Days in the lives of the Tiptons!

Ok so we got this dog last night, he is a black lab that we got from a fantastic breeder in Salem. We named him Dagger and we have him mainly for Jayden. We all have best friends but Jayden doesn't. Brandon thought it would be a good idea for us to get Jayden a best friend.
 
We have heard that Labs are the best family dogs and that they can be very therapeutic for kids like Jayden. Brandon and Jayden are going to be working together to train Dagger to also be a hunting dog. Our hope is that Jayden will be more active because of training him and walking him.
 
So last night when we got home the first item of business was to give him a good bath. Brandon had agreed to do this until he got a page of a car on fire. He took off and left me to give the bath. It was fine but I learned later that people shampoo will dull his coat and dry out his skin. Who knew? So we need to get puppy shampoo.
 
He will be living in Jaydens room with him and thats where he slept last night, on the bed next to Jayden. It went well I thought. He didn't really cry and he stayed dry all night. This morning however he peed and pooped in the house. Well what can you do, he is only 6 wks old you know. The kids have been working with him this morning and he has gone a couple more times outside so thats good news.
 
So wish us luck and especially me on our new adventure.

Aubrey loves to sing and so she wanted to be in the school Christmas choir this year again. They performed songs like the Grinch, I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, Peppermint stick and Silent Night. They all did great.
 
 
 
 

 
She had too look the part right?
She did a great job at memorizing a bunch of the fruits and what they taste and feel like.
 
We served the kids rice and peas too. They liked it a lot.
 
Brandon worked hard on this report and I was so glad he agreed to help her. Yay Brandon and Aubrey.
 

He wanted to go to the zoo and pirate island and he even announced that he was going in priesthood the Sunday before which was cute I guess. His leaders teased him a bit and asked if they could come. He really wanted to invite them too. Thanks to all who came and celebrated with us, and for the gifts he received and especially Anj and Garrett for tracking down the "right" dragon. Jayden loves jr high and is doing well there. He is also getting his braces off on the 29th of this month. Yipee. No more putting on rubber bands every night anymore. His teeth look fantastic too.

Here are a few randon pics from Jaydens 13 years. I will post his party ones later.

Well it came down to the last day but Brandon and Landen got us this Elk. Brandon was able to shoot it right off the 4 wheeler road and drove the 4 wheeler right to it, gutted it and cut it in half and they loaded it in two pieces onto the 4 wheeler. That was easy compared to all the other Elk that have been shot way down in the bottom of the canyon somewhere. Brandon took the shot at 30 yards. Yes now we will have meat for the winter.

So last night Brandon took the kids road hunting up at strawberry, he shot this deer at 55 yards and the kids were able to track it and find it with him. It was Alli and Jaydens first time seeing a dead deer that dad had shot and Alli was a little grossed out but she was ok. Jayden thought it was so cool and wasn't grossed out at all. He helped hold the legs open while dad gutted it out. Aubrey said when they got to the deer "Dad, I am not going to cry this time ok." And she didn't. Brandon had her hold the other leg open while he gutted. Alli wouldn't touch the antlers though I guess because the velvet had been rubbed off and she was a little freaked. All in all a very good outing. I wish I could have been there but I was at Keith Urbans concert.

We were able to earn about 8 thoudand dollars on saturday for my father in laws cancer treatment!!! We thank everyone so much who helped in any way. Thanks to J Daws(300 hot dogs sold), Jamba juice, cold stone, dominos, and so many other businesses and orginizations. Thanks to all to came and supported the bake sale, got haircuts, massages, tye dye shirts, cotton candy, the bounce house, popcorn, the balloon man, all the craft handmade items and the raffles. Everything turned out so well!! All the hard work and time it took to put it all together paid off. My sister in law Laurie and my brother in law Brett did so much of the work and getting all the raffle items...it wouldn't have turned out if it wasn't for them. You guys are awesome!!