Sweet puppy Jack

Last week, the 14th I heard Jack bark (He sleeps in the stairwell) so I put him out about 7.  We got up, ate, etc. and Paul was getting ready to mow the yard.  He came back in after a minute and said, "I have bad news."  I was thinking he was going to say something was broken with the lawn mower but instead he said, "Jack is dead.  He's on the front porch."  We figure he was hit by a car (probably was chasing it) and wandered back home.  I had put our entry rug outside to clean the entry floor and forgotten to bring it back in, so he died on his favorite rug.  He loved that rug; he would only eat a treat if he was on it!

He was a little over 2 1/2 and we'd had him since he was 8 weeks old.  He was a sweet puppy who loved people and loved Aizy.  I still am sad when I go outside to get boxes, check the mail, or take out the trash because he isn't there to greet me.  We are moving in a week so that will help the sadness of him pass because this is the only home he's known. We took him lots of places with us; Grandma and Grandpa's, the Stanger's, my parents house, camping twice, and last summer we took him boating! He didn't like swimming unless he could touch so he didn't enjoy being thrown into the river.  

 

With kitty Shadow (who mysteriously disappeared about mid-June.  I assume they're playing together in heaven)

Jack on his favorite rug :)

More camping pictures

Anderson Ranch Reservoir

After the 4th, we went camping for the first time with Aizy.  We left the 5th after work and went with Bri, Clay, and Augie, Brianne and Clint, and Chris.  Bri and I got to sleep in a trailer (generously donated by Xtreme) with the babies.  I was worried Aizy would not sleep well on our trip but she did so well! She napped on the boat both days and always sleeps well if she's in bed with me.

We took the boat and enjoyed the beautiful water.  I'd never been there and it's huge! We camped at the north side, next to Clint's sister and her family.  We were right on the "beach," but it was too rocky to be any fun.  The weather was great until about 5 each night the wind blew hard and strong just long enough for us to get the boat out.  Then it cleared up again!  I enjoy camping but it can be a hassle.  This trip wasn't.  We all had the tin foil dinners prepared a head of time for dinner one night.  Each family was in charge of breakfast one day and lunches were sandwiches or hot dogs.  Thankfully, the boat has a neat feature: a shower! Since we were in mountain run off water, we used to shower to wash our hair each day.  It pulls water out and runs it past the engine, which heats it up, and then we have a hot shower that's as clean as the water you're boating in.  (I would NOT use the shower at Shoshone Falls or Murtaugh lake!)

Happy 4th!

The fourth is a big deal in the Stanger family. The night before is a tin foil dinner and camp out (we eat but don't camp until Aizy asks to,) with breakfast over the fire the next morning. Since getting the boat last year, the family goes boating down at Shoshone during the day. The evening consists of a good old BBQ, water melon toss, and a few firework set off out at the farm.