10 years old!

Today Ozzie turned 10 years old. I can't believe she has been a part of my life for so long. For those of you that don't know, Ozzie was a gift from my Dad. He made a promise to me when I was in High school that he would buy me a purebread Golden Retriever when I moved out of the house. When I got engaged to Chris, I got a puppy from my Dad.

My Dad and Ozzie have a very special bond. Ozzie loves my Dad and when we used to live across the street in Michigan from my parents, if Ozzie saw my Dad across the street, she would run full blast over to see him. We would often find her over at my parents house. They had air conditoning and we didn't so when it was hot out she would go over to my parents, bark to be let in and then stay over there for an hour or so to cool off and then ask to be let back out so she could come back home.

I love this dog. For those of you that know me, you know that this dog means the world to me. She's been one of the best friends I could ever ask for. She loves me like only a dog can. She has such a great personality and it has been a great joy to watch her welcome each of my children into our family. We always joke that all of our kids must "taste" the same because Ozzie has licked each one of our kids on the head when we introduced her to the newest arrival in the family:-)

She loves to swim, loves to play in the snow and loves to lay at my feet. She sleeps in my room on my side of the bed and has since she was a small puppy. If I move to the couch to sleep, Ozzie moves to the floor next to the couch. She truely loves me and I love her and feel so blessed to have him in my life. I love watching her with my kids and although Chris will never admit it, he loves my dog as well.

Tonight she turned 10 and as always on her birthday, she got a bowl of ice cream!

Ozzie at 6 weeks old when we got her.

She was so little and so cute!

My cute sleeping puppy!

9 months old and into lots of things!

Her 1st Birthday. Complete with a bowl of ice cream!

Dressed up as a birthday clown giving kisses to Chris for his birthday!

Ozzie and Raelyn

I thought she was cold!

Her and one of her many bones that she has had over the years.

She loved the snow and would spent hours out playing in it when we lived in Michigan.

Hanging out with Broedy

Asleep on the couch!

She loves my kids like only a dog can.

Joining in on all the fun! She gets pretty upset when Chris wrestles with the kids because when they scream, she thinks he is hurting them.

All wet from swimming in the lake and chewing on a stick.

She loves the water!

Her favorite place to sleep!

Getting ice cream on her 10th birthday!

She really is turning gray.

My dog with my four children! She has been around to welcome each one into our family and I honestly could not ask for a better dog for my children!

Happy 10th Birthday Ozzie!