Puppy Love

I love puppies. I love the way they smell. I love the way they seem to have too much skin for their little bodies. I love the way they fall asleep in the middle of a wrestle. In fact, there is absolutely nothing I don't love about puppies except cleaning up after them and punishing them. Once in a blue moon (technically true if this site http://www.idialstars.com/aug.htm is correct) I get access to a litter of puppies and I take the kids for a play-date. The process is simple...start with lectures on the tremendous responsibilities and exorbitant expense of puppy ownership, spend a few hours smothered in puppy joy, and then a firm stance on the starting lecture as you drive away puppy-less. It helps to be a hardhearted killjoy otherwise not a recommended field trip as we could have easily returned home with a puppy per kid, making us a 5 human/5 canine household.

Two puppy-paloozas, five years apart, and I get the same pictures.

Emile - 15 with a Beagle

and 11 with a Swissie

Reine- 11 she always watches her
surroundings while
puppies chew on her fingers


6.5 right before she grew 2 feet taller


Philip- 9 having finally
perfected a two-handed hold


5 with enthusiasm and little skill