(More) Birthday & Boxers

Well, we certainly stretched Alexee's birthday fun out as much as possible...last Friday after school we went to Flippin to celebrate a little more with my parents, grandparents and sister's family. We were also super excited to go because Mom and Dad recently got two new boxer puppies, and we could not wait to meet them!

Last October Mom and Dad lost their 10 year old boxer, Clay. We knew there would be a big void after he was gone--he was such a wonderful dog. Every time we'd go to their house it seemed like he should still be sitting on the back steps. The kids often talk about Clay and say they wish he was still alive, and I know my parents have thought of him every single day. We've missed him greatly, and always will. That said, having the new puppies around was really good, and like I told Dad, seeing them made it a little easier to think of Clay in a happy way instead of a sad one.

So here they are. My goodness--is there anything sweeter than a puppy?! They're so loving and playful and clumsy. I just loved them instantly! The brindle one is a male, and they named him Cole. He was almost 11 weeks old last weekend and already weighed 14 pounds. The fawn puppy is a female, and her name is Gretchen. She is two weeks younger than Cole. They are so cute together. I found myself missing them when we got back to our house.

Cole played so hard! Rhett would hide under a blanket and Cole would have a lot of fun searching for him. I like the picture of Jaiden looking at him through the magnifying glass. :)

And here's Gretchen. She's the same color as Clay was and looks at you with those same kind of big, sad eyes. She let me hold her more than Cole--she's very soft and snuggly!

After playing with the pups for a while, we took a break for dinner, birthday cake and birthday presents.

Mo, Granddad, the birthday girl and the boys blowing out the candles

They got her some cute clothes, PJs/slippers, and (my favorite) sequined Hello Kitty flats

Then it was time for baths and more puppy time

On Saturday Alexee opened her presents from Micaela and her family: a purple kitty neck rest, an apron and a cute book about a library cat named Dewey.

Her cousins were not there yet when she blew out the candles the night before, so Alexee wanted to light them again. :) Here they are with the candles in the half-eaten cake! ha!
Saturday was cloudy but not too cold. We were able to play outside. Mo and Alexee found a deer antler on a walk through the woods.

Jaiden & Rhett

Jeryn planking--this made me LAUGH!

Saturday evening my Grandparents came over for dinner. Dad grilled steaks and Mom made baked beans, cole slaw, baked potatoes and corn on the cob--yum! Other than a small mishap with a new bottle of Country Bob's (which resulted in Rhett getting it in his eye/having to flush his eye with water while Dad climbed on a stool to wipe steak sauce off the kitchen ceiling), it was a great dinner.

Alexee with her Great-Grandparents

Rhett, Jaiden & Mario

After church on Sunday

Mo and Granddad with the birthday girl

It was a fun weekend!