One man's trash...

Several folks have been asking for an update on our newest addition, Diesel. We rescued him (he was abandoned with his sisters) this fall because we just didn't have enough living things in our house. Good thing he's a great dog.

He's 9 months old now and at last weigh-in about 85 lbs. Half-way to full grown. His shoulder blades come up to my hip when he leans on me, which is something he loves to do.

I've been trying to get good pictures of him for a while, but he loves his people and doesn't know the word "stay" when he'd rather be in your lap. He also likes to spoon, so if you ever take a nap in the living room and wake up with a warm body behind you and a bony arm around you, it's probably not human. probably.


He and Leilea are good buddies and they're both scavengers. They were on the hunt for the rest of the marshmallows we had for snack that day.
Leilea found them and I gave her one. I gave him a doggy treat but he wanted that marshmallow so bad....

Christmas recap

Two posts in one week. I'm steppin' it up a bit, eh?

I misplaced my camera sometime during the great confusion that is Christmas in the Frisky Family. Now that things are getting back to normal, I found it. I hope it's not too late to post this, but here are some good ones from Christmas Eve.

Iwa was a little excited- Leilea... well... she's always excited.
This next one was the last of a bunch of group shots I tried to get. It's also the best by conventional standards. Everyone's being good, smiling, and looking straight ahead. Truly a Kodak moment.
These next three, however, are the kids I recognize.
Cheese! By the way, that's not a safe word to say in my house unless you have a fridge full of it. They don't take it lightly. I had to pass some out after we took this picture. It was like telling an alcoholic to say "Burbon!" before taking a picture. (they come by it honestly)

Do unto others

My father is a very loving man. When I was younger, and even today, he is very good at being a dad and being affectionate. I love that about him. What a good example for a daughter to see a man hugging and kissing us and telling us how much he loves us. Not everyone gets that and he definitely set a standard for my choice for a husband and father of my kids.

I remember specifically when he'd have the task of waking me up for school in the morning, I'd wake up with him talking to me and touching my face or hair or something. I wasn't a parent, and I wasn't keen on being awakened at all, but today I cherish the memory and find the urge irresistible with my own kids as they're sleeping.

I love to watch them sleep. I love to touch their soft angelic faces and wonder what they're dreaming and if they can possibly know how much I love them. If I tried to do this during their consciousness, at least the older ones would say, "Oh, mommy!!" in embarrassment.

Kawika and Iwalani have been sneaking in bed with us. John and I are both sound sleepers so it's not unusual to wake up with two extra people in the bed (thank goodness we upgraded to the king size last year).

Last week I woke up and Iwa was four inches from my face, wide awake. She only spoke to say, "I just love you mommy," and went back to sleep. I woke up this morning at about 3a.m. for whatever reason and found that Kawika was awake, looking at me, stroking my face from temple to jaw and playing with my hair.

I know that over the years they will pick up many traits and habits from us- some good, some bad- but for what it's worth, I wouldn't trade this one for the world.