Ben and Rachel in New York

I know I'm a little late jumping onto the "secret boyfriend" wagon (see other blogs, including Lauren at http://www.arredonald.blogspot.com/), but I had to add my love. I was truly, madly, deeply in love with the Edge from U2 from 7th grade through I don't know when. Looks like Daleth and Bono and the Edge and I could have had a double wedding.

We bought our tree on Friday night, but didn't have time to put it up before we went to bed. We woke up on Saturday morning with an appropriate first snow accumulation of the season all over our tree.

In her thirteenth winter, Annie still has fun in the snow. Lyle had never seen snow before, but wasn't too impressed. He did think the frozen puddles at the dog park later in the day were pretty entertaining.

Mom, this picture's for you. Mom wanted to get our teapot picture in the background of our family portrait, but our big heads kept getting in the way. Ben is obliging enough in this picture to bend over while putting up the lights.
Ten points to anyone who can find Cassie in both of these pictures.

Did you all ever see the early early pictures of Lyle? This picture is from our very first visit, when he was barely four weeks old. OMG, he was so cute, and he only got cuter.
About two weeks later, trying to find extra food where his dish had just been.
He loved his papa from the start. (Although Ben could barely wake up for the visit.)
Rachel was a little more alert for her time with the pup, but Lyle's not so sure about the cuddling.

The "twin bridges" just to the north of Albany, on the way to Saratoga. Very pretty.
Ben messing around in Lyle's crate. Lyle got very uncomfortable with the alpha dog in his cave.

Lyle living (and loving) the life of a retriever on the shores of the Great Sacandaga Lake.
What our bathroom looked like for a short time this fall. (Stay tuned for more before & after pics soon . . . just a couple of things need to be done before we can show off the transformation.)
Happy dogs at the dog park in the fall.