New Mother

The last time I routinely saw sunrise was when my children were infants, their biological needs trumping any night-owl tendencies I had. With a six-month-old puppy in the house, the same is true.

Back to Reality

View across a lake toward Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
This panoramic picture is actually made up of about 14 vertical photographs combined.

Earlier in October, Steve and I took a mid-week break and went to Mont-Tremblant. We had some serious stuff on our itinerary, but we also wanted to get in some really good (and easy) hiking with Kane.

As Different as Black and White

Rex on left; Kane on right.

As a parent, one of the first things you learn with your second child is that, oh my god, each of them is beyond unique. They may come from the same end of the gene pool, but the differences can be profound. How much more dramatic are the differences when they aren't even siblings! The same is true of dogs, of course. Each is unique. Here are the things we've quickly discovered about Kane, our forever dog, and Rex, our foster dog.

Meet Rex, the Cowering King

Rex, whose name means "king."

One of the many things Stephen and I discussed during our retreat was that I would really like to have another dog. But, as finances were also on our agenda, we both knew that we really couldn't afford one. Even healthy, young dogs have vet bills, toys, equipment, dog walkers and boarders when we travel, etc. It adds up.

Don't we sound just like a couple discussing having another baby?

Working It

Photo by Cathy Walters Photography. If you live in Colorado Springs, look her up.

Every time I hear couples (celebrities, for the most part) talking about how "marriage is work," I want to run around behind them saying, "No! It's not! It's rewarding!" Because they make it sound like a prison sentence. Having said that, I have to agree: all the best things in life require some effort on your part. Marriage included.