The kids must want another dog. I read somewhere in a tip book for manipulating parents that if you beg for a new baby your parents will settle for a dog every time. Nathan periodically has asked over the years for a new baby, but lately they have both been on the band wagon for a sister. I've asked what they would do with one and they excited exclaim "play with her". I tried to remind them they don't feed the hermit crabs they were so loving going to care for. I've even warned them that having a baby doesn't guarantee a sister, Nathan yesterday finally decided he'd settle for another girl 'thing' in the house. I told them I'm positive one of the hermit crabs is a girl. They didn't like that answer, they still want a sister. I told them they have Sam. That's as close as they are getting.