It’s hard to believe these kids are 2 and 4 (well, 4 1/2)…they are growing up far to quickly! I’ve had the pleasure of knowing this family since before they became a family…these cuties dad (not in the photos…he had to work!)…went to preschool with our son in Tennessee…so there is a lot of history here. And now to see his kids and the oldest about the same age as when we met dad…it’s heartwarming to see a new generation growing up! Logan turned 2 at the end of July and I remember the day he arrived and it certainly doesn’t seem possible that it’s been just over two years! Big sister, Abigail is 4 1/2 and has so much personality and was quite the helper during the session…and is becoming a great little model…as you will see…I just loved watching her pose and direct the photos!! A new addition to this family is a “four-legged” sister, Sadie, who is super cute and so very sweet!!! I must admit, I took any opportunity to cuddle and snuggle with this cutie…who was 14 weeks old during this session. She was really well behaved (good job, Mom!) and is so good with the kids! We had a great time at the park and then after lunch, we headed into the studio for a few more photos…and surprisingly, Sadie was quite comfortable up there…I think she could have taken a good nap there, but maybe that is because the kids wore her out at the park!!
Oh goodness…what fun I had during this session…the kids kept me going and I loved every minute of it and Sadie helped satisfy my puppy/dog cravings…I might just need some more time with this cuddly cutie!! Thank you, Alli, for a great time with your kiddos and it was wonderful to catch up with you!!
It is with great joy and great sadness that I’m typing this post, about our beloved dog, Aussie, who we lost 3 weeks ago. If you have had a pet for any length of time, you know how they become a family member and part of your lives and are a companion and friend, no matter what! Our sweet Aussie was with us for almost 16 years and yes, I know that is a very long time, but selfishly, it wasn’t long enough and we wanted more time, more memories and more wags and licks from her. It had been about 2 1/2 years since Aussie first had some sort of problem, whether it was a seizure or stroke and we feared our time with her was coming to an end. I well remember the day after that episode when I took her to the vet and cried the whole way there and back and not knowing just how long we’d have, it was scary! But, she amazed us and bounced back and seemed to be back to normal most of the time. Sure, there were some times she had a problem or two, but mostly she was her old self, full of life and enthusiasm for whatever she encountered each day.
It was 16 years ago this coming October when our family took a trip to visit my parents at their cabin on Hayden Lake…we had moved from Tennessee the summer before and had lost our other dog of 13 years before the move and the kids were continually asking when could we get another dog! The day we “found” Aussie, my husband and dad were golfing and my mom and I took the kids into town and stopped by the humane society “just to look” and guess what a litter of pups had come in an hour before! We drove to the golf course so the kids could ask their dad if it was okay to get a puppy, saying we’d found the perfect one! Well, my dad instantly said, “YEP and I’ll pay for it!” My dad LOVED dogs and with his answer we had no choice, but to get the puppy…and it was truly love at first sight! She was the runt of the litter and just under 3 pounds…oh, I can see that sweet face and smell that puppy breath as I think of it! The rest is history…and in the years with her, we created so many memories and have some wonderful photos of her.
Aussie was a GREAT dog…and I know, I’m biased, but if you ask a lot of our friends, neighbors and even some strangers, they’d agree with me! Aussie was very well behaved (other than the begging at meals, which I full take the blame for since I would feed her my last bite from a meal) and loved people, though she would bark and some occasional solicitors who she didn’t like (which I tend to think there was a reason why…I think she knew they didn’t need to be around!) and made so many friends from people just walking by our home. When we first got Aussie, we put in the electric fence in the yard and trained her to stay in the yard. It wasn’t a couple of years before that was cut with landscaping and yet, to the day she passed away, she still stayed in the yard (well, maybe with the occasional wandering to say hello to a neighbor on either side!). People would walk by with dogs and she’d go to the end of the driveway and stand right there and just watch or a cat would wander through the yard, she’d run after it until the property line and then stop…and when people would walk by and we were outside, they’d comment how friendly and well behaved she was. There was a couple who the past couple of years walked by nearly ever day ( with their dog) and would always stop and give her a treat after making her sit or shake, or rollover (which was harder for her the past year)….they were so good to her! Aussie would literally go to the end of driveway and check the curbing EVERY time she’d go out to see if she missed them…which she would find a treat, if she wasn’t out when they would leave a treat for her. She never forgot and if she saw them a couple of blocks down the street, she’d stand and wait for them, almost at attention! Oh, and I can’t forget to share the story of the UPS driver. When we first got Aussie, the UPS driver would come and bring her a treat with a package and then she began to recognize the connection and whenever she saw the truck, she stood on the end of the driveway, waiting for the treat! The driver was awesome…he stopped every day and gave her a treat and said he would even stop at the store to by more, if he knew he would be in our neighborhood! After a few years, the driver was given a new route, but came by to say “goodbye” to Aussie and told us that if we ever needed to find a new home for her, to call him, that he’d take her in a heartbeat! Obviously, that never happened, but the funny part, we had to “train” all the new UPS drivers to be sure to bring treats, otherwise, she’d be sniffing their pockets all the way to and from the door if they didn’t bring something! Fed Ex drivers never fell into the same category and some wouldn’t even deliver because she was “scary!” Yeah, right! Oh well, their loss in getting to meet a great and friendly dog!
Playing with the kids, chasing balls or frisbees, swimming, playing tug of war or lounging in the sunshine were Aussie’s favorite activities and I’m so thankful that most of her life she was able to do that and she truly loved each day. I think the routine is one of the things I miss the most…seeing her sweet face each morning and getting the wags and licks when I’d say good morning…or the hug and kiss I gave her each night just before I’d crawl into bed. Of course, there were days when she wanted to go in and out ALL the time you know I’d give anything for that to return to our lives!! Oh, I miss her so much and I know it’s been just a few weeks and that the sadness of missing her will get easier to bear all the time, but I sure miss her!
The kisses were often, wet and slimy….and Jayden never tired of them (nor did I!).
