Our new dog...

Victoria was SO good today as I plowed through the office and the STACKS of paperwork. She played inside for a while then watched PBS. Lunch was a self-made PB&J. Then she decided to go for a swim in the "bathtub". "Can you open the bath Mom?" she asked in a swimsuit, cover-up & swim shoes! Out to the hot-tub she went. It was a mix of cold swimming pool (63*) & hot tub (102*). Back & forth she went happy as could be. The next thing I know, she's nowhere to be found. I look out back & see her legs sticking out of the little tike's slide, upside down. I couldn't figure out if she was stuck or not. She quickly jumped up, ran over, picked up the swing then back to the little slide... all in her 2T Scooby-Doo costume. I couldn't resist, out came the camera. After a few pictures we decided to get the mail. She wanted to ride the 4-wheeler down the lane to the mailbox. We found our new garbage cart there. She grabbed hold while sitting backwards & pulled it back to the house. It's so hard for her to be home without ANYONE to play with. I'm enjoying the moments I take to spend with her; a long walk, shopping at the store with tiny shopping carts she pushes & fills, a ride around the property or reading books each night. Life seems to be settling down a little. Ryan is out on the deck playing checkers with Casey & Samantha. He already helped my clean up after dinner & tuck the younger kids in bed. It's been so long since he's been able to help like that. The kids love it, I love it & he loves it. For the first time in a VERY long time I feel like I can breathe.