Dusting off the cobwebs

Swish.  Swoosh.  Whew.

As you can see, I'm finally trying to dust off some of the cobwebs of this little blog and play a mad game of catch-up.  Spring cleaning was never so much fun, huh?! 

What's that?!  It's Summer already.  Crap.

Anywho...my Dad returned home to NE this week.  He left the great state of MN on Tuesday, exactly 2 months from the date he first arrived.  He went through 4 weeks of residential treatment during that time, here in MN, which was a blessing because we could visit him on weekends and often brought him back to our house for day or whole-weekend passes.  Was it successful?  Only time will tell.  I want to be hopeful, but history keeps me guarded.  I can say he was in good spirits, and his physical health was far improved from when he first came to stay.  

Probably the best part of his visit was watching the relationship between him and Grady develop and flourish, after being basically non-existent for Bug's first 2 years of life.  Dad requested pictures with Bugga and the big 2 dogs before he went home and the following chronicles the folly of attempting such a thing.  ;)

The dogs didn't want to sit still.

Bugga insisted on holding his broom.

And not looking at the camera, both of which irked my sometimes too-serious Dad.  Personally, it just made me laugh and I assured him it was probably the best we could hope for with a 2 year old. =)

I'm posting this picture simply as an illustration of just how difficult it was to get those 2 to sit still for even 2 seconds.  

Oh my goodness....I just realized how far behind I am indeed.  None of you know this dog.  This leggy, big, brown and white boy dog.  DOH!

This is BRAN.  {One of } Our new foster{s}.  ;)  See now?  Catch-up is an understatement.

So Bowie got adopted on May 23rd, exactly one year to the date that we brought home our first foster Pumba.  Personally, I love dates and I find it endlessly interesting when dates coincide like that.  But I know not everyone shares my sad little fascinations, so I'll move on.

We took a little time off.  Dad was in treatment, during the weekdays anyway, and we were enjoying some time down to just our humble little family of 6--J, Bug, me, Paisley, Monkey, and Turtle.  You know, our quiet, little family.  ;)

June 1st, Mr. Bran came bouncing into our family.  Bouncing, bounding, jumping, licking, smiling, tail-chasing, these are some of Branny's more treasured pastimes.  He is 5 years old.  He is sweet.  I swear he is mixed with lab, because he has a few little...um...quirks.  =)  Nothing awful, but it must be the lab in him, that's all I can say (no offense to any lab-lovers that happen upon this blog!).  

Fast forward to June 12th, Dad completed his treatment and came back home to our house.  We were up to 8 family members, but that was nothing, we were about to double that +1.

Enter Sula, June 13th.  

Then enter Sula's 8 babies that very night.  Yeah, more on that later.  Don't you worry.  =)

See that, in the background of that pic there?  Is that...wait...really...chain link?!  In my house?  I did always have slightly different home decor tastes I suppose.  

Since I'm off topic, can I just take a moment to say how enormously GRATEFUL I was to have Dad here for that adventure!!!  Wowsa!  It would have been freak-out central without his calm and experienced demeanor throughout the night and beyond.  He stuck around and helped as we became a household of 17 living, breathing beings.  17.  17.  17.  

Sorry, oops, I get stuck on repeat every now and again.  Minor side effect of the past few weeks. ;)

Alas, we are back down to 16 now.  Darn near lonesome, I tell you.  Good thing I have all of you, right?!  {Echo}  {Crickets}  Um, well that's okay, I might have things to do around here after all.  ;)