Checking In

I know, I've been absent for a while. Blame it on the kids' ball schedules, proms, a birthday, a graduation, a camping trip to the beach. Did I say ball? Practices, doubleheaders, season wrap-up, tournament of champs and weekend tourneys! Family also visited from out of town, and we managed to squeeze two weeks worth of activities into five days! 

And of course, there were the ten Labrador pups, born to Ms. Molly Marie on April 18^th. 

Whoops, wrong litter pictured here, but you get the idea.

It’s been another wild and extremely special experience for my family, and I thought I would share everything digitally.  Like the birth, the first time they opened their eyes, their first gruel meal, a swim in the baby pool or those action shots that would warm the Grinch's cold heart. But it began to feel too personal, and I decided not to share it all.

We marvel over the fact that eight weeks came and went like the blink of an eye. As quickly as they arrived, the pups left with their new owners.  We're left with our sad yard, dug-up herb garden, torn up lawn furniture, and chewed slippers, shoes, throw rugs, buckets, etc. All worth it to spend  with them their very first eight weeks of life.
 

  

And then there’s Brodie! The Brodmeister is almost three months now, a high-energy, fearless addition to our family. Yep, we broke with the tradition of all black animals when we decided to keep him. Now we’ll have white animal hair all over the house mixed in with the black. What’s a little more hair? More chewed shoes? Double the demand for our attention?

29 days old, before teeth, a deafening bark and alpha attitude!

Brodie "Lights Out" living up to his name???

Apollo still lives with us while his new owners vacation.   Less than two more weeks of his howling, whining, peeing, destroying. He is a handful, but oh so cute! All he has to do is look straight into your eyes, cock his head to the side, and he's forgiven. His new family should fall instantly in love.

Apollo, being his usual adorable self

Must go now. That noise in the kitchen means the boys are either just fighting over a rawhide or they got into the recyclables again. I find myself saying “no” as often as I long to take a catnap!   (Speaking of which, now I know why I've had cats most of my life!)

The pups first swim -- naturals!