Hutch Hugs

So looking back in our photo archive of the past couple months, we noticed a trend taking shape so I thought I'd put together a post I like to call Hutch Hugs.

We got Hutch in June and for the first couple months it was quite the disaster. Since then, we've put in a lot of work (and a nice chunk of change in getting him professionally trained) and we now have ourselves the most wonderful, loving, friendly and protective dog in the universe (a bit of hyperbole but I don't care at this point).

He's there when we go to sleep...

And he's there to wake us up every morning.

He loves the outdoors.

He enjoys dancing...

And a good spoon.

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program to bring you a couple photos with Buddy, Nana's dog, and our original dog bestie. He's on his last leg so wanted to make sure he made a cameo.

Okay, back to Hutch. He gets very excited about his Christmas presents...

And have just LOVES car rides. Whether it's resting on my head...

Or holding hands with dad while he drives.

Free Fallin'

Last weekend was the most amazingly beautiful Fall weekend in Chicago, so we took advantage by heading out to the forest preserves on Sunday with Hutch. Mae and I got Hutch some much-needed exercise and Mom, Pax and Dad came along for the ride.

Then we headed over to Uncle Brian's new house where the leaves were piled nice and high and we made the most of that, I think you'll agree.

Denver East

So our friends Harper and Maida and their mom Melissa came to visit us before Halloween, and we got into the regular shenanigans of park hopping, pumpkin patching and some good old fashioned hanging out.

Oh boy, Grandpa will be really pumped about this one.

P.S. coloring compliments of Pax.

And lastly, while they were in Hutchinson Cherry Skertich, aka our dog Hutch, graduated from doggy training school and is now officially a functioning member of our household.

October!

Well, I haven't written in a while but if your'e wondering what I've been up to this month, here goes (deep breath in):

Mom and Dad went to Oregon on a wine tasting tour for a few days, so while they were doing their thing...

I was doing mine. I went with my bestie Shea and her mom and dad and brother to a really fun hotel in Wisconsin and had myself a hoot of a time.

Meanwhile, Pax and Mae were at Nana's and they were having a pretty good time themselves. If you can't make this out it's Pax, Mae and Sophie doing some neon glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf.

And then, after a long weekend away from those two, a nice little reunion took place outside of school.

Next came Grandparents' Day at school with Nana...

And Sid's birthday bowling party, where Pax had his first-ever chance to hit the lanes

Juliana took us out to the pumpkin patch by Nana's.

Dad and I hit up our first Hawks game of the year.

A blast from the past! Ms. Matus, my kindergarten teacher, came by one night to babysit.

And I've had some snuggle time with Hutch.

Mae made up this outstanding song about mom and dad's friends Andy and Erin.

And lastly, we started taking Hutch on the ride to school just about every day. He gets the way-back seat and, as you can see, enjoys being part of the crowd.

New Backyard

So ever since Hutch arrived things in the backyard have gotten, well, a bit messy. From his #1s that stained the entire yard yellow to his #2s that smush all into the grass, it got to a point where we couldn't even play in our yard.

Well, that has all changed, now, hasn't it? Mom and Dad had a vision a long time ago for the backyard and when Hutch came along the timing for it was bumped up a little bit. So here we go, I'll take you through some before and afters:

So we put up a pergola (patio furniture TBD), put in blue pavers as the patio and the walkway from the garage to the steps...

And the grass is actually not even grass, it's turf with a filtration system that will take Hutch's #1s right down through to the soil. We also took out the sidewalk between the garage and fence and made a little dog run for his #2s, now it's just getting him to go back there that will be the trick.

We're going to roll a basketball hoop back in here because you can bounce the ball on the turf, and Lord knows I'm hoping to be the starting point guard on the girls hoops team at St. Helen next year. 

Anyway, this next one feels like the real money shot.