checking in

What did the dogs get for Christmas?

Did everyone have a nice holiday?

"Do I need to do everything??"

I am sure this is what Braddock was thinking last night as I kicked him out of the room. He knew he wasn't coming back in because of his snoring and he knew he needed to check on Levi (8 month old baby). I live in a very old house and you can hear every step anyone makes, and I could hear him checking on Levi once every couple of hours. Braddock didn't sleep much last night and is out cold today. I have never seen Braddock so tired. Mandy the other boxer decided to make a night of it next to the fire and has a ton of energy today. Braddock just loves this kid too much and had to make sure he was alright, I am not sure what his plans where if he wasn't but it let me sleep all night. Braddock looked at me with just one eye open this morning when I got up. He came downstairs and ate, and went back to bed. It is so nice having a boxer willing to take some responsiblity in this house. Now if I could teach him to make a bottle and change a diaper.

Serious competition

This new little 4 legged sassy princess is the newest member of the Hicks Family. Lily Mae is Jan's Christmas present. She is funny, loves her toys and we hope that her and Pitch get along famously. I know Buster and Duke will love her, Sugar will be her mommy and Sister will have her nose seriously bent out of shape. Should be an interesting Christmas

Chance's Thanksgiving

Chance is so thankful for snow!! He loves playing in the snow.. setting by the fire..and sleeping in the warm camper!!

"Chance napping with his Monkey"

Chance taking a nap on his couch, with his pillow and MONKEY! Cuddling, so cute!!!

Meet Dixie!!

Oh my gosh, you have got to meet our new friend Dixie! She is wonderful. She is just 5 months old and her parents, Kim and Randy love her to pieces. She stopped by last week for a play visit at the store. Then that weekend Buster and Dixie had a playdate! Here are some introductory pictures.

"Chance had a little visiter"

Rick's friend had a little boxer that came to visit Chance. This has been a few weeks back.. Chance didn't know what to think..... CUTE!

What to do with a toddler

Mandy and Braddock have gotten used to Levi not moving, so they go over give him a kiss and walk away. This weekend Levi started rolling and crawling backwards. Mandy and Braddock where shocked if not put off by this kid. First thing that I am sure got Braddock's attention was Levi moving over to "HIS TOY!!" - Braddock across the room to his toy's rescue, even though Levi just had only just reached to tough it. Braddock surveyed the situation and you could see his lost question of, "what can I do?!!??" Thankfully, Levi wasn't that interested and moved on. I notice today the toy has gotten up and moved. I am not exactly sure where but I am sure Braddock had something to do with it. I am sure Mr. Monkey will one day surface again, but I guess for now Braddock feels that it is just better to keep "his" toys away from Levi. While we had some struggles with a few of Levi's toys being stolen or otherwise abused by Braddock, I note that Braddock is currently doing the "hey leave my toys alone and I will leave yours alone". So that part has been nice so far. The dogs spend endless hours sleeping and watching Levi play. Yesterday when Levi was being assisted to the standing / walking Braddock looked at him like, "oh no - this is just not going to go well".

Chance's hunting trip!

Chance went hunting over the weekend... only to set by the FIRE!

Weird and cute

I have a little princess who has two boxers laid out on the floor cleaning their ears, she just goes back and forth between them, if they dare move, she growls and they lay back down, its really a funny site. How weird that a 6 lb doxie can keep 3 large fat boxers in line.

She returns!

Sugaree is back from her spa week at Kristine's. She smells like a girl, is all smile and had a GREAT time with Mocha. We missed her lots but we know they love her and she is did great.

Mario

This is my crazy dog MARIO! He is one of a kind thats for sure! He loves to lay outside and "sun-bath"!~Heather H.

BASS OR MILK BONE!

I just couldn't decide between a Bass or milk bone!!! LOL! The water was 10 degrees colder this weekend... but my mom and dad still had me swim to the back of the boat to get in.. but I like swimming.. running and playing on the beach.. Mom didn't play on the beach with me this weekend.. because of her ankle... We caught are limit in one spot " Bass" around Buffalo Eddy.. I'm sleeping good tonight... see ya..woof woof...Chance

Apple Farts

Braddock and Mandy are proud owners of three Apple Trees. Let this spring the first apples that where rotting fell from the tree and Mandy found it. She ran around the yard a victory dance / wiggle. We are now deep into Apple season with very ripe apples. Mandy has taken to eatting the apples. This is her way of keeping them from Braddock. I must say she does think these things through. After about the second apple we told her to stop taking the apples and eating them. She obeyed and dropped the third apple. She left and found yet another apple, the fourth apple and ate it. I guess you could say she minded, at least in her mind. Well tonight is here and let me tell you, I cannot discribe the smell that comes from a boxer that has eaten so many apples. In Garfield it is below 50 degrees at night so you get the choice to freeze or nearly pass out due to the odor. Mandy - who runs from the room when anyone else breaks wind, acts as if she can't smell anything. Maybe it is time for Mandy to move to our son's room, he can't talk yet and it might make them life long friends.

"CHANCE"

Hi this is me!! Chance...I would love to play.. mom just cleaned house today.. and her ankle hurts so she didn't walk or play with me.. my daddy caught some bass today..yum, yum. He said I get to go Saturday. We'll take the boat out. Hope the water isn't to COLDDD... Sunday my mom is staying home with me and Dad is going fishing down Eagle Creek agian..My babysitter is really busy taken care of my cousin while she's in the hospital. I miss her.. woof woof later.....Chance

Braddock and Mandy

These are some friends that live in Garfield, We have heard that are lots of fun to play with. They have a new family member Levi that keeps them on their toes. We are hoping some more friends will send us their pictures.

YAWN STRETCH, Roll over

We're back! Woohoo! This is Buster and I spent the weekend with Kim, Randy and Aly. I was s-p-o-i-l-e-d! I mean it was awesome. I slept on Kimmy's pillow, I drank out of her clean toilet, I chased a ball and ran outside with the birds. We had a yard sale, I don't know what that means but lots of people came and scratched my ears. I got to lick tons of faces. Then that nite we had a party, I know it was for me, but they sang happy birthday to Kim. I don't know what birthday's are all about but I sat on lots of people's laps and ate some yummy cake but frosting went up my nose. My mom came and picked me up yesterday and Duke was home. We played all day in the yard and I told him about my adventures. He was jealous, he didn't go play at a friends he just went to Grandma Jan's but she was not home. Duke said that it was okay, he did get into a littel tiff with Matilda and he won. She had to stay in her cage the rest of the time, but he is sure there will be paybacks. We haven't seen Sugar yet, she is likely still at the spa. We don't care she is just a smelly girl.

Adventures of the Ottmar babies

So much is going on we haven't had time to write

our dad was gone for awhile then our mom went with him, good thing they brought back treats when they returned or we would have eaten more of their socks and towels.

I have heard we are going on an adventure this weekend. Looks like Buster is going to Kim and Randy's. Last time he went there he fell thru the pool cover right into the cold water. I bet that was fun. Sugar is going to Kristine's for her spa weekend, she will come back smelling all girly with her toes painted and more bling.

Me, Duke I am going with Sista to Grandpa Gary's. I am going to try really hard not to jump the fence or bark too much. Gary gets a little angry if I bark or dig so I am going to try to be on my best behavior. I like sister's boyfriend Pitch, except he pee's everywhere I pee and that gets old. They have a lot of birds and they are loud, maybe I will sleep in the living room or under the covers with Gary, I know he loves that.

I heard I have to go away 'cause the kids are going to visit my cousins, Scoobie and Daphne. I am really going to have to punish them when we all get back. I like to steal from Savannah's room and am sure I can mess up Jake's bed when he isn't looking. Should be fun.

Catch ya when we get back.