Gus

I remember Tanner and I talking after we got Rozzi, that we'd never go back to being a one dog family again. Rozzi and Samson were just such good buds and they entertained each other when we couldn't or weren't :) So after Samson died, (and Harvey took up a lot of attention), Rozzi seemed to be in a terrible funk. She always seemed depressed and melancholy. It was sad. So we began the search. I didn't want to do it while Harvey was too little, etc. etc. Tanner really wanted a golden doodle. As much as we love Roz, we grow tired of the endless slobber and shedding. So long story short, we found the breeder we wanted and their dogs were due to have litters around when we thought would be a good time to get one, when they did, we picked the one we wanted and had him shipped to Minot.

Meet Gus. After Augusta, where they have the Master's golf tournament. He was born on June 28th. We picked him up from the airport in Minot on August 25. Well I suppose technically it was the 26th. We left Williston after Tanner got of work. He was supposed to be in on the 7:51 flight. About halfway into the 2 hr drive to Minot we were told that flight got cancelled due to weather so he'd be coming in at 11:06. We were already too far to come back, so we went to eat, got some essentials at the pet store and wandered around the mall and target for a couple hours. We showed up early to the airport and discovered that the last flight was delayed because it was waiting for the incoming plane. Sheesh. So we didn't even know when or if it was coming. Luckily, it made it. But not till 12:16. We passed the time playing cards. Harvey slept in his car seat. Not ideal. We got to give a ride back to one of the nurse anesthetist's that works at the hospital. Kind of crazy happenstance, but it was nice because we all chatted which helped keep Tanner and I awake. It would have been rough otherwise.

So we got that out of the way. We've now had him over a week and things are going remarkably well. He's a lot of fun.  The second day he peed in the house like 20 times it seemed like.  Just tiny little leaks EVERYWHERE. But even that day, when I watched Gus and Roz play together, it made me so happy we got him. They already seem to be bonding quite nicely. Some of their "play" seems aggressive to me, but I remember Rozzi being like that with Samson. Puppies are so cute. So uncoordinated and spazzy and sweet. He is a lot of fun and seems to be learning really fast. It's funny to me though how rolls have shifted. Rozzi is now the mellow one with a pest for a little sibling, when she fulfilled that roll so well for so long.  Gus definitely seems easier than Rozzi though. He already is getting the "walk over to the door if you need to go out" concept. Seemed like it took Rozzi forever. He WHINED and cried all night the first couple of nights, but since then he has slept through the night. A couple of the times I've been up at 3 or 4 with Har, I've woken him up to let him out. So really not too many accidents after those first few days. I think it's pretty wonderful for a puppy. Not that I have much to compare it to :)

 

 

 

It is really funny watching him play with toys. He attacks that shark pretty good. And he's actually played fetch with me and Tanner a couple of times. Samson loved fetch and Rozzi only went after the ball because someone else was. Fetch just with Rozzi is an impossible task. So I think the park is going to get a lot more fun with the two of them again.

Harvey adores the dogs. He giggles and laughs at Rozzi and he seems equally, if not more, enamored with Gus. He's just the right size. And Gus is AWESOME with Harv. I'll set Harvey down by Gus and he'll grab on his face and ears and skin and Gus just lets him. He gets a little bit nippy but has never made Harvey cry. It's so cute. Harvey seriously lights up when he's watching them or when they come by him. Lots of spontaneous laughing. So much fun!

We are loving our new family of 5 :)

Island Park

We got to meet up with the Niederhauser side of the family for a week at a family friend's cabin in Island Park, ID. Just short Mason, Carrie and Payne. Carrie was on the cusp of having a baby. We ended up leaving a lot later than we planned because Tanner had some catastrophe at work. 9pm instead of 1pm. It worked out okay because the place we dropped Rozzi off was a 24/7 place and Harvey slept the whole way. It was a little painful for us though. We rolled in about 5:30 on Thursday morning. We kept it pretty relaxing that day, which was nice for getting some naps in!

Ivy was pretty obsessed with Harvey. The whole crew of kids were actually.  It was pretty fun.  I think for the most part Harvey liked it too :) But Ivy was especially smitten. She said about a million times during that week how he was "the cutest baby boy!". So sweet.

Later that morning we all went for a walk around the cabin neighborhood. Mimi had made little scavenger hunt bags for the grandkids. 

Later that afternoon we went for a drive to a little cabin historical site. Now I can't even remember the name of the guy who built it. Some really short German guy that immigrated to Idaho...? It was a cool cabin and it was really pretty over there. Then we stopped for ice cream and some river playing on the way home.

My sister in law, Nat got a much better picture of the kids, but I have to post this one because I think their faces are all so funny.  Like they are so exhausted from the 1/10th of a mile walk. Funny kids.

Friday was a Yellowstone day.  I was pretty excited to go because it had been quite some time. It was incredibly BUSY! Must not remember right or I've never been in the middle of the summer but it was a little bit insane.  Still really pretty and fun though.

After that first little walk we headed to Old Faithful - and from the picture above you can see what else headed that way. We only had to wait about an hour before the estimated eruption time so we wandered around in the visitors center. By the time we headed out it was raining pretty good. We tried to tough it out but Harvey was getting pretty wet - well - we all were. So we took a picture and then headed back inside to watch it from a distance.

Then we went on one other little walk about before heading back home. I want to go back when it's not so crowded and we have more time to explore and hike and stuff.

I'm pretty sure Saturday was another relaxing day at the cabin. That afternoon we tried to float the river but they were fresh out of boats. So we played in the water and then went home and ate and went shooting guns instead :)

 

Sunday, Harv and I went to sacrament and then met up with the crew for a boat trip. The weather was really warm which was perfect for playing in the water. Overall, I think I'm glad I went with Harvey but it was a long trip for him to not be able to stand up or move around and just be held. It made it a little uncomfortable and difficult for me.  Oh well. It was fun being with everyone.

Sunday evening was more games and relaxing and then we had to pack up and take off early Monday morning. I've never been on a Niederhauser vaca before and it was so fun to just have TIME to relax and hang out with nothing really to do. I feel so blessed to have married someone awesome that has an equally awesome family who also married awesome people :) Love them!