My Life As A Dog

Who's Your Brother?

2012-01-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

2012-01-01T04:41:00.000-08:00

Merry (belated) Christmas!!! We had such a great day at our house. It started off with a hearty breakfast followed by lots of hard work, unwrapping all the gifts. Lots of relatives came over. We had a great lunch, dinner and dessert. I even got to sample some of Grandmom's famous prime rib! That was my favorite gift of all.

breakfast

Can you find Nate is this photo?

A new moany for me! My old moany was retired and I'm told he's enjoying time on a farm somewhere.

I'm in position, ready to clean up any bits that might "accidentally" fall on the floor.

Great Grandparents and Nai Nai.

Christmas Preparations

2011-12-15T18:13:00.001-08:00

Getting ready for Christmas! Nate and Sam decorated the tree (I supervised). Followed by holiday cartoons on TV. I think it's nice that the boys respect their oldest brother by letting me have the whole sofa while they sat on the floor.

Holiday Photo Shoot

2011-11-29T18:21:00.000-08:00

We had great weather this past weekend, so Mom and Dad brought us outside to take some pictures. We were trying to get a picture of me, Nate, and Sam to put on our holiday card. As you can see, I listened to Mom and Dad great, but Nate and Sam were too busy horsing around. These are the "best" shots...

I guess we will have to try again another day.

Happy Halloween - NOT!

2011-11-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

I finally found someone who hates Halloween more than me!!! Nate! That's my boy. He wouldn't even put his costume on. At least I was a good sport and put my silly bee costume on. One nice thing is that it kept me warm. Anyway, Millie and I were the bees and Sam was the bee hive. Nate was supposed to be a bee too. He later showed up at an iPad techy. Nerd.

Tired out from answering the door every few minutes. Enough is enough.

Snow Day in October?

2011-11-03T17:51:00.001-07:00

A harbinger of a rough winter to come? 5 inches of snow on October 29th might suggest that is, indeed, the case. Bring it on. Nate and I LOVE the snow!!!

Nate's first steps in the snow.

Nate Turns 2

2011-10-11T05:39:00.000-07:00

Nate is showing me his new trains.

The Pacifier

2011-09-27T04:51:00.001-07:00

Mom left me to babysit the boys for a few minutes in the living room while she cleaned the kitchen. Sam started fussing a little so I did what any good big brother would do. I cuddled with him. In return, Sam scratched my ears. They call me...The Pacifier!

Sam is happy to eat!

Hurricane Irene

2011-09-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

Last week was an exciting weather week for us. First, we had an earthquake. I tried to warn mom, but she didn't get my patented signal (sleep extra soundly when natural disaster approaches).

Then, over the weekend, Hurricane Irene hit us pretty hard. We even had to hide in the basement for a little while because of a tornado warning. Luckily, we made it through unscathed. We were pretty exhausted after all of the excitement.

Scenes from Around the House

2011-08-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

Sam's first taste of solid food. Do you think he likes it? Another baby eating food means more left over table scraps for me!!!

I did not do this. Nate has only himself to blame for this mess.

Brother's hangin' out.

Can you guess which set of paws belong to which brother?

I like to tickle feet.

Sam at 4 months

Mommy and her boys.

Sink or Swim

2011-08-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

Sink?? No way! This dog can SWIM! Check out my swimming montage.

Yet More Catching Up...

2011-07-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

Sam's baptism on June 26, 2011 followed by swimming and bbq at Grandmom and Grandpop's house. A beautiful summer day.

And there's more to catch up on

2011-07-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

Sam at 10 weeks old (June 24, 2011).

Sam and I found the most comfy spot on the couch.

Nate and Sam on Father's Day.

Watching iPad.

More Catching Up

2011-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

A visit to Elmwood Park Zoo. I didn't get to go but that's OK. I want to herd animals, not look at them through a fence.

This guy might be fun to chase after.

Lot's to Catch Up On

2011-07-20T17:42:00.001-07:00

Mommy and Daddy have simply been too busy to type my blog for me. Daddy just took his big board exam yesterday. He had been studying so hard for it and we are all happy that he did well and that it's over. Mommy has been busy chasing Nate around the house and taking care of Sam. Despite all that, I still find time to take them for several walks a day (as long as it's not above 95 degrees). But, the blog has suffered. Something has to give, right? Well, Mommy says you should visit the blog every day for the next few days because something new will be here. So, without further ado, let's catch you up on what we've been up to.

Sam at 6 weeks (May 27, 2011)

Playtime with Nate and Sam (June 8, 2011)

Who made this mess? "Not me" says Nate.

Sam at 8 weeks (June 10, 2011)

What Will Nate Be When He Grows Up?

2011-06-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

What will Nate be when he grows up? Only time will tell but here are a few options that I've come up with.

Golfer

Artist

Mardi Gras Grand Master

Plumber

Movie Director

Olympic Bobsledder

Pianist

Surgeon

Outdoor Adventurer

We will be proud of Nate no matter what he decides to become. But for now, he and I are happy to be Big Brothers.

We Love Sam!

2011-05-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

Not much to commentate on other than to say...my little brothers are soooo cute! Oh, and I'm glad Sam isn't crawling or walking yet. I'm gonna have a tough time herding both boys in the not too distant future. :)

Our Little Brother is Here!!!!

2011-04-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

Samuel is here!!! He was born last Friday, 3:59pm. 7 pounds, 4 ounces; 19.5 inches. He's perfect in every way. Mommy and Daddy left for the hospital late at night on Thursday. Uncle Alex and Aunt Cheryl came over to watch me and Nate. I thought maybe Mom and Dad would come back home so I spent the night on the front room couch so I could see out the window and keep a look out. But, they didn't come home so I figured out that the baby must be on the way. What a long wait! I was waiting the whole next day to hear the news and finally we got the call to say that Samuel had arrived and he and Mommy were doing great.

Mommy in the newly renovated and HUGE delivery room.

Nate meets Sam for the first time.

Nate loved the chocolate milk at the hospital.

Just before heading home.

Getting ready to go home!

Fun in the sunny room.

Waiting for Baby #2

2011-04-01T06:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't had much to report over the last few weeks. Mommy is nearing the end of her pregnancy so we haven't had many adventures lately. Mom and Dad tell me that this one won't be a puppy but that I should be excited to be a big brother again. And I am excited! I really do love babies! Here's a picture of Mom at 36 weeks pregnant. Getting big!

Nate likes to draw. Here he is, making a sketch of me!

We recently drove to Reading, PA for Great Grandpop's birthday. Nate and I took a nap on the drive up.

Nate and his cousin Jessica.

Catching Up

2011-02-03T09:18:00.001-08:00

OK, we have a lot of catching up to do! January was a tough month because of illness and bad weather. Nate caught pneumonia and then a viral infection so we spent most of our time taking care of him around the clock. Yes, even me! I took several shifts, cuddling with sick Nate in bed. He needed me and I was there for him. But, here are some pictures from just before illness set in.

Nate got a new snow suit for Christmas from Grandmom so we had to try it out as soon as we saw the first snow flakes fall.

Nate is watching me and Daddy play frisbee in the snow.

Nate got this cool chair from his godmother for Christmas. Here we are sharing a snack and trying out his new chair.

Pajama Day 2010!!!!!!! Don't worry, we didn't forget pajama day, our annual tradition. It was loads of fun. We watched several movies and some bowl games. Well, I mostly slept.

Brothers hangin' out

Touchdown!

Merry Christmas 2010

2011-01-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been ages since my last post. We've been busy getting ready to celebrate the holidays. What a great Christmas we had!!! Christmas Eve at Grandmom and Grandpop's house then Christmas day was here at home. Many relatives visited us and we had great food and great memories.

Me and Nate are waiting to decorate the Christmas tree.

Nate has an ornament all ready to go. Let's get started!

The first ornament of 2010.

Nate's first real Lionel train.

Inspecting the Captain Morgan.

Christmas morning. Santa was good to us!

Nate with all his grandmothers (Grandmom, Great Grandmom, Nai Nai and Great Babci)

Ursinus College

2010-11-15T06:38:00.001-08:00

I can add another college campus to my list!!! On Saturday, we visited Mommy's alma mater, Ursinus College. What a beautiful November afternoon! Campus was hoppin'. We caught a home football game and a field hockey tournement. There was also wrestling and swimming in the field house. The four of us strolled campus and then we ended with some pictures in front of the iconic LOVE statue.

Many people stopped to say hello to us. Mom says she lost count of how many times people stopped to meet me and say what a cool dog I am. One college student even shouted across the campus lawn and said "Your dog is awesome!". Mommy says I'm such a stud. I don't know what that means but I sure don't mind the attention. One man at the football game came up to me and gave me a treat. I love Ursinus!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

As you know, Halloween is not my favorite day of the year and this one was no exception. I really don't like the monsters and witches and other creatures that ring our bell and shout "Trick or Treat!". My job is to protect the house from these ghouls but Mom wouldn't let me chase them. Thanks goodness this only happens once a year!

Mommy and Daddy took me and Nate to a pumpkin display at a house nearby. That was pretty neat. There were well over 200 carved pumpkins on the lawn and some were impressive. Here we are in front of a Thomas the Tank Engine carving.

I dressed as a cardiothoracic surgeon. Millie was a pumpkin.

Nate went as an orthopedic surgeon while Mommy and Daddy were the injured patients.

First Haircut

2010-11-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

Nate got his first haircut last week. Here's a before shot.

During.

After.

Summer Vacation 2010

2010-10-27T08:36:00.001-07:00

We finally went on our summer vacation a few weeks ago. We had a real nice staycation at Grandmom and Grandpop's house back in July but this was our first real get-away as a family of four. We rented a cottage on a lake in the Poconos and we took our first big trip in the new car. Look at how jam packed it is. Here I am, waiting to get this show on the road!

It's a little hard to see but there is a deer in the shadows. But, that's nothing. I nearly came nose to nose with a deer earlier that day on our morning walk. It was a mamma with her young fawn. I got within about 10 feet of them but decided to leave them alone. Beside, it's no fun for me if they don't run. It's the chase that makes me happy.

Here's a view of the lake from our backyard.

Nate bundled up in his new hat.

Nate is cheering on Daddy. "Catch a fish!" Well, Mommy and Dad fished every day and caught nothing.

I went in the lake to try my paw at fishing but was also unsuccessful.

Dinty Moore for lunch!!!! Nate loves it too. Don't worry. I also got plenty.

Nate's new favorite mode of transportation.

A good shot of Nate right before he fell asleep during this hike.

And he's out!

Me and Mom at Tobyhanna State park.

Our last hike of the trip. Gouldboro State park.

Mommy and I signed the registry book on this hike. It was 10/10/10!

Big Brothers

2010-10-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

I'm Nate's big brother but guess what! Nate gets to be a big brother too! We are so lucky. Number 2 will arrive in mid-April. Nate and I are looking forward to meeting our new sibling. Hopefully it's another boy but we would certainly cherish a baby girl.

Birthday Boys

2010-10-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

This post is quite late so I have some catching up to do. Mom, Dad and Nate celebrated my birthday almost a month ago on September 15th. What did I get this year? Homemade beef stew!!! I love Dinty Moore but this was way better. Thanks!

Then, on October 3rd, we celebrated Nate's first birthday! We had a house full of people and it was a great time. You don't see any pictures of me because I was too busy patrolling the house and making sure everyone had plenty of food to eat. Here's Nate with Uncle Nick and cousin Jessica.

Nate's first taste of cake.

Bath time!

In Memory of Homer

2010-09-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

Homer, my Uncle Alex and Aunt Cheryl's dog, passed away last night due to cancer. He was a member of the family for nearly 14 years so this is a painful loss for everyone but especially for my aunt and uncle. But, we will all remember Homer fondly and with love. He was a goofy dog but so fun and good natured. Just look at that fluffy guy. You couldn't help but love him. I'll always remember Homer for teaching me about "the fan". He used to hang out in front of a fan 365 days a year. At first, I thought he was kinda crazy but one hot summer day, Dad got me a fan and it changed my life. I, too, spend most of my summer sprolled out on the cool tile in front of my fan and I have Homer to thank for that. I'll miss you, dear cousin, but I'll never forget you. Rest peacefully.

A Whole Lotta Nothin'

2010-09-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

We went fishing a few weeks ago at Peace Valley Park in Bucks County. We caught a whole lotta nothin!!!! But, it was a beautiful morning and we got to spend some time with Uncle John and Aunt Debbie. We had plenty of hot coffee, tea and snacks to keep us happy. The highlight of the morning was seeing a bald eagle fly over the lake. A short while later, a hawk of some kind dove down to the water and caught a fish. She made it look so EASY!!! Why couldn't we catch anything?

I walked into the water to help Mommy catch something but my efforts were futile.

Ahhhh, here's a cute fish!!!!

Bubbles and 11 Months

2010-09-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Nate and I like to sit on the grass and watch bubble float by. Nate is getting pretty good at reaching out and popping them. But mostly, we just watch.

Ack! A bubble popped on my head!

Nate turned 11 months old on Labor day. Here are some photos of us to mark the occasion.

iFun with iPad

2010-08-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

Nate loves playing with Aunt Cheryl's iPad. He especially loves the piana app. Yes, I know what an app is. I'm a smart dog. :)

2010-08-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

Some pictures of Staycation 2010. Most are from Longwood Gardens. They don't allow dogs so there aren't many pictures of me in this post. But, don't worry. I had a great time at home with Grandpop. We got some chores done and had a good swim in the pool.

New Video Camera

2010-08-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

Dad gave in and finally bought a digital video camera. Now you can see me and Nate in ACTION!!! Here's a good video of me swimming a race with Dad. Good times in the pool during Staycation 2010.

2010-07-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

Yep. It's official. It's very hot here. You can usually find me sleeping on the AC vent and Nate has resorted to simply crawling around in his diaper. Here's a picture of me taking a break on my bed and keeping an eye on Nate while he plays with his toys.

Grandom and Grandpop came over for a visit. It was Grandmom's bday! She and Nate like to sit and read books.

Again, I don't understand all the things that humans do. Why set a perfectly good cake on fire then blow it out? But, again, I didn't get any cake. Ug.

Random photos of Nate. He's now 9.5 months old. 18 lbs, 11 ounces.

Water Babies

2010-07-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

Enjoyed a day at the pool on Mom's birthday a few weeks ago. Everybody went for a swim. Even my little brother, Nate and my cousins Homer and Millie.

Uncle Alex and Homer

Aunt Cheryl and Millie.

Everybody else is just standing around while I swim laps around them.

Trying to Get the Picture

2010-07-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, no matter how hard she tries, Mom just can't get us to sit for a picture. Here are some examples.

Nate is smiling for the camera. I just wasn't in the mood.

Finally, a decent shot.

First Canoe of the Season

2010-06-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

We went on our first canoe trip of the season. Peace Valley Park in Bucks county. What a fun day!!! The weather was perfect for boating and swimming and sitting around the campsite. We even had a real nice breakfast at the park. Mom cooked up sausage and scrambled eggs. My cousins, Gabe and Millie, got to eat some too.

Me, Mom and Nate waiting for the rest of the crew to show up at the campsite.

Uncle John found a prehistoric canoe. I spent a lot of time trying to take it apart.

Even Millie went for a swim. She's so cute in her life jacket.
Log.

Gabe jumped overboard and swam to shore. He's goofy.

I stayed in the canoe and waited patiently to jump ashore.

Turning the Table

2010-06-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

Finally, some body else is stuck in a crate. I still like to keep a close eye on my brother, though.

Me and Nate on his 8 month birthday (June 6, 2010).

Stop and Smell the Roses

2010-06-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

This is our first spring in the new house. Every day, a new plant pops up or a new flower blooms. Our rose bushes exploded in color a few weeks ago. Look at how beautiful they are!

Please Vote

2010-06-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

Please vote for our picture in a Philly photo contest.
Ours is the choo choo chu train picture. I think you can vote every day.

http://allaroundphilly.mycapture.com/mycapture/photos/Album.aspx?EventID=595244&CategoryID=39977

Bath Time!

2010-05-20T09:43:00.001-07:00

Poor Nate! He has to have a bath every night before bed time. I feel so sorry for the little guy. I only have a bath once or twice a month. While Nate gets his bath, I usually wait outside the bathroom but I'm ready for action if my services are required. I am a good swimmer as you know!

Here I am waiting outside the bathroom with my football man.

Just checking in to make sure everything is OK and that Dad didn't miss washing behind Nate's ears.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-13T15:15:00.001-07:00

It was cold but we had a nice Mother's Day. Me, Nate and Dad gave Mommy a card and a rose bush. I promised Mom that I wouldn't pee on it. (At least not while she's lookin'). Mom, Dad and Nate went to the Phillies game while I got to spend the day with Grandpop and Grandmom. I think we all had a good time. Nate must have had a great time because he passed out on the couch.

Walkies and Big Winner

2010-04-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

We like to take a family walk after dinner. Notice, no leash! Yep, that's right. I can walk the whole neighborhood without a leash now. I stick to the sidewalk and just visit a few bushes and flowers along the way. I some times get ahead of Mom and Dad but I stop and wait for them at road intersections. I'm not allowed to cross the street by myself but I'm OK with that.

Nate won the 50/50 raffle at the church Easter dinner! Uncle Alex took him up to claim his prize.

Me and My Brother

2010-04-17T07:40:00.001-07:00

Mom took Nate to get his 6-month portraits. While she was there, she found out they allow dogs too. So, a few days later, I got to have my pictures taken with Nate. I got a little bit nervous once we got there and we had a hard time getting Nate to smile but I think one or two of the pics are OK. Which one is your favorite?

Happy Easter!

2010-04-05T09:17:00.001-07:00

Wow, what an Easter we had. The weather was so perfect. We may never see another Easter like that ever again! We all had a great time at Grandmom and Grandpop's house. Almost the whole family was there. The food was amazing but the company was even better. It was a tough day for me, though, because the herd was all over the place. Playing bocci ball in the backyard, eating dinner in the dining room or hanging out on the front porch. I had to keep patrolling the place to make sure my herd stayed on the property and didn't roam too far. I slept real good that night.

Sunshine

2010-03-30T10:04:00.001-07:00

What's the big ball of fire in the sky?! We have sorely missed you. I love the sunshine. So does my little brother. Enjoy these pictures of us frollicking in the sun!

Grandmom and Grandpop came for a visit.

Ah! My favorite passtime. Chasing my frisbee.

Spending quality time on the back patio.

A Walk in The Park

2010-03-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

It was a little chilly but we had a nice walk in the park this afternoon. Me and my cousins (Gabe, Homer and Millie) posed for a picture on the choo choo train. Then, me and mom climbed the wooden truck.

March Madness

2010-03-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

It seems that winter is finally over and spring has arrived. We take lots of walks in the park now. Nate seems to really like the sunshine. I do, too.

In other news, Mom was pretty sick with a head cold recently. For the first time ever, she plunked us down in front of the TV so she could get a little rest. A show called Sesame Street was on. Havc you seen it? It was OK but Nate and I spent more time looking at each other rather than the TV.

March Madness has begun! Nate and Dad watched them play in the ACC tourney. Of course the Blue Devils won.

Publicity

2010-03-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Remember the Kong Wall of Fame? Well, the Kong Company finally got around to posting my picture on their website. I'm so excited. Go to: www.kongcompany.com/gallery.asp

Type in 'Hudson' in the name section and hit enter. There are two other Hudson dogs as well. Fun!

The Little Toy Train

2010-03-05T16:06:00.000-08:00

Nate and I played with the new toy train that Grandpop gave us. It's kind of fun to watch the little train zoom around the track. I got a bit distracted by an itch on my arm but we were entertained for at least 15 minutes! Not bad for a 5 month old and a 6 year old. (Oh, you can see my best pal Moany in the background. I've had him for over 3 years!)

All that play time is tiring.

Forty Inches

2010-02-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

We got burried by forty inches of snow in five days (Feb 6-10)! Totally nuts. I felt like I was back in my home state of Michigan. Here are some pictures of the Winter Wallop of 2010.

Me, Mom and Nate watching the snow fall.

Our patio is somewhere under all that snow.

The aftermath.

Dad and Nate staying warm.

I could barely walk through the high snow.

I had to bound and jump my way through the front yard!

Snowmaggedon and Chinese New Year

2010-02-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

Nai Nai and Ye Ye (Dad's parents) arrived here on Friday just before the snow started. We wanted to celebrate Chinese New Year with them (a week early). About 19 inches of snow fell but that didn't stop us from having a pleasant weekend. Nai Nai cooked up a feast of traditional chinese food to celebrate the holiday while I had a great time playing in the snow.

Go Blue Devils!

2010-02-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

Just some scenes from around the house.

We cheered on Duke bball last week. Nate got some nice Duke gear from his "Aunt" Meridith. So, he got all dressed up to watch the game on TV. I think he's the cutest little Duke fan ever!

Holiday Recap Part 4: New Year's Day and PJ Day 2010

2010-01-18T16:53:00.001-08:00

Last issue of the holiday recap. On New Year's day, we took some portraits of me and Nate (about 12.5 weeks in these pictures). Mom jumped in for a picture too. Then, we declared that the day was also Pajama Day 2010. This was the fourth annual pajama day we've had. It's a day to just sit in your pj's and chill. This year, we watched lots of football. Michigan didn't make it to a bowl game so we cheered on Penn State. Nate is a good little PSU fan. Then, few days later, he put on his mean green and cheered for the Eagles.

Holiday Recap Part 3: The Day After

2010-01-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

Greatgrandmom and Greatgrandpop stayed overnight on Christmas. So, the day after Christmas, we got to spend some quality time with them. Nate had a really great time hanging out with Greatgrandmom. Just look at all the smiles he had for her. After our house guests left, Nate and I spent some time under the tree. I mostly just wanted to sleep but Nate liked watching the lights and ornaments.

Holiday Recap Part 2: Christmas Day

2010-01-04T06:40:00.000-08:00

Nate's first Christmas!!! And, a new tradition. After hosting the big family Christmas dinner for like 35 years, Grandmom handed over the reigns this year and the big dinner was at our house. We were very sad to close one chapter but everyone was excited and happy to open a new one. So, on Christmas day, the relatives came to our house!! What a great day it was. We started with gift opening in the morning with Grandmom, Grandpop, Uncle Alex and Aunt Cheryl. As the day went on, more relatives arrived and we enjoyed a wonderful day and celebrated the birth of Jesus.

The "before" shot.

Opening all those gifts made me sleepy.

The "after" shot where everyone holds up their favorite gift.

Nate finally got to meet his Greatgrandmom and Greatgrandpop! He was so happy.

Nate hanging out with his Greatgrandpop.

This was my favorite gift. A toy reigndeer. The best part...each of the four legs has a squeeker! Four squeekers in one toy!!!

Holiday Recap Part 1: Christmas Eve

2010-01-03T06:37:00.000-08:00

Following a long standing family tradition, we helped Grandmom and Grandpop decorate their tree on Christmas eve. Then, we went to church and after that, we had a really nice dinner. Uncle Alex, Aunt Cheryl, Uncle John and Aunt Debbie were there too. We had a really nice evening together. Nate and I were a little disappointed that we didn't get to eat any of Grandmom's awesome Christmas cookies, though. Maybe next year???

Holiday Photo Shoot

2009-12-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad set up a little photo session in our house on Saturday. Here are some of the pictures. My job was to help pose Nate and make sure he looked at the camera. Then, I also jumped in for a few shots.

A Belated Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-12-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay in posting pictures from Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad have been kind of busy and don't have much time to take down my dictations. Anyway, we had a real nice Turkey Day in NJ with Dad's parents. I got to eat lots of good meals. I was given a plate of turkey dinner. I found that I like to eat the turkey first and of course, I save the sweet potatoes for last.

We Like to Nap

2009-11-24T15:33:00.001-08:00

There's lots of pictures of bodies napping in this blog. Let the trend continue...

He's awake!!!!

Picture Day

2009-11-15T17:50:00.001-08:00

Uncle Nick, Aunt Missy, and Cousins Jessica and Nicky came over today to take pictures of Nate. Uncle Nick brought over a lot of high tech, professional looking equipment to get some good pictures of Nate. I posed for a couple pictures with Nate, but had more fun playing with Cousin Nicky behind the scenes.

10 Yard Penalty for Illegal Touching!

2009-11-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

Ha! That penalty call in football always cracks me up. Anyway, I had to practice my officiating since I was a football referee for Halloween this year. Dad was Andy Reid, Mom was an Eagles receiver and Nate was the football!!! Too funny. Check out the pictures (courtesy of Uncle Alex).

Philly Phan!!!!

2009-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Phillies are in the World Series!!! Nate got to see his first WS game on Thursday night. He was 23 days old at the time. That may qualify him as the youngest and possibly smallest Phillie Phan!

I think we all fell asleep by the 7th inning. The Phils had the game well in hand by that time anyway. :)

Here's Nate making some funny faces.

You can see me in the background. I like to nap when Nate naps.

My Brother, Nate

2009-10-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

Just some scenes from the last few days. Most were taken just a few days ago when Nate was 14 days old.

This is me after a long day of taking care of my brother.

I love snuggling with Nate. He's so cuddly.

I'm A Big Brother!

2009-10-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

My baby brother, Nathan, arrived last Tuesday, Oct. 6th! He came down with jaundice a few days later and had to undergo light therapy in the hospital but he is home now and doing great. I love him so much! He doesn't do much besides sleep but I'm looking forward to the day when we can play frisbee together. Until then, I help keep an eye on him and make sure he is happy. He's such a cute little guy. Here are some pictures from the last week or so.

Nathan, just after birth.

Nate getting treatment for jaundice.

Nate gets to go home from the hospital!

Nate at one week old. Hanging out on the couch.

Soccer Dog

2009-10-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've heard of Soccer Moms and Soccer Dads. Well, I'm officially a Soccer Dog! Mom's nephew, Nicky, had a soccer game nearby so we went to watch. It was a lot of fun to see Nicky play awesome goalie but I wish I could have gone on the field, too. Anyway, here's a pic of me with the rest of the peanut gallery.

Adoption Day!

2009-09-25T05:57:00.000-07:00

On this day three years ago, my mom and dad found me at the Huron Valley Humane Society and took me home! What a great day! I remember that the next day was even better. After getting a bath, Mom and Dad took me to a big field area and I got to watch a game called Ultimate Frisbee. That was the first time I ever saw a frisbee and now I'm hooked. I love those flying discs!

Here are some recent pictures. My new cousin, Milly, is such a cutie! On Sunday, we went for a walk in Valley Forge park. When we got home, the house was full of people for Mom's surprise baby shower. Uncle Alex has all those pictures so I'll post them later.

Sea Dog

2009-09-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Me, Mom, Dad, Uncle Alex, Aunt Cheryl, Uncle John, Aunt Debbie and cousin Gabe (yellow lab) went boating on Saturday. We had a really good time. This was my first canoe trip so I wasn't sure what to expect but I had a really good time. I wasn't too crazy about my new life jacket at first but I quickly got used to it and realized that I could swim much longer with it on.

Showing off my new life jacket.

Getting ready to shove off with Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Alex.

Gabe with his parents in the kayak.
Me and Gabe having fun in the water.

Before and After

2009-08-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

The family room before being painted and hardwood floor installation.

Here's the family room after painting and hardwood floor.

And here is the new sectional and area rug. Some finishing touches still need to be added but the room is lookin' good! I especially love the big sectional. Can't wait to curl up and watch football games this fall.

New Hardwood Floor

2009-08-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Dad, Uncle Nick, Uncle Alex and Uncle John worked really hard yesterday and installed a hardwood floor in our family room. Took them 12 hours but the finished product is amazing. Uncle Nick took time-lapse photography of the job. To check it out, visit: http://www.nickfx.com/floorweb

If you don't blink, you can catch a glimpse of me in the video.

Back to Work

2009-08-15T06:29:00.001-07:00

We had to leave Wildwood on Thursday to head back to the house. Here are a couple pictures from one of my favorite Wildwood activities...sitting on the balcony. We had a great view of the waterway.

Wildwood!

2009-08-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

Grandmom and Grandpop rented a beach condo in North Wildwood and invited everyone to come visit. I convinced Mom and Dad to take a break from painting so we could spend a week at the shore.

We started our day yesterday with a big breakfast. I watched closely to make sure Dad flipped the omelettes correctly. He's no Julia Child.

After a post-breakfast nap, we went for a walk on the beach. There is a lot of gritty stuff on the beach that doesn't taste good when it gets in your mouth. Grandpop walked with me in the surf to help wash it off.

Here's a great picture of me and Mom on the beach at sunset.

I was exhausted after our walk on the beach, so I took a nap before bedtime.

Fun at the new house

2009-08-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

Mom, Dad, and I have been working hard getting the new house ready. One of our first tasks was to paint the family room. I taped all the baseboards. Dad won't let me get on the ladder. Check out my action photo

After we finished painting, we got to play. The ladder made a great hurdle. Note the cut line on the baseboards. Nice!

Here's a picture of me and my new blue ewe. Say that one three times fast.

There's a nice park only a mile down the road from our new house. It's been hot the past couple of days, so Mom lets me swim in the creek at the park.

A Few Photos of Our New House

2009-07-19T17:20:00.001-07:00

We're in our new house! Unloading and unpacking is on-going but we're all settling in well. I love my new neighborhood. There are lots of different routes for walkies and there are lots of other dogs around. I haven't made any real friends yet but it's just a matter of time. Here are some pictures of the new house.

I like keeping a look out on the front door.

Upstairs hallway.

Master bedroom

Second stairway.

Family room

Kitchen

Front stairway.

Some new furniture has arrived. I've been testing them out to see which is the most comfy.

Which paint color coordinates best with my complexion?

It's hard work watching everyone unpack, clean and do chores.

This is my favorite spot to nap after breakfast. I like this sunny spot and I can keep an eye out over the back patio.

Scenes From Summer Camp and July 4th

2009-07-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

As expected, summer camp has been full of activity. My day starts off with an early walk with Grandmom. We walk down to the creek and back. Then, I go on at least one swim in the pool and throughout the day, I take Grandpop for a bunch of walks. We like to go on "monster" walks down the park or the old neighborhood where Mom grew up. I often supervise Grandpop while he works in the garden or mows the lawn. I make sure the lines are nice and straight. During my down time, I like to rest on the window sill in the living room.

The following are some pictures from the big July 4th BBQ. I was in the pool pretty much the whole day.

I slept all day on July 5th.

Great-Grandmom and Great-Grandpop

Old Stomping Ground

2009-06-25T12:36:00.001-07:00

Here I am sitting in front of the house that Mom spent her early years in. Located in Aldan, PA.

Goodbye Richmond, Hello Lansdale

2009-06-21T08:43:00.001-07:00

My year in Richmond is over and it's time to move to Lansdale, PA. It was scary seeing all of my stuff being packed into Grandpop's van because I wasn't sure if I would get to ride along. Fortunately, Mom and Dad made me a nice, cozy spot to lounge in for the drive up. Check me out!

I'm looking foward to settling in to a new house. Hopefully there will be lots of rooms for Dad to chase me around in. We won't be able to move in for another month, so in the meantime, I'm going to be at summer camp with Grandmom and Grandpop. I plan on swimming a lot.

Daisy's Visit

2009-06-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post some recent pictures. Last weekend, my friend Daisy brought her parents over for dinner. Daisy and I smelled grilled steak but all we got was some corn. I guess it's better than nothin'. Here are some pics of me and Daisy.

Basking in the morning sunshine on our deck.

Results are in! Mom is gonna have a...

2009-06-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

...BABY!!!! Ha! You thought I was gonna reveal if I'm gonna have a little brother or sister. Well, Mom had her twenty week ultrasound on Friday and elected not to find out the gender. So, you'll just have to study these pictures and make your own conclusions. One thing is for sure, Mom is not having a puppy. I know I'm a dog and that Mom and Dad are my adoptive parents but I still had hope that maybe a new puppy would be joining the family. Oh well. I will still love my future sibling with all my heart.

I love college!

2009-05-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, Mom and Dad took me to see my fifth college campus. We drove an hour west of Richmond to Charlottesville, VA - the home of University of Virginia. What a beautiful campus. I especially loved the 200 year old architecture. I got to walk where Thomas Jefferson walked (as you know, he founded the university). After walking around campus, we went to a pedestrian mall in downtown Charlottesville. We had a nice sit down lunch and I got to say Hi to other dogs who brought their humans out for a day fun, too. Anyway, enjoy these pictures from our fun outing. You can see in some of the photos that Mom's belly is getting pretty big. My little brother or sister is in there but I don't claim to understand the mechanics of that. She says she can feel the baby move now which sounds kinda freaky to me.

On the lawn of the Rotunda.

Steps of the Rotunda.

I'm trying to strike my best Thomas Jefferson pose.

Hanging with good ol' George Washington.

We think that if you rub or lick the toe of this statue, you'll get good grades or something like that. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite reach. I really, really tried, though.

Mother's Day Weekend

2009-05-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

MomMom and PopPop (now to be known as Grandmom and Grandpop) came to Richmond for Mother's Day weekend. I had a nice time going on long walks with everybody. One highlight was walking to Panera for breakfast on Mother's Day morning. The weather was perfect and we all enjoyed a nice, long breakfast while sitting outside. The other highlight was going to Thomas Jefferson's retirement home, Monticello. The weather was not good at all. You can see in the pictures that I am not too happy to be soaking wet. Regardless, I did enjoy the trip and I had fun leaving my "mark" all over Jefferson's garden.

Mom took Grandmom to the fancy Jefferson Hotel for afternoon tea. I'm sad I didn't get to go but Mom said I wouldn't have liked the chocolate covered strawberries.

Strong Dog

2009-05-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

We spent the last week or so in PA for a big house hunting trip. I got to stay with MomMom and PopPop while Mom and Dad toured 50 homes. They were super tired after all the house hunting as you can tell in this picture. PopPop kept me busy in the garden the whole week so I was really tired too.

I got to put my pulling skills to the test, though. Look at how strong I am!!

I'm Gonna Be a What??!!!!

2009-03-31T03:50:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna be an older brother?

Mom and Dad told me yesterday that a baby is coming and I'm gonna be a brother sometime in October! What does this mean? What does an older brother do? Will I have to share my toys? My food? My frisbee? No, not my frisbee!

Will I get to cuddle with the little one? Better yet, can I use my herding instincts and box him/her into a corner of the room? Will Mom and Dad still take me for walks? Maybe I'll need to walk my new sibling. I've heard little humans cry a lot. Will I be allowed to lick him/her until the crying stops? If it's nose is warm and dry, I think I should definitely lick it.

Ooh, I just thought of something. I can teach my little brother/sister everything I know! I can teach him how to chase rabbits. I can teach her all about sniffing and finding the best spot to pee. Oh, and the joys of snow. We can run and bounce in the snow together. And swimming!!! I'll teach him/her how to swim! And tail wagging. That's a very important skill. I'll teach my brother/sister how to wag the tail for maximum effect.

Do any of my friends out there have little brothers or sisters? Do you have any advice for me? I think I'm really gonna like being a brother but wouldn't mind hearing some tips. Thanks!

Oh, here's the first picture of the baby (taken a few weeks ago). I don't see a tail. Kind of looks like a bumble bee to me.

Wall Of Fame!

2009-03-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

I'm on the KONG Wall of Fame and I have the certificate to prove it.

Mom went to the Kong company website and sent them an email with my picture. Maybe my picture will be posted on their website someday. But, in the mean time, they sent me this cool certificate along with lots of coupons, recipes and a catalog of all the Kong toys available. I've already requested a few of them for my next bday.

If you wanna be on the Wall of Fame, have your mom or dad go to this website: http://www.kongcompany.com/gallery.asp

Send an email to the address listed with the requested information. A few days later, my mom got an email from a nice lady at Kong and she asked for our mailing address. Three weeks later, a really big envelope arrived with all that fun stuff.

New Trick

2009-03-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Check out my new trick!

Backyard Fun

2009-02-15T06:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry. I know, it's been a month since my last post. I really haven't taken Mom and Dad on any adventures lately so there wasn't much to report. But, we have been enjoying some really nice weather here in Richmond. While I miss the deep snow of Michigan, it is kinda nice to run around in the leaves in February. Mom even hung laundry up outside to dry the other day. An unthinkable thing to do this time of year in Michigan.

Anyway, one of my favorite things to do is chase my Kong frisbees. Mom and Dad got some pretty good shots of me in action. I think frisbee chasing should be a doggie olympic event. (Although rabbit chasing would be just as fun.)

Dad thinks this next photo would be a good ad for Kong. Maybe we'll email this pic to them. They sure do make a rugged frisbee.

Flashback

2009-01-16T09:44:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the delay in posting Christmas pictures. It took a little while to get the proofs back from the pro photographer (aka Uncle Alex). Anyway, enjoy these scenes from the holidays at MomMom and PopPops house.

Here's the whole gang. We all chipped in to decorate the tree on Christmas Eve.
I love giving Aunt Cheryl kisses. Uncle Alex made fun of her so...
...I got him too.
Playin' outside with Homer.

Snuggling with Ryan (Mom's cousin) after opening lots of gifts on Christmas morning.

2nd Annual Pajama Day

2009-01-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we celebrated the greatest tradition ever...Pajama Day! The only rule of Pajama Day is you can't change out of your pajamas all day. It's a great way to recover from the hectic holiday schedule. Mom and Dad set up the air mattress in front of the TV and we spend all day napping, sleeping, and taking siestas. We also watch some movies in between. This year we watched 'Get Smart', 'Hancock', and 'House Bunny'. I was disappointed with 'House Bunny'...there weren't any rabbits in that movie at all.

Dad took some pictures of our day of leisure. I'm in all of the pictures...can you find me?

Stoney Point Fashion Park

2009-01-01T17:03:00.000-08:00

There's this really neat shopping mall here in Richmond that allows dogs to escort their humans into the stores. Dad and I have been there a couple of times but today, we finally brought Mom along for some New Year's Day shopping fun. I particularly liked the dog store with all the fresh baked treats but you can see that I also enjoyed the cookware store and Home Decorators. Oh, I am also proud to say that I finally conquered the escalators at Dick's sporting goods. Overall, a great day for me!

I don't know what this is but I smell an over-priced tag.

Seriously, I knew this wasn't a real dog. I was just airing out my tongue.

The perfect ending to a perfect day.

Cousin Homer

2008-12-23T16:22:00.000-08:00

Well, Christmas activities are in full swing here at MomMom and PopPop's house. MomMom spent the entire day making cookies. They smelled so yummy. Unfortunately, I didn't get to taste test any. I'm on a strict "no human food" diet since I ate a whole bunch of turkey yesterday. The results of all the turkey eating was not pleasant this morning and I'll just leave it at that. I have no regrets though and the burning feeling has since gone away.

Anyway, I spent the evening with my cousin, Homer, a few nights ago. Here we are hanging out.

Winter Camp Hiatus

2008-12-17T07:25:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted much lately. There haven't been any exciting adventures to report. Right now, I'm hangin' at MomMom and PopPop's house for Winter Camp. I'm helping them get ready for the big Christmas holiday. Though, I wish I was more involved in the taste testing of goodies being prepared. PopPop is good at giving me some kind of meat which I really love him for.

Enjoy these pictures from past winters.

What Makes a Dog?

2008-12-02T04:45:00.000-08:00

I don't remember my biological parents. My current mom and dad adopted me when I was three years old. I don't want to remember the years previous to that and my memories of my biological parents have since faded. But, I've always wondered what kind of breed they were. When I'm out walking my humans, other people will often stop and ask what kind of dog I am. Mom and Dad always respond that they are not sure but that I'm probably German Shepherd mixed with lab. Other humans have offered more possibilities including blue heeler, australian cattle dog, akita, and wolf.

Well, last night, someone told my Dad to look up Dutch Shepherd (Thanks Porter, my brother from another mother, and Kyle S). It's a rare breed and not often seen in the US because it's not recognized by the AKC. Here's a good despcription of the Dutch Shepherd. Do you think it fits me?

The Dutch Shepherd is a highly capable shepherd dog that excels in areas of agility, obedience, guarding, herding, field training, and companionship. They are extraordinarily competent, and they approach their work with great enthusiasm. They have strong territorial instincts and will ward off unwanted visitors at lightning speed. They are very affectionate, cheerful, and playful, and they love to spend time with their family. They are a highly intelligent breed, and they are very easy to be around. They are calm, even-tempered, and loyal. This breed generally gets along quite well with other dogs and animals. They are easy to train and learn new commands quickly. They are active, alert to their surroundings, and they make fine watch dogs. They are low maintenance and can withstand harsh weather conditions and fatigue.

Here are some pictures of Dutch shepherds from the web. What do you think? Is this me?

College Bound

2008-11-23T15:54:00.000-08:00

I visited my second college campus last week. It was a beautiful fall day and I asked Mom and Dad to take me some place different for my afternoon walk. We ended up at University of Richmond campus. Only about a 5 min drive from our house. What a great campus. They have a lovely lake to go swimming in. It was a little chilly for me but I saw a golden retriever jumping in and getting the ball that his owner kept tossing into the lake. His coat must be thicker than mine because he didn't mind the cold water at all. Anyway, we just walked around and took a few pictures.

MomMom and the ladies at the library will enjoy these next few pictures. The library at UofR is very pretty. I wonder if they have any books about dogs in there?

Milestones

2008-11-11T06:12:00.000-08:00

Mom, Dad and I travled to Philly this past weekend so that we could attend a wonderful event. The 90th Birthday bash for Mom's grandmother, Babci. She's a wonderful lady. She has three sons, 7 grandchilren, and 5 great-grandchildren. She still lives in her own home, has a boyfriend, a cute little canary and up until a year ago, still went out dancing once a week. I hope I have her kind of energy when I'm 90 (I thinkt that's like 15 in dog years). Anyway, here are some photos of the great event.

Babci and her three sons.

Babci and Bob

Babci and Mom's grandmother, Grandmom.

Grandpop, Babci and Grandmom.

You might be wondering where I was during all these festivities. Well, let's just say that I love kielbasa and I ate a lot of it. This was the result.

New Game

2008-11-10T16:40:00.000-08:00

We visited MomMom and PopPop this past weekend in the Philly area. A big tree in their backyard dropped it's leaves all over the backyard. It made this beautiful carpet of red, gold, orange and yellow. So pretty. We didn't get to see colors like this in Michigan. When summer was over (in early September), leaves would suddenly turn brown one day and then be on the ground the next. I much prefer the pretty colors of the trees on the east coast. Best of all, I discovered a new game! Leaf catching! The rules are simple. Have your human toss a bunch of leaves in the air and then jump up and try to catch as many as you can.

Another new game. Tug o' war with Mom on a swing.

Happy Halloween? Bah-humbug!

2008-11-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

I really don't like Halloween. A couple years ago, a three foot tall Darth Vader appeared on our door step. He scared the bleep out of me so I barked at him. I guess I scared him back because he yelped, threw his arms up in the air and little bits of wrapped candy came flying out of his plastic bucket and rained down all over my head.

Well, I didn't get too scared last night. Mom and Dad played it smart and kept the storm door closed so that the little witches, monsters and Strawberry Shortcakes couldn't get to me. That barrier kept us safe so I didn't feel the need to bark but the goblins were still able to get their candy.

Here are some pictures of me playing with our glowing pumpkin. I decided to go diving in to retrieve the glowing light.

Got it

I'm on the Web!

2008-10-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

I sent a letter to the shelter that rescued me. Please visit:
http://www.hshv.org/happytails.htm

Great Adventure

2008-10-23T04:43:00.001-07:00

Mom's brother, Alex, and his wife, Cheryl, are visiting us this week. All five of us began our trip at Mom-mom and Pop-pop's house. You can see that we were very excited to start our adventure.

On the first afternoon of their visit, Mom took me, Alex and Cheryl to the big park in Richmond. Byrd Park. We had a good time walking the paths and viewing the sites. I really liked the little lakes. I wanted to go swimming but Mom wouldn't let me.

Here I am leading the way. Mom always jokes that I'm an "alpha" dog. I have no idea what that means. All I know is that I feel like I should be the guy in front.

Me and Mom at a water fountain. Once again, I tried to jump in for a short swim. As my friends in Barclay Park know, I have a thing for swimming in water fountains.

Alex read this sign and told me that I was not allowed to dig in the park or we would get in trouble. It's too bad; my super sensitive nose told me that there was lots of interesting stuff under the ground. Oh well. I try not to question the humans' silly rules.

Me, Alex and Cheryl in front of the bell tower at Byrd Park.
Me, Mom and Cheryl on the base of the bell tower.

Yesterday, Wednesday, we went on a really big adventure. Early in the morning, Alex, Cheryl, Mom and I jumped into Alex's big truck and drove for an hour to a place called Colonial Williamsburg. What a great day. It was sunny and cool. We walked throughout this historic site and visited some old buildings and learned about the history of the town and how people lived back in the 1700s. I didn't hear much about how dogs played a role in daily life back in those days but the people dressed in period costumes were very happy to see me. I even got a few treats from them. We had a really fun day and I would love to go back there.

Me and Mom on some old door steps.

Me and Cheryl and a colonial lady.

I like sitting on boxes.

Me, Alex and Cheryl in front of the old capitol building.

Me and Cheryl behind the governor's palace.

We have strong ties to Philadelphia so we're super excited that our Phillies baseball team is in the world series. To celebrate our team, we dressed up this statue and took some pics. I even gave him a little kiss.

Weekend Visit

2008-10-08T05:02:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, Mom, Dad and I drove up to visit my grandparents. After a day or two, Mom and Dad left. I was pretty upset when I heard that they went on a hike without me. Turns out they traveled to Woodstock, NY for a wedding. The had a little time to hike Overlook Mt.

Near the top of the mountain was the ruins from a old 1920s hotel that burned down years and years ago.

Views from the top of the mountain and 90 foot fire tower that they climbed.

Meanwhile, I had a really nice stay with MomMom and PopPop. MomMom even cooked up some sweet potatoes for me. I have no idea how she knew that was my fav food! I enjoyed nice walks to the little river (I loved peering over the bridge to look for fish). At night, I did get a little lonesome for my parents so I jumped up on MomMom and PopPop's bed and slept with them. They are warm and cuddly. When Mom and Dad came back from NY, we had a nice visit with more family before heading back to Richmond.

Daisy-sitting

2008-10-08T04:57:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago, I got to hang out with my new friend Daisy. She stayed with us for two days/one night. She's a sweet dog. I didn't even mind when she curled up on my bed even though her bed was sitting right there. We spent most of Saturday snoozing on the couch while Mom watched college football.