for me- I'm going to need it. I am very nervous but so so SO excited. Stoked if you will.