Hurray Luray

Uncle Jeff will be leaving us soon. So we're trying to get in some last minute family activities. We decided that since we had not been to Luray Caverns for a few years, we would head over with two Uncles, 4 kids, and me and Rob of course. It was a fun day. The caverns are very very cool. I got a lot of pictures. It seemed like every time I turned a corner, there was more stalagmites and stalactites. I'll give you a brief education. Stalagmites grow up from the floor. Stalactites stick tight to the ceiling. I learned that from our 12 year old tour guide. Okay, so he wasn't really 12 but he was a little questionable on age. Luray is about 1.5 hours from where we live. It's a small, quaint town in Virginia. We went out to eat at a local restaurant afterward. We got some authentic German food and drove home. A fun time for all. And I can proudly say for the first time, we went through the cave listening to children fuss and cry over one thing or another and not once were those cries from my children. Small steps folks, small steps.

Grant calls this one the CHEETO.

A New Edition to the Freeman Family

Our lives have been further diversified with the addition of a sweet little dog named JJ. I found him on Craigslist. We have always wanted to have a nice little dog for our family and to date, have only found dogs that are difficult and mean and nippy. So we have given them nice homes with people with no children as apparently, they don't like our house and our children. But we have finally found a dog with whom we can shower love and admiration on and he just sits there, like a lump, loving every minute of it. He is 3 years old, a pure Chihuahua. We had a little Chihuahua about 5 years ago and we loved her. But our landlord made us give her away. So we had every desire to bring a Chihuahua back into our lives. And JJ was in need of a good home. He comes to us from a home with three children and a plethora of little ones as the lady had a daycare in her home. So I'm telling you, this dog can take children in any format and actually prefers them to adults. He doesn't bark that much and when harnessed to a leash--he doesn't run and bark and go crazy over other dogs. He knows his place outside to go do his business and come back inside for more loves and hugs and clausterphobic conditions from four children gathered adoringly around him. I thought I would post a couple of pictures of him. I think he looks like a baby deer. He has been sleeping with Rob and I at night but I'm too light a sleeper and he's too into snuggling next to a warm body. And I can't be sure but I think he's, by osmosis, giving me odd dreams. Last night, Marie Osmond came to me in her nightgown to tell me about her marital problems. Yes, it's that bad. So other than finding him a new place to sleep at night, we're very happy to have him in our home. He is fittingly loved and adored.