When Christmas Came Early...

Meet Ranger.

He's a GINORMOUS eight week old Labrador Doberman mix puppy.....and we are in LOVE.
For years.....YEARS....my boys have begged us for a puppy.
And for years, we have told them, "Not until our rugs get ripped up."
So....today, was an EPIC surprise.

Somewhere along the way, Kevy and I lost our marbles....we decided to throw caution to the wind...we figured rugs are just....rugs -- and so why NOT give our boys the Christmas of a lifetime -- a few weeks early?  We're already nuts....why not add to the Crazy?  And I think little kids need a dog.  Especially little boys who have begged for one for YEARS...

A week or two ago, I threw the question out on Facebook and got a plethora of responses.
One of Kev's cousins is a breeder, and when she saw my question, she private messaged me with a, "I might have the perfect pup for you"...  So Kevy and I went on a little datey date to have ourselves a look see.  I really didn't even need to see him.  I love Ruth.  I trust Ruth.  And knowing my own four "puppies" would be all up in the dog's grill.....it was just as important for me to know the breeder as it was the pup.  If she would trust her babies with this dog, then I would trust mine.

And So.....
Even though we still have rugs...
And even though this puppy was ready to go 3 full weeks before Christmas...
And even though I never really wanted a boy puppy...
Even though I am fully aware that I'm gaining a fifth child...when I JUST finished potty training my 4th...

We knew he was the One....
And we knew this was the time.

I made the kids a fun, special breakfast, and then we headed out the door to do some "errands."
Somewhere along the way, we flippantly told the boys that we had a little surprise for them today, and we would give it to them right after we stopped over at "my friend's house to say 'Hi.'"

Just yesterday, when we purchased our Christmas tree, there were two dogs hanging out in the Christmas gift shop.  This was the highlight of the kid's day, and the entire drive home Jesse was pensive and a little sad.  We asked him what he was thinking about and he just said:  "Oh....I was just thinking about being able to play with my own dog someday.  That will be so great..."

Perfect timing.

The kitchen floor is the new hangout.

So far...all #2's have taken place outside.

Four puddles, and one puzzle piece destroyed inside.

Good times.

 When we got to Ruth's house, I hopped out and yelled:  "Hi, my Friend!" And we gave each other a big bear hug.  As the kids piled out of the truck...two huge puppies came running from the backyard.  Kaden knelt right down and said:  "Oooh Daddy!!!  This is the kind that we're going to get someday, isn't it?"  All of the kids knelt down to pet them and ooh and aah over them, and we just stood back and watched.

After a few minutes, I knelt down beside this little guy and said:
"Hey Kids.... this puppy in the red collar is your Christmas present...."

"Are you serious?"
"Are you for REAL?!"
"Do we get to keep him forEVER?"
"Can we take him home today?"

Yes, Loves.
Yes to ALL of those questions....

And this has been our afternoon....
Sweet chaos.
Little stinky puppy breath.
Three boys who have told us that we are "the best parents" more times than I have ever heard them say over the course of their entire lives...

And a Mama and Daddy happy....because their love tanks are filled.

I have always dreamed of giving a baby animal as a Christmas gift..
Granted....he is no small pup.
He's ginormous.  There were only four pups in the entire litter, so he had space to GROW.

He is part Labrador and part Doberman....
Built to last.  Built to be protective.  Built to be able to handle a WHOLE lot of loving...
And so, this was the day when Christmas came early....

And in the words of my Jesse, it was "The best day EVER...."