Just a little fun out in the snow. The kids and puppies thoroughly enjoy running around in the back yard. Yeah, I wish it was about 40 degrees warmer, but the puppies seem to like chasing the kids around in the snow.  It's too cold to let them out for extended periods of time, but when they are out their exploring and enjoying the freedom.  Today my nieces Maryn and Birkley came to join in the fun.  I'm guessing right now the puppies are sound asleep.  They were a little worn out after running the length of the yard many, many, many times!  A week from today they will start going home. Kind of hard to imagine that time is here already.  The puppies will be missed, but I can honestly say it's getting to be that time.  Every time I go out back multiple puppies have jumped over their box, and pretty well tore into anything they can get their paws on. Just recently it was the garbage can knocked over!

 I'm a little late on posting these pictures, but on Tuesday we had decent enough weather to let the pups run outside for a while. It's fun to see how they are starting to explore.  A day later, we have sub zero temperatures and snow everywhere. I guess that is what I get for living in Iowa.  As you can see the melting snow provided for plenty of mud for the puppies to play in.   I spent a majority of last summer pouring cement and working in my backyard and unfortunately winter came a little too soon last fall. I didn't finish my side walk, and obviously didn't get the back yard seeded!  The mud didn't seem to bother the puppies at all.

 Here are a few more pics of the puppies from last week.  On Thursday we were able to let them run outside for and play in the mud while I cleaned out their shed.   It wasn't overly warm, so we tried to keep it short and sweet, but they are starting to spread their wings a little and explore. Unfortunately there hasn't been too many days yet where we can let them run around for extended periods of time. I guess that is what the house is for.  I think all 10 of them peed on the floor when we let them inside so it's safe to say the potty training will be up to you!  

 As I look back at the previous posts, I wonder "where has the time gone!"  It's fun to see how the puppies have changed over the last few weeks.  They've transformed so much since the beginning being tiny balls of fur that barely move to now being these rambunctious little balls of fur with a whole lot more personality.  As a spiritual man, it's amazing to see how God has created each one so perfect!  My wife and I thoroughly enjoy watching the puppies and the kids interact when they have them in the house, and even when their in the shed.  The puppies are starving for attention, and you can just lay on the floor and one or more will come and snuggle in by you, nibble on your ear, or lick you on the face!   There aren't too many things in life more fun than 10 little lab puppies that are starting to show their personality.  Boden has even started to come up with his own names for a few now!  The other day when we had them in he started, but since he used the same names again tonight, I'll leave them up for debate with you.  Some possible names you might want to consider, as coined by Mr. Boden, "Licker, Scratcher, and Biter."  At this point they are  fitting, but I'm guessing no one is probably going to adopt them as a final name. It's hard to imagine where the time has gone, and in a little over two weeks the first of the puppies will start going to their new homes. I'm getting excited to meet all of you, and though I'm not quite ready yet, we'll be ready to see the pups go into their new homes to be with the new families!   With 7 in this family there is just about enough love to go around to all the puppies, but we'd hate for those last 3 to feel left out!

Another fun night with the puppies!

 The fun never ends at our house.  Shortly before we let the pups in, it literally looked like a war zone.  Every possible couch cushion, blanket, and article of clothing out of the laundry basket was strewn about.  The kids have a way of making a mess and pretending they are on a ship or something similar, but never quite know how to put it back. Just an average day in our chaotic life.  Dad finally got smart tonight and said if you want me to bring in the puppies then we have to clean up.  K.K's response in her sassy little voice and a naughty smile was, "No, dad you clean it up!"  And she's our youngest....They did a pretty good job of cleaning up after that so now I figured out what motivates them. They played for quite a while. The kids and puppies seem to have more and more fun every time they play in the house.  Gracyn is pretty adamant that she's keeping "Snowflake" so keep that in consideration when she's bawling in a few weeks when Snowflake has to go to her new home. Sometime later this week the puppies will go in for their puppy checks. 

This is a fun series of pics!  After Kinley kissed that little guy he growled at her either wanting a little more, or telling her to knock it off!

As you can see from the pictures the puppies are starting to become a whole lot of fun! The kids and dad are enjoying every minute of it.  Boden has become the puppy hoarder.  He always has to have as many piled up on his lap and in his arms as he can possibly get.  K.K.  is pretty content with just looking and the occasional pet, hold, or tug on the tail!  Gracyn on the other hand loves one puppy more than the rest.  "Snowflake" is usually who she picks out of the crowd and carries with her wherever she goes. Snowflake is the lightest colored and smallest of the females.  We also had a visitor tonight from Rapid City, SD.  Steve is getting a male out of this litter and is in Sioux Falls for work so he decided to drop by and take a look. It was a pleasure talking with him and getting to know more about his family!  The pups are doing very well.  They will get another round of dewormer tonight, and their first shots next week.  They started eating wet food on Tuesday, and transitioned from a bed of carpet to wood chips! That always takes a few minutes for them to adjust to the new place called home, but it sure makes cleaning up a lot nicer now that they are starting to eat solid foods.  Now they associate anyone coming into the shed to food, so as soon as the door opens they perk up and start crying for food.   All in all they are starting to explore a lot more and become more and more brave with each day. 

Boden sure loves his puppies!

These might be some of my favorite pictures.  The puppy on the bottom right was licking and chewing on Gracyn's toes which caused her and Kinley to laugh hysterically! 

Just a short video of the puppies yesterday.   It's pretty low quality but thought you guys might enjoy seeing how rambunctious they are getting. I tried to upload a video from a week ago for comparison but it wasn't working out so well. 

 Not sure who is more tired in these pictures?  Bo and Gracyn, or the puppies?   These were from Thursday after school. It seems like everyday after school the kids either ask if they can take the puppies in the house, or have already snuck a few in already!!  The kids are pretty content taking a few in at a time just as long as they have one or two to snuggle with in the chair and as you can see sing them to sleep for nap time! 

 These pictures are from this afternoon. It was gorgeous here with temps in the low 50's so we decided to let the puppies play outside for a few minutes.  With it being their first time in this new surrounding, they mostly huddle together and whine.  Hopefully the weather stays nice so I can get them out a few more times this next week.  It won't be long and we'll be having to round them up because they wander off.  This week we'll start them on wet food.  They are all growing and changing so quickly.  They are very alert now, and every time someone checks on them they perk up and have to come to the edge of the whelping box to see what is going on.   Right now I have one short side so Remi can get in and out easily, but that will also have to change this week because a few of the puppies have figured out that if they prop their front legs on the top that they can see more of what is going on.  By the end of the week they'll be escaping so the plan is to put the taller side on tomorrow. 

Day 18

The Boys

The Girls

The puppies have grown so much in the last couple of days.  All of their eyes are now open, and they are starting to walk around on all fours.  A little wobbly yet, but nonetheless they are starting to walk like puppies do.  They are also starting make a lot more noise. They cry, bark, and whine when they want or need something.  A couple of them were really vocal when we took them in the house.   They are at one of the most fun stages right now.  In between that stage where all they do is eat, sleep, and poop, but not quite to that stage where they terrorize everything and you can't keep track of all ten!   This is one of the best stages for cuddling as you can see from the pictures they'll all sit on one kids lap and are content and love the attention. It won't be long before their nipping on the kids' noses, toes, and anything else they can sink their sharp little teeth into.