So after the sad events of yesterday, we found ourselves at a pet store last night. The next thing I know we have purchased an 8 week old female puggle (Male Pug + Female Beagle = Puggle). Her name is Tessa. I'm glad it worked out the way it did. Jace is doing much better with a puppy than he would have with a full grown dog. He really likes her. 
We have mentioned a surprise to a few of you via facebook and conversations, etc. Well we had a turn for the worse today and decided to let you in on the secret.
We decided to get Jace and Ella a dog for Christmas. Rather than ruin Jace's Christmas morning we were supposed to pick her up tonight. However, the people that we are buying her from are moving. This dog has a basket of toys and even knows how to put its own toys away. Well they had the lady's sewing stuff by the door and the dog's toy basket, in preparation for moving. The dog got confused by the apple push cushion and started playing with it. She got a needle stuck in her throat sideways.
Well they rushed her to the vet immediately. The vet put her under so that they could take some xrays. Well while they were taking xrays they discovered that she also swallowed a very small pair of sewing needles. Needless to say, she just went into surgery. We probably won't get her until tomorrow or even Sunday now.
We are very sad. We were very excited to bring this dog home and felt that she was a good fit for our family. Hopefully she will recover completely. Jace and Ella still don't know and we feel that Jace will handle it better if he sees her in person first. So please don't mention it to them.
Here is a little bit about her.
She is a puggle, half pug, half beagle.
1.5 years old.
She is house, kennel, and leash trained.
She has been to a behavior class.
She goes to bed at night in her kennel at 10 pm and wakes up at 8 am.
She sheds minimally, but likes baths and to be brushed wish decreases her shedding.
She knows down and sit and supposedly how to put away her own toys.
She is current on all shots, spayed, and has a microchip in her already.
She is energetic which is good for Jace and she likes to say hi to people when they come in, but then she calms down.
I have been with her twice and still haven't heard her bark. She wore a shock collar when she was young and that decreased her barking.
We are going to curb her enthusiasm when people knock at the door.
The fun part is she is trained through all of the annoying puppy behaviors, but young enough that we can still work with her...hopefully.
We found her on Craiglist and she is in Springville about 3 minutes away. She was only $200 and comes with her kennel, toys, food, treats, etc.and now I am assuming a nice vet bill!
The best part is her name is Bella!
She is really cute and the picture attached really doesn't do her justice, but thought we would include it anyway.
We like her cause she isn't a little yappy dog, but she isn't huge either.
The owners are moving to an apartment that doesn't allow pets. That is why they have to get rid of her. They have been really good owners and were really shaken up by what happened this morning. (The lady was almost in tears telling me.)
Well, our life has finally settled down quite a bit. Two days before our Thanksgiving vacation, we moved into our home. Yea! Since then, we have been quite busy getting organized. However, not 48 hrs after moving into our home, we took an awesome trip to California to visit our great friends, the Eddy's. That was so much fun. While we were there, we had a chance to use the Universal Studios passes that Nick's former boss gave to us. Thanks, Tom! Nick decided that it was his favorite amusement park! Jace understood the concept pretty well that we were watching how and where movies were made. Although I think in a few instances, he may have thought the fire and characters were real. Ella loved the Simpsons virtual roller coaster, but for the most part closed her eyes for everything else. The kids were so excited to get their pictures taken with their favorite TV characters. 
While we were in California, the Eddy's took us to see Vasquez Rocks. It is a cool place in Santa Clarita that was created by earthquakes. There are huge rocks to climb, which come out of the ground in very diagonal angles. You can climb to the top, but there are just drop offs on the other side. Ella had no fear and scared us all as we MADE her hold Nick's hand. Here's a few pictures. On one of the pictures, you have to look closely to see the small bugs (kids) climbing at the top of the rock. 
It's hard to believe that we haven't had a significant snow fall in Utah until yesterday. Five inches fell at our house and the kids really enjoyed the snow once again.
