My life.

My life. I'd check the "it's complicated" box if I could. After all, there aren't many people who truly get why my life is the way it is and why I am more than ok with it. I get lectured, offered advice, and looked at with pity at every turn. Yet, my heart is so full inside. 

Just so you can go ahead and plan your speech or email me your personal advice, I am going to fill you in on the nitty gritty details of who makes up my family. Are you ready? Pay attention -- here it goes:

I am married to the love of my life, Tina -- who came pre-packed in a nice family-ready package with a son named Manny who is now 18 years old and lives at home with us. Then, we have our nephews, 7 years old and 10 years old, in our care and also living in our home. 

We decided to get a puppy -- a Chiweenie (half Chihuahua and half Dachshund) named Daisy. But, we quickly learned that because of the number of people in our household, one little weenie dog was not going to fulfill everyone's need for puppy love. So, we got another -- an American Bulldog puppy named Elsa. Well, she had a rough start at life and so did her sister. We couldn't just leave her sister behind in the filth they were living in -- so we took her too. She is from the same litter and her name is Anna. (ok, ok, so our heart strings are tugged easily -- you are thinking it like its a bad thing).

So there you have it -- we have a house of two adults, a teenager, two little boys, and three female dogs. 

Oh, and I should probably tell you that  Tina and I are both very close with our mothers. They don't live with us - yet - but they do live close by and play a big role in our family dynamic.

The ups and downs and ins and outs of life with all of these people -- all these different personalities, different goals, different approaches to life, and different reactions to life -- can be trying, stressful, frustrating, and even make me want to holler like a screaming goat some days. At the same time, it makes me laugh, fills me with warmth, and shows me to appreciate life in a way I never did. 

The truth is, I wouldn't change my life for anything. 

Welcome to my life of love & chaos.