New Digs

Yesterday we moved all 9 puppies to a stall in the barn.  They are getting so big and their space in the basement was getting too small.  It was a hard day, I'd like to say it was hard on them because they are so attached to me, but the truth is it is the other way around.  I cried a bunch and worried a lot, I worked myself into a real tizzy and by the end of the day I was physically sick, yep puking and everything.  After the first bout with the porcelain throne around 10:30 pm, I went out to the barn to check on them and make sure they were warm enough.  We had set it up so they were corralled with hay bales under the heat lamp, but the little poops had found a hole in the hay and were all bunched up outside the corral next to the stall door...I was heartsick.  So I got everyone back under the light, fixed the bales and then laid down in the straw and paper shavings with them, they all piled on top of me in a real dog pile, it was nice and I cried again.  We stayed that way for probably a half hour or so and then the urge to purge took over again, so I carefully unpiled everyone and headed for the house.  To say the least, I was a total mess, puking, crying, worrying and all for nothing.  This morning everyone was fine and happy to see me.  I just miss hearing them and knowing they are right downstairs.  And yes, it is time for them to start leaving for new homes, so I will have to find a good way to detach, but it ain't going to be easy.

7 Weeks and the count down begins

Yesterday, yes on Christmas day, we spent a rowdy time taking pictures of the puppies.  They are looking more like litle dogs now and the size of the ears on some of them should be a little tell-tale sign of how big they might get, as well as some of the paws.  I want to do a new shoot since for me the light is too bright and there is too much distracting crap in the backgrounds on some of the pictures, but my hubby loves his bedroom, so to get his help, I have to concede something.  Anyway, enjoy and pick your favorite.  We are hoping to solidify buyers in the next couple of weeks so they will be leaving the nest shortly. 

 Little Boy Blue

 Brown Girl (Stretch)

 Yellow Girl and friend Rocky

My Little Red Boy

Purple Girl, her ears kill me!

Pinky Tuscadero

My Sweet Orange Boy, he is the sweetest puppy ever!

 Light Green (Spring) Alpha Female

Dark Green female (second sweetest, but tied with Pinky)

Cha Cha Cha Changes...

Sorry I haven't posted updated pictures for a few days, but my life has been filled with, feeding, cleaning, playing, feeding and so on.  They are growing fast and are topping out at about 13 lbs as of today.  Dira weaned them at 5 weeks which was the 10th, so keeping a feeding schedule and keeping them happy is a full time job.  I brought a couple of them upstairs to get Bruce to help me and they promptly dog piled on him biting his ears, they are quick and the teeth are sharp as heck.  I wish this shot would have been a little sharper, but you get an idea of how big they are getting.  This is Spring, the light green female, the Alpha dog and the biggest of the litter.

 The Alpha in the pack, surprising since you would think it would be a male.  She is also most likely going to be a plushie, long coat like her mom.

 This is the dark green male, he's a little smaller by maybe 8 oz. and a slick coat like his dad.  He was so intent and interested in the TV.  Just like his master, Bruce.

 Watching Fox News like he knows what's going on.  It was the only time he held still, too funny!

 Me and the dark green male, so sweet when you have them solo, they just cuddle up, but put them with the other siblings and all heck breaks loose.  I really love these little critters, it has been such a blessing to have them in my home.  I wish I could bottle the sweetness that is puppy love.  It will be a sad day, or maybe just a bitter sweet day when they leave us.

5 Weeks goes by too quickly

It's 5 weeks and I can't believe it has been that long, seems like a blur really.  A couple days ago we moved the puppies to their new crib in the basement, lots more room to run and poop.  They are right under our bedroom so I can hear them at night, mostly when they are playing or barking at each other.  They are really developing personalities and the play is non-stop, but of course so is the growling and the barking.  There is always someone being dragged around by a tail, ear, leg or something.  I am loving every second of it and drinking it all in as they will begin to leave the nest in 3 short weeks.  Here are the 5 week solo shots.  Pick your favorite!

 Blue Male

 Brown Female (Stretch)

 Dark Green Female

Light Green Female (Spring)

Orange Male

 Pinky Tuscadero - Female

 Purple - Female

 Red - Male

Yellow - Female

4 Weeks and growing like weeds

We tried to take offical pictures yesterday, but our subjects were a little unruly.  It was fun but we will need to try again.  Hard to keep them all in check, not let anyone fall off the bed and try to keep as much of my hands and head out of the picture.  Hope these make you smile.

Makin' a break for it!

The mupsters will be 4 week old tomorrow, I can't believe how quickly they are growing!  We've graduated to milk replacer with rice pudding to keep their little (big) bellies full inbetween nursing on poor mom.  They are also big enough that most of them can shimmy their way over the barricade now, not sure what the next move will need to be, stay tuned!

 Cute little farts

dito!

One of my favorite things

Need I say more?

3 weeks old!

Its so hard to get good pictures because if they are not sacked out, they are constantly moving.  They are growling, playing, barking (a lot), peeing (a lot) and driving their momma crazy.  I've spoiled her a bit because I will go in and rub her while she is feeding them, which sometimes is the only way to get her in there and it is out of desperation on my part because they start barking and crying and carrying on and it gets pretty loud and heart breaking, so I take 15 and go sit with them, rewarding for me though, it is very serene and the puppies all come lay on me for a few minutes after they get done eating.  It also provides some comic relief, they are on a mission when they are trying to find something to eat and since there are 9 of them there is always one that is not getting a dinner plate so the competition is fierce!  I'll try to get a video but Dira hates the camera so when I bring it out she gets up and leaves...

Turkey Day

Started with a picture of me and one of my puppies...

 Then it was off to the Anderson/Cantrell home for dinner.  This is Josh and his new fiance Kristen, they live together in a great old home in downtown Denver.  They are getting married in June and she is a great addition to the family, I LIKE her!

 The 2 love birds cooked most of the turkey dinner.  There was a slight snaffu with the stove not working, but Josh came through (executed and all) and got it fixed.

Here is the Josh man carving the bird, nice job on the cooking and the carving!  I have to say I was impressed which isn't an easy thing....

 Our lovely hostess, Kristen preparing the table, she also painted the picture above the fireplace.

The booger eaters...aka the grandsons.  You'll have to trust me on the rest because this is where the picture taking ended.  It was a fabulous dinner, I wish I had gotten a picture of everyone.  Kirsten's mom and sister were also there and they are very cool as well.  Since the boys were there you have to surmise that Mike and Heather were also there along with Bruce who came with me.  All in all a great day.

The Gingerbread Challenge

Getting to be a tradition to have the contest at Thanksgiving.  This year was a little easier because it happened a couple days later and the houses were already assembled.  I think our sweet street turned out pretty darn good.

Me and Bruce collaborated on the one on the right hand side.

Some of the design crew, I guess I could have smiled....

Josh with one of the puppies, they are 3 weeks old today!  I gotta say that Josh found a pretty neat gal to marry, she has already made a lot of difference in the dynamics and I really had fun this year.  He is marrying Kristen Cantrell in June of 2012.  I'll load some turkey day pictures up later so you can see her too.  I really like her mom and sister, good people and she makes Josh so much more open and fun to be around, i say YEA for Kristen!

Great Movie

Just watched this movie, it was awesome, gave me a lot to think about.  I highly recommend it to everyone, including kids.  Don't miss the deleted scenes at the end, it will touch you in ways you didn't know were possible.  See more at www.buckthemovie.com

Puppy Pod

Birthday Parties

This weekend marked the birthdays of 2 of my favorite guys.  First Bruce, aka Skid turned 64!  Not sure why I couldn't get a clear picture, but this one is pretty good of the birthday boy and his daughter.

Earlier in the day we celebrated with 150 of Joe's closest friends at his 70th birthday!  How cool is it to have a P-51 Mustang as a party decoration?  Joe is the tall cowboy with the light blue shirt.

Happy birthday guys!

Puppy Love

Sharing some of the most precious pictures this morning.  They are starting to open their eyes and their legs are getting long enough that they can walk (like drunk sailors) instead of scooting.  This is Pinky Tuscadero.

Check out the little eye!  She was the first to look at the world.

Little purple girl in full howl!

Yellow in chill mode

Gives you an idea of how much they have grown in 13 days

They are all good size, but there are a couple of gals that are bigger than the rest, this is Stretch

Momma Dira, she's such a good mom.  It's hard to get everyone fed at once, they are just getting to big.

The whole crew, this is how we roll!