Our twin 8yo nephews visited last week while their mother and new step-father honeymooned.

We did the Denver Zoo (good stuff), the Aquarium (even better), and spent MANY hours in the pool.

Good times had by all. It took me several days to recover.

It had us up at 3:30a and out of the house, and now we’re back, ready to turn around and take me to the airport.

I’m super proud of her, but a  bit short on time. Here’s pics of the big event!

resting 2, originally uploaded by Elisa Hebert.

He’s so cute, I can hardly stand it.

He’s taken very well to being crated at night and when we leave the house, and after several hours at a party up the street, I went home last night to check on Jake, let him out to pee, and bring him back to the party. Not 2 minutes after arriving at the party, he literally dragged Megan back to the car.

The boys (I use that term to cover any male at the party under 50 with matches, fireworks, or a blowtorch (again, not kidding) in hand) had started lighting off fireworks and noisemakers in the street. Shaking all over, Jake was not a fan.

Back in the car, Jake cowered in the back seat with Megan and again dragged her along until he was safely in the house. Though it was a bit traumatic for him, I took it as a tiny victory – Jake identifies our home as a safe place. Unlike our usual walks when he strolls right by our front door, last night he made for our stoop like his life depended on it.

Safely back in his crate, we returned to the party.

And again tonight, fireworks in the neighborhood. We went out to pee and have a little walk and not 20 feet from the door, Jake decided he’d had enough. Back inside.

I took a brief break in the noise as an opportunity to take him out to finally pee a while later, but he was ever-vigilant and headed right back for the door while he was still actively peeing.

Now we’re on the couch. He’s in a ball, not thrilled with the never-ending noise outside. I can’t wait for the neighborhood kids to exhaust their fireworks supplies…

I remember when Megan and I became friends, George had a little anal gland issue. Not being a dog person, I was appropriately repulsed by both the concept and the resulting stink.

Today is Jake’s 4th day with us, and on the 4th day, the dog began to smell like fish.

He also had a newfound interest in licking his ass. Now I remember Sox, my ex’s somewhat evil cat, liked to lick her own ass, and have observed this in other cats. But dogs? I’d only seen them sniff each other’s asses. Never their own.

Look at me, learning new things.

So I called Megan, who told me it was normal and that she was busy working and couldn’t talk to me about Jake’s ass issues.

So I turned to Google. I mean, who do you ask, if you can’t ask your partner? That’s right, Google.

Google told me it is normal and that I might want to express his glands (not gonna happen, ever.)

In the amount of time it has taken me to write this on my iPad (I’m still not that great with the typing on this thing) Jake has ceased the ass licking and the smell is dissipating.

So, no expressing for today. I think that’s going to be solidly Megan’s job.

Walk protest 3, originally uploaded by Elisa Hebert.

Like Preggers’ pup Bailey, who protests when walks are too long, Jake protested today on a quick 1.4 mile stroll at Clement Park. It was 93 degrees…

He found himself a nice shady spot, drank (and spilled) some water, and decided he was all done for the moment.

profile, originally uploaded by Elisa Hebert.

Megan and I have been talking about a new furry friend for a good long time. It’s  been almost 4 months since we had to say goodby to George, and we’ve been taunting each other with puppy photos for the last few weeks.

Jake’s name, given by the shelter staff, was Pie. He’d been there since March, but hadn’t really taken to his name. Small window of opportunity for us to teach him Pie or change his name, and I was out numbered. Jake it is.

He was living at Table Mountain Animal Shelter, and we’d seen him on the website, and decided it was time for a visit.  The shelter services a lot of the surrounding cities and towns, including the one where Megan works.

There were some cute kittens in the lobby in a cage – seriously, anything that weighs 3lbs and is soft is cute. Even the funny looking ones.

We signed in as visitors and went back to find Pie. He was curled up, looking woefully up at us through the bars of his cage. We asked to see him in a visiting room.

Unlike many of the surrounding counties, both the one in which we currently live and the one we are moving to do NOT have breed restrictions. Pie is a pitbul. I think he’s a mix. I’m no dog expert though. He’s much less squatty than George was… he sort of looks a bit like a lab.

We spent some time with Pie in a visiting room and decided we wanted him to come home to live with us.

After some paperwork and a microchip implantation, we were on our way! Pie did a good job in the back of Meg’s SUV, no peeing or freaking out.

We got home, and he immediately peed and shit in the house. Good stuff.

After a bath, we had a nice long walk, and attempted to dissuade him from chewing through his leash.

Bedtime was a bit of a challenge; he  just didn’t understand why he couldn’t sleep in the bed with us.

Drifting off to sleep, we decided on a name change. Jake.

Welcome home, Jake!

I took a swing by Richmond American’s Design Center on Saturday and learned that the cabinets I want are available in the color I want.

Score.

The final product will be something like this – slab panel doors. Very dark brown, almost black finish. Haven’t decided on the hardware yet.

The counters are linen Corrian. I really wanted oyster (it’s a shade more gray than linen, below) but it was stupid expensive.

I’m somewhat giddy about the cabinets being available in the style I wanted. The last time we were there the only option in the color I wanted had some detailing that I wasn’t in love this.

Combined with our giant pantry and our new kick-ass Delta faucet, it’s the perfect kitchen.

Delta Faucet with Touch20

Corrian - Linen