First Day

                    Ruben is a nappin' dog these days now that his buddies have started school.

    Annabelle is in the FIFTH Grade, Maturation Program HERE WE COME! I can't even believe it.

                                                       Benson is going in to 3rd Grade.

 

 My Maxwell is a Kindergartener!

  

At least their plaid is not all the way matching.... Annabelle said "Geez Mom, they look like a couple of Cowboys."

 Doesn't he look way too young to be standing in a school line? My eyes were tearing up while I was taking this picture, he was looking at me like "Kay Mom, you can go." I held it all together until I came home and found this on my door step.....

Bloody Paws

It was 24 degrees outside on Saturday! This was reason to get out and enjoy the sunshine. I had the idea to go on a walk/bike ride with our kids, on the nicely paved canal road.

Benson is just learning to get around on his bike, he was loving the freedom of not worrying about running in to anything.

       Simon rode his scooter for a while but then switched to foot. He prefers running most of the time.

 Turns out the bike crew can ride pretty fast and before we knew it we had been walking almost two miles. Which means...... we have to walk two miles back to the car.

Great for those with bikes but Suy Guy was slowing and so was Ruben.

  

 Poor Ruben. Maybe not such a good idea to bring him. He started walking really funny about halfway in to the walk. I thought it was because it was so cold. He was wanting to walk in the snow and I kept forcing him on to the pavement because I was worried the snow would make him colder. Later that night I noticed he kept licking his paws, so I looked at them closer and they were pink and bleeding! He had rubbed his paws raw on the pavement ): I felt so bad.

                                                   At least these guys had a good time!

Suy Guy was a trooper! About the last mile of our walk I carried Brigham and put him in the stroller. I knew he must have been tired because he usually hates the stroller and he didn't even put up a fight when I strapped him in.

The Trough

When I was a child summer wouldn't have been summer without our "swimming pool"/Cow trough. I am pretty sure we spent our entire summers in the pool, with about ten other neighbor kids.  My Aunt  Marianne was kind enough to hand their family swimming pool down to us. I am so glad our kids will have the same great memories.

We have only used it a couple of times this summer, because of this little guy- he is fearless when it comes to water or anything for that matter. So we made the most of it when we filled it up.Our kids were swimming the whole entire day! I jumped in with Annabelle and realized how BIG I am. This pool used to seem so big and deep but I may have outgrown it a tad. I took advantage of my bigness and produced some great waves  and whirlpools for Annabelle to ride in. Be glad Beetle wasn't home at this time to take a pic.

Si Guy riding the whirlpool

Beetle wanted to see if Ruben could swim....he can!

I went in the house to grab some towels and found Annabelle having tub time with Ruben...kind of SICK- I know, but the expression on her face was pretty cute. I am pretty sure the pool gave her the idea, at least she stayed in her swimming suit :)

Summer Begins

 Summer is officially in full swing.  We celebrated on the last day of school by making tinfoils and roasting s'mores, Beetle also set up the tent and the kids had their first sleep out in our backyard. Annabelle's buddy Malaki came over for the celebration and had a late night with us. Aunt Roxanne and Millie also stopped by and had an extra late night with us. It was a lot of fun.

My Parent's went on a trip so we watched their puppies for the weekend. Our kids were in Heaven, and wore these pups out! I love how Dachshunds love to bask in the sun and cuddle. All three of them slept together every night. Ruben was loving life.

The boys (excluding Simon and Brigham) went on a fathers and sons camp out. This was Maxwell's first Fathers and Sons Activity, he and Benson were so excited for it, they kept asking me all day when Dad would be home from work so they could go. They ended up falling asleep on the way up the Canyon.

 Annabelle was feeling a little cheated that she had to stay home with me and the "babies". She cheered up when I took her to dinner and watched Tooth Fairy 2 with her. She also had a great idea to surprise the boys by cutting her hair, so we made a trip to Great Clips too!

Annabelle's First Dog(s)

 On Sunday we told the kids we were going on a family drive up to Salt Lake. We had a surprise in store for  Anna, we were picking up her first new puppy. She had no clue, they were loving the drive up to Salt Lake.

 Beetle put the puppy in his shirt and got in the car. He placed the puppy on the center console, it didn't take Annabelle long to notice her. She was so surprised and had her first tears of joy experience. She immediately named her puppy "Pippy Ruby".

Annabelle in front of Beetles flourishing garden

 Annabelle has always begged for a Dog but we always said "when we sale the condo and get a house." She has waited so long! Beetle bought the "I love my puppy" shirt two years ago in anticipation for the day Anna got her puppy (it was a bit snug).

 This is where it gets sad : ( We bought Pippy knowing she was the runt of the litter,but what we didn't know is that she was sick, with Parvo. When she wasn't eating or drinking we called the breeder and she said she wouldn't give us our money back unless we could prove she was sick. Luckily Uncle Ryan had a connection with a Vet and she tested the puppy for Parvo , it came back positive. Beetle and Annabelle waited for 3hrs. while Pippy had fluid getting pumped in to her through i.v.'s. It was a late night and poor Annabelle was in tears. Luckily we were able to return Pippy the next day and the lady gave us our money back.

 Pippy was SO tiny, Maxwell and Simon loved holding her. Benson pet her once and that was good enough for him.






This is where it gets happy : )
I searched all day on KSL for a puppy while Annabelle was at school and found this HEALTHY miniature Dachshund.  We picked him up yesterday. Can you believe him and Pippy are ONE day apart?

                                                                 
                                                                      Meet Ruben Regan :)

 Annabelle is loving him. She came home from school and was playing "school" with him in her bedroom. Beetle found them taking a nap together, all that teaching and learning wore them out ! I am proud of how she handled everything, I know she will be a very responsible pet owner.