Everyone loves Athena

****Remember until December 10th 2009, your comments= cans of food being donated to our local food bank... so be sure to leave a comment! Its an awesome way to give a little blog love and in return, I'll give a little food bank love. A wonderful thing!****

Great Dane puppies are sweet. They are adorable. They are ridiculously cute and incredibly deceiving. You see them and melt. But puppies grow up, don't they... And grow Athena has! Athena is already, in her few months in the world... has grown to around 50 pounds! Now thats crazy! (That is more than our Vizsla Frank weighs NOW at a year old) However, they are known to be big, beautiful, gentle and loving, and that they are. Somewhere along the way, I've become a hopeless dog lover. It hasn't happened overnight, but its happened! This little one is no exception.

Here are a few images of Athena when she came to visit us in October! Are you kidding me with this face???? You may recall images from a long time ago here of Athenas big sister Vala. (see below image) Vala is now weighing in at a whopping 135 pounds, and they suspect Athena will be bigger than her big sis! Wild!

****Remember until December 10th 2009, your comments= cans of food being donated to our local food bank... so be sure to leave a comment! Its an awesome way to give a little blog love and in return, I'll give a little food bank love. A wonderful thing!****

Hold onto your heart...

We've established that puppies are cute. I now know that I'm a big fan of puppies. Real big. So much in fact, that when Erin and Oliver contacted me to take photos of their brand new addition to their family... I couldn't stop thinking about it. Not to mention that their brand new pup Barley, is a Vizsla just like our little wild Franko (or Franklin or Frankie depending on your mood or HIS).

Yesterday Erin and and Oliver drove down from Victoria with their little ADORABLE pup. They confessed that while they were waiting for Barley to be delivered to them, they displayed a photo of my little Franko from my blog, as their screen saver... awwww. Everyone loves Frank! (well, maybe not the 8 year old boy in the trail last night that he wouldn't stop barking at... FRANK!!!) Erin and Oliver have only had him for 6 days! Barley is just 10 weeks old. I can NOT handle the cuteness.. oh and of course, I had to let Frank meet little Barley as that was him not very long ago!

There is something amazing about these images to me, as I not only see their happiness with their little guy, but also a reflection of the love that I feel for Franko, and that Bryce and I share with him as well.

Enjoy these images folks, and I am not responsible if these photos make you rush out and get yourself a puppy.... Vizslas have the BEST and softest ears Frank still chews his feet, looks like Barley does too Absolutely loved it when Barley played himself to sleep Ok one last one of Frank and Barley meeting over a tire...

For all mothers....

O.K. First of all. Puppy training has quickly become my morning noon and night.

Bryce has named the little fella Frank or Frankie, and what a character. He certainly loves to please! He'll walk right up to you and sit. Just sit down and tilt his little head and look at you. What a little charmer!

In the 3 days he's been with us, one thing has become clear. I have no idea how mothers of real people do it. No clue. I have never had to take care of anything other than myself (although I do run a business and often hang out with friends children). So this will be a giant learning curve, or series of.

I wish to take this opportunity to just let all of you mothers out there know, that you truly are amazing. The amount of courage, patience, love, creativity, energy and pure strength it must take, to wake up daily and know that you are raising a human being... someone you hope to be a positive influence in the world. Someone who will hopefully be kind, caring and loving. Someone who not intentionally hurt people, donate money to charity, and think beyond themselves. Every single day must have an underlying current that the good values, morals and lessons you've taught your children stick and translate into wonderful people.

You mothers out there, amaze me. Heather, with your 3 children, Great Dane, 2 cats and fish... honestly... HOW DO YOU MANAGE?! Maritte with your 2 year old, newborn and dog!! Suzanne, with your 2 kids... Sarah with TWINS! What kind of humans are you? Super humans. It's decided.

In any case, I get it... in some small way, I officially get it. (I'm sure one day, I'll get it even more) But for now, Bryce and I are trying to raise a good, happy, healthy pup. Wish me luck... Thanks for stopping by... more people photos soon I promise.