This pictures says it all...

It was a very loud, laughing, screaming good time!

More pictures later off to Ainsley's play performance.

Walker's tooth is still loose... but barely hanging on to the gum on one side.

Mr. Snaggletooth...

This is his favorite "gross you out" thing to do with it right now...

Ainsley got a part in the Missoula Children's theater production... It's been a lot of late nights and rearranging of schedules but she's pretty excited to play a "Sea Scout"... Show is on Saturday so I'll have an actual picture of her performing.

Last week Willow was spayed. When we brought her home she was way mellow... and whined making us feel so bad for her. Just look at those sad eyes and droopy ears...

Two days later she found her new play toy...

She was a crazy dog... running... barking and playing with the vacuum cleaner.

She's currently back to her favorite spot... soaking up the rays...

This past weekend was first communion for Walker...

Took a ton of photos over the weekend but this one made me go, "EEks... he's growing up so fast!" So very proud of him.

This pretty much sums up the inside this weekend...

And the outside..

the new gate was finished and Willow could finally run and play and be free from the leash!

Back to the "non-furry" kiddo stories...

Walker had a pack meeting last night where his "den" was in charge of the flag ceremony...

He also received some rewards...

His Bobcat patch... next is to earn the Wolf patch. He earned his troop patch and then 2 belt loop slides for activities completed in his den.

Lastly he received a bobcat cake for completing the requirements... I guess it's like tradition??

Since I got my new phone, I LOVE taking pictures and changing the photo filters in Instagram. Here is my favorite photo from yesterday...

Willow is becoming a good fit for our family...

Saturday was busy... seems like a good day as any to have her with us and get use to our schedule... which lately seems to be hectic. She started out the day at Lowes... where she was spoiled with doggie treats from employees... funny she'll grow up in Lowes just like the kiddos have!

She headed to Walker's soccer game and chilled out with her "chewie". Walker scored a goal, the teams first of the season... yeah... made the almost unbearable hot and no substitutes worth it for him!

She was a tired girl later... snoring in fact...

Kiddos are getting a bit more use to her... they love to hold onto her leash in the backyard while she goes and explores (fence gate still in the process of being rebuilt) but when she gets out of her crate first thing in the morning she's happy... and excited to see everyone and wants to run and play and bounce... all puppy things and their comment, "Uh... I think Willow needs to go back in her kennel!"

She's had a huge dose of words introduced in the past 72 hours... Sit, Off, Leave it, Kennel, Potty and Load up... she's a smart little girl and doesn't mind me taking a gazillion photos... definitely a good fit for us!

We decided to adopt a puppy... mainly for the kiddos but we loved the idea of having one around too! The kiddos have always been a bit "freaked" out by dogs for some strange reason... maybe they weren't around them enough?? When we were at Alta and Joe's their golden retriever Moxie who is the most patient, kind, loving dog had them trying to become one with the wall!! It was then we decided we didn't want them to grow up being afraid and all around scared of dogs.

So we started talking about the idea of getting a puppy... one they would be able to grow with and get comfortable with before it got full sized. We looked around a bunch... trying to decide which size and breed would be a good fit for us and from the internet we found our Willow...

She's a 4 month old boxer lab cross... which is called a Boxador. She was at a shelter in Bear Lake and although it was an hour and a half drive away to meet her, we fell in love instantly with her. She's not like most puppies... she's a bit calmer... hardly jumps... doesn't bark and loves to just be with you... which all combined made for a good fit for our apprehensive kiddos. We had to wait a week (due to our schedules) before we went back to get her so that we could get prepared for her arrival.

Surprisingly when we went to get her and introduce her to her crate in the car... she loaded right up and was ready to go. She wined a bit and then settled on down for the long drive home.

This is what Mulan thought of her...

Her exact words were I'm sure naughty ones... she yowled the entire time at her. Finally she settled and found that having a puppy isn't so bad after all... they come with good food to eat!!! Little Piggie... thought I'd have to worry more about the dog eating cat food than the cat eating Willow's food.

She settled right in and laid down to play with her new toys...

She's just a sweetie... just check out this face...

More stories to come!

Walker has a very loose tooth... the first "real" loose tooth. He's only lost the 4 bottom ones and those were pulled so he's pretty excited to FINALLY have a loose tooth... hopefully it will be out before 2nd grade is over!!