Expanding Family

Our family has grown by 1!
Meet Magnolia Mae.

 

This little cutie is 6 weeks old (born 2/1/13).

She's a lab/golden retriever mix.

We love her! 

The story of how Maggie Mae came to be:
Since the passing of our Gertie last year, we knew we'd get another pup sooner or later. Our neighbors dog had 10 lab/golden retriever pups. Jeremy went and scoped them out, then I did.
Once we decided we'd get a pup, we also decided that we wouldn't tell the boys, rather keep it a surprise. Jude's still at the age where we can't understand 'we'll get her in a few weeks.' That would seem like a century to him. And Jackson, well, we feared it would totally distract him from school.
Last weekend was 'pick your pup' weekend. I snuck to the neighbors, telling the boys I was 'going for a run.' One of the toughest decisions I had to make was which 9 not to take. I wanted them all. I did mention that we should probably take 2, but then I came to me senses.
I picked out this little gem and then the longest week of waiting came.

Jeremy went puppy supply shopping, keeping the goods in his trunk all week. We snuck to his car so I could see the toys and collar - I felt bad we weren't sharing any of the prep work with the boys.
Yesterday after work, I went straight to the neighbor's to pick up girly. I brought her home; I had asked the boys to be on the lookout for me b/c I'd have groceries in the car and need help carrying them in (that wasn't a lie;). So I pulled up to the house, they were at the door waiting. I ran around to the passenger's side, pulled out the box and carried it to the door. Jeremy opened it and the boys saw the box, the 'it's a girl' balloon, then her! In what seemed like 5 minutes, but was really a split second, the boys looked at me, then the pup, then Jeremy, then the pup, then me. That's when I told them she was ours! Jackson fell over and Jude started jumping up and down.
And so here we are.

 

Many more adventures to come!