Uncle Mark, Aunt Heather and Cousin Ranger ... Part Two - Meet Cousin Ranger

You're probably wondering just where was Cousin Ranger in any of those pictures on the last post? Well, we wasn't able to go with us to Park City and ride the Alpine Slide. He really wouldn't have liked the lift ride up you see and, well, also because he's a dog.

Meet Cousin Ranger ...

Hula Hoop Jumper ExtraordinaireExpert Beggar ...Water lover ... and Marley and Ethan's new best friend. We had Ranger stay with us for a couple of days when they first got here and the kids were in HEAVEN! He sleeps in a kennel and Marley insisted to be the one to put him in bed at night! And each morning she woke up extra early so she could be the one to get him up in the morning! One morning, around 7:30am, we heard singing ... coming from outside ... coming from Marley! 20 seconds later we heard a window, preseumably a neighbor's, being slammed shut. Who knows how long she had been up with him, singing him songs in the backyard! After a couple of days of waking up way too early (and being super cranky in the evenings) we actually had to ask Mark and Heather to take Ranger to Grandpa Austin's to sleep so Marley (and mommy and daddy) could get some sleep.

Ranger really is such a good dog. As you can see, Marley really loved him. She loved to give him hugs and take him for walks ... basically boss him around as much as possible. For those of you who know her (somewhat) bossy personality, another living thing allowing her to drag him around was a dream come true! She tries with Ethan but he has taken to hitting and scratching when he has had too much. Ranger would only just walk away when he was tired of her.

I love the picture of Ranger and Ethan begging for food. Actually, I think that Ethan was probably the bigger beggar of the two. He seems instinctually to know what you have in your bowl or cup ... and if it's ice cream - watch out! It was funny because their heads were exactly the same level and they were both looking up at Mark with their mouths expectantly open!

Just as I'm typing this Ethan has gotten up on my lap to look at the pictures of Ranger and he is waving at the computer! Since they have left, Marley and Ethan have talked about Ranger every day. They miss him already! We hope he will be able to come back again someday for another visit.