We Are One!!!

Today is the day!

The day I write again because today the puppies TURN ONE YEAR OLD!!!

It has been an amazing year. A year of minimal sleep, maximum puppy poop, barking at annoying neighbors and more love, fun and fur than I could ever quantify.

Remember when Jalapeño looked like this?

Piña gave birth a few hours after this shot was taken.

Sure seems like a long time ago. 365 days in fact. That times seven in puppy days. And no, I will not do the math for you!

Remember the two we kept?

Our lil Red

She was born first. Scared the heck out of me when she dropped to the floor unexpectedly right in front of the sliding glass door in the kitchen.

And...

Our Seppe. The only white male in the litter.

Lil Red eventually became Lady Jamboree Furia Roja Martin. We will not discuss where Furia Roja came from. It was a bad, bad, bad World Cup.

Jambs was a lover and a cutie from the get go.

This little guy became known as Little Lord Joseppe Baby Bean Martin.

Our little beebs.

We were sure relieved when they were big enough to cuddle without worrying about breaking them!

Seppe was a lover from day one.

He is also a protector of his land and family. As a pup he would crawl the perimeter of the whelping box. Today he makes sure the pesky neighbor dogs don't come over onto our land.

I don't need to see to know where I'm going!

Pit stop.

Quick nap break before I try to get over this two X four.

Jamboree always feels safe with Seppe nearby.

He takes good care of me.

This is my favorite shot of Jamboree. She would always sit and smile at me when I approached the whelping box.

This is what cute looks like!

Jambs has two looks: happy and confused.

First bath.

Not scared, perhaps a little unsure....

Water is kinda nice, maybe this isn't so bad.

Seppe has two looks as well.

I'm smiling at you!

This is his snoozey look.

So tired.

Remember when the kittens showed up?

Turtle was always strong and brave.

And little Siss...

Well, she is our little Sissy-PUSS-Puss!

Early on there was a little trepidation. They were so small, I worried they would break...

Or get eaten!

But the kittens held their own. Especially Sissy-PUSS-Puss, who tolerated no puppy foolishness from the beginning.

I will watch you while you sleep until I fall asleep!

 She enjoys the pups on her terms.

I am cat. Hear me pip squeek until I learn how to meow!

As a result, she is respected.

I am cat. You may lay next to me. You do not drool or grunt.

As a result, she is relaxed and happy.

Sunday morning stretch!

Turtle, on the other hand, thinks he is a dog.

He was happy he did not have to wear a lampshade when he got tutored!

He didn't really understand the purpose...unless it was for him to have one more thing to play with.

Do they even make shades for cats?

Turtle learned early on that love is difficult to resist.

Mamma Joyce likes it when I curl up on her lap.

Sissy provided back up early on.

As in she was ready to back the heck up if things got furry!

Turtle likes his Sunday morning cuddles.

You spoon me first Seppe.

And now I'll spoon you...

How's the weather lookin?

It is clearly not time to get up yet.

Seppe makes for good back support!

The boys are best buds. Gotta stick together.

Sometimes we need a break from that Jamboree and Sissy.

Snoozing on the couch...

We go together like sha ma la ma la ...

More snoozing...

Fraternal love.

More comfortable than koa!

And warmer on chilly 75 degree mornings.

Posing because we are the cutest in a house full of cuteness!

¡Queso!

No comment.

Still, no comment.

Did someone say treat?

We're listening!

And every once in a while, Seppe reminds Turtle that his head fits nicely in Seppe's mouth!

Whose your daddy now, Turtle!

Turtle also interacts a lot with Jamboree.

Footsey!

Tweek!

Nosey!

Earsey!

You will never believe what I saw Sissy doing yesterday!

Hide and seek is always fun.

Specially when there is a bag involved!

Turtle even messes with Jalapeño.

Until a quick growl reminded him of who the mamma was!

These are typical shots of an evening in our home.

Just hangin with the dawgs...

And keeping an eye on things...

These slippers are comfy!

Our kitties went from this...

Their blue eyes turned grey....

To this...

We barely fit in our tower together but we make it work!

So the pups have grown up.

Seppe still has flexible hips.

And

Jamboree has a rubber back.

They run around together liked yoked oxen...

When they play with the same toy.

They discover fun and new things every day.

Did you know there was a creek on the property!

Seppe somehow manages to ALWAYS get dirtier than his sister!

And no, its not that his coat shows more dirt!

Not much changed in six months...

That creek is still there!

All along Seppe continued to collect dirt!

In the cutest way possible!

And Jamboree just kept working the cutes.

As a bug's ear!

Trip to the vet resulted in a free lampshade!

Hey - he bought the story!

Didn't affect his sleeping patterns.

Keeps the flies off!

The pups prefer to play with each other but occasionally will include their old mamma.

Mamma in the middle!

They still sleep together all the time.

Best snuggle bunnies in the world.

The sum of their parts is so much greater than the whole!

You guys will be together forever. We promise!

On car rides together...

Once we talked Jamboree into getting into the Jeep on her own.

And more car rides together....

Look Mamma....we're looking out the window!

Naps...

OK. This is Seppe with Lil Blue, but darn its a cute picture.

Hanging in the enclosure!

Hey watch this mamma!

Learning where to go potty.

Big boy!

I'm cute from this angle too!

Our smiley girl.

I know I can climb up this. Jambie just did.

And pushing each other to learn and grow.

Jalapeño continues to watch over them.

They still wear me out!

And to enjoy life on Kohala Mountain.

Proud Mamma! I did good!!!

While the pups continue to grow...

And add love to our lives and the world!