Birthdays, puppies and braces

My little entrepreneur's

Ready for preschool?

Derek's 15th birthday and beloved new cell phone

New addition to our crazy scene....1/2 Great Dane, 1/2 St. Bernard...

What were we thinking?

Christian's new bling and our retirement funds

The pics of the week pretty much sum it up.  Derek turned 15 and got his first cell phone (he was sure that he was the LAST child over the age of 6 left without a cell phone - Christian's friends were mocking him).    The kids had a lemonade stand this week.  Christian decided that he wanted a puppy and they put up signs all over the neighborhood that they were trying to earn money for a puppy.  Puppies and kittens....the kids know how to pull in the sympathy business.   We decided to help them out and actually bought a puppy anyway....a Great Bernard (or St. Dane)....BIG is what it's going to be.  We're having a name the dog contest.  No prize, just fame and recognition plus a years supply of manure for your garden.  She is 4 1/2 wks old now...we'll bring her home in 3 weeks..I'm sure she'll weigh 70 lbs by then and be bigger than Sparky (our fat lab) by Christmas.  

School starts this week.  We'll have a high schooler, middle schooler, 2 elementary kids and a pre-schooler.  Lots of diversity.