A Day in the Life of A Dog and His Boys...

Our dog Max is such a people person. He always has to be with someone- usually Justin. I guess he thinks he is guarding him here while he does his homework.


Max also loves Tyler but doesn't spend as much time with him. For example- Justin lets Max sleep with him in his twin bed...but Tyler doesn't allow Max in his room. As you can see- he does love him though.

Pooch Pool Party!

Today was the 1st annual Pooch Pool Party at Stewart Heights Pool. Dogs only allowed in the pool...


Max waits not so patiently for Justin to pick up the ball to throw again.



Max would play for hours if we didn't stop him for a rest.

The official rules stated "no dog toys please" but when we got there and multiple dogs had toys and he didn't...he let us know about it! He stole the other dogs toys and barked when he didn't have any.

I went the 2 blocks to Walgreens and bought him a tube of tennis balls and then he was in heaven!

Taking a much needed break with Justin.

So happy and tired in the car on the way home. Hopefully there will be a 2nd annual party next year!

Snow Shoveling is Hard Work!

The boys were out again to shovel the driveway!

Tyler in his year-round attire of shorts works on the sidewalk.

Justin works at the snow and ice on the driveway as Max supervises.

Tyler, Justin and James work on the neighbor lady's driveway again. While they were still shoveling it started snowing AGAIN!

P-D's Famous Coconut Balls

Every year I make Coconut Balls at Christmas time. They are very labor intensive so they only get made once a year. This year Justin wanted to do the dipping of them into the chocolate. He did a wonderful job!


For those of you who may be eating coconut balls this year...he did NOT lick his finger until he was done making them!

All tired out from a long day Justin and Max (who is not allowed in the living room and follows the rules as you can see) take a little nap in the glow of the tree!

A Nice Recovery

This is the 'after shot": after the drainage tube was removed. The swelling has started to go down. When they removed the tube yesterday she said everything looked really good! He still has to finish his antibiotic and go back for stitches removal in a week.


This is the "before shot": before the tube was removed...YUCK!

Get Well Wishes!

My niece Lila made a beautiful Get Well card for Max!


I know he was very happy to get it Lila! It was his 1st card! Thanks!

Max is Home!

James' brother Johnathan and I went to pick Max up this morning. He has a drain in his neck and we have to flush it 2 times a day. I am so glad John was there to see how to flush it because I am too squeamish! Because the drain is constantly draining and dripping Max has to be locked in the kitchen and not out on the carpet. He is not happy with this situation because he is used to being right with someone all the time. He is laying in the kitchen crying as I sit just a few feet away typing this. But he is home!!!

Successful Surgery

When I took Max to the vet about 2 weeks ago his lump was about the size of a golf ball. After 2 days on the antibiotic it started to get smaller and then suddenly started to grow again. The past couple days it has been the size of a baseball. When I got home from work today it was the size of a softball. I immediately called the vet (our follow-up appt was scheduled for tomorrow) and explained what was happening and they wanted to see him ASAP. We were seen right away by the vet and Max had a high fever as well. We left him there at about 5:15pm and by 6pm the vet had called us with the results of the surgery. He is the only vet in the office and there were people in the waiting room when we left so we figure that Max must have been an "emergency" surgery to have gotten it done so quickly! They were able to drain the infection out but did not find any "foreign body" they thought they might find in there and he was still sleeping. We can bring him home tomorrow if his fever goes down! I have one sad, lonely boy here (Justin). Max shadows him the whole time he is home...follows him from room to room and lays down at his feet where ever he stops. He is a fiercely loyal dog! Get Well Soon Max!!!

Maxwell Pagdilao-Duras

Our poor sweet dog is sick! Max has a lump under his chin. I took him to the vet about a week ago and they did a "fine needle biopsy" on it and the results came back the better of the two outcomes we were looking at...it was either a tumor or an infection. It is an infection. We were given antibiotics to give him for 2 weeks. The second day it seemed that the lump was going down but now it has gotten bigger than it ever has been! So if there is no change in the next week it looks like we are looking at surgery. The vet thinks that something maybe lodged in there like a piece of a bone or a stick. If the swelling would go down it could work its own way out but with all the swelling it needs to be removed! Please pray for him! and us!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!

For the 4th of July we are fortunate enough to be able to have wonderful place to go to enjoy the holiday! James' parents live right above Ruston way where the Tacoma Freedom Fair is held every 4th. We are able to walk down to the fair from their house and return for a BBQ and a great place to watch the fireworks! Justin "borrowed" his cousin Josh's hat and glasses for this picture.


Justin, GMA and GPA enjoy the BBQ food.



The "Tall Ships" were in town for the 4th. This is the view we have from the Duras' front yard...




James finally breaks away from the BBQ long enough to grab some food! Our yellow lab Max waits patiently for some too!





James and his sister Michelle!






Justin and cousin Evan return from walking Max down at the Freedom Fair.

Heat Wave

Yesterday and today we have had extremely hot, record breaking weather ( for this part of the country). Today Justin wanted to get another pool for Max, our yellow Lab. He wore out his old pool and we just hadn't gotten him another one. He likes to take his toys in the pool with him and shake them and hold them under water...I guess he thinks he is killing his "catch". He is Justin's "shadow", anytime I wonder where Max is, if I can find Justin- there he is!

Annual Gingerbread House

Today was the day that our gingerbread house was created. I buy the kit from Costco and the boys do all the work. Tyler asked "Do I have to?" I tried to explain to him that sometimes you do things that you feel you are too old for just to make your mom happy. He then agreed to do his part. Max (our yellow lab) watched carefully as Justin worked on his part. I think that he was waiting for something to be dropped for him to clean up. It turned out to be a very nice house. It is one of those traditions that I enjoy having the boys do...no matter how old they get to be! Merry Christmas!!!