Lola

 As I may have mentioned before, my kids are pretty much animal-phobes.  They generally don't appreciate dogs, especially when the dogs are large or loud or friendly.  Except Mason.  Mason is drawn to dogs wherever we are.  He pets them, hugs them, and inspects their ankle bones.

 Several family members have been trying to convince us to get a dog for at least a year now.  And we've resisted for many good reasons, including (but not limited to): We have kids, we don't need a dog.  We live in a neighborhood rather than in wide open space, which means we would actually have to keep track of a dog.  Where would we bring it when we go for the weekend?  Boo for having to scoop poop.  Dogs cost money.  It will bark.  It will jump.  It will nip.  It will dig holes.  It will destroy our garden.  It will be annoying.  

 Well, July 1st we brought Lola home.  She was adorable.  And she vomited in my vehicle as we were driving up our driveway.   Ew. 

But I think we're keeping her.  She's still adorable, which gets me every time.  She is really very sweet.  And the kids do love her.  Well, except when she puppy-bites them.  They don't like that.  And she does jump and nip, has dug one hole, and totally smashed one hosta (but really, it's a hosta).  She is definitely a puppy.  But we {surprisingly!} like her.  She comes running to greet us when we get home (and sometimes pees).  She swims at the lake (and eats dead fish).  She kept the deer out of the garden last night (no drawback there!).  I'd say she's fitting into our space pretty well.  

PS:  We took a vote on a name for her.  Submissions included: Gumball, Lollipop, Sadie, Ruby, Roxy, Maggie.  Some family members who shall remain nameless were disappointed that their submissions weren't the winners.  One family member then threw out "Lola" as a half-joke.  Everyone cheered and Lola it was.  The drama of it all.