kida

Hi friends, meet Kida. 

I know I know. What are we thinking? We already have six children, which is a lot of chaos and a lot of responsibility. Did we really need to add to that? I think that depends on how you look at it. 

Back in 2020, as the pandemic quarantine set in, we almost got on the puppy bandwagon with the other 23 million American Households who did. Alex and I are big dog people, and I mean that in the size, not necessarily in the enthusiasm level, although we do love them. No shade at all for all the French bulldog lovers, but I just don’t love dogs who can fit in a stroller. We also wanted a breed who would be really good with kids and hopefully, especially, good with Cannon. This dog also would, in a perfect world, love the water. We were both leaning towards labs or golden retrievers. So we emailed a few breeders and got on a few waiting lists for the next litter and wouldn’t you know, a positive pregnancy test (my own) came before the next litter of either dog breed was even born so we got off those lists and started making other ones for things like diapers and wipes and all the other baby gear I had already given away that we needed to re-acquire. 

But I digress. We put the dog idea on hold and decided when everyone in the house was potty trained, we could look into it again. A puppy is a lot of work, and she means a lot of getting up at night, and a lot of sacrificial shoes. I mean, there are literally shoes everywhere in this house, can you imagine how happy a puppy would be and also how much trouble she’d be in?

Late last summer, while we were out swimming in the lake at my parents’ house, we saw a puppy next door. Not just any puppy, a golden retriever puppy. We oooed and awwed over her perfect little face and giggled as we watched her owners, the son and daughter-in-law of my parents’ neighbors, teach her how to swim. Kida was the sweetest from the beginning, and my kids have spent a few dozen warm evenings in the last year throwing the tennis ball off the dock for her to swim to.

A few weeks ago, this kind couple whom we have come to know and love announced that they are moving to Florida. As they were outside talking to my mom one evening, she asked, almost in passing, just making conversation, “How do you think Kida will like Florida?” 

“Well, for a variety of reasons, we are thinking of re-homing her.” 

My mom immediately passed that news on to me and I told her to walk back outside and tell them the Blackburn Family is ever so gently raising their hand to take her (more like standing up and yelling the teacher’s name risking detention to get the appropriate attention). 

Last week, they called and said Kida would need a new home and they thought we were perfect for her. 

So friends, that is the story of how we got the dog I have always dreamed of who came to us at one-year-old, fully potty trained, crate trained, spayed, obedient, and so stinking adorable I can’t stand it. And like a dream, she is the least “sheddy” golden I’ve ever met in my life. God knew we needed the perfect situation and look what He gave us.

So yes, we may have added some work and some chaos but my goodness, we also added the most fun and laughter and joy ever. 

This may just turn into a dog blog now.