Software upgrade

A few entries ago I mentioned how the Mister and I have been talking in code around the house to keep a certain surprise on the down low for weeks.  It didn't take us long to code name said surprise as "software."  We could almost freely discuss plans for a software upgrade, different kinds of software, extras that go with the software, etc.  The kids had no clue what we were talking about and time marched on. 

About the same time, the Mister decided to tell the kids that we were having a special visitor come to the house soon.  We decluttered rooms, cleaned up the back yard junk, moved furniture around, and tried to train the kids to keep their toys put away and stuff off the floor, so that our visitor could be comfortable when they came.  A couple weeks ago we told the kids that it was almost time to go pick up our visitor.  They didn't mind too much that we would be gone on the Friday before Halloween for all their parties at school because the mystery visitor that the Mister was talking up for weeks would be coming home with us.

We decided to take the whole family on the road trip down to southern California to pick up our "visitor," so we could split up the 15 hour drive into two days.  I thought it was a great excuse to sleep in a Marriott bed again, and I knew the kids would love another night in a hotel after our summer trip to Oregon.  We left on Thursday night and got to the hotel in Bakersfield a little after midnight.  After a disappointing nights sleep, ( I woke up at 5 AM and couldn't get back to sleep even on that wonderful Marriott bed!) we ate an early breakfast in the hotel and went for an hour swim before getting on the road again.  The kids loved the nice pool and spa surprise which I was banking on.

Here's where the story of what really happened and what I wanted to happen differ.  Sorry babe, we should have done it my way.  ;)

You know those Disneyland commercials where Mom and Dad videotape their kids reaction to the news that they are soon going on a trip to the Magic Kingdom?  The kids reactions are priceless as they scream, jump up and down, or just stand their with a mystified look of happiness on their face.  That's kind of the scenario I wanted to set up with our chillies when we told them that our "visitor" was actually this little beauty that was staying with us for keeps.

 They would have flipped out and been so surprised.  The anticipation and excitement would have built to a tangible level on the 3 hour drive down to pick her up, so that by the time we rolled up to the breeder's house the kids would have jumped out of their seats.  I was curious to hear all the things they would talk about that they wanted to do with their new puppy, what they wanted to name her, what she would look like, etc.  It would have been awesome!

Instead, the whole situation went like my Man planned except, unfortunately, it backfired big time.  The kids were thinking someone like Aunt Tori, or their cousins, or some other relative was coming to stay with us.  We did say "visitor" remember?  We still made that 3 hour drive, but the kids were totally in the dark and a little short-tempered by that time.  When we finally rolled through the breeder's front gate in the middle of the barren desert ALL the kids were asleep.  The Mister wanted to go in, get the puppy, and walk out, puppy in hand, to be met with shouts of surprise and cheers of delight. 

Well, after waking up all the kids, laying out a blanket quick so we could sit, and being surprised myself with how quick my Man came out with her, we all just kinda stood there.  The kids had no clue what to think.  They didn't get it and were probably too out of it to understand Daddy was bringing out our new puppy, not just a visitor.  Sadly, it was a very anticlimactic introduction.  Mr. Cooper asked, even after we explained that she was ours, if we were going to bring her back to that place.  We should have done it my way.  ;)

Aren't those wrinkly puppy haunches and faces adorable?  They have so much extra skin waiting to be filled out.  And just in case you were wondering how big she will get, notice the considerable size of those 8 week-old paws.

Our house is now filled with chew toys, a big old crate, dog food (weird), and oh yes, poop bags.  We named her Ruby and she is a Red/Rust Doberman.  She's 8 1/2 weeks old in these pictures, but she's going to grow so fast.  I'm kinda sad that she won't be tiny for long, but no peeing at a moments notice is a favorable trade-off!