Welcoming our Newest Family Member April 2, 2010

Well, we had to put down Cody, and it was very sad. He was our little naughty boy, but we sure loved him! He will always be Cooper's "sidekick" in our minds! Steve buried him on the top of our hill out on our property in the east side of the mountains.

I was gone scrapping with some friends for the weekend, and had prepared myself to have to wait until we moved out to land, before Steve would let me get another dog. So, you can imagine my shock, when I got home to find Steve looking on line for another Aussie! I don't know what happened in those last moments with Cody, but he pulled through for the team... somehow, that dog that nearly daily got Steve's blood boiling over something, somehow tugged hard enough on his heart strings in the end, to make Steve realize how much he really does love our dogs! I told Steve I knew he loved him, when he didn't throw him over

the wall

after he had broke the blinds for the 2nd time (clawing his way in the house during a storm...he was phobic of storms!) and peeing and pooing all over our living room rug...and topping it off by killing the family bunny in the back yard! Of course, all of it happened when we were out of town, so thankfully my brother took care of the family bunny. It was when we got home, and Cody still had his home that I knew Steve really did love him! Anyways, it was the funnest puppy buy yet, because Steve was totally involved. Now, he did pick out Cooper in the litter, but reluctantly. He wasn't quite ready, or so he thought, for a new pup after Molly died. And I have got to say, that was a perfect match. Cooper is totally a match for Steve. He doesn't lick and jump up, and just hangs out near Steve while he is working...but doesn't get in the way. So, we checked out a local breeder, who had some really cute puppies, and she seemed like a great breeder, but we really wanted a blue merle. So, we got on line again, and I found Tex. It was really scary for us to do it that way, because we weren't sure what his personality was like. But, when the breeder told me she has 13 kids, and the youngest was 18 mths., I knew he would fit right into our clan! We decided to surprise the kids for Easter! I went to go pick him up at the airport, and it was 100% without a doubt, LOVE at FIRST SIGHT! He was not only just so cute to look at, but he had so much charm and personality! He came right up to me wagging his little stubby tail, and just melted my heart! Anyone who knows me, knows I am a sucker for puppies, but this one fit the bill! He is exactly what we would have picked, if we had a hundred litters to choose from! He also had just the happiest little eyes! Cooper has always had wise eyes, but this little Tex just had happy to be alive eyes! I brought him home, and he had the same effect on Steve! Then we took him out to the backyard where the kids were playing, and they were thrilled! In a matter of maybe 2 seconds he had won us all over! They were a little confused at first, because I had showed them Tex on the computer, but then told them he had been sold (I just didn't mention it was to us!). So, Lydia was saying, "But I thought you said he was sold." I told her, "He was! To us!" Once she got it all put together, they just loved and loved on that little puppy! We took him to Lydia and Bobby's game that night, and he has just fit right into the whole groove! In fact, Bobby fell asleep on the floor with him, because he just didn't want to leave the puppy! And Loralyn and Ray fell asleep on the arm of the couch watching the puppy and Bobby! Brigham was hilarious! He was just trying to figure out the puppy, and would give out excited squeals now and again. He tried to feed the puppy his food, and then when the puppy didn't eat it, Brigham did! Then he force fed Cooper with the puppy food too! He was in seventh heaven with his new little buddy! It will be fun to have them grow up together! We could not believe how great Cooper has been with him! He just plays so gently with him, and completely protects him! I really think Cooper missed Cody. He had never really been alone, because I had bought Cody so soon after Cooper. Cooper had become pretty insecure, and just lonely! Tex has been the perfect medicine for him too! There really is nothing like a new puppy to bring a lot of life back into the family! I told the breeder what a perfect addition to our family Tex was, and she was thrilled! There is just something so loyal and kind about a good dog...even the naughty ones win you over with their unconditional love!