A Boy's Best Friend

A Boy's Best Friend

3.02.2018

There is no better dog than Tyke for kids.  He puts up with so much!  Tyke remains patient and calm as Conrad steps on his tail, pulls on his paws, and gets in his face.  Tyke's only defenses are getting up to move across the room or licking the baby's face.  But Conrad genuinely loves him and I think the dog secretly appreciates the attention.

We all love our quiet good-natured black lab mix.  Tyke is just as much a part of the family as one of the boys.  In fact, Levi and Conrad have never known a day in their lives without Tyke!  It's been so fun to watch the boys' attachment to their dog.  However, I think Conrad shows it the most right now.  I caught Conrad feeding Tyke scraps from his dinner plate the other night.  Tyke knows the best spot in the house to get lucky is near the baby's seat in the kitchen and Conrad just thinks it's an entertaining hoot.  Then, on more than one occasion, Bron has brought the dog into the house with him after a day at work.  I watched as Conrad ran across the house.  I thought he was going to greet his dad.  No, he went straight to love on his dog!  Haha.  It was funny.  (All kidding aside, Conrad does love his dad.  Conrad wraps his tiny arms around Bron's neck for some of the most meaningful hugs.)  But the scene above, the one where Conrad plays with Tyke on the living room floor, happens so often that I just had to grab the camera the other day.  I think I caught some gems!   

I couldn't image a better dog for our family.  Tyke is a perfect relaxing fit to our loud chaos.  And he's more obedient than all three kids combined!  I did the math the other day.  Tyke will be seven years old soon.  That's 49 years old in dog years.  He probably won't be able to keep up on Bron's long and grueling training rides much longer, though I'm sure he'll continue to be a great trail dog for years to come.  He's a fast runner and always takes up the rear.  He's a natural protector and I love that about Tyke.  He's also happiest with us when we're outside.  It's a joy to watch our dog excitedly explore.  As a mother, I also don't know what I'd do without him!  Every time Conrad is finished with a meal, I call Tyke over to lick up the leftovers.  It feels less wasteful that way and makes cleaning up a hundred times easier.  (Yes, I still wipe everything down afterwards.)

Life with a family dog is good.  We love you, Tyke!    

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A Boy and His Dog

A Boy and His Dog

1.07.2016

After over a decade of living in the great cold north, I think I am finally embracing the beauty {and fun} that comes with winter.  I just have to dress in layers and get outside.  Snow can be so magical!  It can even make a sage brush desert look pretty.

One day back in December, we went sledding in the South Hills, just my two little boys and me... and the dog, of course, too.  It was a fun but cold and short-lived trip.  Jed wasn't quite done playing when we left.  He said he wanted to do some more exploring before we went home, so I pulled into Indian Springs for a few minutes where I was able to capture this moment between Jed and his dog, Tyke.

Tyke is like my over-looked middle child.  We welcomed him into the family at about a year old, months before Levi was even born.  And though I absolutely wanted to strangle that dog his first year with us, he has wriggled his way into all our hearts.  Not only is he athletic and the best trail dog on the planet by always taking up the rear, Tyke is also extremely smart!  He knows when he's been naughty.  And he can smile!  No kidding.  When he's happy to see us, he bares his teeth in a kind of grin.  It's so weird but so cool.  Tyke is able to read the family dynamics, coming around for some love when the opportunity arises, otherwise dozing on the carpet near the couch.  He is patient and mellow with the kids.  He is also their protector from the other neighborhood dogs.  Jed and Levi don't know life without their Tyke!  Today, he deserves a little highlight on the family blog too.  We love you, Tyke!  

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Spring Things

Spring Things

4.23.2012

Spring has sprung!  It's been a typical Idaho spring: sunny and warm, windy and rainy--sometimes all in the same day!  Here in Idaho, if you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes.  Really, a storm can blow through that fast.  But I don't mind it one bit.  This spring our lives have been consumed with playing outside, going on walks and bike rides, working in the yard, and inviting friends over for kabobs and hamburgers on the grill.

Oh, sweet sunshine!  I'm so glad you're here to stay.

Jed riding on the "tractor" with Dad

This picture pretty much says everything you need to know about Tyke.  Haha

He's proving to be a great dog with lots and lots of great potential.

We spent this past weekend on the Nelson Dairy.  It's become an April tradition to get the family together.  An Easter egg hunt and a birthday bash coupled with sunny weather makes for a memorable weekend.  It really was relaxing and wonderful.  Momma Nelson gets just as excited for the egg hunt as she does for Christmas, and her excitement is contagious.  We girls had so much fun "hiding" at least a hundred eggs around the yard for all the kids to go nuts over.  Jed definitely got the gist of the egg hunt this year.  With a little encouragement, he picked up the plastic eggs and put them in his bucket without opening them to extract the candy first!  I think he enjoyed himself very much.  That boy sure loves chocolate.  When the excitement of the egg hunt had finally worn down, we lit some candles and ate cake to celebrate Grandpa, Tyrel, Call, Jaden, and Jed's birthdays.  Momma Nelson made an adorable train cake and each boy had his own train car.  It was a long train!  The remainder of the day was spent relaxing in the shade and chatting away while the kids played.  I couldn't have asked for a better Saturday!  

Top to Bottom:

1. Eggs in the backyard  2. Eggs in the grass  3. Jed opening a plastic egg and filling a tractor with candy  4. Cousin Tannon checking out his candy haul  5. Cousins Garrison and Wesley with big smiles  6. Chocolate face Jed  7. Cousin Leah loves any kind of egg or candy or food  8. Victoria three months old  9. Jed's caboose cake with TWO candles 10. Can't get enough of Jed's cheesy grin  11. Jaden and Call blowing out their candles   

I am counting down the days until Jed gets his cast off.  Until then, Jed answers to a new nickname: Peg Leg.  We are pretty sure Jed thinks his cast is a permanent attachment.  Jed can RUN on his cast!  It's really amazing how fast he's become.  He can lift that heavy sucker up and over anything, just like a peg leg.  Jed can even climb steps and ladders.  I'm impressed.  

However, baths have become torture.  We've been sponging Jed down once a week on Sunday before church (and ad lib when he puts jam in his hair during dinner).  Jed HATES it.  He screams and kicks and makes bathing him a two person job.  One Sunday Jed pulled out the big guns.  While begging in gibberish he suddenly stopped and kissed me on the cheek.  "Please Mom, don't make me get in!"  He made me cry.  I just felt so bad for him!  But apparently not bad enough; he smelled too much like sweaty little boy and he NEEDED some soap and water.  Hang in there just a few more days, Bud.  That obnoxious cast is coming off soon! 

In other Jed news, Jed is now sleeping in a big boy bed!  I spent a few afternoons painting and moving Jed's belongings into his new cowboy room.  Jed now sleeps on a double bed without the box spring; it sits just a foot or so above the floor.  Jed can climb in and out himself.  He looks so tiny in his big bed!  I was going to wait until I ordered blinds for his room to begin our new routine, but Jed was excited and ready.  So we tried it.  The first two nights he went down without a peep.  We've since had a few rough nights getting him to go to sleep in his new bed, but we're learning some tricks to help him settle down.  Jed still hasn't napped in his big bed though.  I think I may have to take all his toys out of there.  Thankfully, we still have a few months to get it all figured out. 

Jed loooves his dog!

Jed "helping" Dad move cobble rock in the yard.  He is strong!  (And so cute.)  I admire Jed's determination to do anything.

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Tyke the Dog

Tyke the Dog

4.16.2012

 Tyke our Dog

Ladies and Gents, I am pleased to introduce to you Tyke the dog.  He is man's best friend.  Or perhaps more accurately, Jed's new best friend.

Yes, we now have a dog!  I can't really believe it myself.  We have officially crossed the threshold into typical American family status: a home, two kids, and a dog.  When I mentioned that to Bron he just smiled and said, "I like it."

We had been contemplating getting Jed a dog for his second birthday when my neighbor, Amy, called me up and asked if we'd like a one year old-ish Black Lab mix her sister was giving away.  (Mix with what?  We're not sure.  Border Collie?  Greyhound?)  And just like that, the next day we had a dog living at our house.  I'm not sure who's more excited, Bron or Jed.  Jed doesn't hide his feelings of excitement though, so I may have to bet on him.  Jed points and squeals with delight, pats the dog, hugs the dog, follows the dog around, and tries to feed the dog a bone.  I'm pretty sure he is dreaming about his dog as I type.  The kid is thrilled!  It is darling.

Jed and Tyke playing in the dirt together.

I really think dogs and toddlers think a lot alike!

As for me, I'm still getting used to the idea of having a dog.  I've never had a dog of my own in my life.  I'm not quite sure what to do.  Bron just tells me to love him.  And so, after a trip to the store for some dog essentials, here Tyke quietly sits next to me while I type this post.  I felt bad leaving him all alone outside in the dog run.  We're his new family and he belongs with us.  It's like I suddenly have another toddler.  Tyke follows me around everywhere!  He's becoming my third shadow.  Jed is my second shadow.  Perhaps Tyke will make an excellent running companion?  That would be cool.

Tyke is surprisingly mellow for such a young lab.  I expected him to run around and destroy.  Instead, he's content to just be around us... and eat Jed's lunch leftovers.  Tyke came to us already trained in so many things.  What a relief.  It's so nice!  (We still have some training to do though, like learning to fetch.) 

I think this is a beginning of a good relationship.  So here's to you, Tyke!  Welcome to our home!
         

 My boys and Tyke.  

The wind was whipping and it was so cold yesterday!

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