Happy Birthday, Ayson!

Hard to believe that Ayson tuned 15 on Saturday!!  He requested pizza and hot wings for his birthday meal and an oreo ice cream cake :)  Happy Birthday, Big Guy, you are loved by so many people!!!! 

Ayson noticed over nine deer on the hill during the Monday afternoon puppy walk in the orchard.

Tuesday was Stormy's turn to be off leash.

Kids and pets love cardboard!

Happy Birthday, Ayson!!! 

Thanks to our family and friends that made Ayson's birthday extra special. 

It was entertaining to watch Ayson decipher the cursive writing. 

Addie's card and gift to Ayson

Check out all the tape Addie used on the package.

Ah, the smell of Twinkies!

Ayson throughout the years :)

6 Months

12 Months

4 Years Old

8 Years Old

12 Years Old

Puppy Walks and Weekend Fun

We hope our family and friends are doing well and staying healthy - we are cold free at the moment!!  We took plenty of pictures this week of the puppies and weekend activities, so enjoy! Thunder's birthday was March 1 and he is now  6 years old!!!  

Stormy wanted to get extra close to Ayson while he washed dishes.

While out for walks and if the puppies get to far from each other, one will lay down until the other catches up. Johnny Jet waiting for Stormy.

Stormy LOVES to run fast and Johnny Jet tries to keep up - Jet's muzzle is just barely on the right edge of the photo.

Stormy will run until Johnny Jet tackles her to the ground and they wrestle.

A boy and his puppies

More fierceness on a Saturday morning walk.  Adam has been practicing letting one puppy off the leash (way out back in the orchard) while keeping the other on the leash.

More hide and seek or laying down to let the other catch up.

Practicing to sit.

On Saturday, there was a STEM event for kiddos at Syracuse University.  Amy took Addie and her friend Leena and we met Kate, Emelia, and Ivy there.  Check out the FOUR red heads at the Stem event!!!

Making a hovercraft

Lava lamps!

Paper rockets!

Building a prosthetic leg.  No one could cut duct tape without scissors except Addie (Ayson taught her :) so she was in charge of dispensing the duct tape.

The prosthetic leg challenge!

Addie has started volunteering with Neighbor Denise at the cat shelter (where we got Shadow, Thunder, and Saffron). Today Addie petted the cats, cleaned the litters, and swept the floor (Amy went too - to "pet the pets"!).

Addie giving treats to shy cats Wilson and Tate. 

We spent Sunday mid afternoon with Annie and Bob. Thanks for having us over!  It was great to catch up and watch the puppies explore :)

Check out the gorgeous bird of paradise flower blooming in their greenhouse!! 

Ayson got a kick out of Ms Annie stating "more on"...as in "moron" while adding wood to the fire.

The puppies loved being wrapped up in the blankets!  Mr Bob attended Syracuse University so we brought the STEM booklet Addie received on Saturday to share with Bob and Annie the details to the activities Addie participated in. 

The puppies were tired from exploring the house and running around the yard.

With sudden bursts of puppy wrestling.

Sleepy puppies!

 

Low Key Winter Break and a Visit with Grandpa Chuck

We hope our family and friends are doing well and we are sending good thoughts to all.  

The kiddos had a low key rest of their week off as Ayson was sick and then Addie also got sick.  Grandpa Chuck spent Saturday afternoon with us - thanks Grandpa!

Silly Saffron sleeping with his tongue out

On Saturday, we spotted an opossum eating sunflower seeds near the back porch.  It had interesting spotted fur.   

Addie putting peanuts and suet out for the squirrels  

Ayson getting an education: watching The Godfather with the older boys

Grandpa and Addie

Saturday night we tried sourdough bread that our friend Kate made - yum!  She sent us home with a gorgeous loaf of bread - thanks, Kate!!

While Saffron was fixated on the birds outside, Saffron's tail would twitch within inches of Thunder's face.

The puppies joined the boys with splitting and stacking wood.