LOVE THE DOG PARK!!

Today is the first Saturday we've been home in FOREVER!!! We decided to brave the cold weather and go try to find a park to play with Sanders. We went to Pierson's Bark Park which is only about 5 minutes from our house. What a great place! Sanders made a girlfriend with a cute little dog named Belle. (Yes, the belle of the ball!) I guess Sanders is a guy after his daddy's heart...always going for the older women! :) Belle is a 10 month old mix of a lab and springer spaniel. She is the size of a springer spaniel....with the shape of a lab. VERY cute puppy!

We also met an Australian Heeler and A LOT of Golden Retrievers. We're looking forward to taking Sanders to the park on a regular basis. I'd give you Sanders' opinion...but he is tuckered out after his hour or so of romping. He's been asleep (dreaming of Belle, I'm sure!) for the past hour recovering from his playtime!

Comments from Grandma Bernice...

Here is what Grandma had to say about her time with Sanders:
"Grandpa Tom and Grandma Bernice had so much fun having Sanders and Gizmo here for 10 days. Time went to fast and it was time for them to go home. Lots of laughter and hugs with Sanders. Sanders was ready to go outside s soon as he thought
Grandpa Tom put his shoes and coat. He always brought Grandma a gift from outside. Corn cobs, sticks, leaves or whatever he could find. Never knew what he was going to bring and give me. He loved to jump on my lap when he went outside even in the morning at 5 3o A.M in the morning. Love you guys Grandma Bernice"

Vacation has come and gone...but what a fun time Sanders had!!

While Tony and I headed out of the cold weather to the warm and sunny Caribbean, Sanders got to stay the week at Grandma and Grandpa Thackery's!! Talk about having the time of his life! He loves the country! With 80 acres to run free on, and a couple people who gave him their never-ending attention...he came home a very happy little guy!

Sanders got to follow grandpa around the farm...they played in the front yard and in the pasture. I was laughing so hard when they told me Sanders was running in the pasture, and ran SMACK into the horseshoe post! I knew his hair was getting long in front of his eyes...but I figured he could still see! Maybe not though...he is looking AT the camera in this picture!Sanders did some good things, and some bad things.....He did all his commands for grandma and grandpa...Sit, Down, Shake, Beg (grandma's favorite) and.....he learned how to roll over on command! I had been working with him before we left, and grandma and grandpa solidified his ability to do it! He has soooo much fun rolling over! I just filmed him doing this:

The bad thing is that he stopped doing SHAKE the day we got home!! :( Tony and I have been working on this with him over the past couple of days...and he FINALLY just did it for me! So, I guess we've corrected the bad habit of not listening!

Sanders also took to hopping up on Grandma's lap while she was napping...doesn't look like he woke her up, does it?
Grandpa decided to test Sanders' jaw strength and lifted him 3 feet into the air with his rope toy! I guess this is why he lost so many teeth during the visit? haha..just kidding!
After the initial stand off (see above picture)....Sanders and Gizmo decided to start playing nice on this visit...see how Gizmo lets Sanders give him kisses? This seems bizarre to me...but I'm sure grandma and grandpa don't know how to photoshop pictures...so this has to be the real deal!!I'll leave you on that happy note! We're hoping to get into some obedience classes sometime soon...which I'm sure will make for some interesting posts!