Reunited.

I am determined to rally (unlike the Broncos last week).  I am going to do a massive post catch up.  Mainly pictorially, since a picture paints a thousand words, and I am too darn busy to make much sense on the commentary.  Written expression takes {me} time.

I prefer individual posts scheduled to post on different days rather than a lengthy multi-topic one, so keep your eyes peeled this week as I sort through the sands at the bottom of the hourglass.

On with it.

Back in December, in honor of Jack and Ava's first birthday (on the 21st), we invited Elvis and Priscilla over for a family reunion.

I had envisioned a fun family get-together as we chatted with Sheila and her kids (the breeders), and as the dogs got reacquainted.  I haven't had a moment to research if it's psychologically damaging upsetting unsettling to reunite pups and parents after many months apart.  I was curious, however, to see if the pups had any memory at all of their birth parents. (I'll admit, I call myself Mommy when talking to them.  I have no shame in it.)

Elvis, the old DOG, immediately came into the house and {marked} the leg of an end table, then, after a harsh reprimand from his owners, promptly did it again.  Then he came over and gave me a little squirt on my leg.

Change of plans.  My vision of friendly, casual visiting, cozied up in the family room, watching pups-and-parents rediscover each other while we sipped hot cocoa, would not be happening.

We stayed in the entryway. Conversation was a bit awkward (it would be humiliating to have your dog act so... male-dog-with-all-his-stuff -like).  But it was fun to observe similarities.  Ava has Priscilla's bark-y I-don't-like-strangers disposition, and Jack was more like Elvis.  Happy to be here.  Happy to let you know he's been here (Jack does NOT mark, thankfully, and hopefully doesn't get any ideas from observing his pops).  Happy for anyone who will offer to rub his belly, to do so.

We recalled when we first saw Jack and Ava.  How BIG Elvis and Priscilla seemed.  Now, these 9 months later, Jack outsized them all.

Priscilla's expecting another litter.  We asked to be informed when the puppies were old enough to have visitors.  Britta and Austin, who were at this grand reunion, talked about how fun it would be to see the new litter, too.  THAT would be awesome: for Britt and Austin to have Jack and Ava's little brother or sister.

Okay, so I had more commentary than was time-prudent.  I'll curb it in the next post.