snowy day here up north....

Not real snow, but it looked like it a few times. Cottonwood trees, spreading their sneeze inducing fluff far and wide. I am thinking we should think about cutting down a few of those trees.

It took Paul all day to install the water softener. That left you-guessed-it to do everything else. Sam went do some work at our church, Mali and Aaron went on a bike ride that led them to their cousins' house, where Abigail and Margaret ended up too. Benjamin went to work. I took some of the kids in the hot tub, which was wonderful but made me sleepy. I actually took a rest on the couch this afternoon, which was a big mistake, because Sonja had some mighty important things to tell me each time I dozed off. Ouch. I decided to just get up and get moving, instead.

Mirielle went on a long run, took a shower, and cooked the burgers on the grill for us. We had some beans, tossed spinach salad with olives and tomatoes, watermelon, and onion rings. There were only 10 of us for dinner. I can't say it was quiet, Camille eats quickly and starts yelling, likes to get down, starts throwing food. A popscicle will hold her off for a while to give the rest of us time to eat before we get her down.

We had our evening snack again, the brownies Suzanne and Mirielle made, with ice cream. And cheese doodles for Camille. The puppy peed on the floor a few times. She seems to be getting a bit better. Sometimes she is just plain frustrating though: Paul took her outside this evening, and she just took off! She didn't come to him for the longest time! Why does she do that and what can we do about it? She listens to me when I call her most of the time....other times she just plain ignores me, keeps running, or sniffing what ever is interesting her.....I try gaining her trust by rewarding her with a treat when she comes to me....ugh, so frustrating. She hates the leash, is getting a bit better with it, but after she pulls one of those don't-come-when-we-call-her tricks, I use the leash for the next few times outside.