a kearney update.

Our lives have been pretty uneventful lately.  Both Chris and I have been studying a LOT during our spare time as I am taking 3 college courses to get my teaching license and Chris is going into his 3rd week of Recruit School!  He is still doing very well and now can run 3 miles consecutively!  It's pretty amazing what a transformation he has gone through since starting with Chesterfield.  He loves it and loooves to talk about it. ;)  My classes are fine so far...the workload is picking up, but not too overwhelming, yet!  I will be able to start my practicum (hours in elem. school) in the next couple of weeks, so I am anxious to get into the classroom!  I've officially started my countdown to the end of having to work full time at my current job - less than 11 months!  I'm still not sure how we will swing paying all of our bills with me working part time next Spring while I am doing student teaching, but we'll figure it out...what's another few thousand in school loans at this point?! :)

I was supposed to take pictures of Em, Mark, and Rocky this weekend, but the weather didn't cooperate.  But, since I had my dear MIL's lens I took full advantage of it with my favorite (and only) subject - Bauer.

This was taken a couple of weeks ago with our basic camera lens. Unfortunately, this is a normal occurrence.

Please excuse my face...


When Bauer is being ESPECIALLY needy we put a little cheese in his bone.  It keeps him busy for about...10 minutes.

If you have a dog who is very destructive to toys (like our beloved Bauer) I would highly recommend the bones that Chris' Grandma has given us several times.  They are actual cow leg bones (who died of natural causes - or at least that's what I tell myself...).  But, they are virtually indestructible and Bauer LOVES them!


We took a little break mid-day and finally hung our 'Kearney' wall art that Mom and Dad got us!  We are going to hang three 8x10 pictures from our wedding below this.  I just need to find the perfect frames!

Bauer hanging out while Chris and I hung a mirror in the guest room!

Everyone should have a dog that looks like this.

I'm going to ignore the fact that he is going to be THREE this year.  Omg..where is my pudgy little puppy who gave me anxiety every night when he cried??  

He was over pictures at this point...can you tell? Let me bring something to your attention that you all may have not noticed, but Chris and I certainly have! Notice the hair on Bauer's nose below...can you tell that it is slightly brown?  Chris and I both started to notice around November that Bauer's hair on his face and now his sides are slightly fading to brown.  Now, last time I checked we spent an obnoxious amount of money to purchase a pure bred AKC registered BLACK lab.  Not a chocolate or hybrid...

We then started to notice this which has got progressively worse over the past few weeks - white hair on his back and tail.  We have called both the vet and the breeder about this issue.  The vet said there was nothing to worry about and the breeder said she had not ever heard of something like this before.  However, with Bauer's allergy issues I think Chris and I have finally decided that we are going to first take him to the vet to make sure that this isn't some sort of allergic reaction to his new food or lack of some nutrient due to his limited diet.  THEN we are going to take him to the breeder for a little visit.  I want our breeder to see it for herself.  I'm secretly (ok not so secretly) hoping she will give us a refund or offer us a free puppy when we decide to get another dog - years down the road.  Don't get me wrong - I would love Bauer if he lost all of his hair and had one leg, but I paid for a pure bred AKC registered black lab!  So...I will update later if/when we get some answers.  If you have or know of someone who has had a lab that has had this problem, please share!!  We also know it's not from aging because in labs it is usually gray hair around the eyes or muzzle (like Rocky). 

Another week starts tomorrow!  This week Megan's sweet baby girl will be born via c-section on Wednesday.  Keep her, her husband Mike, and Kylie in your thoughts as they welcome her into the world and adjust to a new life as 3!