Introducing Sophie Stewart!!

Tonight, we got a dog! We were definitely not planning on getting one! It was a true spur of the moment kind of thing!
Sam got home from working ALL Saturday (yucky tax season)! He was starving, so we decided to eat an early dinner. We headed to Black Eyed Pea in North Arlington so that we could go to our favorite pet store, Petland, after we ate. I was texting Chels, and I told her that we had just eaten and were heading to the pet store. She jokingly asked me if I was going to buy a dog, and I said NO WAY!
When we got inside Petland the kids made a beeline for the puppies, just like they always do! Emmy found a cute fluffy white dog that she wanted to name "Barbie", Sam liked the looks of the Brittany Spaniel, and Ella Cate was set on seeing a sweet Chihuahua. Sam asked the lady if we could see the Brittany Spaniel, we always get at least one dog out to play with in the little viewing room. We never plan on buying, the kids just love to play with the dogs! It is good free fun! (usually)
The Brittany Spaniel was SUPER wild. I had to take the girls out of the viewing area because they didn't like the dog jumping on them. Ella Cate walked back over to the Chihuahua and continued to ask to see her. The paper on her window said that she was only $199, and for the pet store that is super cheap.
Most of the dogs that we have looked at there are upwards of $900. We have inquired about these outrageous prices, and have been told by employees that it is because all of the extras that their dogs come with...microchipped, all shots, first vet visit free, first bag of dog food free, 15% all vet visits for dog's life at certain vets, 1 year warranty on dog, and extensive information on the dogs' breeder. So at least the higher prices started to make some sense to us! Over the course of several years we have come to know that Petland in Lincoln Square isn't like one of those pet stores with a bad rap. Their employees are knowledgeable, they care about the animals, and the animals always appear happy and well cared for...so let that preface our TOTAL impulse buy. : )
We asked to see the Chihuahua at Ellie's request. She was super cute, super sweet, and alot calmer than the Brittany Spaniel! The lady told us that she had been $1,000, (no one in their right mind would have payed that) but now because she is older (4 months) her price had been reduced to try to get her a home. We found out that she was born on 11-11, and for me that pretty much sealed the deal. 11:11 has always been a "lucky" time for Sam and I. We make a wish every time we see 11:11 on a clock.
The kids adored her, especially Cade. He even offered to give us all of the $ that he has saved to help pay for her. : ) After only a few minutes we decided that we wanted her to be a part of our family.

Cade was soo excited to get to pick out a dog. Slick has been around since before Cade was born, so this whole experience was a first and pretty special for Cade!

Meeting our sweet puppy in the viewing room for the first time!

Sam and Miss Ellie....sooo happy!

The gang posing with our new puppy after they gave her a bath.

sooo proud of their new pup

The lady educated Sam on all he needed to know before we took our puppy home.

The girls got a bit bored and tried to find leftover candy in the candy machines...they found a few pieces...yuck!

in front of petland

We left Petland with a sweet nameless puppy. All of the staff came to say goodbye to the pup, and it made me happy to think that she had been loved while at the pet store.

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We then headed to PetSmart for all of the extras.

Cade and I picked a crate and bowls

Cade picked a pink collar with rhinestones for his puppy.

Ella Cate made a BIG mess on the collar aisle, but I cleaned it up!

checking out at Petsmart
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We headed home to think of a name, feed our puppy, and try to get her to potty outside.

Unsuccessful attempt to get the puppy to potty

Playing with Ella Cate

The lady at the pet store told us that our pup may not have much of an appetite due to her change of surroundings. However, our puppy didn't skip a beat, she was quite a piglet!

After throwing around LOTS of names...Barbie : ), Suzy, Lucy, Gracie, Dolly : ), Cookie, Cupcake, Selena, Lucky, and Cade's fave Carly (we would end up calling her Car, and that is what we call Carson)....we decided on Sophie...sooo I proudly introduce Sophie Stewart who LOVES to chew on Tinker Toys and....

Magna Doodles! : ) We can't wait for everyone to meet her!

Old man Slick loves Sophie, and our kitty is being a TOTAL snob to her!!