So we got a dog...

I'd like to start this post with "After months of planning, careful research, and deliberations, we adopted a dog." But, that would be an outright lie.

Somewhere out of nowhere, I stumbled on a local pet adoption website in our area, and began following them on Facebook. No alterior motive, I promise. But, with a few weeks a certain black and tan cocker spaniel caught my eye. I had to broach the subject with Martin very carefully, as I knew he was less than enthused about the idea of bringing a smelly, hairy creature into our home.

But after a few visits to local pet adoption Saturdays (to warm Martin and Peyton up to the idea), I invited Queenie, the darling cocker, over to our house for a meet-and-greet.

Peyton has been notoriously terrified of dogs since she was little. She demands that we pick her up every time we go to my mom's house so Gracie doesn't jump on her. And she usually cries whenever a bigger dog comes near or barks. So convincing her was actually going to be the bigger challenge. But, when she met Queenie - a relatively calm, small dog six years of age, I knew she had found her best friend.

The first meeting was a success, and we set up an overnight "trial run." As my mother put it "trial run my foot." And she was right. We knew instantly that Queenie was the newest member of our family, and she moved in immediately.

Peyton is loving having the dog around - and Queenie has definitely become a huge fan - and protector - of Peyton. Peyton has even taken to drawing pictures of her new buddy at school.

Summer fun

Even though the official dog days of the Arizona summer are here, Peyton's making the most of it spending her evenings and weekends swimming, and most importantly, spending time with her friends. Whether it be an going to an impromptu mid-week dinner out, a backyard BBQ, or at a energy infused birthday party, Peyton is blessed to have some many awesome kids in her life. She is a lucky, lucky girl.

Yogurt time with Nicholas and Angelo.

Backyard picnic with Charlotte, Scott, Holden and McKenna.

Playground cupcakes with Gabriella, Scott, and Jameson.

Hamburger heaven with Gabriella and Sammie.

Little Miss Firecracker

I'm sure many of you thought I had fallen off the face of the earth, but here I am, alive and well and back to blogging about America's #1 cutie, Peyton Bear. I know you missed me.

Parades, family, fireworks, hot dogs, and sparklers. Those words sum up our Fourth of July, spent in Show Low - and really, it doesn't require any more explanation.

 

Budding TV star

Peyton made her TV debut last week on the local news - and I say debut because I know this is the first of many public appearances for my precious spawn.

Peyton and a few of her friends were asked (they are already in high demand) to help promote a local restaurant's summer challenge to kids to eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies each day.

The group did a great job making their kid friendly dishes (Peyton and Gabriella were in charge of the veggie tray with ranch and hummus), and as you can see, Peyton's favorite part was tearing into the food as soon as the cameras stopped rolling.

Special thanks to Jami for asking these cuties to be the "talent" for the day! I've now begun interviewing agents...

Peytonisms

"Mommy, please put your hand back on the steering wheel. It's dangerous without it."

"Why does a bunny deliver eggs anyway? That's so weird."

While watching Snow White: "Why does a doctor (dwarf Doc) have to work at a diamond mine? Isn't he a doctor?"

At Disneyland: "I can do one more ride and then let's go to the hotowel because I'm getting tired."

"Am I supposed to have five fingers? Because I have five fingers."

"Miss (name hidden to protect privacy) has a baby in her belly?!?! No way, Mommy, she is so straight!"

Me: "Peyton there is a bad guy breaking into people's cars outside of your school"
Peyton: "Oh, I know! Maybe Daddy can come and find him and then he can shoot him. Or he can wrestle him and take him to jail."

Daddy may rule, but Mommy is so cool

The hubs left his two leading ladies for a week to tend to pressing business in Alaska. (Yes, that does sound like an oxymoron to me as well). While he was gallivanting with bears and dodging avalanches, I did my best to win Peyton's affections through bribery and food.

Minus the one day (more like one hour) flu setback, Peyton and I had a great girls week filled with lots of dress up, painting our nails and shopping. On Tuesday night, I confirmed my suspicions that cooking for the two of us was highly overrated, quickly ditched our dinner plans, and asked PK where she'd like to dine. I suggested Nick's Italian, Spinato's Pizza, and PF Changs. Her response, verbatim:

"Okay, Mommy, I have an idea. Why don't we go eat at Nordstrom's Cafe?"

I quickly grabbed they keys, and we headed to the mall for a little shopping (she got a new Zarina tee shirt at the Disney store) and a delicious meal (she devoured her grilled cheese and tomato soup combo).

We also enjoyed a dinner out with our great friends at Benihana, which never seems to get old in our house. I could see I was quickly winning the best parent game.

And then Martin came home with a suitcase full of presents for PK...including a pair of green moose socks and a slingshot. I will try to regain my short lived reign as best parent ever during his next business trip.

Daddy Rules

Martin made it home from a long work trip just in time to celebrate Father's Day with us. We enjoyed a nice family brunch at Casa Hellmer, complete with Martin's favorite creme brulee french toast, mimosas and breakfast burritos.

Following brunch, Peyton and I gifted Martin with the very thrilling combo of two shirts and two ties, and a new iPhone, and then spent the afternoon frolicking in our neighbor's pool eating their food, and drinking their beer.

In all, Martin couldn't have scripted it any better.