Random Picture

I didn't take very many pictures when we were up in Connecticut for Thanksgiving, but here is a picture of John, Alisa, Bill and I that came out pretty well.

So...what are you going to do now?

That's all I have been hearing lately: what are you going to do now? Since we lost the election I am out of a job for the first time since college. I was so blessed to land in this office, I started here only a few weeks after graduation and only 2 days after my honeymoon ended. It is hard for me to think of starting the process over--a new office, new boss, new coworkers, etc. It will certainly be a hard adjustment. There are a lot of different options I have been weighing in my mind, discussing with people, and praying about. Do I stay on the hill, try to find something closer to home, does this change the timing of our leaving Washington, DC? Part of me wants to just be in denial and not even think about it!

I have been getting some great suggestions from friends and coworkers, and am certainly open to more ideas!

But for now...the answer is I don't know!

Twenty-six

Happy birthday to me! I am excited about the year ahead--the changes, the challenges, the adventures.

Celebration plans: Hubby is making me dinner tonight, then we are going to the outlets (b-day gift money burning a hole in my pocket--hehe) then to Baltimore to the Art Museum and out to dinner.

I guess 26 isn't too old to be excited about a birthday--I know someday soon I will feel "old" and not want to acknowledge a birthday, but until then: time to party!

Oh, and p.s. happy blog birthday too--it is a year old tomorrow.

Stress is....

your job depending on a "coming from behind" election just two weeks away...

40 billion different options when it comes to refinancing one's house...

one job that makes you take a week off the same week that your spouse is absolutely not allowed to take off...

a school that changes one's schedule (and therefore causing a later graduation date) multiple times with no apologies for messing it up...

I love Fall

It has been a long time since my last update--life has been pretty intense lately. Only 25 more days until the election and we are inundated with political ads, volunteering, poll numbers, and pundits predictions. I am very hopeful for the outcome of the election, I haven't lost total faith in the voters of the U.S. yet! It is sad how selfish and short sighted many people seem to be with their satisfaction of the current administration going up and down with gas prices rather than based on issues like the fact that we haven't had a terrorist attack in the U.S. since Sept. 11th.

In Ronald Reagan's words: "We need more Democrats in the Senate--like Custer needed more arrows."

Bill has been working so hard lately--he has been doing two jobs worth of work load at the office and has a really demanding MBA class. This burden rests on him, but I am trying to help out in any way that I can. We just have to keep the countdown going--five more classes until the degree.

Spoiled

As I sit here at my desk with my lunch of a Mango Apricot yogurt and a blueberry Trader Joes cereal bar staring at me I realize I have no appetite. And I know why. It is all my mom's fault. We visited them over the weekend and she spoiled my stomach with lots of yummy homemade foods. Thanks, Mom, now I have to retrain my stomach back to my normal diet.

Fall Cleaning?

My cleaning style is somewhat haphazard. I get a few minutes here and there and I do whatever is most urgent--clean the bathrooms, wash the underwear, scrub the dishes. It seems like what gets left behind is the general organization and straightening that goes along with having a large chunk of time to devote to cleaning. Cupboards get jumbled, closets get full, whatever isn't urgent (ie, visible to guests, haha) doesn't get done. I really need to devote a day or even a whole weekend to cleaning, organizing, and fall decorating. It will be much less stressful to not have all that hanging over my head, but a lot of tiring hard work to accomplish. Maybe I can do it the last weekend in September, but it might have to wait until Columbus day weekend.

Here's the plan:

Throw away clutter!
Clean high traffic areas of carpet
Empty, clean and reorganize all cupboards in kitchen.
Pack away summer clothes and get out fall/winter clothes.
Wash windows.
Empty and repack downstairs closet
Empty and repack guest bedroom closet
Donate unused clothes to church

Bottom line: don't leave a nook or cranny un-disturbed. Now we will see if I actually follow through....

a moment to remember

The following is excerpted from President Bush's statement on September 11, 2001.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

God bless America.

We're Back!

Our five days of vacation in North Myrtle beach were wonderful--and gone far too quickly! We had a great time swimming in the ocean and the pools every day. We visited a beautiful sculpture garden and wildlife refuge, and saw a lot of the sights in the M.B. area. Most of all we just enjoyed one another's company without the distractions of work and school. Sappy--I know--but hey, we love spending time together, going on adventures, and being silly!

puppy fever

Have you ever seen a cuter puppy? I saw this little girl who is for sale right now from a French Bulldog breeder in Alabama. She is a Frenchton: French Bulldog crossed with Boston Terrier. She will probably be about 20 lbs when she is grown. When I saw her I fell in love. I am now smitten with puppy fever. If I wasn't gone 12 hours a day at work I would be driving to Alabama right now...

Change and Growth

Everyone who knows me knows I am not a big fan of change.


We have been going through a period of growth within our small group that has caused one of the couples go their own separate way. While I do believe that this is all in God's plan for us and is important for our growth in our walk with Him, it is so very hard to deal with emotionally. It is difficult not to blame this on something that we have done wrong, rather than accepting that God called them in a different direction than He was calling the other couples in the group.


And although I know there really was not another option to what has happened, I still cannot prevent a profound sense of sadness and loss from sweeping over me.

So hot this week

This isn't an exaggeration.

Vacation Ahoy!

We are headed to Myrtle Beach, SC, in 16 days! Not that I am counting or anything. Bill and I are excited to explore a new beach and a new state and to have some time away from work and especially Bill's school.

Reflections on the Culture

There have been advertisements on television lately for a movie that looks so awful and disgusting that we have to change the channel just to not view the ads for it. I don't know a whole lot about this movie other than that ad which included irreverence toward Jesus and sexual acts performed with a donkey. The other thing I know is that the director of the movie was pleasantly suprised when he didn't have to cut anything out to get an R rating instead of a NC-17 rating. Now why am I talking about this? I guess because I started thinking about it in terms of the moral slippery slope our culture is currently on.

What is one of the arguments against supporting gay marriage? That if you can defend gay marriage by arguments of "personal choice" etc. then you can defend incest, group marriage, and beastiality. Of course most of the proponents of gay marriage were vehemently against this line of logic.

But now here is evidence of what even these most liberal and "open minded" people swear will not happen.

How did being "gay" become acceptable in the United States? Well, one way has been through humor on TV and the big screen. The Seinfeld quote from many years ago that most everyone knows--"We're not gay, not that there is anything wrong with that." You take a subject that people are uncomfortable with, make them laugh at it, and gradually they become comfortable with it.

Let's review what we have on TV and in movies now: Polygamy (Big Love), Child/Adult sexual relationship (Birth), and now beastiality (Clerks II). I guess liberals won't be able to deny for much longer that by supporting any deviant sexual relationship they are supporting them all.

Let's put the brakes on this cultural slide as much as we as individuals can--don't laugh. Will it help? Probably not much, but it really isn't funny.

Happy Day!!

It looks like we are going to be able to go on a vacation in a few weeks. This is suprising news because normally Bill has to do so much school that we are tied to the computer, but now we have been gifted with an unexpected week off! We don't know where we will go yet, but we definitely want to head to the beach!

Also, I was able to order a really cute tankini bathing suit at J.Crew that was on sale for well over half off. I have had my eye on this one for a long time--since it came out in the spring. Of course it was way overpriced back then, but sometimes good things come to those who wait. And now it looks like I will have a fun beach vacation to wear it on.

It has been a while since I posted--how is it the middle of July already? Our lives have been routinely busy if that makes any sense. A lot of ten hour days at work, Bill has to focus on school, I do the house chores, and the weeks slip by.

Our Fourth of July break was a nice change of pace--we enjoyed relaxing at the lake swimming and boating and eating. Spending time with the family was very nice--it can get lonely down here in Virginia sometimes!

Our Bible study group has been learning from Ephesians which has been an encouraging book to study in depth. Every week we are struck by the unfathomable things God has done for us and given to us. When praying for the believers, Paul wanted them to come to a deeper understanding of God's love so that they might experience the fullness He provides. Isn't it interesting that we often focus on very small, limited things when we pray--but what we should be praying that we "may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Think big when you pray--God has immeasurably more for His children than we can even imagine.

Night Show

Last night a powerful and dramatic lightning storm passed through our area. I call it a lightning storm because the lightning was the most dominant feature of this storm. There was some thunder, wind, and rain as well, but nothing like the lightning. The master bedroom of our house is on the third floor in the back facing some trees and a field, providing an excellent view of the sky. We went to bed a little before 11pm and were kept awake by the flash, flash, flashing of the lightning. Finally, we got up and opened the curtains and just watched. The whole sky would turn a mauve color as the lightning brightened the sky. It was the kind that you couldn't see the individual bolts of lightning, but would make the whole sky flicker. Then the bolts started. Flicker, flicker, flicker--then FLASH! a bolt or two would slice down all the way to the ground. We watched for about an hour--it must have been a slow moving storm. There was still some bright flashing going on when we finally went to bed after the exciting show.

four sweet years today

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

~e.e. cummings

What is it really about?

This week the Senate is debating the Marriage Protection Amendment--one of the more controversial and anger inciting resolutions that has come before the Senate in recent memory. There are so many different things to say about the issue, so what I say here is by no means exhaustive.

What bothers me more than the angry opponents of this bill call it the "anti-gay amendment" and the supporters of this bill "homophobes" and "gay-bashers" is that often the supporters of the bill don't really know exactly what they are supporting or how to defend it. The opponents of the bill make it about sex. They don't want the government in their bedrooms--telling them who they can and cannot "love." They are calling Capitol Hill offices of conservative members harassing the receptionists with explicit questions about the member's sexual activities. The goal of this is to get the person on the phone to say, "That is none of your business" to which they will respond, "it isn't yours either."

But they miss the point. This bill isn't about sex. It isn't about what goes on in their bedrooms. Marriage is a fundamental social institution that creates the best family structure. The Marriage Amendment is not based on taking away a certain group of people's rights, but is about protecting what is the foundational building block of society. The government has the right to take action to protect the country's future citizens.

Redefining marriage changes the institution to the point of making it irrelevant.

Dr. Matthew Spalding said that: " Changing the definition of marriage--or even remaining neutral as to that definition--breaks down the very argument that gives marriage its unique and preferable status in society. If marriage becomes just one form of commitment in a spectrum of sexual relationships rather than a preferred monogamous relationship for the sake of children, the line separating sexual relations within and outside of marriage becomes blurred, and so does the public policy argument against out-of-wedlock births or in favor of abstinence."

Once the foundation is altered the whole society starts to crumble.

It's in my blood

Bill and I are planning to go camping and hiking this upcoming holiday weekend in the northern part of the Washington and Jefferson National Forest. I am very excited because we haven't been camping for about two years now. Camping and hiking have always been in my blood and I definitely feel like something is missing when I don't go for so long. My family always spent a few long weekends a year camping in the White Mountains in New Hampshire (which is where my parents are right now actually). It is always such a satisfying experience being in the outdoors 24/7, getting tons of exercise, catching up on reading, and not having a schedule to keep. I am hoping it doesn't rain this weekend (which would not be a fun camping experience) and that the three day weekend will give us enough time to relax and unwind.

the little things add up

I know I have been lax about posting for the past few weeks. As they say, there hasn't been much of anything to "write home about." It is all the little things that have kept me too busy for any philosophical musings of late.

Here is a quote for the day from Jane Austen: "To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment." I could use some of that refreshment.

(a view of the lake from the woods in front of my parents house)

What Mothers Everywhere Already Knew

With Mother's Day just around the corner I thought that a study conducted by Salary.com was more than appropriate to mention.

If a stay at home mom was paid a salary for all the work that she does, she would be paid $134,121 per year. This study was based on taking into account all the jobs a mom does: housekeeper, day-care teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive and psychologist and how many hours she works per week: 91.6.

I wonder how much the salary goes up for homeschooling stay at home moms?

And for the moms who want to know specifically what their work is worth click here. You can use the Mom Salary Wizard and enter your location, number of children, hours, and type of work. You can even print yourself a paycheck!

Easter Visit with the Family

Mom and Dad-in-Law, Erika, Jim, Steph, Peter and me (Bill was taking the picture, and apparently hasn't found the zoom on the camera.)

Aren't Peter and Erika so cute?! This was the best picture I could get, they wouldn't hold still!

I was quite happy with this flower arrangement, I think it looks veryMartha-y. The daffodils go around in a circle with the tulips in the middle. I brought it up for Bill's Mom for Easter since she said she didn't need me to make any food (I still made muffins though). Best part is, all the flowers and the container only cost $15. Florist make such a profit on their arrangements!

A Toast to Laura and David

Here is the text of my toast to Laura and David that I made at their wedding April 8th. I thought I would post it here because a few people have asked me about it, and also so I can look back on it in the future.

I first met Laura over seven years ago as we sat in the front row on our first day of Spanish class freshman year at Grove City College. I remember thinking when I saw her that this is a girl I can work with. Little did I know that she would become one of my closest friends.

Laura was witness to all the stages of my relationship with my husband—from the first signs of love, through our engagement, and I was honored to have her in my wedding party when I walked down the aisle almost four years ago. And now I have been witness to her relationship with David. From the first time she said, “there’s a guy I have been emailing…” all the way through to today.

Laura, God has blessed me with your friendship. He has given me a loyal, loving, fun, and generous person in you. I am so excited that you are married! God has joined you with a wonderful man, and you have so much to look forward to as a wife. I am very happy to be continuing on as your friend through all the adventures before you.

David, even before I met you I knew you were someone special. Not long after you and Laura started dating, she was glowing. Now that I have known you for a little while I see a man of integrity who loves God and desires to be obedient to Him. I also see a man who loves Laura with a great love that will last forever.

David, I have every confidence that you know what an amazing woman God has entrusted to your care. I know that you will do your best to honor her, cherish her, and put her needs before your own

Laura and David: since I have four years on you with this marriage thing, I feel like I can offer you a few small words of wisdom.
· Remember marriage is not just a relationship between a man and a woman, but it is a sacred bond that includes God. Look to Him as an example of how to treat your spouse and seek to honor Him in your marriage.
· Don’t isolate yourselves; seek out other couples to fellowship with, it can be a great encouragement and way to strengthen your relationship with each other.
· If hard times ever come (and they probably will), remember that it is the two of you as a team against all your problems. Don’t let the problems ever turn you against each other.
· Lastly, don’t forget to make time to have fun together!


Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.

Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there will be no loneliness,for each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.

May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years.

May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.

So tonight, please join me as I raise my glass to toast Laura and David. To the bride and groom!

Wedding Day Recap

It was a beautiful day, despite the rain, filled with laughter, love, and tears. Laura was as beautiful and radiant as any bride has ever been--and now she is a married woman!

The day started with many last minute details, I was frantic to get everything in the car without forgetting anything! Dress, shoes, veils, tiara, emergency kit, camera, makeup mirror, where on earth is the hair spray, umbrella, oh-no my keys! Four of the six of us girls (me, Laura, Amanda and Cheralyn) crammed into my car with all our stuff. We then headed to the salon to watch Laura get her hair done and veils attached while we did our own hair and put on makeup. Two hours later we jumped into the limo and enjoyed lunch from Chicken Out as we drove to the church. Laura was not too nervous and more than a little excited!

When we arrived at the church we all headed to the parlor where we had plenty of time to finish dressing and just enjoy each other's company for a while. The other two bridesmaids, Megan and Kristen joined us there.

Once all the family arrived at the church with the flowers and the photographer the day really sped up. We did pictured and hugged lots of people and ooohh'ed and aahhh'ed over the flowers and how beautiful Laura looked. The assistant from the church came to line us up to walk down the aisle and the nerves hit! My stomach felt like it dropped and Laura started looking a little teary. As I made it to the front of the church and turned to look for Laura I caught David's eye and smiled at him--he looked pretty calm. As the doors opened and Laura started her procession you could feel the emotion. She had a few tears trickle down her face--over a happy smile. David certainly was blinking back a few tears, as was I.

The ceremony was beautiful, Christ-honoring, and heartfelt. As we recessed back down the aisle, I glanced at my husband and could tell we were both thinking how happy and blessed we were to be married, and was it really almost four years ago that it was us standing up there? We waited in the parlor until the guests could make their way out and as each bridesmaid/groomsman couple came to congratulate Laura her squeals of sheer excitement got louder! (we got in trouble with the church assistant lady for being too loud). Laura and David made a run for the limo through the crowd of guests as we threw rose petals at them--it was fun despite the damp weather.

The photographer took many more pictures of the families and the wedding party, then we were on our way to the reception. We proceeded Laura and David only by a few minutes and were there to greet the new married couple as they entered. The hall was decorated beautifully, the cake looked amazing, and the gift table overflowed. Cake cutting, the toasts, eating, and dancing all followed in quick succession and the evening was over far too quickly. Laura and David left in their snazzy convertable getaway car for their honeymoon. I gathered up all of Laura and David's things and the long awaited wedding day was over.

Not Babies Anymore...

The Three Girls: Pumpkin, Patch, and Buttercup

Here is PJ: He doesn't appreciate his bachelorhood.

Pumpkin and Buttercup enjoying some spring clover from our backyard.

Blossoms are Calling

The DC area is in the midst of an explosion of pale pink and white blossoms on this last day of March. The warm sun is lighting the profusion of flowering trees and bulbs everywhere--this is the most beautiful time of year in this area. I certainly have spring fever as I gaze out of my office window and sigh--but at least tomorrow brings the freedom of the weekend.

Happy Birthday Mom!

We recently travelled to Connecticut to celebrate my Mom's birthday. We had a very nice dinner out at a restaurant called La Vita Gustosa (the tasty life) and then came home to open presents and eat cake. We all had a great time, and most importantly were able to celebrate Mom and recognise in a small way how much she does for all of us. Love you Mom!

Bridal Shower Recap

Last Saturday was Laura's Bridal Shower that I hosted at my house. I had so much fun preparing for it: making the favors, planning the menu, organizing the games, decorating the living and dining room, etc.


Favors: Heart Shaped Tea infuser and a tin of loose leaf tea, custom printed M and M's in pink and cream that say "Laura's Shower" and "March 11, 2006"

Menu: Tea, Sparkling Pink Lemonade, Chambord Champagne Cocktail, Tea Sandwiches: Cucumber Mint/Chicken Rosemary Pate/Ham and Watercress, Sugar cookies, Cranberry Scones, Fresh Strawberry Tarts, and Lemon Cake.

Games: Mad-Lib, Kitchen Powder Guessing Game, and Advice Q & A game.

We had really beautiful spring weather, Laura had many presents to open, and we all had a fun tea-time celebration!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We like to celebrate with green cable sweaters here in the office!

Motivation

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error of shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause..." ~Teddy Roosevelt

flowers and ambitions

Do you ever play the day dream game of what you would be if you weren't what you are now? Especially the if I had unlimited time and money I would be a.....

A few things come to mind when I let my mind wander in these day dreams; of what I would do with my unlimited time, money, and energy (hey, it is a dream).


~I would grow the most amazing landscaped gardens. They would be a haven, a place that you could find tranquility and beauty and quiet. There would be paths of slate lined with manicured hedges of lavendar and boxwood surrounding islands of peonys, buddlea, phlox, and dahlias. There would be an arbor weighted down by clematis and wisteria over a stone bench. Shady corners filled with the cool green varigated leaves of hosta would give way to sunny patches filled with herbs and blooms. The sound of sighing wind, trickling water, and sleepy birds would permeate the air.

~I would be an accomplished hostess. One of the virtues that a Christian is to practice is hospitality, one I would like to work on more. Opening my home and preparing food for guests is a wonderful experience. Especially the cooking part. I love preparing food, it is truly a form of art.

~Weddings. I love everything about them; there is so much promise, anticipation, beauty, and love in a wedding. If I ever had another career (other than being a mom) it would be a wedding planner. I enjoy being involved in all the minute details of the event--the flowers, the dresses, the traditions, the parties! Even soothing frazzled nerves of brides-to-be.

Isn't it fun to dream? And to have these things to work toward...because someday they may come true.

A Day in My Life

Recorded here so I can look back someday and compare.

5:45am Alarm goes off
5:50am Drag self out of bed, dress for work, pack lunches
6:30am Get in Car
7:45am Get to work
5:15pm leave work
6:00pm meet Bill at Metro
6:45pm get home
7:30pm eat dinner
8:00pm clean up after dinner
8:30pm exercise
9:00pm play with piggies, read
10:00pm shower, get ready for bed
10:45pm Bed

Primavera

A bird calls, a green shoot breaks through the dead leaves of fall, a bud swells on a tree. The earthy-wet scent of the slowly warming ground faintly tinges the air. A fresh sense of energy stirs creatures wild and tame.




Even though snow fell yesterday, Spring is starting to make her appearance. It is exciting to think of the end of the winter. As a lover of gardening and the outdoors, I start getting a real case of cabin fever about this time of year. I long to spend my evenings after work and my weekends walking outside, taking hikes in the mountains, and exploring local parks. And gardening! Just to walk down the rows of flowering plants at the local garden center is pure delight. It is so hard to choose just a few to come home with me. I have been enlisted to help a few friends with their gardens this spring--we will have so much fun!

Spring--this season I am anticipating with a great sense of elation.

Growing Babies

Winter's not done yet!

We spent this weekend inside--lots of snow fell yesterday and today, the sun is finally peeking out around noon. I estimate we got just under a foot of snow, and it took us a good long time to dig out the car. Then we went on a walk in the snow, we were covered in it anyway. It was halfway up my shins! Perfect snowball snow. Being snowed in put a crimp in our plans for the weekend, but it isn't turning out too badly. Last night I made a big pot of chili and some cornbread and we watched a movie. If only the snow came a bit later, I might have gotten out of work tomorrow. It is looking like it will be okay to drive soon now, since the sun is coming out to melt the snow off the roads. I bet they will still cancel school around here--the DC area can't handle snow very well, especially the schools.

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. ~C.S. Lewis

Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world. ~T'ien Yiheng

On Dreaming

When slumber seals our weary eyes,

The busy fancy wakeful keeps;

The scenes which then before us rise,

Prove something in us never sleeps.

.

As in another world we seem,

A new creation of our own,

All appears real, though a dream,

And all familiar, though unknown.

.

~~John Newton "On Dreaming"

For some people, dreams are a manifestation of anxieties or dominating thoughts in a person's life. If someone has something on their mind when they go to bed, often it will surface in their dreams.

For others, dreams have no relation to anything going on in their life or conscious thought. It is a time for things to surface in one's mind that would never emerge while in a wakeful state.

I definitely fall into the latter category. My dreams are vivid and fantastical. I will often wake up from a dream and think two things: where did that come from and, that would make a great movie! I enjoy my dreams, how far they take me in my imagination. The details are always very minute: from the bark on a tree to the sense of emotion. I get caught up in my dream's adventures, journeys, and secrets. Something in me certainly never sleeps--I am glad it doesn't.

The Trio

Breakfast time with Mommy. The babies are already eating hay, nibbling on the pelleted food, and today tasted their first apple.









Pumpkin, Patch, and Pie--they are very cooperative and don't seem upset when I take them from Buttercup. They constantly make little squeaks that are so precious.

Pie (aka PJ or Pippen Jr.)--the littlest of the bunch, and the fluffiest too. He is too adorable!