Gotcha!

Today I finally had the gumption to set up the tripod and camera and round up the dogs for a photo shoot.  It was a beautiful morning, and I gave them plenty of time to play prior to attempting to get the four to "sit/stay".  It would have made a fairly entertaining video is all I will say.  I did get the picture and ordered the Christmas cards (yes, I know Christmas was last Sunday).  But here I have to share a few outtakes.

Sawyer, quit licking your lips

Blossom, shut your mouth and what are ya'll looking at?

Sawyer, where are you....Sawyer!



I also got this cute picture of Jaydon and pals



After this ordeal was over the girls had to have a nap





Blossom and the gift wrap

Blossom continued with her mission of "seek/destroy" while I wrapped gifts!  She was so cute and posed so nicely that I let her have a little fun with this scrap of wrapping paper.

Hey Mom, Did You Forget Something?

I forgot to feed the dogs tonight, but they reminded me.  Tonight was the Christmas Pop's concert at church.  I had to be there early for warm up, and it was too early to feed the dogs before I left.  Plus I don't like to feed them and then leave because sometimes Bentley is still a "bowl bully".  I didn't think the concert would be too late, so I just left without feeding them.

Well, I got home around 9 p.m. and started wrapping gifts and eating a little snack.  But I couldn't figure out why the dogs were just standing there looking at me.  I thought they just were looking at the snack, after all I did have cheese and they love cheese!  After several minute of being quietly stared at I remembered that I had not fed them.  Oops, I quickly filled those bowls with their good Eukanuba kibbles and then shared a little cheddar cheese with them!  I was off on their routine and they knew it, smart doggies!

Tales of Rainy Days

After a year with practically no rain, we are experiencing wet, wet, wet days.  Some rain, some drizzle, and lots of humidity.  While I am so thankful for the rain, I wish it would rain several inches and then dry up and then repeat the cycle.  So do the dogs.  They are miserable and wound up at the same time. 

They are refusing to go outside.  Even good boy Sawyer had to be carried out this morning.  Even though it is fairly dry under the eave of the house, they just do not want to go out.  I can't say that I blame them - I would not want to do my business in the rain.  But it seems they are fanatics about keeping their feet dry.  Except last night when Sawyer spotted something on the fence line and led the pack charging out into the mud for a little barking session. 

We've had no walks, either, so they are full of energy.  Poor babies.  I've been tempted to put on a coat and try to walk them with an umbrella (for me) but I could just see them flipping out in the rain and then having to get them home and dry!  We've played a little in the house, but that does not burn energy.  Too bad they aren't human children that could be amused with a board game or a big box to turn into a fort!

Looking for Blossom (and a few photos)

The puppies love to curl up with me on the sofa.  I love curling up with them.  Right now that's where we are, on the sofa listening to Harry, Kenny and others sing and play Christmas carols.  Mmmm, good times. 

Most of the time Bentley doesn't really nap.  And I'm used to him jumping up and down from the sofa.  But when one of the others gets down I usually notice and keep an eye out for what they are doing.  Several nights ago we were settled in and I realized that there were only three dogs on the sofa with me.  A quick check told me that Blossom was missing.  I didn't remember her getting down, so I was a little puzzled.  Then I looked down at Sawyer and realized that he had a black spot on his side.  What?  He is red and white on his back.  A second look revealed that I was seeing Blossom's black spot, she was sleeping underneath Sawyer!  She had laid down between my leg and the arm of the sofa and Sawyer had laid down on top of her.  But most of his weight was on my leg so he wasn't crushing her.  She must have been warm and comfortable because she was sound asleep.  Silly puppies.

Sawyer is getting into the Season!

Three sofa sleepers

Guess which dog is not a napper?

A Rainy Weekend

It has been a long, long time since we had a rainy weekend, and a cool one at that.  Temperatures today have been in the 40's and it has rained lightly off and on all weekend.  Wonderful, wonderful!

But what do dogs do on a weekend like this?  Oh, they are more than content to curl up on the sofa and nap while I'm napping or watching football.  But the rest of the time they have been little rascals! I have to admit that I have not exercised them like I should.  I would have bundled up and taken them for a walk but I've had a little bit of a cold and didn't think I should be out walking in the rain.  So I have to blame myself (partly) for their misbehavior.

First of all they refuse to potty outside.  Even if I go out with them they refuse.  No way, it is wet out here...we'll just go in the house thank you. 

They have entertained themselves by pulling ornaments off the tree and either playing with them or eating them.  NO, NO, BAD DOGS!  They have shredded every piece of paper they can get their mouths on.  NO, NO, BAD DOGS!  But the big game has been "Explore the Trash".  Everytime I turn around one of them has retrieved something from the kitchen trash and they are destroying it, usually in the middle of the living room floor.  Yes, I know I should have closed the lid on the trash can.  But still, they know better than to play in the trash. 

This morning Bentley and Sawyer bolted through the door into the garage.  I got the garage door down before Bentley got out, but had to go out in the rain to round up Sawyer.  I'm sure the rain detered him from making a run through the neighborhood.  I'm not sure what got into their heads to make them run out like that.

But now they are all piled in my lap while I'm writing this, sweet little puppies (for now).