Puppy Love

JC's sister, Melissa, has some sweet basset hounds ruling the roost at her house. They are adorable, with their pouty eyes and long ol' ears they barely manage to not trip over! There was some big excitement around those parts when, recently, one of them had puppies!!!
PUPPIES!!!
Who doesn't love puppies?
(JC claims they do not have any kind of effect on him...he manages to stay pretty stone-faced around them so I almost believe him but...come on...PUPPIES!!)
(As another side note, I am totally one of those really cliche people who love the baby versions of all animals)
We took the kids out for a fun afternoon last week, starting with a visit to see these little ones!

PUPPIES!!!

This is my puppy love face.
Kisses.

I am pretty sure Bethany takes after me...she loves to cuddle and love all little animals (not to mention babies..plants...anything living...)

Ben liked them pretty well too.
He was more interested than smitten.

But he did give some loves.

Bethany snuggled another puppy with the help of her cousin Carrigan. (another nurturer like us) :)

James...blew bubbles inside.
I think he looked at the puppies once.
Did not expect that.

Look at them! So many of them! And so sweet!

Here's the mama, Stella. She followed Ben around most of the time we were there. She seemed to really like him. Or, as a neighbor of Melissa's pointed out (a little girl that was over visiting at the same time as we were), maybe she just wanted his candy. (Super cute little lunchboxes filled with fun stuff for Valentines Day. So fun. Thanks Aunt Melissa! They still carry these around. Always.)

After visiting with puppies and cousins, we took the kids to the playground of the elementary school near our house. They ALWAYS want to play there and I tell them they won't be able to until they go to school there. Well, upon visiting to register Bethany for kindergarten (I KNOW!!!), we were told that we can play there any time school is not in session! Woohoo!

The joy.

Bethany discovered hopscotch.

They discovered how fun it was to chase pigeons...

...and to be chased by a neighbor's puppy who also happened to be visiting the playground.

Back at puppies.
PUPPIES!!
We've come full circle.