Scrubby and his kiddos

Joni's presence means a number of things in our house:

(1) We will get to eat some of her famous recipes like lasagna, chicken divan (and more!)

(2) The kids will have someone to play with nearly every moment they are awake -- that Joni has a much energy as a two-year old (really!) and she requires very little sleep as well. She truly has as much energy at 61 as I remember her having at 31!

(3) I will get lots of good photos.

 

I have especially gotten some good photos of Scrubby with his kids. Here are a few of my favorites from the last week:

 

When Scrubs is outside with his boys, he is actually "Patch the Pirate Dog." We decided to really go all-out today (since they were having a photo pet contest on Base) and dress him the part. He tolerated it ... barely.

 



Today we took a walk to "Radiator Springs" (about a half mile from our house is a favorite area to climb on the rocks and visit multiple tide pools.) The boys have actually been walking Scrubs more and more lately. Here is Isaac navigating the Azorean streets with the dog he has grown up with.

Not sure who is walking who here.

 

When it comes to the kids around 15-months-old, Abigail is/was definitely the most "into" Scrubs. She is constantly going and finding him and giving him hugs. What she is doing here is something she does a few times a day. When I think about the fact that Scrubs is the size that is a horse is to me, I can't believe how "at ease" they have always been with him. He never budges when someone gives him a hug. He just goes on about his business. In this case, it's taking a nap.

 

The picture of Abigail above, made me a bit nostalgic for pictures of old -- pictures of my kiddos and their dog. Scrubs was born on May 18, 2007. Isaac joined us on May 7, 2008. From the moment we brought Isaac home from the hospital he was born at (in South Florida), Scrubs seemed to understand that these babies were part of our pack -- and that he needed to look out for them. He has always been incredibly gentle and loving with all three kids. He was a crazy puppy still when Isaac was born, but he was such a good dog around Isaac. (His only down-side was that he would eat their socks and pacifiers regularly.) We called the sock eating "Scrubby snacks."

 

Here he is with a two-day-old Isaac in the pack-n-play in the living room. He would sit or lay by the pack-n-play all the time. He would also lay in front of the baby swing as well when Isaac was in it.

 

Sidge (at left :) fit right into the pack as well ... easily. This is at our house on Eglin Air Force Base near Destin, Florida. The kids loved to play with cars at this window, and Scrubs would stand by them all the time. This is Sidge with Scrubs.

 



And here is Isaac (at right :) with Scrubs.

 

And lastly here is a picture of Scrubs tolerating having a bunch of stuffed animals dropped on top of him. I love this picture.