while we were gone

Kirsten was in charge, and she kept these kids busy.

They went to the mall and saw Santa.

They made gingerbread houses out of crackers, and NOT from kits:

 

She took them around to places.  Thursday she took them swimming at the indoor pool.  They were crazy for the water slide.

And on her way to work one morning, she stopped at Starbucks and bought them hot chocolate before she dropped them off with my mother.   Julia was so impressed she was trying to explain to me how to get to Starbuck's and how to order so I will know how to do this.   Ei-yi-yi.

Okay this is the mouse they caught in a bowl.   This mouse was running around in the house before we left town.  He'd hang around in the kitchen like he was one of the family--dangling by his toes from the edge of the dogs' water dish, taking sips of water, watching us while we worked.

They didn't want to kill him, but they did want him to relocate, so once he was in the bowl, James walked him up to the park and let him go.   Others howled, "He'll just come right back inside!"  But so far he has not.

And this is the dog Kirsten said turned into somewhat of a raccoon last week.   During the night, she was raiding the kitchen, stealing food.

One night she ate nine chocolate cupcakes, and Kirby was up at 1 am, trying to figure out how much chocolate a dog could safely eat, clicking on the internet, worrying.  There are many different kinds of chocolate, varying in toxicity. 

Finally she called the emergency vet, and they snickered, but assured her a dog like Sam would have to eat at least a couple entire cakes before there was any concern.

Good enough then.

Another night it sounded like someone was trying to get in a window, and when she investigated, it was just Sam, in front of the Christmas tree, licking out a foil lasagne pan.   Nice.  Dumpster diving dog.

We didn't leave the gingerbread on the cupboard Saturday night.  We put it way up on a high shelf.  Baking that was too much work to take any chances.

So here it is Monday morning again, back to work, and back to waiting for customers to pay.  Ugh.

It's also 30 degrees out. I understand in Puerto Vallarta it's going to be 80 again today. Dang, that week went by fast.

Onward.  Life is very good.   love, Val