Brian and Amanda Lain

Ciara has demolished our Jade Tree, Spider Plant, and Christmas Cactus, made our hose into a soaker hose, and played with the watering can. Now, we admit that it was partly our fault because they invaded her space this past weekend, and so she may feel she has free reign. And, they waver in the wind, and probably seem like nice toys. And that we are gone all day so she gets bored. And that she may need a more “natural” diet than the dog food. And that she may be entering her terrible-two/teenage rebellious years. However, the poor plants!! Even with this massacre, we still shake our heads and laugh because even we did not see this coming. So, other than destroying our healthiest plants (we still have a couple there in the back, for now), she is still in good standing, and has not eaten anything of value.

Ciara is now 4 months old and 40 pounds! We have had her for about 2.5 months and in that time she has learned to 1) sit on command, 2) lay down on command, 3) stay in either position until “released”, 4) shake with one paw, then the other, 5) jump on the couch (yes, we taught her that…), 6) jump on the bed (we taught her that, too), 7) come when called (usually), 8 ) walk calmly on a leash, 9) stop barking when instructed (usually), and 10) become fully house-trained. Miraculously, she has not chewed anything she wasn’t supposed to–except the sprinkler system–and her adult teeth are almost all the way in! The pictures below are supposed to show how much she has grown in 2 short months, though it is difficult to see the real difference. Suffice it to say that her weight has increased by 25 pounds and she outgrew her first collar.

Amanda and Kassy (Amanda’s sister) went to the “Red & Black Ball”–a fundraiser for NMSU’s Dance Program. The evening featured many different styles of dance (Contemporary, Latin, Ballroom, Flamenco, etc), as well as Hors d’oeuvres, free wine, dinner (talapia, beef, asparagus, rice, salad, rolls, and dessert), a silent auction and the Mike Caranda Orchestra. Below are 2 pictures of us, all dressed up with someplace to go.