Friday, February 9, 2018

Long weeks are always better with some puppy love, and a gift................




Last weekend we had family visiting from Minnesota.  Our darling great nieces and their parents of course.  Little Buddy had a wonderful time with them and asks about them everyday.  They arrived on Friday evening and left on Tuesday.  We did not have the best weather but it was warm enough for shorts and light weight jackets, which seemed much better than their below freezing temps at home.  Our great nephew also came to stay with his Grandmother, my SIL, so the boys took him out to celebrate his 21st birthday.  Well Mr. 20 had to stay home because he is not yet 21.  Still we had the whole extended family over for dinner to celebrate.  We had a visit to the park, lots of playtime, and puppy duty of course, it was a BUSY weekend.


The boys are getting bigger and are starting to listen a wee bit more.  We are understanding the command, sit, and most of the time, stay, but sometimes they are just so excited by life and are wagging their tails so much they simply can't listen.




I tried a photo shoot outside this morning and they did pretty good.  Hank is weighing in at about 20 pounds, and Bear around 16 1/2.   You can see how much bigger Hank is in the photos.  He is bigger yet lets his brother chase him and bite as they wrestle.  They are really so adorable to watch.  Bear can only handle so much playtime before he needs a cuddle.  He is very much the baby even though they are from the same litter.  Bear is thin, but the Vet is not worried, some dogs are just smaller and thinner.  He has food available all day long and Hank is not pushing him away, so I guess he will eat when he needs to.  Our Max was the runt, he did not eat much the first 6 weeks we had him.  I had to take him into the vet's office once a week until he really started to gain weight.  He ended up a very healthy 95 pounds so maybe I should stop worrying.


We have been keeping them close to home, just walking around our house when we are outside, but today I decided to try a longer walk.  We made it 1/2 mile and they did very good.  Yes they were distracted and tried to go in opposite directions a few times but overall it went well.   We will gradually move to longer walks in hopes it tires them out a bit.  They have a lot of energy!


This week I was the lucky winner of a giveaway from Vera.  She is the incredible knitter, who makes things I could only dream of.  Thank you so much Vera for picking my name.  I can't wait to dive into this gorgeous book.  The book takes a look at the great lakes region of Michigan, where I grew up.  I can't wait to see all the beautiful areas that will remind me of my childhood.  All the places I have been to and had hoped to see someday.  This will be a perfect way to relax after an incredibly busy week at work.  Thank you again Vera.  Please pop by Vera's blog and say hi for me, you'll be glad you did. 


I'll leave you with this photo.  It reminds me of a heart.  These boys usually sleep while touching each other in some way.  They are so darling.  Hope you all have a great weekend.

40 comments:

Lee said...

Ooooh you have had a busy time,what with visitors and the pups.The photos are just wonderful and that last one is so unique,it should be framed or on a Calendar or something,soooo unusual,I LOVE IT.I would love the send the pups a present.Huggles to all,Humans and Pups.xxxx

Caffeine Girl said...

Company on top of puppies? You are amazing. I don't knowhow you do it all. But you do -- and it's all filled with love!

Teresa Kasner said...

Wow, how many were in your house over the weekend? We have 7 people, 5 adults, 2 young boys and 3 dogs here a lot of the time so I can relate how busy it must have been. Those 2 little fur kid brothers are adorable! Little Buddy seems very happy to have that little girl sitting with him. I hope you have a nice restful weekend, my friend. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

bittenbyknittin said...

What a cute pair of pups! I have a special leash for walking two dogs at a time, they sell them at pet stores like Petco. Helps keep them under control better. I usually walk my two separately because every walk involves some training and each dog has separate issues to work on. Most days, I get my 10k steps in!

Mac n' Janet said...

How fun to have family visit and nice for them to get out of Minnesota for a while.
The pups are really looking like they're settling in.
Congratulations on winning your book, always feels great to win.

Mylittlepieceofengland said...

Your puppies are so adorable, and seeing them asleep,together was a cuteness overload, so gorgeous xx

Gracie Saylor said...

Carolyn and I especially enjoyed seeing Hank and Bear! They are darling!! So glad you had a lovely visit with your family :-) xx

mamasmercantile said...

That last photo is divine, what an amazing picture. It is always a delight to see Little Buddy, he is growing up so fast.

Araignee said...

Look at those beautiful boys!!! I can just feel the puppy love!

Vera said...

Wow! You've had a busy, but fun time! Both the puppies and Little Buddy are growing like crazy. Glad the book arrived ok...I know you will enjoy it. That last picture of Hank and Bear should be on a calendar - adorable!

Anonymous said...

Bear with his funny little flipped back ear ...........LOL These photos really made my week.

(It's been a stressfully busy week here --- doggie and Little Buddy photos are just what I needed.)

Judy S. said...

Love the photos of your Dynamic Duo! I'll bet your MN guests were very sad to leave; Chicago was supposed to get 14" of snow today and our GK's school was even cancelled! I don't know whether MN got snow, but it sure has been cold there.

Betsy said...

Such a wonderful, happy post. Family visits. Puppy love. What could be better? I love your two little guys. Those puppy feet! My heart be still. I love puppy feet. They always smell like Fritos to me!!! Ha! Have a lovely weekend Meredith.
Blessings,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had some fabulous days with your family! And those dogs are just too cute! I'm sure you enjoy them sometimes more when they are asleep :-)

busybusybeejay said...

WHat a busy time you have had but it is lovely to get the family together.Those puppies are gorgeous.

CJ said...

Oh that last photo is utterly adorable. Glad it is all going well with them. We're just back from puppy training. Learning to walk close with no lead today, it's a work in progress... It sounds as though you had a good time with your great nieces. And shorts and lightweight jacket sounds like wonderful weather to me! Have a lovely weekend Meredith. CJ xx

Christina said...

This last photo is the cutest I have seen in a long time! It sounds like you had a wonderful (and busy) time with family. Here, we are dreaming of unpacking shorts and light jackets, it is still ghastly cold. Have a lovely weekend. xx

kathy b said...

I very much enjoy the family photos. Lil Buddy sharing a kitchen chair reminds me of my kids back when!!!!!
Oh those pups. Yes, they are sleepingin a heart shape. I cannot believe they already sit and work on stay! WOW. They are going to be awesome. Bear and Hank. You make my heart happy MERE

Anonymous said...

ohmygosh
every single picture is so wonderful! especially those with little Buddy.
you just have beautiful people and children in your family.
and the puppies speak for themselves. I think they KNOW
they're adorable. LOL!

Wanderingcatstudio said...

My goodness! The pups just get cuter with every picture!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

The puppy love is making me smile!

Needles and Wool said...

That is so nice you had some family time and that is great Buddy really enjoyed it. It is always so special to get together and spend some special moments with family we don't get to see too often. Hank and Bear are so adorable! I just love their furry faces and beady eyes. You are making this cat person think of getting a puppy more and more! haha. Hope you have a wonderful weekend with the puppies and some crochet :)

Babajeza said...

These two are happy puppies. :-) Enjoy the weekend. Hugs, Regula

Una said...

That last photo is a prize-winner. You couldn't pose that even if you tried. Lovely.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Goodness gracious you sure are keeping busy. That last photo is absolutely precious!

Neighborhood Watch said...

Oh, it does look like a heart! So sweet! As always, I enjoy your posts so much.

Delighted Hands said...

What a great catch-up! The pups are beautiful! I love that they have to touch even while sleeping! LIL Buddy looks so cute holding his 'cousin' .

Pom Pom said...

Oh, the puppies are SO sweet! Cutie pies! How fun!

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

I'm glad you had a nice time with family. Your puppies are gerting big and I love last photo you took of them. I am feeling ok and I had a good time with my sis. Now I'm tired from all the walking. Happy weekend!

Jodiebodie said...

Oh Meredith, it is such a pleasure to visit your blog after a hectic, busy, challenging and exhausting week to be revived by the beautiful family photos of yours full of happy smiles and love for one another.

How amazingly busy for you but what a wonderful way to be busy. :-)

Your puppies are just gorgeous and I could look at the last 'heart' one all day. How adorable. How do you get anything done with such cuteness to look at?

Glad you had a happy weekend. Cheers! :-)

Maggie said...

Great to catch up on all your news and to meet "the boys", love that final photo, a true Valentine's Heart if ever I saw one. Thanks for stopping by in Normandy today.

Nance said...

PUPPIES!!!!!
So fluffy and floppy...fluppy! That last picture truly said it all. They are part of your heart.

Jo said...

Awww, bless, my heart's just melting at that last photo. Cuties. It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend with family visiting but what a shame Mr 20 couldn't join in with the celebrations for the 21st birthday, the legal age here is 18 of course. Eleanor missed out on lots of her friend's celebrations as she was the last one to turn 18. Glad you all had a good time though.

Karen said...

What a wonderful week! There's nothing like being surrounded by family. Those puppies are getting cuter all the time.

Melanie said...

I'm sure your house was crazy with company AND new puppies, but all are noisy blessings! Nothing better than family, and those pups are just so darn adorable. In the one photo where they're facing the camera, they look like big stuffed animals!

alexandra s.m. said...

Awww...so much LOVE around you! It makes me very happy!
The furry boys are getting big!
I thought of a heart too when I saw that darling picture of them sleeping. PRECIOUS!

xx

elns said...

So wonderful you got the family all together! LB looks to be having a fabulous time!! And your new boys. oh my too cute. You can see the way bear is looking up at big brother hank, that he is definitely the baby. not just in size. Be well Mere!

linda said...

Lovely photo's Meredith I love the one at the end so sweet. :) xx

Toni said...

Awwwww. They are SO adorable!

Jo said...

Ah some great times there Meredith with memorable photos. Have a good week amongst the angst. Jo x