What Are Those Things?

The other morning Alex went out early in the morning to collect wasp nests for the Tibbet's lab where he worked over the summer. He brought the wasp nests plus the wasps back in clear Tupperware containers and stacked them on the table while he got ready to go up to school. Leo must have heard the occasional thud when a wasp flew into the side of the container. Ever the curious one, he began a thorough investigation. He's not allowed on the table, so he had to conduct said investigation from the floor. Fortunately, he's just tall enough to peek over the top of the table when he stands on his back legs.

After about 20 minutes of this, Alex and I took pity on him and put one of the containers on the floor for easier access. Once it was on the floor, Rambo took notice and together the two of them puzzled over the curiousity for another half an hour. Mind you, I kept a close eye on them--you never know when a cat will be struck with genius and figure out how to open Tupperware.

Rambo and Ella

You wouldn't know it from everyday activities, but apparently Ella and Rambo are secretly best friends. After I went to bed the other night, Alex caught them cuddling on film.

Ella's Bed

A little background for this post. When Alex and I got Charlie we made a big deal out of not letting him on the couch unless he was invited. Then Ella came along and for some reason we didn't make as big a deal out of it (the younger sibling always gets off easy, or so Olivia tells me). If she's on the couch and you want it, she'll immediately get down, but if there's room on the couch she doesn't need an invitation to fill it up. She sort of thinks of it as her bed. I know for a fact that she sleeps there every night because of the hair and dust she leaves behind. It's not a big deal because we have covered the couch with sheets, so she's not getting the actual couch dirty. Charlie is a little more reserved about it--he only does it during the day when we're gone and will only join us on the couch if we really convince him. Anyway, the dogs aren't allowed on the bed without invitation either. Unlike the couch, this rule actually still gets enforced. BUT, Ella and I also have this little routine we do every night around bedtime. Since I usually hit the sack before Alex, I invite Ella onto the bed for 5 minutes before Alex kicks her out. She loves it and feels very special.

So last night, I was laying on the couch watching the Olympics. Eventually I started to fall asleep I decided to go to bed. When I went in the bedroom, who should be all curled up on the bed but Ella. She had obviously wanted to lie on the couch but found it otherwise occupied by me. So, instead of laying on the cold, hard floor she just skipped ahead to the part of the evening where I go to bed and she gets invited to come with me. She was very cute and as I'm sure you all know, it's really hard to discipline dogs when they're being adorable. So I let her stay. I thought she might move when I started to make the bed but she didn't. She just let me make the bed over her and then went right back to sleep. What a spoiled dog we have. I'm very curious to see what she decides to do tonight...

The Shoebox is Alive

I was startled the other day when a shoebox in the kitchen reached out and bit me. Then I looked a little closer.

Rambo Cools Down

I got the cooler out yesterday in preparation for a day at the beach. I left it open and when I came back into the room I found it magically full--of cat. I should've known.