Learning about butterflies in Mrs.Otero's first grade class...

Matthew just drew me a picture of a butterfly.
Then after signing and dating it...asked me if it was "symmetrical".

He said that his caterpillar is in a chrysalis and wiggles and that
means soon it will be a butterfly.

I asked him what type of butterfly it will be...
He knew...."a painted lady".

I asked him what the difference was between a cocoon and a chrysalis.
His response...I don't know, that wasn't in my book.
Sounds like a fun trip to Barnes and Noble is in our immediate future.

Earling Morning BRAWL...

This morning around 6am, my dog, Zeus (yes, the one from the last story) woke me with violent barking right under my bedroom window.

First of all, just yesterday evening, he got his junk stuck in the fence. You'd think he'd quit jumping it for a while...NO. This morning, I woke to violent barking - like he was attacking something. So I leaped out of bed and over to the window only to see him chasing what I thought was maybe a rooster.

I have never seen a rooster around our house, but you never know.

I watched a few seconds before opening the window to yell at him to stop and try and scare the "whatever it was" away with my voice. It didn't work - on either one. Then after maybe a minute or two of me yelling at them, I smelled it...

IT WAS A SKUNK!

Oh my lord, the smell instantaneously filled my room and soon the whole house. All before 7am! NOT COOL!

It then took me about 10 minutes in stinky anguish to wake Michael to go make sure it wasn't dead near the house (because if it was, we'd have to smell it for DAYS).

Zeus, our family greeter, is now scheduled for a bath. Hopefully I will have time tonight. He is a hard one to avoid being the "greeter" and all...

I wonder, "fence" incident yesterday, "skunk" incident today, whatever could be next???

LOL! Check back tomorrow to find out...

Cost: approx. $11.00 in air freshners/candles

Zeus, the Fence, and a trip to the Vet...

ZEUS & MATTEW AT THE VET TODAY...

Everyday when we get home, our beautiful, full of energy, loyal dog, Zeus jumps our fence to greet us. Sometimes, after our hellos, we let him walk through the house with us to get back to the backyard.

Today was like all the other days. Zeus jumped the fence with great ease and tremendous grace to greet us. We loved on him a bit and when we went in, he went to the side of the house to jump the fence into the backyard. Once in the house, Matthew and I heard what sounded like a dog fight outside.

We ran to the side of the house only to find Zeus half over the fence with his um... "STUFF", caught between the fence boards. The fence is 4' and the boards have maybe 5mm between them. Of course, Rusty, our other dog was barking and running in circles. When I finally realized (after about 5 seconds) that Zeus was "stuck by his stuff", I panicked and freaked out yelling, "OH MY GOD....ZEUS!"

I think this frightened the poor dog because he lurched forward and "unstuck" himself. This was not only traumatic for Zeus, but for Matthew and I, too. Just the thought of it makes us both cringe! OUR POOR PUPPY!

I called the Vet and rushed him there, too afraid to look at his wounded area myself. By the way, Matthew is right here proofing everything I type for accuracy. He says, Matthew wasn't afraid to look! For the record, you know!

Anyway, Zeus is OK. He had to be sedated in order for her to check the area thoroughly. He did well and got two treats. No splinters, just slight bleeding and an abrasion that should heal without issue.

The Vet informed us that "Dog getting his penis stuck between wooden fence slats while jumping over....A FIRST FOR HER!" I don't think Zeus will stop jumping the fence. Greeting us and guarding the front yard is, after all, a VERY important job.

Tonight, please say a prayer for our handsome and loyal companion. May he heal quickly and not be traumatized by the fence incident.

Cost: $69.00 vet bill

Good deeds should be reciprocated...

Tonight, Michael went to Wal-Mart after tennis practice. He thought about his little brother and bought him a game for the wii. It's called "Mini Desktop Racing".

When Michael handed it to Matthew, of course, Matthew was delighted. He then said to Michael, "Thanks Michael, that was nice of you to buy me a game. I'm going to tell Mom to buy you something!"

Cute, ha?

Later on, after playing the game (it was kinda hard), Matthew went to Michael and asked him, "Do you know what DESKTOP means?" Michael replied, "yes, why?" Matthew said, "It's really hard! It's little tiny cars racing on a desk. I keep getting pushed off the edge! You should have got me an easier game. But it was still nice of you to buy me it."

Matthew Legs...

Matthew sees the specialist again this month. We'll see how that goes. Today he had his x-rays for his upcoming appointment. I will post again after his appointment.