Boston Baked Beagle

Somehow in the last few days the idea came to us that it was time to get a new puppy. We've talked about it for 4 years since we got Mostazzo (Mo). Once we started with the idea we just were fixed upon it until we found an answer, which also came as such a blessing. We searched at several pet stores, not really knowing what we were looking for, but we didn't find the right one. When we got home, we checked the classifieds and found this pup advertised. We emailed right away and were ecstatic when the family picked us to have her. She's a pure bred Boston/Beagle, and she's 18 weeks old. Mark calls her a boston baked beagle... super funny. I have such a clever and funny husband!

When we first brought her home, Mara promptly settled in the dog kennel. I think she thought we got her a new play house instead of a puppy, or just the puppy as a bonus.

So here is our pretty little puppy. She is a sweet little thing, with the cute hound floppy ears. She seems to be utterly fascinated with sniffing things out.

Mara and her were a little unsure of each other yesterday.

She seems to get along with Mo okay. He got snooty all of a sudden though, and thinks he deserves to be in the house if she is going to be. Oh well... :)

I really like her little coat and her colors.

Mara calls both dogs "Mo" now, and asks with upturned questioning hands "where's mo?"

Painting and bed time stories

So we managed to keep Mara out of the paint, and away from the wet walls the whole project. Mark put away the paint can and the brush after doing the touch ups, and went outside, and the next minute Mara looked as if she had been licked up her face with yellow. She had found the stir stick... oops!
Mara absolutely loves to read books, and generally is soo careful with them. The only books she's ever tore are the pop-up books, and it's probably because there is "extra" paper. I love finding Mark reading to Mara.

Summer

Life seems to have swept us away in the heat of an Arizona summer. Here are some recent pictures. Mark and Mara pretending to paint the office, they went outside to work on the pool pump, and I got to paint the office. It was fun.

One of Mara's new words is "hat" and she is fascinated to wear her hats, even if just for a minute or two. This one is for Grandpas.

Sharing her toys with Mo, she spends a few minutes everyday just standing at the door calling to him. "Mo? Mo? Come'on Mo? Mo?"

We had to go to the Apple store and Mara was entertained by the little computer set up for kids.

This is at one of the jobsites Mark's company built. There is an amazing man made river that runs all along one side and around that is very theraputic and peaceful.

Mara thinks it is so funny lately to jump and fall down on our bed. This little dress is one of my bargain finds, brand new! Wahoo!

Playing house.

She loves to talk on the phone and wanders saying "hi" followed by bunches of babble that I am sure is stories about mom or something. :) She is such a joy!

Posing

We went to a home show at this huge stadium where they had the super bowl, the roof retracts and the floor is removeable. It was very informative and a great day out. Mara was soo good the whole time, even though we forgot to take a stroller.

This is a Emu-Ostrich mix called a Rhea, that our neighbors have. It's just 3 months old. The say it thinks it is more of a human, and it's very social, at least for now. It was the same size as Mara but will grow to the size of an Emu, I think. Kind of cool! :)

Mara got a new helmet and baby carrier, and when I put them on her, she assumed that is how the outfit went and would only wear them together.
Super funny!!