Weapons of Mass Destruction

It's been awhile since we've had a teething puppy in the house. Well, it's been exactly 8 years. This time 8 years ago, we were dealing with a puppy Bailey.
 Bailey is now an AWESOME dog. She's well behaved, chill, and lets us sleep in in the morning. Did you know that puppies don't come that way? Not even a little bit? Apparently we had forgotten that puppies are basically AWFUL and try to kill you every day with their JAWS OF DEATH.
 How easily we forgot. Because even Bailey was an AWFUL puppy. She ate everything, and jumped on everyone and never listened and dug up our yard and now that I'm saying all of this out loud, the memories are flooding back. Hmmm....
So, basically Newman is cute and is doing great with crate training and housebreaking, but my ankles look like I treaded through an ankle deep pond of broken glass. I know it's this puppy, teething stage, it will pass. We are basically trying to fill his muzzle with anything but human flesh, but every now and then that tender skin is too much to pass up on.
 Yesterday, I finally thought to myself, "WHY do his teeth hurt so bad!?" And I looked, and now wish I hadn't. Ignorance was bliss. And you know, curiosity killed the cat. 
If curiosity was named Newman.
 So, anyway, I found DAGGERS in his mouth. I mean, look at them!? They're shaped like weapons! Also, his canines are FOR REAL needles. I could sew a quilt with the dern things. (If I could sew).

Cruise Pictures, Episode II

All around the boat, and especially at dinner time, the photography staff comes by to take your picture. Here are a few of our best (and worst)....

The three boys

This was about as good as it got

This was more the norm

And this....

Formal night #1

A rare view of a natural smile from Viv

At the bar

Look at my handsome man

Formal night #2

An actual decent picture of Clay. Also rarely seen these days

When we were telling Vivi to smile, Carter took it into his own hands, literally.

Embarkation

Cruise Pictures, Episode I

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we went on a cruise with Cory's side of the family. It was actually really fun. The kids had such a good time that they play "cruise ship" at least 3 times a week.
We went on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship out there right now. It holds over 6,000 guests and over 2,000 staff.

Vivi and Ashley at dinner in Ft. Lauderdale the night before the cruise

Free face painting every day!

Carter climbed to the top of the 43 ft high rock wall several times. It is his new favorite activity.

One of the 14 pools!

Vivi chillaxin in Labadee, RC's own private island

There's our ship in the background!

Floating down the lazy river in Jamaica at the Hilton All inclusive resort

water slides!

Vivi and Nana

Carter and Trey did a pirate parade with kids camp one evening while  Cory and I were enjoying our adult beverages in a bar. 

Vivi and Pop share a birthday (on the boat!)

Birthday Princess

We did a character breakfast the last morning. RC has Dreamworks characters on their boats. 

The kids were always wanting to see if we were moving or not

There he goes!

The kids with their server for the week. She was amazing. She cut up their meat, blew on their macaroni to cool it off and helped them keep their clothes clean throughout the evening!

Camping in the Backyard for Labor Day

We had planned on going camping for Labor Day but after getting the new pup (who has not had all his shots) we decided we should stay home. We still wanted to camp, so we decided to set up the tent in the backyard.
Really, this is win-win for me. I can still shower, do dishes, laundry and don't have to bathe two stinky dogs at the end of the weekend. I can also work on updating my blog.

We had some errands to run in town and also got Clay's hair cut. (Which is a whole different story) and then set up 'camping around dinner time.
We did hot dogs and s'mores (we call them shmoes) in the 30 mph wind and all survived. Ugh, the wind here kills me.

Once it was nice and dark we got into the tent and attempted to sleep.

But now I'm reminded why we only camp with everyone about once a year.
Everyone is always falling out of their sleeping bag, needing to pee, spooked by some sound and most importantly not letting me sleep.

Also, we attempted to let the puppy sleep with us out of the crate and he thought it was super, happy, fun time. At about 1:30 in the morning I finally got up, took the puppy and put him in his crate and the two of us slept in the house. I still had to get up with him two more times to let him potty, but at least he wasn't trying to nibble my ears all night.

Our awesome tent mansion my parents got us for our wedding 7.5 years ago. Still going strong! 

Starting the fire

Newman chasing the tent flapping in the wind

perspective

Camping is old hat for Bailey

hot dogs, with buns this time!

Clay chowing down