Although it’s looking and feeling more like January, these shots were taken this morning, November 15th, as Xupe was racing around the backyard.  That’s Chev in the background of the first photo.  We love our goof-ball boy who is clearly part Chev and part Finley.  He’s a delight.

Biff and I have been recalling the one year anniversary of the puppies’ arrival.  Sleep deprivation began the night they were whelped and didn’t end until after the last puppy left for his “forever” home.  I recall living on Triscuits for quite a while as we spent evenings weighing, recording their growth and bottle feeding them, cleaning their sleep space, keeping Finley fed and hydrated throughout and non-stop laundering the towels and blankets used to keep the puppies clean and dry.  I won’t even try to describe the hustle and mess of the wood shavings that we kept scooping out and replacing when we moved the growing and rambunctious litter downstairs to the puppy room after they were weaned.

The best memories are the times when visitors came to hold and snuggle the puppies and seeing the families who came to check out the litter even before knowing which pup would be theirs.

Now, one year later, it seems we’ve all incorporated these 12 canine beings into our families and can’t imagine not having them in our lives.  One family has even suggested they might be ready for their second Griff!  Best to all of you.  I’ll keep posting photos as they arrive.  No pressure, but we’d love to see your photos and hear your stories, whenever you send them.