Getting a puppy

Summary

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The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby

Episode Summary: "Getting a puppy" (Nov 26, 2025)

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and lively episode, Matt and Abby open up about the long, winding conversation around getting a puppy for their family. They explore the excitement, anxiety, conflicting advice from friends and family, and what bringing a dog would mean for their household. Alongside their signature humor and real-talk about relationships and parenting, they process the idea in real time, culminating in an on-air decision about whether to finally get "the dog."

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Dog Debate: Excitement, Fear, and “Decision Paralysis”

• The episode centers on Matt and Abby weighing the pros and cons of adding a dog to their family.
• Matt confesses he's become obsessed with the idea of seeing their boys grow up with a dog:

  "I just got this vision of Griffin growing up with the dog and, like, going off to college." – Matt (01:33)

• Abby is torn, nervous about the logistics, especially being the one to handle wake-ups and potential messes:

  "I'm scared. I feel like it's a big commitment. I'm like, I don't want to just do this impulsively." – Abby (49:58)

• They discuss at length the overwhelming opinions they've received from friends, family, and listeners—so much so that making a decision at all has become difficult:

  “We invited the opinions, but now I'm sick of the opinions.” – Abby (01:31)
  “We’re just paralyzed at this point because we’ve gotten so much feedback. We're just paralyzed. So who knows what will come of it?” – Abby (41:22)

Reflections on Family, Loss, and Resilience

• Abby shares candidly about their recent loss and how it reframed her view on life and planning for the future:

  “In a way, I feel like this really aged me...it does. It just. It gave me a. A deeper perspective on life than I've ever had before." – Abby (05:06)

• Both Matt and Abby discuss how grieving together has strengthened their relationship and resolve to keep growing their family, whatever form it takes.

Parenting Humor and Heart

• The couple offers genuine and often hilarious snapshots of parenting young children—Griffin and Augie’s quirks, their “thankful turkey,” and how the boys see their parents.
• Notable quotes:

  "My favorite thing is when you asked our boys what they're thankful for, the first thing Augie said: bad guys." – Matt (11:51)

• The joy of making their backyard a haven for outdoor play, including new additions like a half-pipe and citrus trees.

The “Backyard Adventure” – Playsets, HOAs, and Half-Pipes

• They share the saga of their elaborate backyard project—playsets, HOA violations, building a (real!) half-pipe, and surprising themselves with how much space they can fill:

  “We have made so much use of the space...I want our kids and I want us to be outside as much as possible.” – Abby (26:11)

• A neighborly debate about HOAs arises, with Matt growing weary of their restrictions and Abby seeing the merits.

Acting on Dreams and Changing Paths

• A tangent on their past lives as “theater kids” is both funny and poignant:

  “For me, I don’t know if it was like this for you, but it was also kind of the realization of, like, you gave up on that dream. Damn." – Matt (09:00)

• They reflect on shifting dreams—letting go of performing for family life—and how life’s costs and gains must be weighed thoughtfully.

Processing the Puppy Decision—Pros, Cons, and Real-Time Drama

• Practical worries are discussed: travel logistics, the burden of care, routines, and wanting any dog to be truly loved, not neglected:

  "Get a dog for you, not for the kids... My dogs are the reason I stay grounded. They're my companions, not a gift to the household. Dogs need their humans." (Listener comment, read by Matt, 33:59)

• Potential parenting benefits and lessons in responsibility surface, but balanced by real doubts:

  “You can’t get a puppy when you have a newborn.” – Abby (32:41)

• Abby: “What if we get a dog and it just takes away from time with the kids?”
  Matt: “I think it depends on your kids’ ages... with Griffin right now, if I'm cleaning the backyard, he wants to help.” (44:03)

Help From the Peanut Gallery–Addie and Blake Weigh In

• Their sister-in-law Addie joins, providing practical (and enthusiastic) advice on owning, training, and traveling with dogs.

  “Of course you should get a dog.” – Addie (52:33)

• The group discusses dog sitters versus family help, and the importance of being honest about the commitment.
• Addie: “We've been talking about this before you were ever even pregnant too...this is the perfect time." (59:16)
• Decision pressure amps up, with everyone alternating between excitement and nerves.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Abby on Parental Lessons:
  "I would not get the dog for them...they have no frame of reference to like, consent to that. You know what I mean? Like, I do think that they could benefit a lot from having a dog, but ultimately the dog would be for us." (35:45)

• Matt, torn but dreaming:
  "I just got this vision of Griffin growing up with the dog and, like, going off to college." (01:33)

• Abby, overwhelmed by external opinions:
  “We invited the opinions, but now I’m sick of the opinions.” (01:31)

• The Pivot Toward Action:
  “We just got this vision in our heads...I kind of want to go get it after the podcast. I want to go get a dog right now.” – Matt (01:39, also later at 44:25 and 57:05 for decision moments)

• Addie, pro-dog advocate:
  "Of course you should get a dog." (52:33)

• Group Decision—The Big Send:
  “I think we should send it. Let's just send it. It's a cute little golden retriever.” – Matt (55:00)

• Abby’s inner conflict during the final decision:
  “I'm scared. Why are you scared? Because I feel like it's a big commitment. I'm like, I don't want to just do this impulsively.” (49:58)

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Important Timestamps

• [01:29] Dog conversation starts, Matt & Abby verbalize decision fatigue
• [05:06] Abby reflects on loss and how adversity transforms perspective
• [09:00] Matt and Abby, nostalgia for theater and "giving up that dream"
• [18:00] Abby on work-life balance and the surprise of being a "career girl"
• [20:00] Matt and Abby vs. the HOA – playsets and backyard adventures
• [24:33] Building the half-pipe; Matt reminisces about skateboard dreams
• [26:11] Backyard now "essentially complete" and ready for family fun
• [29:10] Matt leaving for F1; Abby preps for kid and dog sitting
• [30:23] Why does getting a dog evoke such strong feelings from everyone?
• [32:41] Abby: "You can't get a puppy when you have a newborn."
• [33:59] Listener advice: 'Dogs need their humans'—read by Matt
• [36:33] Matt: "We still can't arrive at a conclusion... pump the brakes..."
• [41:36] Listener comment: "Golden retrievers are amazing..."
• [44:03] Matt’s emotional vision—dog and son growing up together
• [49:58] Abby: “I feel like it's a big commitment… impulsively.”
• [52:33] Addie joins, gives her pro-dog perspective
• [57:05] Matt, on air, pushes to get the dog right now—excitement peaks
• [59:16] Addie notes they've talked about this for years, not impulsive
• [61:03-61:08] Blake gives his blessing, closing out the emotional arc

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Tone & Style Highlights

• Warm, conversational, and unfiltered—Matt and Abby’s willingness to process major life decisions publicly is both vulnerable and entertaining.
• Self-deprecating humor and relatable parenting anecdotes ground the episode.
• The couple over-analyses (and laughs at themselves for it), making decision paralysis a recurring, endearing theme.

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Takeaway for Listeners

Matt & Abby's journey through the "dog dilemma" demonstrates just how complex family decisions can be—with practical concerns, emotional baggage, opinions galore, and a little chaos. Listeners will relate to the oscillation between wanting to “just send it” and the urge to overthink every scenario. By the end, listeners witness real-time decision-making, complete with all the fears, excitement, and loving bickering that make the Howards so magnetic.

If you’ve ever struggled with a “big family choice”—or just want to laugh along with two people figuring life out “unplanned”—this is a must-listen.

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Transcript

[Abby]

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[Matt]

Become a big topic.

[Abby]

We invited the opinions, but now I'm sick of the opinions.

[Matt]

I just got this vision of Griffin growing up with the dog and, like, going off to college.

[Abby]

Are we talking ourselves into it now?

[Matt]

I think I am. I really. I kind of want to go get it after the podcast. I want to go get a dog right now.

[Abby]

Not a dog, the dog.

[Matt]

I want to get him in the dog that you want to get.

[Abby]

Are you in, like, are you, like, prepared for this? Waking up in the night?

[Matt]

I'll wake up in the night.

[Abby]

I'm scared. I. Why are you scared?

[Matt]

Welcome back to Unplanned. Can we just take a second to recognize how hot Abby looks today?

[Addie]

Holy.

[Abby]

Every time I get my hair done, you get, like, all excited. I'm like, maybe I should get it done more than once every six months.

[Matt]

When you look like this, I'm like, gosh, we're gonna end up with like seven Children, you look so good.

[Abby]

Lord willing.

[Matt]

How are you guys?

[Abby]

Tomorrow's Thanksgiving. If you're listening to this today, it's posted, and I hope you know it is not removed from me how big of a time commitment it is to listen to our podcast. Whether you listen every week or just here and there, like a full podcast episode is a long time to chat and spend with someone. And I just. I don't take it lightly that your time is so valuable and you choose to spend it with us. So, like, thanks for being here.

[Matt]

Thank you, guys.

[Abby]

It's such a busy season right now, but I, like, love this time of year so much.

[Matt]

We're hosting Thanksgiving this year. It's going to be so much fun.

[Abby]

We got the Turkey Trot.

[Matt]

Got the Turkey Trot.

[Addie]

I was going to ask.

[Abby]

Are you going to run that?

[Matt]

Yes, I am. I'm going to push the jogging stroller, and I'm gonna push Griffin. Oh. Or Augie. One of them.

[Abby]

Should I run with you?

[Matt]

You don't have to.

[Abby]

How fast are you gonna go?

[Matt]

I think I wanna try to see. I'm trying to get, like, the same time I did last year, but with the jogging stroller.

[Abby]

Oh, no, Honestly, I'm not doing that.

[Matt]

So I'm gonna see if I can do it. My goal is under 25 minutes with a jogging stroller, which I think will be count.

[Abby]

Literally, last year I averaged, like, just under 10 minute miles, and I still had a stomachache all day.

[Matt]

That sucks.

[Abby]

Which is not really what I want for Thanksgiving. I wanna be able to eat a lot, and I couldn't eat because my stomach hurt. I think I had the. The poops.

[Matt]

I was gonna save the shit. Oh, my God. Yeah.

[Abby]

So maybe I'll walk it the Turkey Trot this year. Gosh, it still makes me so sad that I was. Yeah.

[Matt]

Yeah. That you were gonna be pregnant on Thanksgiving.

[Abby]

Yeah. I envisioned a big bump on Thanksgiving, so that's a bummer.

[Matt]

Every time I see a pregnant person, I. I get excited for a second, and then I remember that that's not happening. And then I'm like, I know that.

[Abby]

Sucks, but seriously, I do feel so much better.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

A lot of really kind moms gave me, like, they're timelines, which I think that's actually helpful because it gave me realistic expectations that, like, this takes a long time to feel better from.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

But all their timelines were, like, pretty far out, so it was also a little overwhelming. I was like, oh, my gosh. Like, I'm gonna have to wait a year or Six months before, I can feel like I can breathe right again, but I don't want anyone worrying about me. I actually feel like I can come up for air again now, and I feel like I can talk about it, and I feel like I can. Like, there's no surprise now when I'm like, oh, I'm not. I'm not pregnant. I'm supposed to be pregnant, but I'm not. Like, there. It's like, I. I just feel like I can. I can breathe and I can think about the future a little bit more now than, like, I thought I would be at this time. Like, I've made more progress at this point than I thought I would.

[Matt]

Why? The closer that we get to the date, the due date, do I get, like. Does it hit me harder?

[Abby]

I feel like that's normal. Like, they say, like, the moms kind of deal with it really quick, and then the dads kind of, like, pause.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

And then. And I think what you're feeling is totally normal. And I actually really like when you talk about it, because it's like you spent some time. So much time making sure that I was better, and now you're like, oh, wait, I have, like, a lot of these feelings of my own to sort through, and, like, it makes me feel really good whenever we, like, talk about it and you, like, tell me that, like, I don't want you to struggle, but it makes me feel good because I'm like, okay, we are together on this. Like, we feel the same way about this. We are. Like, we can walk through this hand in hand.

[Matt]

Yeah. Like I said, I want to do. There's so many things I want to do to remember our daughter, because it was just, like. It was so short that. That time with her and something about what we've been through, though, just makes me want to keep growing our family, because I just. I don't know.

[Abby]

I mean, when I think I hear you saying, correct me if I'm wrong, is that, like, it just kind of, like, puts your whole life into perspective?

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Like. Yeah. I don't want this to be, like, a particularly heavy episode, but just, like, seeing a life that ended so, like, way too soon.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

I don't know. It just gives you a whole new perspective on your life.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

And I think it would like it. And that I can say is, in a good way. It's a really hard way to learn it.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Horrible way to learn it, but it's a really good. It's a really good thing.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Yeah. I was also telling someone I was talking to a mom earlier this week about, you know, grief and loss and, like, what these next months are gonna look like as we're getting, like a couple months out from everything. And I was like, in a way, I feel like this really aged me. Like, I'm 26. By the time this episode comes out, I'll be like, days away from being 27. But I'm like, gosh, sometimes I feel like I talk to my peers and I'm like, you've never held a dead baby before. Like, I don't know. It does make me feel like. Not in a condescending way, but it does. It just. It gave me a. A deeper perspective on life than I've ever had before. I mean. I mean, I'm gonna say this too. I've had a relatively very easy life.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

So this was like. It's soul shattering for me. It has been so like. But I'm also feel so much stronger because of it. And I feel like we're stronger and I feel like our family stronger and just like. Yeah. If I had to think of some good things that came out of such a horrible thing, like, there has been good. Speaking of. For good.

[Matt]

Yeah. Yeah, for. Oh. Oh, yeah.

[Abby]

I'm thinking about Wicked still. I never talked to you about. I was thinking last night you're going to ask me.

[Matt]

Yeah. So last night, Abby and a bunch of her girlfriends went and saw Wicked. Give me your $0.02 on the movie. What's your movie? Movie review of Wicked.

[Abby]

So good. I had chills. A lot of times, I had chills. I cried a little. I surely did. And I was just like. I was just blown away the whole time. Like, the set is so gorgeous. You can tell they spent so. I don't know what they spent on this film, but, like, so much money. And the set and costumes and the special effects, like, it is literally like basically like no notes.

[Matt]

How was our girl Ariana's performance?

[Abby]

Really good.

[Matt]

Really good.

[Addie]

Yeah.

[Matt]

She seems so talented.

[Abby]

She went from pop singer to musical theater.

[Matt]

I know.

[Abby]

And I feel like the. I know the theater community watching the first one. They're not a. They're. They're judgmental group.

[Matt]

Doesn't it make you want to, like, do theater again? Watching.

[Abby]

Oh, my gosh. Intro song starts.

[Matt]

You're like, no one mourns the week.

[Abby]

I know, but this was Act Two.

[Matt]

Oh, okay. So is that song in act two? Is it how.

[Abby]

I think they do, like, a reprise no one wants? Yeah, yeah, there was some. They added a couple songs.

[Matt]

No way.

[Abby]

Yeah, Elphaba had a song. I don't, like, know exactly how many songs they added. There's a couple. I was like, this is not in the soundtrack. Yeah, there's two main songs. I feel like they gave Glinda and Elphaba each a song that was not in the soundtrack. Because think about it, like, the show is, like, what, two and a half hours long? Each of these movies is basically that length.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

So they added, they gave. And I also think, like, now I just feel like I respect the plot of Wicked so much more because you can really see all the details. I'm like, whoever put this together is so smart and, like, orchestrating this whole story with wizard of Oz and, like, how it all works, but then also when they tactfully, like, reveal things.

[Matt]

Wait, babe, did you cry?

[Abby]

Oh, yeah.

[Matt]

Guys, when we went and saw Wicked, the musical, like, five, six years ago, Abby and I both cried seeing it live at the fox Theater in St. Louis.

[Abby]

We didn't even cry at, like, the sad parts. We cried at the very beginning because it was just like, the nostalgia.

[Matt]

Yeah, it was a nostalgia of being theater kids.

[Abby]

We met every theater kid our age. Wicked is, like, quintessential.

[Matt]

Well, I think for me, I don't know if it was like this for you, but it was also kind of the realization of, like, you gave up on that dream. Damn. It was like, I've grown up. I'm an adult. And, yeah, I kind of, like, gave up on that dream, which is sad. The dream that I have now is you and our kids, and that's much better. But, yeah, we made the decision in high school.

[Abby]

Everything comes at a cost.

[Matt]

Yeah, we made the decision in college when we found out how hard the life of performing is for so many performers. You're on the road, you're on tour, you don't see your spouse for months on end. And so we were like, nah, that's.

[Abby]

For some. For some people, that's worth that cost.

[Matt]

It is worth it for some people, but not for. It wasn't.

[Abby]

It wasn't worth it for us. And so it's like. I think that's just how you have to. That's just a reasonable way of looking at life in general. Like, everything comes at a cost. And if that cost is worth it, then you pay it 100%. But if it's not, then you don't, and you have to just make those decisions. Yeah.

[Matt]

If I'm. If I'm away from you, like, more than 24 hours, I go crazy.

[Abby]

I know. I'M gonna miss you this week.

[Matt]

That's why it was so hard getting my hair transplant. Which, by the way, hair's growing in. Guys. It looks so bad right now, though. I need to get a haircut.

[Abby]

Honestly, I still think it looks good.

[Matt]

Well, not really. You can see.

[Abby]

Oh, look at those. They're long now, honey.

[Matt]

Yeah, you can see the baby hairs. I'm in the ugly duckling stage. So right now they're like. Yeah. Slowly growing. I got nine more months until we get.

[Abby]

There's nothing ugly about you, babe.

[Matt]

Thank you. That's very kind. Well, sweet. So I'm guessing you rate this movie, what, like a 9? Or 10? Out of 10?

[Abby]

Out of 10.

[Matt]

10 out of 10.

[Abby]

Yeah. I mean, I have a couple notes, but I'm like, I'm not even gonn. Because, like, that's so critical at this point. Like, I mean, it's. It's like fantastic. 1,000% yes. Like, it's literally one of the best movies I've ever seen.

[Matt]

No way.

[Abby]

Yeah. We need to take the kids to Zootopia, too. I was gonna actually say next weekend when your parents are in town. They love taking the kids to movies and they would love Zootopia, too. And I also kind of want to see it. So we might need to rent like, a whole row.

[Matt]

I seriously want to take Griffin to the Zootopia World in Shanghai, China. I think he would.

[Abby]

Why just Griffin?

[Matt]

I guess I could take Auggie, too.

[Abby]

Yeah, what the heck? Can we all go?

[Matt]

I guess we could all go. Do you want to go with us?

[Abby]

I'm scared. I'm scared of that flight with Auggie.

[Matt]

What's the weather?

[Abby]

Like, maybe that's why Auggie doesn't get to go. He's just a little bit. He hates, like, it. Honestly, it's like, okay, the trip is so fun and he would love it. But, like, what? Do you hate the journey there so much? That man hates being buckled down. That man literally needs to just run free and shirtless all the time. He's your son.

[Matt]

Yeah, he is my son.

[Abby]

He came over to me at preschool yesterday. He goes, take my shirt off. And I'm like, nobody. We wear our shirts right now.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

At home, school, preschool.

[Matt]

Fun.

[Abby]

He keeps things, I guess, at home, school, preschool. You can take your shirt.

[Matt]

I love how passionate he is because he's usually either like, so just like.

[Abby]

Like, belly laughing, belly laughing, butterflies are.

[Matt]

Flying, or he's mad and it's just.

[Abby]

He's raging.

[Matt]

Yeah. And I love it. Like, I think it's Hilarious.

[Abby]

Yesterday in the. Or, no, two days ago, in the car, I was like, hey, Griffin, it's really nice when you, like, ask people. I'm telling them to, like, check in. Like, ask how people are feeling. It's really nice to ask the question, how are you feeling? And so he was, like, inspired, and he asked Augie, he said, how are you feeling? And Augie was just totally fine, as far as I knew. But then he just goes angry. And I was like, oh, my goodness.

[Matt]

No. My favorite thing is when you asked our boys what they're thankful for, the first thing Augie said, bad guys.

[Abby]

Bad guys. We made, like, a thankful turkey. And, like, on each feather of the turkey, they. I had, I wrote down for them what they were thankful for.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Auggie couldn't think of anything but bad guys.

[Matt]

And then Griffin was suggesting things for him.

[Abby]

He was like, maybe parties. And Augie's like, yeah, bad guy parties. We didn't make it on the turkeys.

[Matt]

All good. I think they love us so much, they weren't even thinking about us because they just. That's assumed, you know? It's like, assume that they're that.

[Abby]

Yeah. Let's hope that's the case.

[Matt]

Yeah. I am dreading the day when they no longer think we're the coolest people in the world.

[Abby]

That's never going to happen.

[Matt]

I could be away from them for five minutes, come back in the room.

[Abby]

Honestly, I do feel like you've been the favorite a lot more often recently than.

[Matt]

Really?

[Abby]

Yeah. I'm feeling like I kind of got the shaft. All right.

[Matt]

They still are huge fans of Mama, though.

[Abby]

No. Griffin was crying in the middle of the night last night. I went in the room, and he goes, he was calling for you. First of all, he's going, daddy. And then I walk in, he goes, go.

[Matt]

I didn't know he said that.

[Abby]

I was like, wait, are you okay? Well, I forgot that he even woke up in the night at this point. Like, I just sleepwalked to his room to check on him. And then he goes, go away. Leave. And I was like, wait, are you okay? I love you. Like, and he's like, yeah. It was just when he. When you didn't walk in, he was just like, I want nothing to do with you.

[Matt]

That makes me sad.

[Abby]

I know he loves. I know he loves me.

[Matt]

He loves you so much.

[Abby]

I know he loves me.

[Matt]

Yeah. I swear, though, there was a time.

[Abby]

He'S such a mama's boy, too. I'm like, why are you turning on me?

[Matt]

Which low key. You Know, I think in the moment, the initial reaction is like, oh man, does my kid, like, not like me? But I think, no, I know he likes me. As a parent, you just have to remind yourself, like.

[Abby]

Cause this morning too, they have all.

[Matt]

These emotions and sometimes your emotions lie to you. Which we learned from Dr. Arthur Brooks, Harvard professor, happiness expert, which we had on the podcast. Guys, that's actually gonna be.

[Abby]

Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's taken so long for the episode to come out. I still think about that every day.

[Matt]

Yeah. If you guys don't know who Dr. Arthur Brooks is, he's a Harvard professor, He's a New York Times bestselling author. That's an episode coming out.

[Abby]

He's a happiness expert.

[Matt]

Yeah. And he's written books with Oprah. He's been on some huge podcasts. He has a podcast of his own. This was one of the best conversations we've had on the podcast. And we both learned so much.

[Abby]

He's just so full of knowledge and the way that he combines like actual science backed research with seemingly abstract concepts like happiness and the meaning of life. Like all the end love. Oh my gosh, he's just, he's incredible. Well, that's why I learned so much. And we keep referring to it in our everyday. We're like, yeah, Arthur Brooks says this and it's like, what an honor it was to get to meet him. Thank you to Nutrafol for sponsoring this portion of today's episode.

[Matt]

You've probably seen a million ads for hair growth products and thought, does that actually work? And the thing is, Nutrafool does.

[Abby]

And we have proof for you and it really does.

[Addie]

Yeah.

[Abby]

I've always told this story, but when I was getting my haircut at the hairdresser the last time, they were like, abby, we haven't seen you in six months, but your hair has grown as much as we would expect. If it has been like over a year, what are you doing? And I was like, well, I take Nutrafol. And they were saying, oh, that stuff truly works. Our clients that take Nutrafol have significantly thicker, stronger, faster growing hair. And that is because Nutrafol is the number one dermatologist recommended hair growth supplement brand trusted by over 1.5 million people.

[Matt]

And you can feel great about what you're putting into your body. Since Nutrafol hair growth supplements are backed by peer review studies and NSF Content Certified, the gold standard in third party certification for supplements.

[Abby]

And adding Nutrafol into your daily routine is super simple. You Just purchase it online. There's no prescription required and you can set up automated deliveries and free shipping to keep you on track.

[Matt]

See thicker, stronger, faster growing hair with less shedding in just three to six months with Nutrafol for a limited time, Nutriful is offering our listeners $10 off your first month subscription and free shipping. When you go to nutrafool.com and enter promo code unplanned pot, find out why Nutrafol is the best selling hair growth supplement [e-mail] spelled n u t r a f o l.com promo code unplanned pod that's nutriful.com promo code unplanned Pod we have some exciting news. There's something happening behind this wall that.

[Abby]

In the room right next to this one, there is a million packages probably.

[Matt]

Yeah. This room behind me just got painted. It's currently yellow and red and so, like, colorful. Can I say that? It's like, it's kind of a fun vibe.

[Abby]

It is a fun vibe.

[Matt]

I like it.

[Abby]

It's really exciting.

[Matt]

What can you say about this new project you're working on, Abby?

[Abby]

I mean, I don't like secrets, but there's other people involved in this project, so I just want to make sure that we all, like, touch base on, like, how we want to go about this. But I can say that there's a lot of camera and audio equipment. There's funky paint, funky furniture. I'm also, like, a little nervous because this is the first time I've ever done a big project, essentially. Like, obviously you're helping a lot, but like kind of. And it's not independent, but like a little bit more on my own. I'm spreading my own wings and I'm excited for you.

[Matt]

Wait, okay, tell me about this, babe. This is launching, beginning of January, this new project you're working on, the very, very, very beginning. So is that gonna be Friday? The second that people will get to see what's going on?

[Abby]

Yeah, they'll know before then.

[Matt]

So, yeah, I guess just like be, be, be paying attention to our podcast. Be paying attention to, you know, your Instagram, have, have notifications on for our show because as soon as we get the go ahead from the other person that's in on this project with Abby, we'll share with you guys exactly what's happening. But yeah, yeah, we got to get.

[Abby]

All of our ducks in a row because this has been a very thought out. So many meetings, so many. Like, this has been very planned, honestly, and like, very intentional. We have A mission statement. Like, I'm so excited about everything that's happening with this.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

And I also just want to go about it very intentionally because that is how we've been going about it. And I'm. I feel like we have such a vision for it that I want to make sure that everything is cohesive at this point.

[Matt]

I think 2026 is going to be a really good year for us. A really good year for you. I'm, like, just manifesting good things, good vibes. We actually have two big launches in the beginning of 2026.

[Abby]

Yeah. I guess I'm becoming a career girl.

[Matt]

I know. Yeah. How do you. How do you feel about that?

[Abby]

Because, like, I'm uncomfortable with it.

[Matt]

I think your whole life you thought you would be a stay at home mom.

[Addie]

Yeah.

[Matt]

And you, you're like a part time stay at home mom.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Matt]

And I'm like a part time stay at home dad, which I never thought I would do.

[Abby]

I know.

[Matt]

But I love it.

[Abby]

So good.

[Matt]

I love it. And so, like, do you like having the balance of, like, you're working part time, but then you're at home part time? Like, is that. Is that a good balance?

[Abby]

I'm really happy with it. Yeah.

[Matt]

Yeah. It's so good too, because, like, I feel like we're equal players on the business side of things, for our players.

[Abby]

And the parenting side of things.

[Matt]

And it's so good because, like, our children are the most important thing other than you, because, like, you're number one in my book. But it's like, other than you, our kids are like, you cannot put any price, any value, anything on that. Like, that is our job as parents, is our most important thing that we do on this earth.

[Abby]

I know. And I'm really grateful for we. This is far greater than anything I could have ever imagined or dreamed of for our life. So I'm just. I'm so grateful. I've been surprised at this direction that I've moved. Like, having, like, more putting more work in on the career side of things, and who knows what that'll look like even a year from now. But for this season of life, just with all the unplanned things happening, it's been a really good outlet for me. Yeah, like, it's been a really good outlet.

[Matt]

I'm proud of you. I think you're cut. You're crushing it. And it's fun to see you, like, be a career girly while also still prioritizing your family and your kids.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Couldn't be more proud of You.

[Abby]

Thanks. Yeah, we'll see how long this lasts.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

I could dip out at any moment. You never know.

[Matt]

Abby, do you want to tell people what I currently am holding in my hand?

[Abby]

Is that the freaking HOA violation?

[Matt]

It is the HOA violation.

[Abby]

Yeah. I mean, I'm not surprised.

[Matt]

What are your thoughts on hoas? Are you. Are you a fan of hoas?

[Abby]

I'm a fan.

[Matt]

Are you sick of them? Because I'm kind of getting sick of hoas, if I'm being honest.

[Abby]

But I'm a fan.

[Matt]

You can be a fan. Why are you a fan?

[Abby]

Because it protects the neighborhood, helps everyone keep their home values.

[Matt]

Yes.

[Abby]

And I feel like it keeps everyone. Like, it's nice to have a standard, so then you don't have to just be like, why did our neighbor freaking do that? But you can't really do anything about it.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Sometimes it does feel like it encroaches on our rights as homeowners.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Like our freaking playset for our kids, Joy.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

This was our own fault, though.

[Matt]

Yeah, this was. This is on me, guys. I didn't really think through the fact that putting up a playset in our backyard for our children would need to be run by our homeowners association, but.

[Abby]

Apparently, it's your backyard.

[Matt]

Yeah. It's our own backyard, and we own it.

[Abby]

It's a really nice playset.

[Matt]

It's a very. It's. Honestly, it is nicer than a nice place.

[Abby]

That's the problem. It's too n nice. It's too tall.

[Matt]

We kind of really sent it with this.

[Abby]

Really sent it.

[Matt]

And, you know, actually, I. I felt so, like, validated in buying this playset for our kids when I talked to my parents about how much our playset was when I was a kid, because I. I was talking to my parents. They're expensive, and they. They were able to get a discount on. On the place. It. But they said the one that we had as kids was. Was $5,000. And my parents thought. My parents are frugal.

[Abby]

15 years ago.

[Matt]

My mom has always shopped at Aldi. She shops the clearance section at Marshalls. Like, this is a frugal queen. Okay. But they sent it on a playset because they knew how important, like, child play is for kids.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Matt]

So anyway, like, when I.

[Abby]

Playing outside, using your imagination, and we're.

[Matt]

Talking about 25 years ago when they bought this thing.

[Abby]

Oh, it's 25 years ago.

[Matt]

Yeah, roughly. But anyway, so, like, do the math. Do some inflation. Like, five grand today, 25 years later, like, what is that like 15 maybe? I don't know. I don't. I haven't run the numbers. But anyway, so the place that we got was on the pricer side. We did get a discount in exchange for us, like, telling people about it. So if you guys haven't seen the. Our Instagram or TikToks, it's called a roughhouse playset. And we are.

[Abby]

Uff.

[Matt]

Yeah. And I also love them too, because they're not like this massive corporation. They're just a very. They're a local Arizona business.

[Abby]

Our neighbor in Hawaii is friends with the person who started it.

[Matt]

Oh, that's so cool.

[Abby]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt]

So it's like. It's a local business, so it's definitely not the cheapest option for playsets, but, like, they're very nice, very well made, and our kids are upset.

[Abby]

You can tell it's going to. It's built to last.

[Matt]

But we. But we did get an HOA violation, which you can see it, I guess, from the street, so. Or something like. Yeah, you can.

[Abby]

You can see it if you're really looking, I guess.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

And so you're really peering over our foliage.

[Matt]

So here's the violation we got. It says, dear, dear Matt Howard, notice a violation, it says. And then it, like, cites our. Our section of recreation.

[Abby]

Read the whole handbook.

[Matt]

I did not read the whole HOA handbook, but it says no jungle gyms, swing sets, or similar playground equipment which would be visible from neighboring properties shall be erected or installed on any lot or parcel without the prior written approval of the design review board.

[Abby]

So I'm thinking that we're fine as long as you get this approved.

[Matt]

Yeah. So I think. I think the main thing is I didn't get appro. Approval beforehand, which, like, comment down below. If you live in a. In a neighborhood with an hoa, did you think to get your playset for your kids, like, approved by your HOA first? I just never even thought about that.

[Abby]

Yeah, we should have thought of that.

[Matt]

But I also think about that's also.

[Abby]

Not our first violation.

[Matt]

Yeah, that was for the pergola. But the pergola was. We did built it exactly to code, and I. It's. That's approved.

[Abby]

Okay, perfect.

[Matt]

I ran it through. I ran it through them.

[Abby]

Is your skate ramp approved?

[Matt]

The skate ramp isn't above the line of the fence, so we're good. Oh, yeah. By the way, guys, I also built a half pipe in our backyard just casually.

[Abby]

And when he says a half pipe, it is.

[Matt]

It is every bit of very legit yeah. I've dreamed of having a half pipe in our backyard since I was like a little kid, probably 10 years old. Used to want to be a pro skater. And so now I'm skating out there literally every day. It's been so much fun. The only days I haven't skated were days that it's rained, which randomly, yesterday and the day before, it rained more than that.

[Abby]

It's been raining for like a week almost.

[Matt]

Yeah. Which is rare for the desert. It never rains here, but the boys are actually obsessed as well. They come out and they watch me skate and they cheer me on. It's cute.

[Abby]

They hear you skate. They're like, I'm gonna go out and skate.

[Matt]

Yeah. And then whenever I fall or I need to take a break, they treat the half pipe like a slide, and they just slide down it. So it's. That's kind of cute.

[Abby]

That's cute.

[Matt]

I think Abby mentioned this a couple weeks ago. We're thinking about doing skateboarding lessons for our kids and all of our friends kids, because we hosted swimming lessons after our pool was built. And that was just fun having people at our house. Yeah, we had weeks of swim lessons. Just, you know, it was like the whole neighborhood was over at our house getting swim lessons. And with the. With the skate ramp now I'm like, dude, we could. We could really teach our kids to shred. You know, if. Especially if we hire someone that just.

[Abby]

Hire an instructor to come at the house. And all the kids can be little.

[Matt]

Yeah, they.

[Abby]

Little Tony Hawks.

[Matt]

They could do like 10 to 15 minute private lessons per kid. Or we could just do a group lesson.

[Abby]

Be so cute if they got all their, like, elbow pads, knee pads, this gate ramp.

[Matt]

Guys, I thought it was going to take us a day to build it because it said eight to ten hours to build this thing. Or no, six to ten hours.

[Abby]

That's crazy.

[Matt]

I got my buddy Joe, who flips houses to help me and paid him for his time because I was like, I cannot do this by myself. So I need a friend. I need help. And it took us. Joe tracked his hours. It took us 37 hours to build this thing. So it was over the course of five days.

[Abby]

My gosh.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Yeah. I mean, it makes sense. The guy unloading it from his truck, it's literally just lumber. Was like, the last person delivered this to is a professional. Yeah, it's like a huge half pipe.

[Matt]

Yeah, it's a half pipe that like a pro skater would have in their backyard.

[Abby]

It's pretty cool. You look like A California guy?

[Matt]

Really? I do. That's my dream, is to, like, indoctrinate our kids into at least one of the sports that I like so that we can share that common interest. But no matter what they like, I'm going to. I'm going to participate. Whether it's, like, fishing or tennis or football, whatever it is. I think that's gonna be. I'm hoping that we can hopefully grow up skating together, which I think will be a blast. Wow. We just got, like. We're talking about the HOA violation we got on there. What are your thoughts on our backyard? Our backyard is now essentially complete. I think we have a few more finishing touches, but it's, like, 99 of the way there. What are you thinking about the backyard, babe?

[Abby]

Oh, my gosh. I feel like we can't fit anything else back there. Yeah, it's not that. I mean, it's a decent size, but it's not that big. But we have made so much use of the space, which is so fun, because I want our kids and I want us to be outside as much as possible. We live in, like, an amazing state for enjoying the sunshine and, like, the fresh air. And so I want to, like, you be out there as much as possible. And it's perfect. There's, like, so much to do. We have people over all the time. It's great. Matt got some citrus. Matt just randomly got this vision of kids, of our kids coming inside with, like, their own fresh citrus from our backyard. So he just installed some new citrus trees back there.

[Matt]

Orange. We have an orange tree, a lemon tree, and a lime tree.

[Abby]

And correct me if I'm wrong, Citru season is in the winter, I think it is.

[Matt]

And the trees that we grow, anything here, they're pretty good sizes.

[Abby]

Fruit already on them, thank goodness, or else we would be screwed.

[Matt]

But I'm. I have to remind the boys not to pick the fruit off because it's, like, green, it's not ripe yet, and they keep ripping the fruit off.

[Abby]

They're, like, sweet.

[Matt]

They just think it's cool. They like that we have a fruit tree in our backyard.

[Abby]

So that's fun and nice and just feels so, like, idyllic for childhood. Thank you to Tovala for sponsoring this portion of today's episode. I think we've all been there where we've just opened up our fridge and just stood there staring and hoping that everything in our fridge would just magically turn itself into a delicious meal that is hot and ready for you. Well, Tovala might Just be the answer to these prayers. Because Tovala is a smart meal delivery service, Fresh meals and a smart oven that does the cooking for you. Toval is actually kind of like a magic little smart oven because it makes it so easy. You just scan the meal's QR code, pop it in the oven and it cooks everything perfectly. Steams, bakes, broils automatically. No guesswork needed.

[Matt]

And the nice thing is if you are not the best in the kitchen, you can fake it by using this device because it just makes it as easy as possible and it's still really healthy. Like we're not talking about these like pre made meals that just heat up. I mean these are gourmet health foods like salmon and chicken and rice and veggies all ready for you and your family to eat.

[Abby]

Yes, their meals are chef crafted and taste just like homemade meals you make yourself just without all the headache. Plus all of Tavala's meals are made with real fresh ingredients. They have mouth watering meals like filet mignon with filet mignon.

[Matt]

That's how you say it actually.

[Abby]

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[Matt]

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[Abby]

I'm gonna miss you this weekend.

[Matt]

I know. I'm. I'm actually going to F1 with my brother this weekend.

[Abby]

There's so glad you guys are doing that.

[Matt]

There's a race in Las Vegas. The Vegas Grand Prix. My brother's obsessed and so this will be a great memory for us to experience. I need to make it up to Josh though because my little brother is like he, he needs some sort of gift when I need to take Josh somewhere.

[Abby]

Maybe every five years you guys do a trip.

[Matt]

I know, I know. But yeah, I'm stoked to go.

[Abby]

To miss you.

[Matt]

I know. I'm gonna Miss you too. I don't want to be away from you.

[Abby]

It's okay. Me and Abby are just gonna hang out with all the kids. We're gonna take the kids to see Santa tomorrow.

[Matt]

Are they gonna come hang out at our house?

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Are they gonna bring over Lewis?

[Abby]

I think they're bringing Lewis.

[Matt]

What are your thoughts on having Louis?

[Abby]

I think Abby's gonna vlog it, so there might be a video of that, too, of us, like, with all the kids.

[Matt]

Wait, that's so funny.

[Abby]

My thoughts with Lewis being at the house. I mean, I hope she brings the crate.

[Matt]

Oh, yeah.

[Abby]

Because I just don't know that, like, I feel like him in another house. He's gonna be so curious. He might get stuff, but. But I'm totally fine with it.

[Matt]

Yeah, we. My. My brother has had Lewis for. Gosh, is it like, six years now? Five years.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Matt]

And he's. He's.

[Abby]

He's like six.

[Matt]

He is such. He's such a big dog.

[Abby]

Yeah, no, it'll be good. We can see if we actually like having a dog at our house. Even though I feel like we're probably not gonna get a dog.

[Matt]

Yeah, that. That's, like, the. The dog subject makes me.

[Abby]

Everyone told us not to.

[Matt]

Well, okay, what is. Why does getting a dog bring out so many conflicting opinions? Because, like, I'm not even kidding, you guys. My parents have drilled it in my head since I was, like, a little kid. That is a. That it's a very bad idea to get.

[Abby]

See, I was talking to someone yesterday, and I was like, yeah, Matt never grew up with a dog, so it's like, he's really hard to convince of this.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

And they were like, that just doesn't compute in my mind. Like, growing up without a dog, like, childhood. And dogs are just like.

[Matt]

I know. And that's your childhood. You grew up with a dog.

[Abby]

We invited the opinions, but I'm. Now I'm sick of the opinion.

[Matt]

I know. This is where he messed up, guys, because we. We should have just made a decision between us. Never told any of you about it. Never told any of our family.

[Abby]

I know them. Giving their opinions is fine.

[Matt]

Okay. It's okay. You guys can give your opinion on the dog.

[Abby]

It's the internal opinions from friends and family that you invited. I'm not mad at them for giving their opinions. You're like, should we get a dog?

[Matt]

I thought we both did that.

[Abby]

No, I didn't invite it.

[Matt]

That was only me.

[Abby]

Well, I think at the early stages, I did invite it.

[Matt]

Okay.

[Abby]

And then When I was like, okay, this is a lot of feedback, I cut it off. But then you kept inviting it. Ah, you have diarrhea of the mouth.

[Matt]

I do.

[Abby]

So then everyone told us not to, and so I guess we're not. Not going to anymore, which is a bummer, but also probably wise. They probably had good reason for giving us that feedback.

[Matt]

There's not a single person that has told me, let's do it.

[Abby]

That's not true.

[Matt]

Who?

[Abby]

Wait, Addie and Blake are literally like, get a dog.

[Matt]

You're right. They're the only. They're the only people that have said that, but they also are huge dog people. They. They love their dogs. They're obsessed with their dogs. It is a big decision, though. Like, it's. It's crazy how, like, you're. You're committing to, like, 10, maybe 15 years.

[Abby]

But I learned so much as a kid having a dog. And I also just think it is, like, it's so comforting to have, like, a little sweet furball just like, that's always excited for you to be home. Yeah. So, I mean, we probably still will get one eventually, but I think it's off the table for now, which is probably for the best.

[Matt]

I'm manifesting this right now. I don't know if this is legit, but, like, picture this with me. Christmas 2026, newborn dog. What. What are your thoughts on that? Like, having a. Having like a puppy, essentially, Because I think they're in that puppy stage the first, like, year or two.

[Abby]

What do you mean?

[Matt]

Like, how do you. How do you feel about having like. Yeah, like a new. You know, we'd have. What? We have a three. We'd have a three and a four year old. A newborn and then a puppy. How does that feel? Is that good? Does that feel stressful?

[Abby]

You can't get a puppy when you have a newborn.

[Matt]

Oh, yeah.

[Abby]

That sounds like a bad idea.

[Matt]

Not at the same time.

[Abby]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We would either get one before we have another baby or we get one after we're done having all of our babies.

[Matt]

Or maybe think about this. What? Like, talk about. How would it be having a puppy during pregnancy. How would that feel?

[Abby]

I don't know. That's what's scary. I've never done it.

[Matt]

I know.

[Abby]

I've never been pregnant and had a puppy.

[Matt]

I feel like with most things in life, you kind of just do whatever you have to do. Like, it's. It's like, because sometimes you ask people, like, man, how did you get through that? And it's like, kind of just had to. Like, it's not like I had a choice to not.

[Abby]

Well, that's how I feel about having kids back to back. And like, they're like, how did you nurse your entire pregnancy? I'm like, well, I had to. Yeah, well, I guess I didn't have to, but I felt like I had to. I feel like a lot of moms relate to that feeling with breastfeeding. It's like, you certainly don't have to do it.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

But you on your own conscience for some reason literally think it's biological, hormonal. Something just makes you feel like you have to. And I don't remember it being expressly difficult because I was like, well, I just, in my mind I had to. So I just did it. And you make peace with it and you make it work. Who knows what 2026 will bring? Who knows what the year, my 27th year on Earth will bring. We're just hoping for good things, but I know that I'm prepared better than I've ever been for to face hard things.

[Matt]

This is one of the top comments from our Q and A episode from a few weeks ago. And this person is giving their advice on a dog. They said. As someone who has lived with dogs my whole life, I've had five to six dogs so far. Currently living with two dogs and now also a mom to a six month old. I really believe this. Get a dog for you, not for the kids. A dog needs your presence, your guidance, your time. Get a dog because you want to spend time outdoors, learn together, move, play, explore, build a bond. I've seen many family dogs become sad and disconnected because no one is truly involved with them. My dogs are the reason I stay grounded. They're my companions, not a gift to the household. Dogs need their humans. They need connection, routine, and quality time every day. I think my big holdup right now is like the idea of travel because like, if, if it was completely up to me, right, I feel like we'd be traveling four months out of the year and spend like a month in Europe, spend a month in Hawaii. Like, I feel like if, if it was just all what Matt Howard wants, that's what I would choose and I wouldn't feel right as an owner that way.

[Abby]

Yeah, that's fair.

[Matt]

Unless we had like a friend or family member that's like very invested in our dog and has a relationship with our dog that would want to watch a dog when we do longer travels. So that's. And I know we have friends that have dogs and they have a. Of a setup like that where their dog will go to like their parents house or their sibling's house and the dog knows that person and they have.

[Abby]

A relationship and they're not sad there. I would never want a dog to be in a situation where they feel sad.

[Matt]

Yeah. Or. Or they have a house sitter that like, has a good relationship with the dog, that's a friend or family member. So I think that could be a really good way to go about it if we want to travel is just like having that set up. But yeah, that's. I love that though, because, like, we are home a lot.

[Abby]

I would not get at my. Our kids are 2 and 3. I would not get the dog for them.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Because they, first of all, don't even know what that commitment looks like. They don't, like, they have no frame of reference to like, consent to that. You know what I mean? Like, I do think that they could benefit a lot from having a dog, but ultimately the dog would be for us, for us, our family.

[Matt]

And I think there are ways. There are ways to make it easier. Like we can get the dog professionally trained so that the dog is like.

[Abby]

Are you talking yourself back into having.

[Matt]

I don't know. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm trying to.

[Abby]

It's not happening, guys. It's not.

[Matt]

No, don't say that. Don't say that. It could very well happen. Maybe record this whole episode and then you. By the time you guys are watching this, we have a dog. Who knows?

[Abby]

Here's the thing. This is what you should take from this. We would never make this decision lightly. We've been discussing this at length for months now.

[Matt]

Here's the problem.

[Abby]

And we still can't arrive at a conclusion. So I think that means that we just need to pump the brakes until we have, like, sorted out every what if scenario and, like, made sure that we would be welcoming this dog into a happy, loving, well supported home. Thank you to Olipop for sponsoring this portion of today's episode. You guys, listen to this. Oh, baby. That right there is the sound of pineapple deliciousness. Olipop just came out with a new spongebob flavor and we are loving it. It is pineapple paradise, and it's the first of its kind, actually. It's a limited edition flavor inspired by SpongeBob's iconic Pineapple Home. Let me give you guys the flavor profile. Second, it's juicy pineapple sweetness with a splash of mandarin. It's basically pure liquid joy. Just like spongebob himself. This new limited time flavor comes in five collectible spongebob can designs hidden inside four packs. This one right here, we got spongebob. Honestly, just having a grand old time. His arms are up like he's on a roller coaster. Our kids also think these are really fun. But what we love about Olipop is that almost every American has some sort of relationship with soda from their childhood. Some people grew up drinking it all the time and then quit. Some people are still addicted and trying to quit.

[Matt]

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[Abby]

Here's the thing, you guys, you gotta trust us when we say Olipop is actually delicious. Sometimes when people are like, I don't really like sparkling water. My. It's not like sparkling water. It's basically like a delicious soda. And we are major fans in this household. The whole top shelf of our fridge is literally just designated for Olipops. And it's our favorite thing. When people come over, we're like, let me hook you up with an olipop. So get $2 off a four pack of [e-mail] unplanned. This works on any flavor of four pack, including spongebob at any retailer. Olipop is sold online and available in almost 50,000 retailers nationwide, including Costco, Walmart, Target, Publix, Whole Foods, KRoger, and H E B.

[Matt]

Let me say this though. I make decisions, especially big decisions, over a very long time. Like, I have to really think through it and verbally process things out loud and think through every single scenario.

[Abby]

I think that's wise.

[Matt]

I do that. Like, if I'm. Especially if I'm making like, say, a big purchase, I don't do it right away. Like, it takes me, me sometimes months, sometimes years to think through a big purchase.

[Abby]

I think that's where people can misunderstand you.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

Like, you seem so spontaneous.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

And like, in ways you are.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

But when it comes to decision making, you're not at all.

[Matt]

Yeah. Well, because, like, with the half pipe, right? Like, everyone was like, how. Why is there, like, all this wood that's getting delivered for this half pipe for Matt to build? Because I, I just like, bought it about a month About a month ago.

[Abby]

That's what seems spontaneous. It's. Cause, like, once you've made your decision, it feels like. It feels fast.

[Matt]

Yeah. Yes.

[Abby]

But it's like you've actually been contemplating internally about it for years.

[Matt]

I actually. I wanted it as a kid. Could not afford to buy it as a kid. And it wasn't until we owned a house, I was like, oh, we could do this. But I didn't buy it right away because it was still like, oh, that's a lot of money. Do I actually want to make this purchase? Almost bought it a year ago, but then we moved, so I was like, I'm going to hold off until that. And then our backyard was getting finished. So.

[Abby]

Yeah, we're just. Honestly, we probably shouldn't invite this many opinions in real time. Us talking about this on the podcast is probably a bad idea.

[Matt]

I know.

[Abby]

Know.

[Matt]

Yeah. Well, it's. It depends. Like, I think a dog is a little bit more. Yeah. I don't know. Even with a dog, though, I think. I think it's probably wiser just to not share that.

[Abby]

I think you should ask people's advice. But honestly, I think at the scale in which we're receiving advice, it's maybe too much.

[Matt]

That's true. No, that's valid.

[Abby]

I would say that that's really good.

[Matt]

Yeah, that's. I think that's really good.

[Abby]

I think that it's really hard to have clarity with that many voices.

[Matt]

And I think.

[Abby]

And so now we're just. Just. We have cold feet and we're. We're frozen.

[Matt]

Well, I think another reason, like, I think about my parents. Right. Why did my parents always drill into me that getting a dog was a bad decision? And I think back to, you know, there. There were times that finances were tight growing up. And if finances are tight and you're spending money on, like, your dog's medical expenses and their food, and then you want to travel, but then you have to pay for the doggy hotel. Like, it can be a lot. It can be a financial burden on a family. So I think that's a big part of it. I also think, just like, my mom has allergies to dogs, so that was another reason, too. I want to say, though, my allergies to dogs have. Has, like, gone down, I think.

[Abby]

I think yours is more so towards cats.

[Matt]

My is really bad with cats.

[Abby]

So then I'm like, maybe that was because we did talk about a cat also at one point. But yeah. Yeah, who knows?

[Matt]

We're just.

[Abby]

We're basically. We're just paralyzed at this point because we've gotten so much feedback. We're just paralyzed. And so. So who knows what will come of it?

[Matt]

What's that called?

[Abby]

We're not trying to dangle it because, trust me, we are just conflicting.

[Matt]

Is it called decision paralysis?

[Abby]

Decision paralysis. Yeah.

[Matt]

Yeah. This whole dog conversation has become a big topic in our family, amongst our friends. Even in the comment section of our latest solo episode, we have another top comment. We have a Golden. And she's incredible. All caps, amazing with kids, and so chill. Stella just turned 16. Holy crap. She's definitely on the downhill climb, but just so precious and loyal to our family. We've had her longer than we've had kiddos. Wow.

[Abby]

Oh, that's actually gonna make me cry. Cuz when my grandpa's dog, Riley, who was a golden when he was on the decline.

[Matt]

Mm.

[Abby]

The saddest part was when he couldn't jump in my direct my grandpa's truck anymore because they loved going on truck rides and he couldn't. He just put his paws up there and he just, like, looked at my grandpa like, help me. It was sad. But, I mean, here's the thing. The joy that that dog gave me and the love that he had, like, it was so immense, so. Oh, we just have too many opinions, guys. I feel like if we had, like, literally just internally decided, yeah, we probably would have made a decision, but because there's just such a scale of opinions, and we don't want to do anything carelessly ever. And, like, I especially, I feel like here's my fear. A lot of people impulsively get a dog, and then they're not prepared to actually, like, support that dog in their house. I. I absolutely never, ever, ever want to do that.

[Matt]

Well, let me say I don't take.

[Abby]

It lightly because, I mean, we've had dogs before. We know what. I know what this commitment looks like.

[Matt]

You know what it's like.

[Abby]

I never, ever, ever want to take it lightly. So it's like, that's why we've just been thinking about it and mulling over.

[Matt]

It for so long. And it's not as big of a commitment as having a child. Like, we've already had two children. We're planning on having more children. A comment. This is actually another top comment. This has 107 likes. It says, as someone who didn't grow up with the dog but desperately wanted one, I would just wait till you feel like your oldest can take ownership of feeding the dog or letting the dog out of the backyard that way. You're sharing responsibility and teaching responsibility. So that's. I really like that comment. But I think what people don't realize is, like, three year olds are. Are so independent already. Like, our son is already able to go to the bathroom on his own. He's. He's getting dressed.

[Abby]

I told him the other day, I said, go take a nap. And he just said, he went in his room. Augie was already sleeping in there. There. Quietly. I watched on the monitor. He quietly shut the door, climbed up to his bed, pulled up his covers, and took a nap. I was like, wait a minute. When did you become an adult?

[Matt]

I just got this vision of Griffin growing up with the dog and like, like going off to college and. And stop. I don't know. Because if. If we got a dog now and the dog loves to be 16, Griffin would be 19.

[Abby]

I know.

[Matt]

So I just see this, like, sweet relationship, the sweet bond. Because think about Griffin like, he's old enough to put food in the dog's bowl. He's old enough to let the dog out to go potty. I just see. I see him building so much confidence.

[Abby]

We have a finished backyard now that's safe for dogs and kids.

[Matt]

Yes. I don't want the dog pooping and peeing on the turf, but I think I could just put. Bring in some gravel.

[Abby]

Are we talking ourselves into it now?

[Matt]

I think I am. I really. I kind of want to go get it after the podcast. I'm not even kidding.

[Abby]

You're freaking me out. I'm too scared.

[Matt]

I'm down. Are you okay to take care of it while I'm at F1?

[Abby]

I have to because I'm nervous.

[Matt]

I'm okay to go get it.

[Abby]

No, I'm just so nervous. Did we just talk ourselves?

[Matt]

We don't tell anybody. We just leave and go get it in our car right after the podcast.

[Abby]

I'm throw up.

[Matt]

Why can't we just go?

[Abby]

I'm too scared.

[Matt]

We've talked about this forever. This has been. It's this classic Matt Howard move. We've talked about this for years. We almost got one years ago. We didn't. In Hawaii, we were out to get one. We almost got a golden retriever with our first kid. But we were also in the process of buying a house. The newborn stage was hard. Like, I think. I think now could work this another one. Agree. This ended up being what my parents did unintentionally and took a lot of care along with them. It's less of a burden on a young family. Dogs are amazing. But I learned it took away my time with the kids, which can affect how I. How well trained the dog is. What I didn't learn was to wait like my parents did. Oops. I think that what that person is saying is they, they didn't think about how the dog could take away time from their kids. But I think it depends on your kids ages. Right. Because with Griffin right now, like if I'm cleaning the backyard, he wants to hose off the, the, you know, the travertine with me. Right. So I'm like actively teaching him how to do chores and responsibilities. Because he's so interested in like doing things with me, whether it's cleaning or sweeping. He's even. I gave him an attachment on our Dyson vacuum so he can vacuum the car with me. He. He likes to vacuum. Like he's, he's learning all these things and he's excited.

[Abby]

He can shred cheese.

[Matt]

He's good at it too.

[Abby]

He's really good at it.

[Matt]

He's more than capable of letting the dog out to go potty and more than capable.

[Abby]

But we can't put that burden on him.

[Matt]

We can't. But I think like if he wants.

[Abby]

To participate, he can. I think if, if anything, I've determined from this. It's like we can't make decisions for our kids. No, but that are like, they're like, okay, well that's not. If that aren't necessary.

[Matt]

Yes. But I, I think like there you, you say that. But then it's like you need to teach your kid how to go to the bathroom. You need to teach your kid how to put on their clothes. Like.

[Abby]

No. I totally think there's a lot of responsibilities they can make. But we can't get this dog being like, you're gonna love this so close bond and feel so happy that we have this.

[Matt]

No, no. It's gonna be like, here's how I approach it. It's like the dog is my responsibility, but Griffin's like my apprentice in a way. And I'm gonna like every time I go to feed the dog, give the dog water, take the dog on the walk. I'm gonna bring Griffin with me so he can learn the process of what it is.

[Abby]

And I've learned that doing that, they end up wanting to help.

[Matt]

Exactly. I just see it bringing so much joy and happiness into our family.

[Abby]

It's gonna be too stressful though. We gotta wait.

[Matt]

No, I'm down to do it right now. The problem. The problem is. Here's what happened, guys. There was a golden retriever that Abby really wanted. And then someone bought the golden retriever.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Matt]

And now there's a new golden retriever available that Abby really wants.

[Abby]

No, don't put this on me. Don't put this on me. I'm out. I'm out on this decision. I'm too.

[Matt]

I'm down. I don't.

[Abby]

I don't trust myself.

[Matt]

I wanna make this decision together. I love you. I love you.

[Abby]

Okay.

[Matt]

You're amazing.

[Abby]

Podcast is taking a turn. This episode is brought to you by Square. Your favorite neighborhood spots run on Square.

[Matt]

Something I love is when we go out to eat and they have us pay using square. You can literally just pay with your phone because they have a square reader. I love how convenient that is. We should talk about the kid that had square payment processing for his, like, lemonade stand. No, it was a hot cocoa. Hot cocoa stand.

[Abby]

And I think that's actually one of the things I love about Square Mos is that it's great for local neighborhoods, small businesses, kid businesses, even. Like, we're talking about, it's Christmas time, these really cute little kids had a hot cocoa stand. We're like, oh, well, so sorry. Like, we don't have any cash on us. They're like, oh, no. We take card and they pull out their little square device and they have two extra sales that day, for sure. These businesses, like these little kid lemonade stands, hot cocoa stands, are what make the neighborhood the neighborhood. And when we show up as a community, it can mean big business for local business owners. So we have our permission to take this ad as an excuse to go support your favorite local spot and have yourself a day in the neighborhood.

[Matt]

Square is a proud partner of more than 4 million neighborhood businesses around the world. You can go to square.com go unplanned to learn more, more. But before you do, go support your favorite neighborhood spot. You'll be happy you did Square. See you in the neighborhood. Can we go buy a dog right now?

[Abby]

Stop bringing this up. I'm scared.

[Matt]

Can we just call and ask if the. If the golden retriever is available?

[Abby]

I can tell if it's available.

[Matt]

Why am I nervous right now?

[Abby]

I know. Don't do it if you're nervous.

[Matt]

But I. But I'm. I'm. It's. I've talked about this so much.

[Abby]

Let's just do it. No, I'm scared. I'm gonna puke.

[Matt]

I'm gonna go right now.

[Abby]

I'm out. I'm personally out.

[Matt]

You look so hot.

[Abby]

No, stop.

[Matt]

Don't do that. Because I'm leverage. Leverage your beauty and let's go get a dog right now. Come on.

[Abby]

So out. Why is this? See, we literally, like, we're going to have boundaries and we're not going to talk about these things online. What the heck?

[Matt]

We've broken every rule.

[Abby]

Okay, let's talk about something else. Let's talk about turkey trot. I already running.

[Matt]

I want to go get a dog right now.

[Abby]

Oh, my God.

[Matt]

Is that okay?

[Abby]

Not a dog. The dog.

[Matt]

I want to get him in the dog. I want to get the dog that you want to get. This dog is so cute. And I loved holding it and petting it. It was so just so chill. Is that a good thing? Do we want a dog that's like really chill? Does that mean she's going to be very well behaved? Pretzel's going to be well behaved. Let's go get her.

[Abby]

Someone told me the test to do with puppies. Obviously they're going to get bursts of energy.

[Matt]

Yeah. What is this?

[Abby]

To see if you can cradle them and if they'll let you cradle them because other ones, like, flip out.

[Matt]

She let us hold her.

[Abby]

She let us cradle her.

[Matt]

Should we go hold her right now?

[Abby]

Don't do this.

[Matt]

Let's go. I'm ready right now.

[Abby]

We're filming a podcast.

[Matt]

I can take my.

[Abby]

I have a stomachache.

[Matt]

I have a call with the lawyer in 20 minutes, but I can take it while we're there. Let's go. Let's go. Come on. If we're doing it, we're doing it together.

[Abby]

Are you in, like, are you, like, prepared for this? Waking up in the night.

[Matt]

I'll wake up in the night. Here's what we'll do. I'll do the nighttime stuff with the dog, and you do the daytime stuff with the dog. Cool.

[Abby]

Sure. I can do nighttime too.

[Matt]

We'll just work as a team. We'll work as a team with this dog.

[Abby]

I'm scared. Why are you scared? Because I feel like it's a big commitment. I'm like, I don't want to just do this impulsively.

[Matt]

Your brother and our sister in law already said that they want to watch the dog for us because they love dogs.

[Abby]

Well, we're gonna be watching it all the time. It's just like if we. We have a couple. A couple things already planned.

[Matt]

Yeah. Like our Europe trip in February, so that's. That's when they could watch the dog.

[Abby]

Well, when we go to Silver Dollar City in December.

[Matt]

Yeah. Are they gonna be out of town?

[Abby]

No. They'll be in town.

[Matt]

Okay. They'll be here. So maybe that's what we do.

[Abby]

We need to talk with everybody.

[Matt]

Do you want to bring.

[Abby]

I want to make sure that the trips that we already have planned. Just a couple short trips that we have planned, that they're. There's a home that is. Yeah, that is.

[Matt]

Well, because the puppy stages is tough. They wake up in the night, they need to go potty. They need to be trained on all that. But I know we, like, we know a lot of dog owners. We know a lot of dog people.

[Abby]

We need to do some more research.

[Matt]

I feel like, I mean, here's, here's Honestly, something that eases my brain is our sister in law who is literally our assistant for like, yeah, our business. She's a huge dog person. So if we ever need, like, support as far as that, like, she's the emergency.

[Abby]

What do we do about this?

[Matt]

She knows what to do. She grew up with dogs. She has dogs.

[Abby]

Also, my friend that showed me this puppy knows a lot about dogs.

[Matt]

We have. We have the support, we have the community that we need for this.

[Abby]

She could also maybe potentially watch.

[Matt]

Here's where I feel guilty is like, because I'm not necessarily a dog person. I don't want to accept all the help and then feel the. Feel like I need to watch everyone else's dog because I don't necessarily want to do that. That. So then I'm like, more on the side of. Let's just like, pay for the puppy hotel when we travel.

[Abby]

No.

[Matt]

Oh, gosh. Wait. Why not?

[Abby]

Don't do that. Well, first of all, they can't even go into a hotel until they have all their shots.

[Matt]

Oh.

[Abby]

Which they can't get until they're three months old.

[Matt]

Oh, see, I don't even know all this stuff. I know nothing. But you, you clearly know this stuff and you're so excited about it. And I, I want you to. I just. I love seeing you happy and joyful and.

[Abby]

No, I don't. I don't trust myself.

[Matt]

Why don't you trust yourself?

[Abby]

Because I'm an emotional roller coaster. I don't trust myself to make a good decision.

[Matt]

I'm married. I'm an emotional roller coaster. And I love you. I love you just as you are.

[Abby]

This is where we got in trouble. We freaking named it.

[Matt]

That's why I just want to go now before we get. I get cold feet again. I don't. I don't want to like this podcast then. Okay. Should we bring Addie in here to See if she can list if she can watch the dog while we're in Silver Dollar City.

[Abby]

This is so off the rails.

[Matt]

Everyone, give it up for Addie Biswell.

[Abby]

Hello. What's happening?

[Addie]

I'm here.

[Matt]

Okay, do you want to just ask her if she. If that.

[Abby]

Or we're not pregnant? Oh, yeah, let's just say that right now.

[Matt]

Okay, you tell her about Suburbs City and ask the question that I.

[Abby]

No. What is happening? We're trying to debate if we should get a dog or not.

[Addie]

Of course you should get a dog.

[Matt]

Okay, here's your own person saying that.

[Abby]

Addy.

[Matt]

Here's the problem. Addy. So everyone has tell us not to do it except for you. But here's the thing. I want to do it now before I get cold feet again, because I'm just so excited and Abby's so excited.

[Abby]

And I think we don't want to do this naively.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Abby]

We're gonna be waking up in the night with a puppy.

[Matt]

Yes.

[Addie]

Okay, here's my thing. I've only had a dog in an apartment. You have a house. You can just let your dog out in the backyard.

[Matt]

Doggy door, too.

[Addie]

And we did that with an apartment, so easier. I don't think you need a doggy door. That's a little. You have to redo your door. It's a lot of work.

[Matt]

Okay.

[Addie]

But the reason I said yes is because I love dogs. I really do. I really, really do. And I love my dogs. Everyone says you're gonna hate your dogs after kids stuff. I still love my dogs.

[Abby]

Okay, well, we're going to Silver Dollar City.

[Matt]

Watch your dogs. Yes.

[Abby]

That's what Matt's asking.

[Matt]

Yes.

[Addie]

Okay.

[Matt]

Because isn't that bad to put your dog like this in a. Oh, yeah. We can't do this. We can cut.

[Addie]

Well, no, no, I had. No, it's fine. I'm. I'm thinking logistically, because we have two dogs and a baby. Yeah.

[Matt]

That's a lot.

[Addie]

And I'd love to watch your dog, but I'm trying to think. You also can get a dog sitter.

[Matt]

True.

[Addie]

I have plenty of dog sitters.

[Matt]

That's true.

[Addie]

Friends I can recommend, and they know how to deal.

[Abby]

But is that sad for the puppy if we just get the puppy and then they have to watch a dog sitter? Okay.

[Matt]

The puppy's so little.

[Abby]

You think it's not rude to them?

[Addie]

No.

[Matt]

So we can get. We can pay for a dog for a little dog.

[Addie]

They don't know.

[Abby]

We're only gonna be gone literally three days.

[Addie]

Thursday Through Sunday, I think.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Addie]

Is what it is.

[Abby]

It's literally three days.

[Addie]

I think it'd be totally fine to get a dog sitter, and I have people I could recommend to you for that. But if I didn't have a baby. Yes.

[Abby]

But also my kitty. Could a puppy even be around big dogs, though?

[Addie]

That's what I was most.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Addie]

I was like, I don't want to. Want to bring my dogs over. I also don't necessarily want to bring your puppy into our house.

[Abby]

House.

[Addie]

To pee on our stuff because the.

[Matt]

Puppy could get hurt by your big dogs.

[Abby]

No, she just said pee on our stuff.

[Addie]

Pee on our stuff. They can pee on your stuff.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Addie]

My dogs are potty trained, so how.

[Matt]

Long is it going to take us to potty train this puppy? Probably.

[Addie]

I mean, like, a week or two. If you're, like, dedicated to, like, taking it out every time and getting on to the puppy.

[Abby]

Thanksgiving is next week. Is that bet. Does this make this better or.

[Addie]

When are you getting the puppy?

[Matt]

Maybe today. We might go right now.

[Abby]

I'm scared.

[Matt]

They. We're pretty sure they still have the puppy. If they have the puppy. We're gonna go get it right now.

[Abby]

I think Max showed us a dog.

[Matt]

A little gold retriever. Are you crying right now? Oh, my God.

[Abby]

I don't know if we should do this.

[Matt]

I think we should. I think we should send it. Let's just send it. It's a cute little golden retriever.

[Abby]

Teach us everything. You don't have to teach us everything. We've done research. But, like, I need your. I need you to just, like, if we need to call you and be like, what do we do?

[Addie]

Yes.

[Matt]

Here's where I feel guilty, which I think if we just pay for a dog sitter, then I'll feel less guilty because I don't want to ask, like, other dog people to watch their dog.

[Addie]

Listen, we always get a dog sitter, and we always pay a dog sitter. We don't ever have our friends or family watch our dogs, and they stay at our house.

[Matt]

We'll just do that then, because I.

[Abby]

Don'T want to make the dog sad.

[Addie]

And you don't want the dog to go to a new place either. And so we keep our dogs at. We. I'm texting a dog sitter right now to come over and meet our dogs today.

[Matt]

Oh, no way.

[Addie]

You know, so. Okay.

[Matt]

Yeah, because that's the thing. Like, I don't want to. I. I want to be. When we. When we travel, I want the dog to feel safe. And loved. And I just want to be mindful of that. And then also with our friends and family, like, I don't want to because I'm not really a dog person, but I'm know I'm going to love this dog. So I don't want to be like, oh, come watch our dog, but we're not going to watch yours. So if we pay for a sitter.

[Addie]

Then yeah, I think a sitter is fine. Because even if you had family watch the dog, you'd probably still want to pay them. Like, it's like I've watched other family members, dogs and they've still paid me to do it, you know, doing that. But I think think the best thing for your dog is keeping it at your house.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Addie]

And so then you have someone come stay at your house, watch the dog, spend time with them, do that.

[Abby]

Probably be smart anyway. Cuz we get a lot of packages. I feel like.

[Addie]

Yeah. And just as a house sitter while you're gone too.

[Matt]

How do we keep this dog from pooping and peeing on our turf? Should I just like put in some gravel and convince it? Or maybe we make a turf section.

[Addie]

Yeah, they're gonna poop on the turf.

[Abby]

I think they need to.

[Matt]

But you can clean it though.

[Addie]

You can have people come and clean your turf.

[Matt]

Okay. We'll just have to.

[Addie]

So I think doing that and I think it's a good skill to like teach the boys how to clean up the poop. And you know, like then that's a chore for them. Like they can learn how to do that, feed the dog. Like then they're starting to like, learn how to take care.

[Abby]

Are they too young?

[Addie]

No, because Griffin, they have so much fun with it.

[Matt]

Oh, I think they'll love it. And Griffin, can they hurt it?

[Addie]

No, no, his Griffin, you've seen them with our dogs and they're, they.

[Abby]

But your dogs are big.

[Addie]

It's a puppy. They'll love to play. Like the, the puppy made like nibble, nibble on the boys. That's what you have to like be like, like he's not hurting the kids. You know, like teaching them that.

[Matt]

I kind of want to go get the dog like right now.

[Addie]

Let's walk this through. We have a lot of stuff going on this weekend. And the puppy. Is Abby coming to stay with you?

[Abby]

Should the puppy meet Santa tomorrow? Cute.

[Addie]

But you're not going to.

[Matt]

I'm so in love with you.

[Abby]

I'm scared.

[Matt]

In this episode, I feel like we're having another child. I feel like I'm depressing.

[Addie]

My gosh. You have to get stuff.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Addie]

You have to go get. Here's the thing. This is. That's exactly what Blake and I did. We found a dog. We went and got it that day and then we went, bought everything for him. We actually drove two hours to get Wrigley. You have to go get a bed, get a crate, get food. Just watch. Here, go back, I'll plug it. Go watch the video of you guys watching Wrigley when he was a puppy for a day. And that's just what it's going to be like. I think he peed on your carpet. Yeah, that's fine.

[Abby]

We have a lot of carpet.

[Matt]

We're going to get a leash. We're going to get a gate so that it can't go upstairs because we want to keep it on the hard place.

[Addie]

So if you get the puppy today, we need to find something to block. You could just even put like a cardboard box or something at the end of the stairs. And then they can't go up the stairs and so you just have to keep doors shut.

[Abby]

But I feel like the dog needs to sleep with us for a little bit, like in our room so they know that they're safe.

[Addie]

Yeah, we. We let him sleep in our room. You don't have to put it on your bed. You can have them sleep in there. What we did, what we did with Wrigley is we fed him in his crate so it was a safe place for him. He's like, oh, I get food in my crate. So then he like, like liked his crate and it was.

[Matt]

But you make the crate smaller so that way they feel safe. Cuz if it's too big, they'll poop.

[Addie]

And pee in there.

[Abby]

Oh.

[Addie]

Because they'll go to one side of it and do their bathroom stuff and.

[Abby]

Then they're like, this is the master bed. This is the master bath.

[Matt]

I'm so. Can you scoot over? I'm so glad we have our sister in law, Addie, who knows all this.

[Abby]

Stuff are also your brother and owns a dog.

[Matt]

But my brother told me many times not to get a dog. But we're going to say screw you, Caleb. We're doing it in anyway.

[Addie]

So everyone who's telling them not to get a dog can blame me.

[Matt]

Everyone comment. Everyone comment down below. Screw you, Caleb.

[Abby]

Oh my gosh, I'm scared.

[Matt]

Why are you scared?

[Abby]

Yeah, it's a big commitment. I don't want to take it lightly. I don't want to just be like, oh, this Is so cute.

[Addie]

Thinking about it for months and years, you have been talking. Years ago, you've been thinking about. In what people might say. You've been thinking about this before you were ever even pregnant, too. About, like, getting a dog. Oh, yeah.

[Abby]

And stuff.

[Addie]

So I feel like you. Like, that's something that, like, people might be thinking that, like, you're doing it at this time for this reason. This is the perfect time in between.

[Abby]

Your dog and we both work from.

[Matt]

Home, which is the perfect thing.

[Addie]

You do travel a lot, but if you find a good dog sitter, they're gonna be happy. My dogs jump on our dog sitter when she comes. Like, they hate when we're leaving, but they love her too, you know?

[Matt]

And they can stay at their house.

[Addie]

Yeah. And they stay there, and they can take care of them. They can take them on walks. It's. It would be better than having. Having even a family member.

[Matt]

And I don't think he knows it yet, but I think Matt Biswell is going to freaking love this dog.

[Addie]

Oh, Matt Biswell loves dogs.

[Matt]

Yeah. He's just.

[Addie]

We just don't always trust him with ours.

[Matt]

Yeah. I think.

[Addie]

Watch that.

[Matt]

Abby's. Abby's dad, like, goes on runs literally every day. I guarantee he's going to start taking our dog on runs.

[Addie]

He doesn't take our dog on runs.

[Matt]

Oh, okay. Maybe not. Maybe not. I. Maybe I'll be the one taking your dog.

[Addie]

Dogs are. Yeah, my dogs don't walk in a straight line.

[Matt]

You guys just saw us make it this. This decision in real time, people.

[Abby]

Wow.

[Matt]

Let's just go do it now. I don't want to look back. Let's go. Ready?

[Addie]

Wait. I think Blake to come in and you guys tell him he won't come on the podcast. Let me see if he will.

[Abby]

Yeah, Blake, come on the podcast.

[Matt]

Blake. Blake.

[Abby]

He's not gonna do it.

[Addie]

He'll be off camera.

[Matt]

Okay, Blake, guess what? I think we've decided that we're getting a dog. We're gonna go.

[Abby]

We're gonna go buy the dog on the podcast.

[Matt]

We're gonna buy the dog right now? Yeah.

[Abby]

Is it a bad idea?

[Addie]

No.

[Abby]

You don't think so?

[Matt]

Are you excited?

[Abby]

Do you think we're gonna. You think we can be trusted to be good pet owners?

[Matt]

I think so. That puppy looks pretty chill. Unless we're traveling. We're at our house 24 7.

[Addie]

Yeah.

[Matt]

You guys are home a lot, so.

[Abby]

We'Re home all day, every day.

[Matt]

And if we're traveling, we'll just get a dog sitter Dogs are definitely easier than babies. So, yeah, done babies twice.

[Abby]

Yeah, done babies twice.

[Addie]

So you can do dog.

[Matt]

Oh, yeah. Okay, there we have it, people. Blake.

[Abby]

Here's the thing. Blake is not the type of person. Just tell me what I want to hear, so I trust you. Do you want to go meet her? Yeah, sure. Let's get go. Experience the sequel everyone's been waiting for with Sideline 2 intercepted. Join Drayton and Dallas as they navigate the challenges of college life while trying to stay true to themselves and each other. Catch all the drama and watch Sideline 2 Intercepted, starring Noah Beck and Sienna Agudong for free on tubi this Thanksgiving.

[Matt]

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[Abby]

And they all bring the Monster Energy punch. So if you've been living in the.

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