I supervise...

I really love that Mom put concrete floors in the house. I like to lie in the middle of the living room and supervise and/or nap. The people in the house have to check in with me. I am looking forward to the day I don't have to ride down to the house and then ride back. The other morning I went looking for Mojo (one of my favorite neighborhood dogs) and stayed to play with Gracie all day. We had a blast. Diane says I can come to play anytime. The other picture is me playing with Deron...I'm trying to help the gals wear him down for a dog.

Just so you know...

I am feeling ignored. Mom and Dad take me down to the new house every day and put me in my backyard. Sometimes Mojo comes to visit...the other day Mojo and Gracie came to play and I was tearing around on the driveway when I must have tweaked a toenail. It bled for a long time. I left tracks... My favorite part of the new house is lying on the concrete floor. Around the edges Mom folded back the paper and I can find a spot along the baseboard where it's nice and cold. Mom and Dad have been so busy I don't have pictures to share, but I'll get on them about it. Have a great week!

I am tired of waiting...

I like my new yard and all, but I have places to go! I have watched Mom and Dad carefully, and understand how those handle things work. I can get into/out of the gate and house on my own! (Yes, the doors will be locked from here on out.) I like having new people come and see me every day, but what I really want is some serious time with Dad. I miss it being just him and me on the job site. Nana and Poppa left, so I don't get anymore good ear rubs either.

I have decided to be magnanimous...I have my very own backyard! No rope, no leash, and I can see out 2 sides... I tested the fence a little, but digging down a couple inches I still hit fence, so I stopped. Now I consider everything inside the fence to be mine. I play with Mom's wash bucket, I eat up treelings, and I find whatever mud I can. Also pictured, a BOY that Mom saved one night and took to the local shelter the next day. I never did decide if I liked him or not, he was a little snarly when I tried to chew on his ear.

I LOVE CAMPING

I got to go camping with Mom, Dad, Aunt Katie, Uncle Mike, Nana, Poppa, and my human cousins, Logan and Ivy. We had the best time ever!!!!! Here are some of me playing in the tall grass... I also got to go swimming again. It was AWESOME.

I am not talking to...

anyone who puts me in a cage. I am still lying low, but now I think I'm ready to run and jump and play. I don't care if the doctor thinks I need more time to rest. Mom keeps buying me more toys to keep me interested. As long as it squeaks or I can chew on it, I'm okay. Dad thinks I may grow a little more... HAIR!!! It's everywhere. I can't help it, but Mom keeps trying to keep me blond and unmatted. She's always wiping the crud out of my eyes, and she thinks my toenails need to be cut.

Rough week

I'm on temporary restriction...I got a little too free with my freedom. So now, I have to lay low. Mom caught me chewing on a Booda bone - I love those! I ate this one in about 10 minutes flat.

This is now, that was then...

Hi! Hope you had a good week. I have had regular walks with Nana, Poppa, and Mom. Dad and I keep the house on track. I play with the neighborhood gang. Sometimes we go on field trips...like today we went to Springdale. My friend, Diane Douglas, had an art show and we went to see her. All the nice neighbors were there. Then we went to Oscar's for dinner and a short walk. Right now, Mom and I are catching up on Ugly Betty and doing laundry. I'll see you all next week!

Things will never be the same...

I have decided that I enjoy being "challenged" for my dinner. So often, I look longingly at my KONG when Mom and Dad put out my meal. I will be sure to keep you updated on my newest foibles. But most importantly, I ITCH!!!! And every time I try to lick it or scratch, someone yells at me. Mom keeps checking my tummy area, but I'm not allowed to put my head there. So when they put that pesky plastic cone on me, I just run around whacking it on stuff. Then they feel sorry for me...I have great faces (see side). Dad made sure that I got a shot, too. So now they think that if I decide to be friendly with a rattlesnake, I will be protected. I suffer, I tell you! The bottom picture is me supervising the Smithsonian Fire Department's 12th Annual Chili Cook-off...

I've got "hops"...

I'm not growing exponentially anymore. I've decided to be picky about food... After a couple of tense days, Mom and Dad have changed my food. I seem to like supper more than breakfast, eating most of my food in the evening.
I can jump! I can get into and out of the trucks by myself (if I'm motivated). Sometimes it's still more fun to have Mom or Dad lift me.
I do like to swim...we went up to Pine Valley Mountain today and Dad took me swimming in the creek. It was cold, but I had a good time.

My new home...

While I think that I'm old enough to not have to be shut up at night, Mom and Dad still think I need the boundaries. So check out my new digs... and yes, I am still in the corner of Mom and Dad's ever-shrinking bedroom! Notice that the dog in the picture is a St. Bernard - they must be really big...I have plenty of room to stretch out.

I can swim!

We had a great Easter weekend! Dad thought it would be fun to try me out in public, so we went to Springdale. After we parked the car, I dragged Mom and Dad up the road to the coffee shop, stopping to get petted by everyone who mentioned that I was cute. Then we stopped at the Whiptail Grill for lunch. (Mom and Dad highly recommend it...) I met a couple of golden labs there on the patio, and lots of people waiting for the shuttle into the park. We walked up to the park, but Dad didn't want to wait in line to go in, so we played along the river and in the grass. Then we walked all the way back. Mom got Dad to stop at David West's gallery and buy the picture she says is going to hang just inside the door at our new house, but I think it should be a large picture of me! The best part was hanging out with Charlie, the Wests' boxer. I wore Mom and Dad out (at least, I think I did, I was sleeping). On Sunday, we went back to Springdale. Dad took me for a run at the dog park. I am quite the swimmer...but I'm a little nervous about that whole current thing. We spent the rest of the day with the Rossi clan. I enjoyed helping in the Easter egg hunt and jumping in their pond (oops!).

Lots of people and my weather!

So Saturday, I got to meet a lot of new people. Don't I look relaxed? That was fun...even if I didn't get to have any of that food. Sunday, it SNOWED! I love the snow...Mom and Dad liked that it came and went in one day.

Yes...I am a big girl!

HI! I am 18 weeks, 38 pounds, and full of energy. I'm a swimmer and a "duner". I love visitors and hanging out with the guys at the construction site. The only drawback is this growing thing...I'm soooo tired! Not more tired than Mom and Dad, who try hard to keep my schedule, and get everything else done, but I'm using a lot of energy growing. Mom and I are going to start a regular walking routine, now that I'm more comfortable with the neighborhood. We hiked today to the top of the ridge you can see in the background of the house blog. I sat up top and let the wind blow through my ears. Very nice! I used my nose to get us home. Mom would have gotten us totally lost (at least I think so), but my nose and keen tracker sense got us home safely.

This week in pictures...

My hair is really long and I seem to be gaining about 2 pounds a week. I love to carry around Dad's socks, shoes, and bring sticks into the house. This bed is the same size as the red polka dotted one below. I am really filling it up!

More paparazzi shots...

Let me show you my backyard...

Here's my back door... and my porch. To the left is me staking out Marcia's house. She has a compost pile that Mom and Dad just found out about. So much for my freedom. I am now 30 pounds!!! I just turned 4 months old this week, and I am getting really long, curly hair (very light, so dirt shows!). Mom and Dad are seriously talking about obedience training, even though I am very smart...maybe BECAUSE I am so smart.

Flashbacks

Here are some pictures that never made it into my blog... These are mostly of me hanging out with my dad, and playing in snow...my favorite stuff!

I'm learning a lot...

I get visits from the neighborhood dogs. Bailey teaches me about the local area, by taking me across the street. My grammie from California came to see me (and Dad & Mom) and brought her golden, Holly. Holly's sister came too. She doesn't like me very much, but I'm trying hard to win her over. I like to lay in between them, making a great big golden pile. But I can't wait to have my house back to myself.

Can't you see I'm HELPING????

I continue to crack Mom and Dad up, and to be really popular. (This is my friend, Bailey, he knows EVERYTHING about the neighborhood.) A different part of my body is bigger every day, and my hair is starting to get longer and curly. I'm a pack rat (retriever) who steals framing pencils and toilet paper. I'm really helpful at the job site. Besides the pencils, I bring mud onto the slab and move around the garbage. Mom and Dad are so excited to take me to training. At this point, I KNOW a lot of words, but that doesn't mean I think they're important all the time. Signing off now...there's lot of sleeping and chewing to do.

Here's my new bed...I'll fill it up in no time!