Summer Stuff 2012

We're in the middle of a record breaking hot summer. It's been 100+ for most of the last couple of weeks.  It's pretty bad when you feel better because its 'only' in the 90s some days.  With that in mind, it's been a slow summer, too. Just not a whole lot happening. But every summer brings a few special occasions...

Blake & I celebrated our 27th anniversary with a day-trip to Lake Consauga. We had a picnic and a fun day walking around the lake. It's always cooler up there, and just refreshes our hearts & souls. This was Murphy's first trip to the lake....he had a blast. He's definitely a water-puppy. By the end of the day he was completely exhausted & slept the entire way home.

Murphy's first time at the lake. He fetched the stick from the water!

Tired sleepy pup on the way home.
He was so tired he wouldn't get out of the van to play in the creek at the bottom of the mountain.

 Speaking of 'water pup'.... Murphy LOVES to play in the sprinkler....

Slobbery & drool makes him look cool?

Running through the clover, ears a'flappin'.

He looks likes a dandilion with all his fur wet & standing on end.

12 weeks.

He's growing like crazy, too.   Here's his paw in Blake's hand - at 12 weeks/3 months old. He's gonna be a BIG dog!

Here's some more pictures of our silly pup as he grows....

Silly face!  

Murphy is facinated with the cats.
He's constantly trying to be friends with Bobbin and get her to play....Bobbin is NOT amused.  

PUPPY SMACK-DOWN!

After running away, he returns to Bobbin and bows down to her superiority.  *Yeah, right!*

Bobbing for tennis balls.

Blowing bubbles.

Puppy ears make great floatation devices.

"Fighting" with the apple tree.
Murphy won the battle - there were little apples flying all over the place.

With Ian. =)

He sleeps just like Cole!

On the way home from the Vet's office after being 'tutored'. 

What a life.

Cole marched in his very first parade.  He'll be a freshman in the HS band this year and this was his first taste of HS band stuff.  He wasn't too thrilled...too hot and he felt unprepared since he's never marched before. We think he did great, though.

And finally, we celebrated Cole's 14th Birthday today!  I can't believe he's 14 and will be started high school soon.   We started the morning with a few presents, and then had lunch at Mellow Mushroom, and finally a trip to 'Hobby Town' ...his favorite store for all those weird things he builds and paints.  All in all a good day for my "Fizzlebutt."

The Three Amigos....nah, its the Three Goobers!

Ma gave Cole a electric bug zapper = hours of fun ahead for these two!

Happy 14th Birthday, Cole!
He got a candle inside a Mellow Mushroom pretzel.

He's in pizza heaven!

Cole showing off a hidden talent...levitation!

And Lastly - a picture that will go down in history in our family.

Murphy is just asleep... but looks like he's had a bit too much! 

The captions this pictures just screams for are endless...

as shown by the silly response on Facebook.

Among them ' I'm not as think as u drunk I am.'

And something about  "O.D.'ing on Begging Strips."

Dear, dear Murphy at his best....

 

Cole - End of Middle School

Here's Cole on the first day of school this year....

Not exactly thrilled about the whole thing.

But HERE's Cole on the last day of Middle School.....

Yes - he's happy....because he's burning his social studies notebook! (His least favorite class/teacher.)

MUCH different face from that first picture! Wahoo!  No more Middle School ever again!!!!!!!!!

Meanwhile,  we had a great time at his Spring concert....

Cole's Percussion class playing an awesome 'Stinkin' Garbage' on the trash cans.
(There's actually a stage FULL of these kids. These 3 didn't fit on the stage, so were on the side.)

Cole with his Completed 3 Years of Band
8th Grade Medal.

Blake, Mr. Chris Willis - #1 Middle School Band direct in the whole world!, and Cole - end of 8th grade.

Murphy Joins Our Family

After the passing of dear Riley, we had a huge hole in our hearts and around the house.  We didn't want to run right out & find another dog to replace Riley - we needed some time to heal. I knew when the time was right, that God would put the right pup in our path...and He did.  

This is Murphy ~ we met him/his litter/family about a month ago.... and when I found out the pups were born on March 26th, my birthday, I knew we were in the right place, at the right time.   He's about 4 weeks old in this picture - just a wee little furball.

This is mama, Sandi, and her 7 pups.


And Champ, his dad (L), with a 2 yr old brother, Baily, (R) from another litter.


A Family Picture with Murphy before he was old enough to come home.

This is Murphy 4 weeks later.... on PUPPY DAY, 8 weeks old. Boy did he grow!

Saying goodbye to all his brothers & sisters. They were so cute!

Upon arriving home with us, Murphy walked up to Bobbin & sniffed her 'hello'.....

Bobbin was NOT appreciative of this greeting and promptly gave poor baby Murphy
a double-bop up-side the head. Poor baby! Look at his eyes.    
They have since made peace....she gives him dirty looks, and he avoids her reach.  
Within a month or so, he'll be a lot bigger than she is....so we'll see who bops who.

Murphy loves to lay, play, sit and wallow in the clover.

Another bit of irony....  we had a really hard time trying to agree upon a name for our pup.  Doc, Moe, Chewy, Einstein, and may other names were suggested.  3 of us liked the name Murphy, but Ian didn't like it.  I finally convinced Ian to agree to 'Murphy', by buying his Wallace's BBQ twice. It was worth it.  The name Murphy just fits this puppy perfectly.  Friday night after we brought him home, I was reading over his papers and family tree.  Here comes the irony.... Murphy's great-grandfather was named...MURPHY!   How about that! 

He survived his first bath...
and forgave me for the ordeal and indignity of being hosed down in the kitchen sink.

Sweet baby Murphy  8 weeks old

The silly playful side of Murphy blossomed this evening. He had a blast playing with an plastic Easter egg, and his critter toy. He was pouncing and bouncing all over the place.
It was so fun to watch...and brought so much joy and laughter to all of us. There is nothing more fun that a silly, playful puppy. Even Ian & Cole admitted that puppies are more fun than ANY video game!!

Pouncing on his favorite critter toy.

The first night home with a puppy is usually pretty rough....whining and crying for their mom and siblings. It's hard to go from sleeping with a pile of puppies, to sleeping alone. But Murphy handled it like a champ! He didn't cry one little bit. (I took a towel with us when we picked up Murphy on Puppy Day, and rubbed it all over his mama, so her scent would be on it. This towel was placed on his bed. I don't know it it helped him, but it sure didn't hurt the situation.)    Murphy has also done exceptionally well in the potty-training department.  When we take him outside, he goes.   It wasn't until this morning (Sunday) that he had an accident. But still - to not have had any accidents until the 3rd day....we say he's genius material! hahaha!

We so grateful for the blessing of this sweet little puppy.  The companionship and love a dog gives is priceless. They give so much, and ask so little.   While we'll always miss Riley,  our hearts are ready to welcome Murphy in.  And I think Riley wouldn't mind that one bit.