My dog likes bugs

Our family has a chocolate Miniature Pincher named Norman. Norman is mostly a good dog. He lets both kids tug on him, love on him, and play with him. He playfully nips when he gets annoyed, but his tiny teeth are just too small to really hurt. Skyler is the one that mostly pushes his buttons because Jillian isn't quite fast enough to keep up with him.

And Norman is quite the escape artist. You see, his sister lives three houses down with my friend Connie's Wilson and her family. So Norman was used to occassional visits with his sibling and then one day, Connie's family added another min pin, Harley. Norman and Harley are an item. Each day, morning patiently waits for one of us to open the front door so he can BOLT. Like lightning, he makes his way to Connie's porch to remind Harley he still exists. Mike or I usually corner him and sternly say, "Go home, Norman" and that does the trick--again like lightning, he darts back to our house and knows to go straigh to his kennel when we open the door for him. Oh Norman...

I bring up man's best friend tonight because as I was tidying up the computer desk, I heard Norman playing in the kitchen. He tossed something over his head and lept to pick it back up. I heard his nails scraping at the floor, trying to make it move. He shoved it again in another direction and lept on it once more. When I turned to see what he was doing, he was playing with a recently deceased cricket that must have come in when I left the door to the garage open while I was carrying in laundry.

I realize I have been absent from blogging lately, and not with much of an excuse! The kids are great. They don't know it, but they have their Well Child Check-Ups on Friday (which as many of us parents know, a check-up means SHOTS). Needless to say, I'm taking the day off to spend with them although I'm sure it would be less painful for all parties if the appointment was rescheduled (with the two snow storms we had, this appointment has been rescheduled twice already).

And after a not-very-well-planned out dinner menu last week, I'm back on track for the rest of the month. Sunday was steak; yesterday we had traditional tacos (ground beef and potatoes seasoned with a little cumin and flour tortilla shells fried in vegetable oil, with all the fixings); tonight was supposed to be pulled pork sandwiches but I forgot to set out my pork--we had spaghetti and pierogi's instead; tomorrow will be pepper jelly glazed chicken drums; Thursday is leftover night; Friday I'm making that pulled pork; Saturday I'm sure will be something exciting like pizza or leftovers because it's a freebie night; Sunday is pot roast; and the last day of the month, Monday is supposed to be carnitas or bbq pork tacos. I'm starting to plan a monthly menu to help with our budget--have you seen grocery prices lately? And they're only going to get worse, folks! I can't wait for spring to start my garden! I'm going to have peppers, tomatoes, an herb pot, and maybe more. Just pray that I can keep them all alive!

Alright friends, until next time!