Stuffed animals don't stay stuffed for long

Remember my cute little stuffed animal from this post? Yeah well I've decided stuffed animals really don't need to be stuffed and I've turned my cute little friend into this (I'm warning you, this is kind of graphic):


At least he only cost my mom and dad a few dollars at the county fair! They'll get over it...well, dad will as soon as mom finishes picking up the stuffing from around the house. I mean, what do they want me to do about it? They told me to stay away from the trash can!

My first road trip!

This past weekend I got to go on my first road trip aaalllll the way up to Orange county to meet my mom's aunt, uncle and cousin. The ride wasn't that long after all and I slept most of the way. Next thing I knew we were at a new house with new people and a great big backyard! It was like I woke up in heaven!

I loved playing with little Keith (he's 6) especially because we're the same size! He was very nice and threw the ball for me over and over again. I think he might have been tired of playing with me because he kept running back inside but I followed him in and dropped the ball right at his feet and waited patiently for him to throw it again. He was nice enough to oblige :)

The best part was that even when they left me alone during the day I just got to explore the backyard. I hid my bone in a big pile of dirt, dug up a pot of flowers, and ran around to enjoy my space. I was very sad to leave but I was a little relieved too--I was so tired!!! Here are some of my favorite pictures (can you tell I was forced into the last one?):

I hope we get to hang out again soon!

I'm still growing...

I'm now over 50 lbs! Mom and dad can't believe it but I am slowing down so maybe I'm almost done? Maybe? Check me out in my new bed:

That's my new little playtoy too! It is a cute stuffed dog that I love to tear apart. I leave his stuffing all around the house and while I find it very fun, Dad just gets annoyed. Weird.

I also got a new crate because I was outgrowing the old one. But the other night Maddie must have gotten confused because next thing I know she was curled up in MY crate, chewing on MY bone at MY house.

I like to think I was just being a nice boy and sharing all my favorite things but Dad seems to think Maddie "punked" me. Either way, she's still my favorite friend!

Jack vs. The Bike

Ok, I think I'm officially done with Miramar Lake. That place seems so serene and peaceful...calm and inviting. It's quite deceiving, actually...

Last week I went with mom and Aunt Chelsea to the lake for a run after mom got off work. It was their third day there in a row so they were a little tired. This time we only ran 2 miles and then decided to turn around and walk/run back to the car. I was thankful because, as I've mentioned, I have a 5 mile limit anyway.

On our way back we came around a curve and, I'll admit, we were a little too close to the middle off the road. But in our defense, so was this woman on her bike. We heard her make some incoherent noises and so we tried to go left...then right...and she did the same! Next thing I knew I was tumbling across the road--me, the lady, and her bike! It did not feel good at all but I didn't even squeal or whine. I acted tough but I'll admit to you now, it kind of hurt too.

When we all got up we could see that I was ok, just a few bumps and scrapes. The lady broke her wrist in the mess so her boyfriend rode back to get the car and go to the hospital. We waited with her until he got back though and she agreed that it was both of our faults. We apologized, she apologized, over and over. After they left we walked back to the car and poor Aunt Chelsea was so upset! She thought I'd died! I rode in her car on the way home so that she wouldn't be scared and alone. I've never riden with her alone (I didn't even know she liked me that much) but I had a good time.

It turns out I was just fine. I still ran around like a crazy dog in the backyard when we got to Grandma and Grandpa's. Sure, I was scraped up, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. See the pictures aren't even that bad:

Let's just say mom and dad are investing heavily in Neosporin. It kinda tickles when mom puts it on but it's helping. Here's to hoping I can make it through this next week without any major injuries!

Ouch!

As I’ve probably said before I LOVE the dog park. It’s one of my favorite hangouts because I get to be off my leash and play with all kinds of new friends. Mom and dad took me there yesterday and I was having a great time! I even had other big dogs to play with. Usually I’m the biggest dog there so I end up picking on the little dogs. I really just want to play but I guess they can’t keep up and they get pretty annoyed by me. Yesterday I was the one that got picked on though. :(

A new dog came into the dog park and we were having a great time playing and wrestling because he was strong like me. I guess he was a little too strong though and I ended up hurt! I tried to squeal and run away back to mom and dad but he followed me and then I had to snap at him and growl to get him to back off. I didn’t want to get mean about it but he really left me no choice!

After that I didn’t feel much like playing anymore so I just hung around mom’s legs and she got the hint. We went home and she babied me all night. The damage isn’t too bad, it’s really just a few spots on my nose where he got some of my skin but it sure does hurt. Here’s a pic:

Mom put some of that cream stuff on it (knee-oh-spore-in?) and that makes it feel better. Luckily I already have a doctor’s appointment on Saturday for a checkup so we’re going to have them check this out then too. For now mom’s making me take it easy so at least I get more cuddle time out of it!

Here's what I really think of running...

Just about once a week my mom and Aunt Chelsea take me for a nice long run around Miramar Lake. It’s exactly five miles and I really enjoy it. It is a fun people-watching (and dog-watching) activity and it makes me nice and tired for the next day or two!

This past week (last Friday), my mom had a day off for Independence Day. YAY! I love when she gets more time off to spend with me. :) She and Aunt Chelsea decided to take me on my run that day, in the morning around 10am. Whew was it hot outside already! They brought me my own little water dish though so I was up for it. As is typical, I wore myself out by mile 2 but I hung in there, knowing I had little choice but to stick it out since it is shorter to just finish than to try and turn around.

Unfortunately Aunt Chelsea (the motivated one in this whole operation) had the *brilliant* idea to continue past that wonderful 5 mile marker and do an extra mile! WHAT?! Let’s just say I was having none of that and I made this very clear when I simply planted my feet, dug in hard and laid down, right in the middle of the walkway! Check me out:


All the people walking by laughed at me and thought I was pretty amusing but I was just tired and mortified at the thought that we might be going around again. Most people sympathized though and one man told me he felt the same way. I had some water and laid in the shade for a while and then I dragged the crazy humans back to the car before they got any more wacko ideas.

I sure taught them a few things!

It's July already?!

So much has been happening I can hardly keep track of it all! Luckily mom and Aunt Ashley have taken plenty of pictures so let's catch you up to date...

Last week I got to play with Maddie at the dog park and then we each enjoyed a nice bone back at my place. This is also the same day Maddie lost her first tooth...not by my doing of course!

On Sunday I also got to meet my Great-Uncle Richard for the first time. He was a lot of fun. He told mom to share her potatoes with me so he can't be all that bad!

This week, Monday, I had a buddy named Charlie over. Well, mom says that's probably not his name but that's what she and her friend Lisa called him. Charlie was a stray they found running around our condo complex. He was nice enough to put up with my bullying for a few hours until the nice animal control officers came to pick him up.

Now he's at the shelter, right where I started! I hope he finds his rightful owners or at least a nice set of new ones.

Today mom escaped the office a little early (with some help from dad) and I got to relax outside on the patio with them. There's nothing like a nice afternoon sitting on the table reading a good magazine to kick off the long holiday weekend.

I hear GGP Bob and GGM Norma are coming into town this weekend--I can't wait to see them! Plus Aunt Emmy and Uncle Matt will be back from summer school. We'll have lots of fun family time and I'll be sure to let you know all about it. Stay safe!