Our Newest Family Member - AKA - Kaitlin's Birthday

Well, we did it, and I don't know how I feel about it, so I'll just tell you what it is. The kids have been so excited to get a pet since our move. The backyard was littered with dog "presents", so many that the kids filled two walmart sacks with them. They thought it was a sign that now they could have a dog, too. No dice, say Mom and Dad, but maybe a cat. Well, Kaitlin had her 11th, yes 11th, birthday Tuesday, and one of her gifts was a cat and all the trappings. She went to our local humane society to adopt one, and was hoping to adopt one of the kittens that were listed on their website. But when we got there the kitties had been adopted already. She looked around and found a big black cat that liked to sit on shoulders and a smaller one that the lady said was probably spoken for. The lady said that she would check if we could wait one more day. After a big sigh and an "I guess so," we went home to return the next day. The one she wanted was on hold for someone else, but the lady had picked up a cat from the vet that day that had just been neutered and was ready to go. As soon as Kaitlin saw that one, she was hooked.




Well, that is Leo. He must have been left my someone who had a family with kids, because he takes all the "tough love" that Tanner dishes out without batting an eyelash. If I were the cat, I would have scratched him long ago, but Leo takes it all very patiently. He is still learning where his litter box is, as last night about 11:45 p.m. Kaitlin knocks on our door to tell us he had pooped on her bed. It was lovely. Anyway, needless to say his nighttime domicile is now the garage. During the day he wanders around, hiding from Tanner, and sleeps on Kaitlin's bed. She loves this, and Mom is trying to be patient with the cat hair that ends up on everyones clothes. Oh, the things we do for our children.