5 Kaeb's.....and a puppy!

So approx. 3-4 years ago our kids started asking for a dog. (mainly Kels) We had the "perfect set-up" at our last house in Roanoke - doggy door going into the garage, fenced in back yard....yes, it would have been a "perfect set-up", but......NO. Not in town. Then, God scooped us up and set us down at Gateway :) As alternates, again...NO. There is no way we are getting a puppy when we're living in 2 different places. Then August came, where we moved onto campus full-time. "now can we get a dog? We're basically in the country, and we're not moving back & forth anymore".......still, the answer was NO.

Well, one day I came across an ADORABLE puppy for sale online, and showed Chad. I told him "Maybe we could get a puppy....isn't he sooooo cuuuuuute?!?" "We are not getting a puppy...I don't think you realize how much work they are!" "But it would be really good for the kids, I think. They would learn to be responsible by helping take care of it...might be a good experience for them!?" Again....no. So I told Chad, "ok, you're probably right...I'm not going to push -- maybe we'll get one someday when we're BOTH on board."

End of discussion.

Well, one of our residents was saving up and working on "earning" a hamster. Chad took the 2 boys to a pet store one day to learn more about them. While they were there, they were looking at all of the puppies. A few days later, somehow Chad & I were back at this pet store, oooing and aaahhing over these adorable puppies just waiting for someone to love them! :) I asked a question about 1 of them, and he said 'tell you what - you guys have a seat in here, and I'll be right back!' Couple minutes later, he brought out the puppy! (they know how to getcha!!) Well, that was NOT the puppy for us. Cute, yes, but he shed terribly all over our coats, and was super hyper! Adorable, yes, but no thanks. And off we went.

Next thing I know, my adorable hubby is researching, and researching online different breeds of dogs, and which would be the 'best' for our situation. I checked to make sure Gateway would be ok with us having an indoor dog, just in case, and they were! So the researching continued. And continued. And continued! Chad is now VERY WELL EDUCATED in different types of dog breeds, so if you have any questions, just ask him. :) I was back in our room folding laundry one day, and in came Chad with the laptop & said "this is it! He's the one! Isn't he so cute?!?" Yeah, I said he was kinda cute, not 100% sold. All of a sudden, the tables had turned! Crazy how that happens.... Since he was ready & waiting to find a home, he was a "good deal" - but he was ready NOW! So we got everything ready, and picked him up the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I put together a little 'scavenger hunt' around campus, and it ended up with them finding a little cock-a-poo, which they eventually all decided on naming....Tucker.

Well, we've had Tucker now for 4 months. For the most part, he's been really good. But there are certainly times I've verbally said "why do we have a dog again?!?" Some nights he barks. Sometimes he has accidents in the house. Sometimes he bites the girls. He has chewed a few things up. Yes, he has busted/chewed out the screen on the screen door. (looks like we'll be buying new screen for GW! Man, I hope my boss doesn't read this...) =) But more often he has been SO theraputic. He's so cuddly! Esp with Chad & I. He likes to be where we are, so if we go in another room, he follows. If we stop, he'll plop down right by us. It's pretty sweet. Usually. Until we trip over him.



The residents love him, and for the most part, the kids on campus love him. Our neighbor girls get so excited when they see him outside...so, when it's all said & done - I guess we'll keep him =)