Pets - It's a Vivas Thing!

Oct 01 2014

Snakes and Toilet Paper Rolls!

It’s amazing the conversations that take place in our family. Sometimes, the group texts are even funnier! Someone will send out a message and 68 messages later we can’t stop laughing! It’s crazy. There’s also the weird things that happen in our family that cause us to send out messages like the one below:

Me: “Are you removing the cardboard from the toilet paper? Someone keeps taking them out of the roll in the downstairs and boys bathroom?”

Response:” How is that even possible?”

Me: “You got me!”

Response:” Ha ha ha so no. :)”

It’s rather inconvenient when the group messages start while I am at work. Especially when I am in a meeting and my phone won’t stop…and I happen to glance down…and then burst out into laughter before I can stop myself.

Other times…it’s just a little scary.

Like a couple of weeks ago when my husband sent out, “Has anyone seen the snake?”

Responses are immediate with shock and laughter.

You see, it’s not uncommon for these types of conversations…”Why is there a frozen snake in my freezer?” or”Mom! Who put the lizard in the freezer and why is his head split open?” are not strange questions in my house.

It’s not uncommon for one of my kids to start a conversation with, “So mom…what would you say if…..” and I know it would shock others, but…that’s just the way the Vivas’s roll.

Sometimes I feel like our family should come with warning label, “Warning…you are now entering the Vivas Zone…”

So, when asked if we had seen the snake….we giggled.

Then, we realized the snake was really missing…and we were immediately concerned.

Not because we were afraid of the snake; he’s been with us for several years. We were concerned because we knew how much it meant to the Talented One and how heartbroken he must be. So, we searched and searched. And friends felt bad but remarked how they were not coming over until the snake was found.

And we weren’t sure when we would find him because he’d just been fed.

The last time our other snake got lose (someone forgot to close the lid), was found quickly…because he decided to take a nap with the Talented One. 😯

Anyway, a week went by. No snake.

And another week.

And then, this morning, excitement in the air. As the Smart One told it, he was sound asleep in La La Land when the Talented One started turning on all the lights. At first he wasn’t happy, then he realized the snake had been found! Turns out he was thirsty and needed some water.

Friends, you’ll be happy to know you can come over again…the snake is happily locked in his cage.

And don’t worry, I think someone knows that someone better not ever ever touch the snake again.

You know…all in the life of a Vivas!

Jul 14 2012

Oreo

Oreo was a Christmas surprise almost five years ago. My parents had come for a visit and then next thing I knew, I had several rabbits. Mom took all but one back to Colorado with her; Oreo. The Talented One couldn’t part with her, and so she became part of our family.

Oreo loved to run around the back yard. (Except for that one time when the dogs decided to chase her and we chased the dogs…but that’s another story!) She like to dig holes in the back yard; and when she was done, she go back into her hutch. She liked carrots and loved to be petted when we’d go out on the back porch to visit her.

Yesterday, we lost Oreo. My heart goes out to my children for the loss of their Oreo. I remember someone sharing this poem with us before and so I’ll share it again.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together. . . .

Dec 25 2010

Fred

Meet Fred.

He's our newest family member! His new BFF is Jonathan.

This is Jonathan's face when he first met Fred…

He says they look a lot alike…

Merry Christmas!

Nov 09 2010

Laughable Moment #29

We have two dogs, one of which has decided to come into heat. Yeah, I know…we need to spay her and neuter him. Trying to take care of him this week. In the meantime, we are keeping them separated. He's not taking it to well; he's miserable.

In his miserableness this morning, the Drama Queen wanted to know what was wrong with him. I remarked that he can't take it because he just wants to be with Roxy, to which my husband commented,

"Just admit it, it's all males. They all get this way around certain women."

To which I remarked, "Yeah, Daddy loves me so much, he'd do anything for me."

The Drama Queen interrupts and starts telling us,

"Yeah, Daddy loves me so much, he gave me clothes, he gave me a crib, he gave birth to me….."

At which point, I quickly interrupt and state, "Let me get this straight, dear, I gave birth to you."

(She does know that, by the way, it was just a slip of the tongue.)

Daddy went into fits of hysteria, stating one can never take that away from a women because she will always remind you that it was she that gave birth to her children!

Oh my goodness…we laughed so hard!

Now if only we could get Joey to stop howling and whining and eat something…………..

Jan 18 2010

A Glimpse into Our Family

We're a strange bunch, us Vivas's! I thought I'd give a glimpse into little daily parts of our lives. But where to start? Hmmm.

We like to just hang out. Literally.

We like to have parties that scare our favorite friends. Really.

We're not afraid to take happy pictures! (And some of us look a lot alike!)

We're not afraid of nature…or little critters.

We're not afraid of a little adventure, either.

(Don't you just love the look on their faces?)

We're kind of competitive…(even if it means beating our best friend's little sister!)

…and we like our cousins, especially if we're in the race for our lives!

We are a little afraid of small people with big knives!

Some lessons are painful for us. Literally.

Matching Christmas gifts are cool. Matching personalities even better.

Sometimes.

We take care of each other. Even if it means carrying your sister down a slippery rock.

Some of us are a little weird. She's pretending to eat the iguana rock in the background. It's the blurry thing that she's about to take a bite out of.

Then there are those bonding moments. You know…youngest and oldest, just chillin'

We also have weird pets. This one has a tongue disorder. Can you tell? We convinced the Good Looking One's girlfriend that we had even taken her to the vet and that the name of the disorder was too long to say. She felt so sorry for the poor dog. We finally caved in laughter! (But we really do think she has some unknown tongue disorder!) I really think this picture is priceless though! I mean, what are the chances of catching a shot like this?!

And after a long day of licking…she lays down ON MY PILLOW and crashes.

(In case you're wondering, the weird dog belongs to the girl who likes to pretend she's eating iguana rocks. Don't you think that's a perfect match?)

But the all time funniest picture I have come across is this one.

Seriously. I went to upload pictures onto my computer and found several of these. Not just one, but six or seven. See, my brother bought us a Wii for Christmas. My HUSBAND is addicted. He bowls with his sons almost every night. Before the Wii, he had no interest in video games. Notice the bald head and glasses? That's hubby. Notice the score in 1st place? That's the Smart One. Who had to take a picture and have me upload it to my computer for safe keeping. For proof.

As if the hysterical screaming when he actually scored it wasn't enough!

It'll be interesting to see what 2010 holds for us!

Hopefully, we'll still be smiling. Like this…