Introducing......."Sheikah" LAYLA!!! (Gabrielle's Big B-day Surprise!)

This is "Sheikah" LAYLA~



We know, totally ADORABLE! And she was Gabrielle's big birthday surprise (2 days early)! She is a great puppy that has brought both of the kids sooooo much happiness, we often wonder why we waited so long! Well, it was time and it has been so worth it. She is a 2 1/2 month old Spitz from an 8 pup litter, born right here in Doha, Qatar. The vet said two very wonderful things (aside from her being a very healthy puppy): 1. It is a very rambunctious breed, and 2. they are super smart; which to us translates to: very playful for OUR rambunctious kids, and, very trainable - to keep our home clean from pee pee and poo poo! Truthfully, the first two nights were the worst, and even they were not bad at all. We knew it would be like having a new baby at home with the potty training and her biting into everything! But, she has been great....We really have been lucky. She woke us up one time during those first 2 nights to go out to potty, but by the third night, she demonstrated more self control and waited until Rolando let her out before he was off to work. These days, by the time the kids and I wake up for school, she is good to go. We try to get in 2 walks a day, when the heat allows, but really, most of their exercise is indoors playing catch, or watching her trying to catch dragonflies in our back yard. At the end of some of her busy days, bathes are also interesting and somehow seem to exhaust all three of them together, not to mention Mom and Dad! ;)





















You can see from the pics that her and the kids get along beautifully. It is like they were made for one another. Did I mention that Gabrielle's been asking for a puppy since she could talk?! Well, here's proof that dreams really do come true. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR LITTLE CINCO DE MAYO GIRL!!! WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND ARE PROUD OF YOU MORE THAN WE CAN SAY.....



















Here are the pictures of Gabrielle's actual B-day (5 de Mayo)! Nick and Mommy went to Sissy's school with Krispy Kreme doughnuts to help celebrate it with her class. Later, we celebrated with Daddy,who bought her a dozen roses, and our friend Todd who stunned her with another of her wishes, a Tomagochi. And, yes, Mommy baked her her birthday cake which was a total hit, served with ice cream!!! ;)

Thank you to all of her Tias, Tios, Cousins, Friends, Sister and Grandparents who called to express their love and extend their B-day wishes to her; as well as those who sent emails. You all helped make her day super special!!!