Our first "child"

Meet our first "child" - Jasmine. She arrived in our home in May 2000 - that is a story for another day. She's had a pretty traumatic last 2 years as she has adjusted to two new additions to the family that get A LOT more attention than her. She has quietly faded into the background taking whatever attention we send her way. While she mopes, she has never been mean to the kids. I often wonder what goes through that doggie mind as she gets booted from "her" chair so we can rock a crying one or she gets put in the bedroom when other children come to play. There are moments I would venture she resents these new members of our family and the obvious loss of her role as queen. Today would give her great reason for just such a sentiment -

It probably started last night in her mind as much crying occurred in our house. Trying to get everyone settled, she got shut out of the master bedroom and was blocked by a gate from joining me and the boy in the kids' room. She just sat whining on the other side of gate - poor girl.

This morning Clay headed off for Upward football pictures and his game. The kids and I followed about an hour and half later (9:20ish). The kids and Clay got home about 10:30 while I headed off to a baby shower. I got home about noon, we ate, and the kids and I napped. About 3:15 p.m. I realized I hadn't seen Jasmine for a while and we began searching. We searched the entire house and she was no where to be found. The gates were closed so we knew she didn't run away. We began another search of the house, and found her STILL IN HER CRATE quietly waiting. (Note that her crate is in the master bedroom - where the girl and I napped!) In the craziness of getting the kids inside and settled, Clay completely forgot to let her out; and then neither of us noticed her absence for 5 hours! Poor girl - she never made a peep. We felt awful so she was given a few pieces of pepperoni and loved on for a bit.

What great parents we are, huh?

Aunt Virginia and Katy, please don't call the Humane Society on us...we really do love her...it's just easy to forget one who doesn't cry for your attention like our two legged children do!)