Release the Hound!

The first dog that Libby and I got was a black Lab named CoCo. CoCo was a really smart, and truth be told, a good dog... but she was a bit hyper. In fact, her loving nickname was CoCo the crackhead!

CoCo was a friendly dog, she enjoyed playing fetch, jumping on you, knocking the kids over, and punching me in the... well let's say I am surprised we were able to have MB! And of course, she LOVED to chew on anything she could get her teeth on; shoes, teddy bears, dog houses, and the side of the house! We endured this for nearly three years! But, CoCo needed things that we as new parents just could not provide her. So, we did what I think was the right thing and found a new home for her in early February. Now CoCo and her new owner are having the times of their lives.

After one short month being pet free we got the newest addition to the family, a Pug and Pomeranian mix named Ariel. This dog is possibly the smallest dog I have ever seen. Overall Ariel is a good puppy. However, she is a puppy, and as puppies do she likes to like jump and nibble!

Issy is obviously very mobile so she always runs from Ariel when she starts to nibble and jump. MaryBeth does not have that same skill set yet so she gets abused a little more. With that being said, the second night Ariel was home all the girls were running free enjoying each other. At the time I was talking with a friend of mine when all of the sudden I heard a scream then thump! Woof! Thump! Woof! I look around and all I see is a white shoe going up and down... Thump! Woof! I take a peek and notice Ariel chomping on MB's foot while my sweet little MaryBeth is just pounding on Ariel's head with the aforementioned white shoe!

At that time I grab Ariel and begin scolding the dog when I hear my buddy on the line telling me "dude don't kill the dog!" I spanked Ariel a few times, then I notice MB laughing. Right then I realized two things; nobody messes with my girls! And I just got played by that sweet, little, do nothing wrong, innocent girl with the devilish laugh.

The world better watch out for MB! That sweet, little, do nothing wrong, innocent girl does not play!

I will always love you

According to the urbandictionary.com a Diva is defined as "a person who has reached maximum coolness."

When I think of a Diva, I think of a female that takes being "girlie" to the extreme. Of course she needs some 'tude, loves the bling, likes to go shopping, loves handbags, doesn't like the paparazzi taking unwanted pictures, and has to have their nails & toes done.

Take this image and I think of these women: Paris Hilton, Madonna, JLo, Mariah Carey, and of course, Whitney Houston.

Well, it's time to add another name to that list; Issy Russell.

Now, those of you that know Libby, know that she is girlie. Who are we fooling, she displays some of these traits that I described earlier (especially the attitude). So, it's only natural that Issy would follow suite.

Issy loves lip gloss, she runs around with an old cell phone texting and talking. She often keeps her Blackberry or her Princess cell in her shiny red handbag that Libby's friend gave her. And, if you want to get her to stop crying all you have to do is ask "Issy, do you want to go shopping?"

So, on Thursday night Libby got a Pedi & Mani, and as soon as Issy saw her toes it was all over...

"Oh Wow... Mama dis, Mama dis! Pointing to Libby's feet. Issy had to have them painted too!

And it didn't take long, by the time I came home on Friday her toes were done.

So, after she got her fingernails painted, and before we could go see DadDad & Mimi (aka Don & Betty) Issy had to ensure she was as pretty as she could be.

"Mama I need dis" as she points to her neck, obviously needing her necklace.

Then she repeats herself and points to her wrist, yes she has, wears, and shows off her bracelet!

Hair curled, nails painted, Happy applied, and sporting her bling, she was finally ready to go.

I am in so much trouble!

Snot nosed kids

First of all, mucus is a banned substance in Casa de Russell. If there happens to be mucus in the area, Libby has to drop what she is doing and immediately plunge the "Nose Sucker" into the the depths of their nasal cavity to remove said boogies!

When the girls hear a few keywords such as; boogies, snot, boogers, or even the word nose, they know what's coming, and more often than snot, I mean not, it's a wrestling match to suck their nose clean. We were told that this helps prevents infection. However, we all know it is just annoying to hear the sniffles.

So, for the past few days everyone has been sick & snotty. After an unusually high amount of snot was shot out of MB's nose, Issy took notice of this and had to tattle on her sister.

"Dada, dada... Bebe, bebe... Dada dis!" As she points to MB's nose.

Then she uses this opportunity to go the forbidden area that houses the nose sucker and bring it to me.

"Dada, dis?" Issy hands me the nose sucker.

I then proceed to basically pin MB down to begin the very loud process of boogey removal. After being kicked and scratched I have the one arm pin move applied, and remove at least two tablespoons of the brightest green plasma I have ever seen.

As soon as I was done with MB, I quickly grab Issy and put a very red faced, very mad, MB on the floor. At this point I have two screaming girls piercing my eardrums, when all of the sudden MB notices that Issy's fate has been determined.

I look over to see the most evil smile proceeded by a laugh and MB saying (in her monster voice) "nnDada" and crawls off to the room. All of the sudden all is right in MB's world!

I had to chuckle and remind myself that NOBODY messes with karma.

Life lesson number one for little Miss Issy Mae.