Phew!

Okay, that was a long 'night'....
Lots has been happening. Olivia is reading!!! Briar is talking a bit (He said 'dude' yesterday. Clearly, I say it too often.) He says "Mama. Olivia (sounds like 'AaaaahH!' to the untrained ear) Quack. Moo. Baa. Woof....." Olivia and I are sitting here trying to remember all of them.
We've been having a very fun and very busy Summer. We went camping (with Jeff!) at Gordon Bay. It was FABULOUS!!! We tried to hatch a duck. It didn't actually hatch but we did see it moving around inside and after it's ETA had passed we opened the egg to find a fully formed -but dead- duck inside. Pretty sad....but educational, none the less. We've been going frog hunting every week for the invasive American Bullfrog and the Green Frog. We're becoming quite skilled hunters, if I do say so myself, and have been giving them to a woman who sells them to universities for dissection (Olivia somehow deduced that the woman returns them to where they are indigenous...I haven't yet told her what actually happens to them...)
Eli isn't doing well. I am broken hearted over it and have had to come to terms with the fact that this will most likely be our last Summer together. His left hind leg isn't functioning well and he is having trouble playing and jumping as he is used to. He is still happy, however, and tries to get to the ball before Freckles. He's not in any pain but the vet says that I can just insure quality of life at this stage. We have exhausted all other avenues (other than surgery, which for a fourteen year old dog doesn't seem fair to him). I wish there was more I could do....He's been my best buddy since I was 18....
I gave Briar an accidental mullet the other day. I thought I'd trim up the front of his hair (bangs). He kept wiggling so I had this genius idea (note the sarcasm) to use the clippers on the highest setting to even it all up. When I did this, I realized that the difference in lengths were looking rather silly...so I clipped on. Finally, all that was left were his gorgeous curls at the nape of his neck that I was absolutely loathe to part with. Looking at him, it dawned on me that I had created a mullet. ARGH!!! I attempted to go out with his hair in this condition but I was uncomfortable with his 'do and a public place....Okay, yeah, I was embarassed. Anyhow, the curls are now gone. (I have them in a baggy) I am going to have him grow them back....
Jeff's fishing and the hake have finally shown up. Yahoo! I hope it keeps up for awhile at least. He hasn't been home much this Summer but we're hoping he'll have a bit of time off this Winter.
I just turned 32 yesterday. Woopedy doo.
Anyhow, I must go deal with a child who is insisting that she can only sleep if she is wearing her appropriate puppy pajamas (that are in the dirty laundry) to bed. Argh. Five. Argh.
P.S. I have an addiction....Facebook. Can't...seem...to....stay...away......