Spring has arrived!

After a long, cold Winter, Spring is such a welcome blessing.  The sun feels warm on your skin, the birds are chirping their happy Spring songs, the grass is getting green, and the trees are starting to bud.  New life and a new sense of purpose surrounds me everywhere I go.  I just love Spring! And with warmer temperatures finally returning, we have settled into a nice Spring routine over the last week or so.  There is nothing better after a day in the office than coming home and spending some time playing in the yard or getting out for a walk with the girls on a sunny day.

I love our daily walks around the neighborhood.  Peaches leaping forward enthusiastically, Maddie trying hard to keep up with Peaches, and Imke slowly tagging along behind enjoying every new smell along the way and, thankfully, making us all slow down a bit and appreciate the world around us.  They all have so much joy out on those daily walks that I can't help but smile too.  We've been varying our route and the length of our walks occasionally so that we can see some new things and they can smell some new smells.  The best walks are the ones when we take a new street and they all slow down to drink in all of the amazing new scents with their tails all wagging at about 100 mph. 

Posing for mom after a good day of playing in the yard.

But I've decided that sometimes we need to change things up a bit so we've set some new goals for ourselves.  First, we're going to be exploring some new areas locally over the next several weeks and trying more local dog-friendly activities.  Plus I'm going to be spending more time one on one with each of the girls.  Its a nice break from walking three dogs and it is great for them to get mom to themselves and to be able to just be themselves.  It is amazing how much their amazing personalities and great manners shine when they are all alone. 

Maddie enjoying a walk through Old Tow

With these new goals in mind and the beautiful weather last weekend, I decided to take advantage of some dog-friendly activities locally and attend the Old Town Doggy Social Hour.  It was sunny and gorgeous and not far from home, so it was the perfect way to get each of the girls some fun with mom.  Maddie was first and had a great time meeting new friends and walking around Old town for an hour.  She even get some special treats. 

Imke...always using that nose!

Happy Imke enjoying some time with mom.

Imke went second and was definitely happy to be able to move at her own pace, sniffing and exploring, and posing for pictures for me.  She is such a superstar!  She made some friends and had a fantastic time.

Peaches enjoying a walk with mom.

Since Peaches is a bit nervous and unsure around other dogs when she's on-leash, I waited until later in the day and took her and the girls for a walk along the River Walk with our friend Emmalee.  It was great having an extra set of hands to help with the dogs and everyone had a great time exploring.
And don't worry, since Peaches didn't get her one on one time with me in Old Town, I was sure to take her on a walk on her own the next day.  I think she enjoyed it!

This weekend I spent a lot of time at sporting events for my niece Sidnee and nephew Mason and took the opportunity for Maddie to spend the afternoon with me at a softball tournament, which I think she enjoyed! It was a little chilly and windy, but she didn't seem to mind at all.  And don't worry, the other girls will get their chance to attend a sporting event or two as well.  I've got some busy nieces and nephews to keep up with!

 

Maddie rooting on the Indians

We'll be sharing more of our adventures as we get out and see the world.  With the Spring weather just continuing to get better and Summer approaching, we'll be getting out and about a lot more and have lots of fun to share, I'm sure.  Now we're off to get in a hike somewhere in Michigan's great outdoors!