Invasion

Where to begin? So much has happened.
The biggest news is that Mom and Dad decided, hey, let's make life crazy and adopt 2 kids.  Yup, you heard me right.  Some people say, hey, let's have kids, and get one....few years later, maybe consider another.....not my family.  Go big or go home.  Let's get 2!  Let's rock our world.  Let's freak the life out of our dog, who, if you recall, is in his golden years.  Let's introduce havoc into our neat and clean home.
So last fall, these 2 kids moved in with us.  To be honest, they are fun and cute, but they are LOUD.  Especially Ciera, she's the girl.  She's 6 and never stops talking.  EVER.  Isaiah is 7, and never makes his bed, so I have found that to be a great place to rest and cuddle up.  Isaiah is quieter so I often spend my evenings resting on his bed while he sleeps.  I think it makes him happy.
But the noise!   There are now toys that fly-enough to put me into therapy, toys that make strange noises, toys all over Isaiah's floor, puzzles, crayons, enough stuff for a dog to build a new house.
I spent Christmas day on Mommy's bed.  About every 45 minutes Mommy would head upstairs to find me, check on me, and head back to cook.  It was the only quiet place-I think she would have liked to be up there cuddled on the bed with me.  She kept telling people she got over 15K steps in and never left the house.....but I know she's rather have napped.
The kids love to walk me on my leash but gentle they are not.  I get pulled all over.  They love to run, so I work to keep up.  They do love to pet me, and that works for everyone involved.  I have made a few escapes only to be retrieved. 
So what's Mommy like now?  Well I could write an entire manuscript about her.   She never sits down now unless she's doing her bank work.  She's running around here like a lunatic, cooking, laundry, lunches, you name it.  She's not forgotten me though....and because she's at home working a lot, I still get some 1:1 time where she talks about the stuff the kids have not cleaned up, I stare at her, and then she gets back to work. And, she won't let me sleep anywhere but with her.  Don't get me wrong, I typically would find my way to her bed anyway, but now I am kind of part of a power play between she and Isaiah.  The kids are supposed to feed me, but you can imagine how that goes.  Good news is that they are messy and snacks are aplenty on the floor.
Mommy took time off this summer to spend with the kids, but deep down I know she did it to spend time with me because she feels bad that she adopted the kids and really never consulted me.  So, she and I have made our peace through long walks and extra treats. 
Daddy, well, let's just say he's hanging on.