Remembering Rookie Time!

We got some flowers planted for Rookie.  I did some perennials too, but they won't come up for a little bit still.  Still missing him each and every day!

Goodbye Time

Last night, on election day, we lost our beloved Rookie.  He has been with us for 5 years and just turned 10 on Halloween.  I hadn't even gotten a chance to put the adorable pictures of Rookie in his bucking bronco costume on the blog before writing this.  He was the first dog that Lance and I had and this is one of the hardest times in our lives as we had to say goodbye.  Rookie hadn't been feeling the best for a couple of days and it seemed to be arthritis and possible issues stomach issues so we had a vet appointment for today but when I let him out yesterday morning we couldn't find him when it was time to go to work.  This has happened in the past and he is really good about staying outside and not leaving our yard.  So when we got home last night and he wasn't in the front yard Lance knew something was wrong and went to find him.  We found him just in the back yard but he wouldn't move so Lance took him to the vet right away.  I stayed home with the girls and waited for them to come home with meds for Rookie.  Unfortunately Lance ended up calling me from the vet saying that Rookie had a very large tumor and several other tumors all over his abdomen and would need to be put down.  I was in shock and couldn't believe it.  So as I cried, I got the girls ready and we headed to the vet office to say goodbye.  It was one of the worst things I have had to do and continues to be hard today as I think he won't be there to greet me when I get home tonight.  I know it's a good thing that he's no longer in pain, but it's so sad that we had to say goodbye to one of our best friends.  With that I will leave this post with Rookie's Halloween picture.  We will forever miss and love him!

Our special little Bucking Bronco, Rookie!

Copper Falls Time!

We finished out our camping season with the 5 of us (included Rookie) camping at Copper Falls State Park in Northern WI.  It's absolutely beautiful and the trails are breath taking.   Unfortunately Rookie wasn't able to go very many places (they designate certain dog friendly areas) but he still had a good time.  The weather couldn't have been better for camping.  It's a long post because I took a lot of pictures on the trail and some video of the girls acting silly.  They even made a friend at the beach, I think her name was Natalie and she is also 2.  You can see her in the first video with the girls playing ring around the rosie.  The bottom video is Aftin singing to a video.  So cute!

Who doesn't love bubbles?!

Rookie hanging out at the site.

I had to add this since it isn't super common that they are this sweet with each other.

Breakfast includes a little Dora.

The trails!

On our way home we hit up Coops in Hayward.  We love this restaurant because it has a giant fish tank that the girls get excited about.  Plus the food is pretty good too.

Aftin's Ring Pop tongue

Bailee wanted to show hers too, though she had a green one it wasn't as bright as Aftin's.

Saturday Morning Fun!

We went to the local park and spent some time smelling the flowers, jumping in puddles, finding crayfish and watching Rookie cool off in the water.

Smelling the flowers.

Rookie needed to cool off.

Catching a crayfish.

Rookie needed to check it out.

Jumping in puddles!

Daddy and his girls.

One last smell of the flowers.

Spring Time!

We have been enjoying the nice weather with sidewalk chalk and flowers.

The tree blooming in our yard.

Sidewalk chalk drawings

The artists

Bailee and Rookie

Checking out the flowers at Grammie's

Snow Time!

We have had a very warm winter so far with very little snow, so once we got some we had to run out and enjoy it. 

Aftin checking out the backyard

Shoveling the snow in the yard.

Swinging happens year round.

I made a snow angel

Bailee's turn to shovel the yard.

Rookie was the leader.

Bailee following the leader.

Christmas Part 4

We celebrated Christmas with Lance's family on the day after Christmas. The girls had a blast with everyone and were again spoiled with gifts.

Aftin and Megan

Alex and Sherry

Blake, Megan and Rookie

Aftin digging into presents.

Auntie Jenni got a great hat for Christmas and was modeling it.

Angry Birds

Lance's latest obsession is playing Angry Birds and the girls love watching him play too.

They are all concentrating so hard!

This is what Rookie thinks of it.

Halloween

We got the girls all dressed up for Halloween on Monday.  Aftin was Minnie Mouse and Bailee was Tinkerbell.  Of course Rookie got in on the fun since it's also his birthday (9th).  He was a hotdog and he loved hanging out at Nana and Papa's with all the cousins and Grammie and Grampie joined us too.  The girls did so great and though we had the stroller with they didn't use it.  They were all about walking up and getting candy the entire time.  Lance was thrilled because the candy then went to him as we didn't need any more sugar highs than we had that night.

Minnie Mouse - Aftin

Tinkerbell - Bailee and a Hawaiian Girl - Kennedy

During part of the trick or treating Bailee had to walk with her blanket.



Bailee as Tinker Mouse





Birthday boy Rookie as a hotdog.