Tax Return Season

The time of year has finally come that we got our beloved tax returns!

We were planning on rewarding our children for being born - thus giving us a large tax return - by getting a puppy. We (meaning ME) had researched and had decided on the perfect breed, searched through every classified ad this side of the Mississippi and were ready to make the leap in to doggy-owner-hood. I just KNEW my girls were mature enough and ready for their own dog.

(A white miniature schnauzer...hypoallergenic and CUTE AS CAN BE!)

Okay, so maybe it wasn't that I knew my kids were mature enough, I just knew that I was baby hungry but not ready for a baby and that a puppy would help reduce those baby wanting needs by giving me something else that’s small and cuddly to take care of.

Is that horrible of me to be baby hungry but not be ready to have one? Well, I’m sorry if it is but my husband is leaving for four months and I don’t want to be huge and pregnant AND be raising two kids on my own. So...there’s my rant/excuse, even though it really has nothing to do with what we were discussing.

BACK to our discussion of doggy-owner-hood. My brother and sister-in-law (aka gracious landlords) went to the owner of the house since they are renting – yes, they rent and we rent from them. Don’t think about it too hard or your brain my discontinue working...anyways, they went to the owner to ask how he felt about us getting a puppy.

I was hopeful but alas my dreams – uh, I mean my KIDS dreams – of having a puppy were crushed. The owner of the house said he didn’t want more than two dogs in his house (my brother and sister-in-law already have a Boxer and a Rottweiler...not exactly tiny dogs) Obviously we cannot complain, the guy owns the house, he has every right to say no.

So, we started brainstorming what we could do instead so our children wouldn't be too heartbroken over not being able to get their very own puppy. (Really they hardly knew anything of the puppy.) The ideas were things like:

Get a fish

Get a bird

Get a stuffed animal at Build-A-Bear

Go on a small family vacation

PARTAY

Etc.

After much anguish over what decision to make, we finally did conclude with what we believe to be the very best of the best. Being the wonderful parents we are and to help our children (me) be less distraught over the whole thing we took them out for ice cream.

What? We bought them an ice cream cone to compensate for not getting a puppy?? I know, but it does get better.

We then took that money that was going to be going towards a puppy and bought a treadmill.

We pretty much rock as parents!!

Now, excuse me, I must go bring sexy back...

(And yes, for your information I DO look exactly like that when I use the treadmill.)