Meet Diva
Nilla Tyler-
Mike never had animals growing up. Never. Not so much as a frog. Or a cat. Or a dog. His family are not animal people.
Growing up there was never a time when we didn't have pets. Pets in the plural. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, a turtle, fish etc. My family is very much animal people.
However, I am not an animal person. I can co-exist with animals as long as I don't have to touch them- yep, I wasn't the one taking care of them, or cleaning up after them. So when Mike said, long before we even got married, that we'd never have pets I didn't even try and negotiate. That really was fine by me.
Then we had children. Grace specifically - how can two
people who really don't like animals have a child who is so
obsessed with them? Grace has asked and pleaded for a dog for as long as I can remember. For the last 3 Christmas's it's crossed my mind just because she wants one so badly. She loves to go to my moms and play with her dogs, she loves to go to her Aunt Liz's and play with her dog,and to Mike's
Grandpas and play with their dog, and then she talks about it for weeks.
When we take walks she knows the dogs in the neighborhood and always stops to play. One neighbor told her she can come over and play with Piper and Lil (
Scotties) anytime she wants. In fact its Piper and Lil's house.
Look at these two- they are crazy about each other. (Yes it's August and 90 degrees outside and my
child's in long pants and a long sleeve shirt, it's so Diva doesn't scratch her while they are playing.)
I mentioned in a previous post that we got Diva from my sister - they called her
Nilla because she was the color of a
Nilla Wafer - but when she gave us the puppy she told us she's a total Diva. She won't go down stairs by herself and will cry until someone lifts her down. Well Diva stuck- My vote was for Lucy, but since Mike caved he got to name her.
Grace is working very hard to train her to shake, dance and obey.
She won't walk on a leash. In fact Mike said she'd rather be strangled than walk on the leash. I hope this is a learned thing because I really want a walking dog!
Diva's learned to go down the stairs, and loves to play outside. She's so good about leaving her
kennel and going straight to the door and won't go in the bedrooms. However anything left in the
living room is fair game, so she's ruined two of the kids plastic toys.
And, I've had to bath her once - she threw up in her kennel one day. I didn't even gag, I was so proud of myself. And cleaning up after her isn't too bad. Yet.
But the biggest change at our home has to be our Girl. Most of my readers know about Olivia. Olivia is the horse, turned unicorn, who grew wings, who changes colors, who I can't see because I'm mean, who happens to turn up every where we go that is Grace's best friend. Yes, my child's imaginary friend is a horse. (She started out as a real horse who lives near my mother-in-laws but kept changing and growing and moving.)
Not once since we've had the puppy have I heard about Olivia. She hasn't been flying outside the car, outside the window or shown up at our dinner table. Look what Diva solved! No need for imaginary animal friends anymore!
Did I mention she snores? We can hear her three rooms away, it's kind of cute. And so is she. Who would have thought we'd learn to love a puppy. I'm not sure we're puppy in family picture people yet - but I did run home on my lunch hour to check on her - so anything's possible.
I love that Max doesn't care who he rides with, there is no way Grace would ride with a total stranger, she barely rides with people she actually likes!
Grace & Daisy
Max thought these little cars were great, he thought he was actually steering them and making them go.
Oh the boats, they take forever,but I think every little kid loves them! Grace wouldn't let Daisy ring the bell, so Daisy got sad, and then Grace got mad because she tried to make Daisy ring the bell, and both kids were so tired by that point - but Max was so funny to watch. He had one arm on the steering wheel and one arm resting on the seat, totally casual.
(This is where they change to Mike's work party)
We rode all different kids rides that on Thursday - we rode the Haunted Houses and the Grace hated both of them, Mike says she burrowed into his side and wouldn't watch any of it. 
They were both able to drive the bumper cars pretty good-
I remember these planes from when I was a kid, and with the gun Max couldn't stayed there all day. (Heaven forbid they ride together, even for a picture sake.)
We rode the Musical Express, and the whole time I just kept thinking - I'm too old for this, I hope I don't puke. And wouldn't you know it, that was the kids favorite ride. Mike went twice with Grace and I just couldn't do it again-
It was almost 100 degree's the day we went, and Rattlesnake rapids had a 2 hour line, so I let the kids get wet in the splash pad. They had quite a bit of fun, but wouldn't you know it 30 minutes later a storm from nowhere BLEW in and they were freezing. I'm glad I brought a change of clothes for them.
Then we had dinner in the pavilions -
We all loved the new Roller Coaster Bombora and the Sea Odyssey ride. In fact when the Bombora started Max looked at me and said "That's the Beach Boys!" I'm not sure how many 3 year olds would know that, but leave it to my kid! Overall we had two really good days and are thinking about season passes next year. (The last time Mike and I got season passes I found out I was pregnant with Grace a month later, so maybe not.)
