So very nice
Dec 27, 2007 We had a fantastic Solstice celebration -- our first big "to do" over a holiday besides Christmas. It will definitely be a tradition, now that we started. We had a big dinner (think Thanksgiving style) and a candle ceremony. The kids also had brown paper bags of birdseed that they used to feed the birds on our walk. Their favorite part was definitely throwing seeds in the air.
Christmas day was delightful -- the girls all got really great, perfectly-suited-for-them presents. I was most excited to give Marissa a sewing machine, and she said that was her favorite gift. I can't wait to set it up and start teaching her the basics, and then make her my little sewing monkey. It will totally happen.
Of course, I got my Gocco, and a frickin' ton of accessories for it. I haven't tried it out yet, because as with anything new, I'm a little intimidated. Once I finally grow some balls it will be a blast playing with it -- I have a ton of inks, screens, bulbs, and of course, card stock. (Bryan is so the best man ever, to not only support me in getting more craft boolshiz, but to also buy it for me.) The first order of business is having the kids design a thank-you card to send out. In my head it's very awesome, so they'd better not mess it up.
The godmother is scheduled to fly in tomorrow, and I CAN'T WAIT to see her. She'll help me play with the Gocco. And the kids. Bryan and I are so excited to have some cool grown-up time with her once the kids go to bed.
The puppy is still alive, but I'm not sure for how much longer. She refuses to be paper trained. RE. FU. SES. I'm getting some of those special puppy pads that are supposed to help with paper training, although I'm morally opposed to paper products. I have to bite the bullet on this one, because I'm more morally opposed to stepping in dog shit when I get out of bed. I'm thisclose to crate training her, but she's so little. And dumb. If the pads don't work, though, we don't really have a choice. I'm putting a lot of faith in these magic puppy pads, so they'd better not fail me.
*P.S. If you haven't already, please visit this post of Elaine's. I plan on writing, and I hope you will, too.
Reader Comments (5)
Oh yes, stepping out of bed to a squishy pile of poo? Not my idea of a good time. The hippie goddesses give you a pass on the paper product. Pinky swear.
And thanks for the linkage. We're running out of time!
I couldn't crate train either, but we did room train. My Tallulah lived in a baby-gated off kitchen covered in newspapers for the first 2 months. But she is potty trained and rings bells when she has to go out - so no scratched up doors. Here's how it works:
1) Gate off an area for the puppy. A place where you will spend a lot of time and that has a door to the outside, hang bells by the door, low enough for her to reach.
2) Cover the entire floor with paper.
3) Every time you take her outside to potty ring the bells. (in fact every time you go out that door, ring the bells)
4) Over the next few weeks slowly remove the paper until there is only a bit by the door.
5) If she has an accident off the paper, add more and keep it there until she only goes on the paper and outside.
6) Remove the last bit of paper. She should be ringing the bells to let you know when she needs to go out.
7) Once she has mastered this bring her into the rest of the house.
We all practically lived in the kitchen (aside from sleeping) while she was being potty trained, but it really worked and she a sweet girl who only had one or two accidents after we brought her into the whole house.
Good luck!
Puppies can't potty train themselves. Do lots of reading to find out how it's done. Morgan's instructions sound good. I've also read that you should make sure that when you expand their space, make sure it's pretty easy to see/find the potty space.
Did you know that "boolshiz" isn't in the Urban Dictionary? I've worked it out, though. I'm *that* clever.
Yeah I am not really into the whole puppy thing after having a dog. I don't think we will get one ever again. I hope the magic pads work.