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Sooo... we have a new dog.
I posted about this same time last year that my husband had found a 5 mo old kitten that was severely underweight and we took her in... she's, well, not underweight anymore, let's just go with that. Vida might be a little bit spoiled. 
Anyway, apparently, this is the time of year for us to get a new pet... because as I was at the Petsmart yesterday, getting litter and food for the cat, I walked by a bunch of dogs that were up for adoption from a local group that does in home foster and is a no-kill shelter. And this blue eyed (though one eye is half brown), big old oaf of a great dane/ lab mix stared at me, and I was screwed. Totally done for. And he's currently sleeping on my couch. Cosmo is our newest family member. 
Want to know the funniest thing? I'm a cat person. My husband, the dog person. So he brings home a cat, and I bring home a dog. What is that? And the cat is totally attached to my husband, and this dog is, I think, already attached to me. Strange, strange things indeed. 
Anyway, not being a dog person, I might be around asking more questions about what to do with him than I needed for the cat! He's 1 year old, had been in his last foster for about 4 months (and the foster mom seemed pretty sad to let him go- they were going to be moving him anyway b/c he was getting too attached to her family). They said he had been adopted for just a few days previously, and came back to them really terrified of men with facial hair and hats... so someone didn't treat him too nicely. He was pretty leery of my father and father in law who came over today (to see the kiddos and meet him). He does REALLY good with other dogs- my sister brought her dog over tonight and they had a blast playing with each other. He's really good with the kids too- lets my two year old practically lay on top of him and isn't phased at all- the foster home he came from had kids around frequently, and they said he'd always been really good with them too. He and the cat are... at a truce. There has been some growling, barking, and hissing, but I think they'll figure each other out.
He's really energetic- thankfully, we have a fenced in back yard, and he frequently asks to go out (or I kick him out, if he's getting too wired up indoors, kinda like I do with my son... they'll have a blast this summer, I'm sure). We've gotten him quite a few toys- he tore apart one of our kid's cheapo plastic balls, so any advice on how to keep him from tearing apart our kid's toys, aside from just telling him no when he gets ahold of one and redirecting him to his own and cornering off their toys (which when they want to play with them, isn't really feasible...), that would be greatly appreciated! And we're making sure to take him on a daily walk (unless it's just ridiculously cold, then the backyard will have to suffice for him!). He doesn't bark much- just when we leave him alone, or go to another room and won't let him in with us (like I closed the gate this evening when I swept the kitchen so he wouldn't be underfoot- he did not like that much.), or when someone he doesn't know (men especially) come in the house. He's REALLY lovey- loves to give kisses, but also seems to know who wants them and who doesn't. He just gives me little licks, while the kids and my husband he gives them lots of them.
I just want to make sure he's a well mannered dog- I think he's pretty well there already, and part of his energy is still having some puppy in him yet- he'll mellow out some more, I'm sure, as he gets older. But we made it through our first 24 hours without a single though of "oh crap, what have we gotten ourselves into", and he's gone through a lot- meeting new people, new dogs, our cat, getting a bath... I think he'll fit in just fine.
Re: Sooo... we have a new dog.
I haven't had a chance to get my camera out and take a real picture of him... all I have are REALLY crappy cell phone pics. They don't show nearly how cute he is. I'll try to get some up tomorrow. he's asleep now, and I don't want to bother him.
Here is the crappy cell pic though:
Yeah, I figured balls are kind of a lost cause- we're just going to keep those put up. But other toys, we just have to figure out a way for him to understand the difference. We have a basket just for his things, and that's where we constantly show him when he chews on something that isn't his to chew. He's been better about it today, so I think it's just getting used to a new place and new rules.