A month without Mom

Mom was in Nashville last week and is going to South America for 2 weeks tomorrow. We've been staying at a friend's house so there won't be any pics for awhile....

Swimming on Sunday

On Sunday, Mom took us to the woods to hike. We were having a blast until we came across the "Train Tracks of Death". All of us took off across and started falling through the slats. Mom had a heart attack and started screaming bloody murder. Especially when Ben got stuck and then tried to flail himself off the side! Of course, there are no pictures of the incident...




Afterwards, Mom calmed down and we climbed down under the tracks.





We followed the stream and it led to the Yadkin River! Yay, swimming!





Jack and I jumped right in!





Even Miss Ellie took her very first dip! I think she was as shocked as we were!



We were all waiting for her when she made it back!



She was SO proud of herself!

Mr. Ben decided that swimming wasn't his cup of tea...

This is as far in as he would go! Silly dog!

Not Jack! He's a swimming maniac now that I've shown him how fun it is!

He fetched all the sticks!

And Ben watched from the shore.

And so did Ellie. One swim was good enough for her!

When we were done swimming, we started digging to China. Ben thought it was super fun to catch the nasty mud in his mouth!

Mom kept yelling at him but I guess he was hungry!

We tried to take a family photo before we drove home but this is the best we could do! I'm the only well-behaved dog in the family! :)

Pool Party

On Saturday, Mom got us a pool. I always want to sit in the nasty one at the dog park so Mom thought I'd like one of my own.



She was WRONG! I wouldn't get in. HA HA!

Even when Mommy got in, I couldn't be convinced.

So Mom thought putting the sprinkler IN the pool might entice us.

It worked for a minute with Ben!

But I wasn't falling for it!

Then Ben got smart and took the sprinkler out!

The $2 sprinkler was WAY more fun than the pool!

Until it got all nasty, then I FREELY got in. Mwa ha ha. Mommy doesn't understand me :)

Of course Ellie didn't want anything to do with water! This is her preferred Saturday afternoon activity.

Soccer Star

Mom brought home this awesome soccer ball and I've discovered a hidden talent! I've got some serious soccer skills. I can block and catch like the best of them! :)

Of course, I don't share! And of course, Ben has to stare me down...

But I just keep ignoring him. Even when I'm done playing, I don't even think about letting him have the ball!

Mom says he looks sad and I should let him play for awhile!

I say "HA HA HA, no way!"

PS- Look at my funny mud beard! :)

Meanwhile, the Bobsie Twins (aka Gracie and Ellie) had absolutely no interest in soccer. They just want to run around like crazy. This picture makes Mom laugh eventhough it's blurry...

They also wrestle like they are on the WWE.

But look! We are getting some grass! And I see flowers!

The twinsies also have to eat their bones together. Fine with me! As long as I don't have to share!

It's supposed to be 85 in North Carolina this weekend! Mom said something about getting us a pool!! I am SOOO excited :)

Puppy Love

We've had Gracie a little over a week now and it seems like she's always been part of the fam! Mom still says that we can't keep her though!

Even despite this cute face...



And this smile...



And those ears....



And that Aussie wiggle butt...



So we're just hugging and snuggling for the time being.

And even Ben is holding her hand :)

She looks SO big already! I think she's doubled in size since we've had her. Hopefully a nice family will come see her at the adoption fair this weekend!

Aussie Puppy!

Rudy and Ben's fights have not stopped so Rudy had to go live at another foster home. But don't worry, we weren't lonely for long! Look what Mom brought home last night!

It's a 4 1/2 mo old Aussie puppy! A family decided that after their "careful" research that maybe an Aussie was not the right fit for small kids and lazy owners! They hadn't bothered to get her any vet care either! Mom is going to fix all that!

Look at that wiggle butt!

She finally slowed down enough to snuggle and get her picture taken. I'm sure Mom will have the camera permanently attached to her face for the next few weeks...

Ben, of course, got over the puppy excitement really fast. He only has eyes for Molly!

The good, the bad and the ugly

Last weekend started off good with some wonderful weather!! Ellie was loving the sunshine!



We played with sticks in the backyard.



And played tug-o-stick with Mom.



And tug-o-stick with eachother

The "the bad" happened shortly after this photo. Rudy was lounging on the couch until Ben challenged him with his Border Collie eye. They then got into a 10 minute brawl...

That ended like this: "the ugly"

And this: (swollen, black eye)

And finally like this: (tired, sore, half-blind baby)

Ben's not so tough after all! Eventhough Rudy is not looking so hot either. They are both on antibiotics and Ben saw the vet. His cornea is fine but his eye is swollen shut! Rudy has gone on a little vacation to a friend's house until he can be neutered. Hopefully, that will help the boys get along!

Mom ended the weekend with an Oreo milkshake! Of course, I got to clean the cup. Every last drop!