Great Aunt Brag time

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Just to let people know...Lydia Hope Bouwens was born late last night. She, her mom, her dad and her big brother are doing well. Thank God for another chance to be a GREAT AUNT.

Watching the Water Boy

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Yesterday was a pretty but chilly spring day. I took Findlay to the woods to walk, while the older dogs slept in late. The weather has continued to warm up with evening temps above freezing for the past week. These changes have allowed the daily sun to warm the pool and melt the ice sheets frozen beneath the cover. The water exposed on the pool cover has grown - especially since we have had some rain lately too.

After the walk, Cheyenne and I were sitting on the steps watching Findlay play in the yard. He decided to run across the pool (again), but this time he was startled. You see, he has been able to run across the cover with only his ankles in the water. This time, the ice cracked with a loud thud and he was suddenly in up to his shoulders. My lab baby began to doggie paddle!!! He was too funny, when he finally relaxed and stood up!!! As you can see, he is still above water!! Cheyenne just gave me a look, as if to say, "mommy, my brother acts like a cool dude but he is really just a big ole chicken!!"

We all can't wait to get the cover off the pool, the water treated and the sunshine warming up the temps. We will be doing some swimming this summer. My water boy will enjoy it and his old sister will just sun herself and laugh.

Exams...puppies...and older dogs.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

We have had a fun weekend, despite the chilly to cold weather. The sun has been out and it has helped with some crabby attitudes. I walked three days straight, so that is a good thing for starting the spring. The walks in the woods have been great after we found a nice place by a running river to walk Findlay. He seems to like that as well. My goal was to tire him out, so I could do some work both outside and inside.

Having a 9 month old puppy who is over 80 pounds makes life interesting. You see, he looks like a big dog, take up space like a big dog...but still acts like a puppy at times. This weekend was one of those times. CB and I gave him a chew toy (along with the other two bugs - Annie and Koda and out the door to do a bit of yard work). You see, the chew toys distract him from missing us...translated... it keep him from mischief. SO, we thought all would be well upon our return inside the house. BUT NOOOOOO!!! He decided to chew his toy for sure, right after he took some things from the table. One of which was the camera, thanks goodness he left that alone. But the other things.... well... remember the story "my dog ate my homework". Yes, he took the midterm exams that I WAS GRADING. He decided to partially destroy four of them, leaving the others looking pretty good. I was NOT happy about this at ALL. CB spent about 3 hours pretending that I just bought her a new puzzle and taped most of them back together. At least she thinks they look good.

As you can see from the older two, they were totally unaffected by his actions. They were sleeping when we came back into the house. No warning, no barking, no telling us 'he did it' - nothing...just sleeping and being cute old dogs. Hmmm... life in doggie daycare. Guess the students will like the 'extra points' on all of their exams due to the teacher's puppy eating the exams. Oh yeah, he was tired and decided to 'rest' after he ate the exams...bad puppy!!!

9 months with Handsome

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Yesterday was Findlay Sol Maris' 9 month birthday. Yes, he is a growing baby boy. You can see from the pictures that he is a far cry from the day he came to me last August. His personality continues to change, as he finds his place in my family 'pack'. He still wants to be the leader, but he is learning that trying to lead is not the happiest and best place for him.

He continues to become more and more handsome. As we go together on walks, people stop me to ask where I got him. Always saying he is so handsome. Mommy loves those times and he seems to act like he does too. He is also playing ball all the time and is happy to have the pool cover free from snow. It is fun to see him try and figure out the noise as he runs over it -- considering the ice is beginning to melt below the cover. I can't wait to have him swimming this summer. I think he and I will spend many hours in the water. We will work on walking out the steps again, as this was a 'trick' he learned well last fall.
Findlay and his two adopted siblings are not perfect. The pictures below show how he learned to open the frig when Mommy left him home out of his crate. Yes, my little sonshine is a smartie pants too. We will need to wean him to being home without mommy outside of the crate. That is one summer task for us both to accomplish. (Yes, that is SALAD and 1/2 n 1/2 on the floor!!!). He loved this week when I was on spring break. Being home more and able to take extra time for walks, snuggles and ball throwing in the yard. I think it is what summer will be like. And that is just fine by me.

Happy BIRTHDAY "Uncle Daniel" and little Jacob

Monday, March 2, 2009

I have dug myself out and finally got time to write a note to two of the most wonderful men in my life. Daniel - I hope that your day was special and that you have many, many, many more birthdays. As for little Jake, your "mail Jaci" wishes you a very special birthday. I hope that both of you have a happy, healthy and joyful year this year.

LOVE YOU BOTH VERY MUCH. God bless. Giving you both doggie kisses and high fives from the puppies at my house.