Everything's coming up Daisies?! Meet our new baby!

Well finally I am back! We have had an eventful and beautiful summer! The end of June we celebrated my Birthday (and yes I'm still older than Mandi but at least two years wiser) and prepared for a visit from Galia! She arrived right before July 4th and we were sooo glad to see her! She stayed for two weeks and we showed her around a bit, introduced her to the Syracuse Bulgarians, played lots of Yahtzee (of which I am still the reigning Champion!) and just spent time together. We had a great time, I hope she did too!
At the end of July, Isabella and I went to St. Louis to see the fam and our friends. I got to visit with my new nephew, Connor, for the first time and boy is he a cutie!! When we visited he was not quite seven months old and was close to 20lbs. He's a regular little linebacker although his Aunt Kari would rather he be a rugby player. Either way his growling will come in very useful. He loves to growl but he also loves to smile. He was a perfect angel every time we saw him and Kirk is a fantastic dad. Bella and I really enjoyed him. Kirk arranged to have Isabella and Connor's picture taken together professionally and they turned out great. If you would like one let me know, my mom and I have plenty to go around. We had a fantastic time in St. Louis. We went to the zoo, of course, where we met Aunt Sue and saw the dinosaur exhibit. We had lunch with some of the Aunties, Aunt Diane and Aunt Helen, it was so nice to see them and catch up. Isabella had a great time playing with "that boy" at Aunt Bootsie's, meaning my Uncle Ed, who hasn't been a boy in sometime. My parents, Bella, Kirk, Steve and Michelle and I also took Connor on his first visit to Grant's Farm. We all had a great time. The Anheuser-Busch takeover was the talk of the day among many people visiting the farm. Everyone is afraid the new company will do away with a wonderful St. Louis treasure. Our family alone is on its 3rd generation of Grant's Farm visitors. Where else can you take your kids to have a great time, kiss the clydesdales and get two full sized FREE bottles of beer to boot?!! I really will cry if they close it.
While in St. Louis, Bella and I got to visit with the Kruntchev's. I want to say thank you to George and Leslie for the great dinner and most importantly for the company. We really miss you guys and I was so great to see you and Ella. Ella is adorable, as you can see! Look at those curls! I also want to give a shout out to the Bristol Book Clubbers who took time out of their summer schedules to meet me for drinks! Thank you Vicki Sanders for arranging it and thank you; Sara, Cindy, Jenny, Vicki Sonderman, Kathy and Deb! I really enjoyed see you all and seeing Bristol! Wow! The library is incredible! Why is it that the schools always go under big renovations after I leave (Marvin Elementary, Ritenour High, Truman, Bristol)?! So, all in all we had a great time and Isabella, Grandma and Grandpa really had fun. Thanks for the great time everyone. Oh and by the way I was reminded of why I love Central New York; we were welcomed back to St. Louis by 100 degree and greater temps and 98% humidity. It was like breathing through pudding and I don't remember feeling like a giant sticky lollipop. I guess it all in what you are used to.
After getting back home we celebrated Teddy's birthday and we began preparing for the arrival of our new baby. Meet Daisy:
As most of you know, we (Bella and I) have been wanting a puppy for a while but circumstances keep putting it off; the move, winter, etc. After many internet and local searches for a herding breed or herding breed mix puppy we kept coming up empty. I really wanted to try to find a rescue pup but there are no puppies in the shelters here (unless you want a pitbull, no thanks) and the local rescue groups demand that you have a fenced yard (hopefully next year). Finally I stumbled upon an internet ad for Australian Shepard puppies after discussing it with Teddy we contacted the breeder in western New York, picked out our puppy and started planning to bring her home. We picked her up, August 16th at 7 weeks old (she was born on my birthday, how's that for fate) and Teddy and Bella named her Daisy. As you can see she is adorable. She looks just like a border collie without the tail. At first I wasn't to sure of the no tail thing, especially after big bushy Seamus and Sally tail. But with her little black tush it looks like bear cub butt. Boy, can that little nub wiggle! She has brought a lot of excitement and energy to the house. Isabella is in her glory except that Daisy constantly tries to herd her and Seamus has reclaimed his youth. Every night between 8-9 it is wrestlefest at our house. Queen Picasso absolutely hates her, Daisy is the first creature in our house to challenge the Queen. I have also found that all those people who once told me, pre-Bella, that having two dogs was nothing like having a child, were wrong! It's been just like adding a toddler to our house. We've had to baby proof, she has to be watched constantly, we have to go to the vet every couple of weeks for shots, she keeps us up at night, I say"No" at least a thousand times a day, I am always cleaning up a mess or removing things from her mouth and potty training is reminiscent of Isabella's toddler days. The one great thing; I can put her in a cage and leave her. Despite the chaos of baby we love having her and I can't wait to get some snowshoes and going snowshoeing with her this winter. Who knows maybe she'll be a good running buddy too. She has the energy for it.
We were finally able to get the landscapers in to put in our backyard drains and our new front sidewalk. Everything works great so far and the sidewalk looks so nice. Next spring they'll come back put in a couple of beds and plant a few trees. I can't wait.
As I write this I am enjoying my second day of official freedom. Isabella started kindergarten yesterday. In our school district its all day kindergarten. She was so excited and so was I. I was beginning to question myself when all the other moms around me were talking about feeling sad and crying the first day. I was just really happy and excited for her. Then after talking to my mom and much thought, I realized I've never been one to follow the crowd and besides this is exciting. She is starting a whole new chapter of her life and school is great. She will make some of her greatest memories and friends in school and pave the way for the rest of her life. This is a time for celebration. If I am happy and excited she will be too. She had a great first day, her favorite part was riding the bus and she has a great teacher. She also told me she can sometimes buy her own lunch in the "lunchateria" and that after gym glass they put "summersamatizer" on their hands. Maybe they"ll teacher her English as well.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention those conventions! Wow! Did my boy shine or what! Finally a Democract with some balls!! I don't know what was more exciting, Michael Phelps' Olympic triumph or Obama's speech. Between the Democratic convention and the Olympics our DVR got quite the workout. I do thinks its funny that Gustav took the wind out of McCain's sails, so to speak, maybe its a sign?! I am anxiously awaiting September 28th and the first Presidential debate.
So here its is the end of summer and a new beginning for us all. I am relishing my new freedom, who knows how long it will last. I think tomorrow I am going to look into volunteering for the Obama campaign. Change is in the air.

137 days left with Bush!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!!!

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