The Life of Pups

Kauffman and the other two pups are settling in together nicely. Kauffman is Hanny's shadow when they are outside, intently watching everything she does, including the hunting of critters. They play tug and wrestle with each other several times a day, having a blast.

It's taken Fenway a little longer to decide to engage Kauffman in play. The game Fen and Cam played went like this:

Fen would play bow with a toy in his mouth and Cam would snarl at him with tail wagging and chase him across the room, play biting at Fen's tucked rear. We called it the "tuck your butt and run game".

Fenway has initiated the game with Kauffman and can get Kauffman to chase him but Kauffman catches Fen and tries to bite the toy. Fen gets frustrated and looks at us as if to say "he doesn't get it does he!" They'll work out a game. We're just glad that Fenway is engaging with Kauffman, who is a typical puppy "brat" at times, nipping and yipping. Fenway, as the nearly 13 year old "oldster", has little patience at times and moves to another room.

Kauffman is growing and weighed 6.9 lbs yesterday, so has gained nearly a pound since he came home with us. He is so, so smart and is learning from the other two dogs. We once put Hanny in a down and looked over and who was in a down but the Little K!

We are having a blast with our newest family member.

Here's Kauffman last night. All the pups were resting after a busy day.



Hanny is a cutie.



Our shaggy gentleman who has earned the right to remain shaggy - need I say more?

This is the Life!

I would guess that Kauffman feels right at home. Check out the exposed belly -- napping on his back with his head on his favorite toy. Does it get any better?

Kauffman's Home!!

Kauffman arrived in Kansas City last night at 10:00 pm. It was absolute chaos when we introduced him to Fenway and Hanover. The two older dogs were in a high state of excitement and Kauffman was on overload. After an hour, we decided it was best to retire for the night. Today it's been a lot calmer and all pups are bonding. There have been several tug toy games between Kauffman and Hanover. Fenway is till trying to figure out how best to play with him.

Kauffman is one happy, smart, inquisitive, fearless little pup. The eight steps from the family room to the kitchen were daunting to him last night. I helped him up one time and that's all it took. He has been running up the stairs (not down yet) at full speed. Not bad for an 11-week old puppy.

Just like a small child, everything is going straight to his mouth. We're headed to the pet store to get some teething toys.

Here's some early photos. Enjoy!

Kauffman's home in Maryland - quite a view







He loved the hotdog toy Bob took to Maryland as a first gift







How do I get out of this??



Meeting grandma for the first time






Tuckered out after playing with Fenway and Hanover



Welcome home Kauffman. We're excited the day finally arrived!

A Gift from Over the Rainbow Bridge

Today is an exciting day - we're getting an 11 week old Norfolk puppy. You may recall that Camden, our Norfolk terrier died unexpectedly last October after a diagnosis of lymphoma and two surgeries in three days. Camden's loss was traumatic for all of us. I no longer cry crocodile tears when I think about him but tears well up in my eyes at least once a week when thoughts of him cross my mind. Fenway is nearly back to his old self but he has taken the long journey in recovery.

Kauffman, or as he's been dubbed by me "Little K", will never replace Camden but we hope he brings the pure joy of living to our lives that Camden brought. Bob is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland tonight, after having picked Kauffman up from his breeder on Kent Island. The breeder called Kauffman "the little lover", which is funny, since that was one of Camden's nicknames.

A friend told me after Camden died that he would send the right puppy to us at the right time. She was right. Camden gave us the gift of Kauffman on Bob's birthday when we received the news that we had been chosen as the forever home for one of the two puppies born in the litter. It's been a long two months waiting to meet Little K but Bob says when he met him for the first time today, he was immediately showered in puppy kisses.

Camden - you did good! Watch over Little K and Fenway and Hanover from the other side of the rainbow bridge and sprinkle them with your zest for life. Thank you little man.

P.S While you're at it, Cam, you might teach the puppy how to play the chase Fenway game. He misses tucking his butt and running, with you barking, chasing and pretend nipping. Hanny won't play this game at all!

It's Dad's Vacation

I posted a new blog entry on my second blog about the family vacation I just took in Colorado. It was a special trip planned for our dad. If you're interested, you can read it at

imagesbycarolfowler.blogspot.com.

Enjoy!

He's Home!

It is absolutely amazing how quickly babies grow. This little guy is only 3 1/2 weeks old and looks so much bigger than the day he was born. Being naked was not his favorite thing! Although mom and dad said he always sleeps after he eats, he resisted the urge today. We were able to get a few sleeping baby shots but most of the time, he wanted to check everyone out.







His sister is a real cutie too!



What a great family! It was a pleasure to spend time having fun with the kids today and I thank them all!

Cute Niece & Nephews

We got to spend a fun afternoon with family. I was playing with my camera and a new lens, so couldn't resist taking some fun photos of my very cute nieces and nephews.

The new lens has an aperture of 1.4, so I played around shooting wide open quite a bit today. It's a lot more challenging than I thought trying to get exact focus with an aperture that wide! But, the nicely blurred backgrounds more than make up for the challenge!










We're hoping we soon get some real May weather. It's been chilly and very rainy. I don't think we've gone for more then four days without rain for the last month! I'm not sure global warming has come to the midwest.

Baby Luke Has Arrived

I had the privilege of photographing the birth of my friends' new baby, Luke. He was born a little after 10:00 am today. I told his parents I would put a few images on the blog for a sneak peak. I know dad will be e-mailing more!







I couldn't resist taking a pic of dad texting family and friends with the news.




Mom spreading the news too!



Dad still in the delivery room dressed in his fancy yellow gown and stylin' blue hat









Makiah meets her baby brother for the first time



Makiah and her dad picking out meals for mom!

Waiting for Baby Brother

This little girl has a baby brother coming soon. She can already say "baby" and "brother", so she's well on her way to being a great big sister!



She's quite the dancer and just lights up when asked to "perform"



This is her favorite chair, right next to her toys - can it get any better?



Her eyes are so expressive and her expressions precious

Handsome Young Man

His smile says it all.  This young man had so much personality and loved being in front of the camera.   

Christmas Day

Oh, the indignity our dogs have to endure to lead comfy lives with us humans. Year after year, when holiday time arrives, the poor pups are dressed in jingle bell collars and reindeer antlers, or other festive attire.  Hanover sits in her garb motionless, just sure something terrible will happen if she moves.  We release her from her anguish and utter embarrassment quickly after a photo is taken.

Fenway,  on the other hand, will let us dress him up in anything, just as long as there's a treat involved.  This year it was lamb jerky.  He was so obsessed with the "bestest" treat ever that he wouldn't look at the camera -- the treat was being offered as a bribe to the left of the camera position.  I suggested I put the treat between my lips to get him to look at me but that idea was quickly nixed when he kept jumping at the camera!   

All in all the pups and their human family enjoyed the Christmas festivities, particularly since my sister from St. Louis and her husband made a surprise visit to KC to join us for dinner.  It doesn't get better than having family together for the holiday season!

HANOVER (9 year old Border Terrier)

FENWAY ( 12 year old Border Terrier)

Happy New Year to all!

Christmas Memories of Camden

In October, I blogged about our three dogs, Fenway, Camden and Hanover. Ten days after my post we lost Camden following two abdominal surgeries in three days and a diagnosis of lymphoma. His little body just wasn't strong enough to recover, although he fought with all his might.

Today, I'm writing in Camden's memory - Christmas was his all time favorite holiday. He knew when the tree went up that good things were coming in tissue wrapped packages. Christmas morning, he would be beside himself waiting for the gift opening -- he knew he always got a few dog toys wrapped in tissue paper.  To see Cam open his presents was a delight.  Of all the dogs, he best knew how to rip the tissue and get to the gift.  Cam treasured his soft toys. Often, we would find him laying with his head on his newest soft toy (probably to make sure neither of the other two dogs would take it).

One of our funniest stories is the year Camden kept pulling a gift from a friend out from under the tree and tearing at it. We couldn't figure out why since he never bothered any present wrapped in regular wrapping paper. On Christmas morning, we discovered the box he had been trying to open was filled with tissue - he must have smelled the tissue and thought the box was an early gift for him!

Below is a short video of Cam eagerly trying to get to his presents on Christmas morning last year (with Fenway coming into the picture at the end) and some snapshots of all three pups.

Cam, we all miss you greatly but we know you're celebrating Christmas on the other side of the rainbow bridge, where there are as many presents as you want under the beautiful trees. Open them with joy and when you tire, lay your head on the softest and dream sweet dreams. You are with us today and always little man. We love you.

Camden in his finest Christmas jingle bell collar

Guarding his toys - the look says it all - I'm not sharing!

The best way to rest!

You can see Camden's paw, where he is missing two toes - the result of surgery he had when he was five - the vets at K-State, particularly Dr. Chad Johannes, saved his life when he got a mysterious disease dissolving his toe bones - they gave us another 6 wonderful years with Camden.  We are eternally grateful to Dr. Johannes and K-State's vet school for all they did for Camden.  

Classic Cam  

One of my favorites - it's pure Camden

He loved being outside and the hair was always in his eyes but he hated having it trimmed

Best buddies - Fenway grieved terribly when Cam died

The posse doing what they love best - watching for squirrels!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your families!

Staying Warm!

This little girl was trying to figure out who the lady with the camera was in this candid shot at a group event.  She's such a cutie!  

Holiday time!

Could he be any cuter!  Those blue eyes are spectacular.