Aww what a little cutie!

Oh, I want a puppy too!
And your Grandma looks awesome. What do they put in the water in her neighbourhood?

What's the pup's name?

All babies do. It's go, go, go, go, zzzzzzzz.

Yes, that definitely sounds like a perfect weekend. My perfect weekend included a massage, a trip to the library, and a nap. Alas, we don't have In n Out Burgers in Houston.

He is super cute! Makes me want to get another dog... : )

Black Lab Puppies ROCK!!!

We have had five over the past 10 years - three are still with us and lounging all over my kitchen as I type. I doubt there is anything better in the whole world than black lab cuddles.

Awwwwwe. Puppies and grandmas seem to just go together.

Good grief, but he looks a lot like our new puppy. In other words, CUTE!

Cats have been known to sleep that way, but usually not with such abandon.

I wrote a comment while you were closing comments two posts ago. Short version: amazingly enough, it is possible to serve your friends dinner on two partial sets of plates, and they will still enjoy their food and like you afterwards. And I <3 Bob.

All puppies should be called Mr Fathead, just because they are cute.

Now, Laurie, human hands ARE chew toys! How silly of you to think otherwise..... ;)

I am totally black labs for life, you should get on too Laurie - besides, it'll keep the felines on their toes :)

What is it with your family and the extra cute puppies? I would want this one as well if I knew that Natasha would never speak to me again.

How cute is Grandma!!!!!!

Grandma looks terrific!

The puppy is cute, too. But I'm still more of a cat person, myself.
.

So if this is your aunt's puppy, that makes the puppy your cousin, right?

So, what's your new cousin's name?

Cute Pup!

Dang, he's cute!!

*lol* He's adoreable, and my cats sleep like that too, especially when they're lying on the bed in the sun!

A dog-related story: a long-time friend of my older son (now 23) went through some very difficult teenaged years and was subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has been in and out of mental hospitals and state institutions and group homes for several years, but is (for now) living independently. He is heavily medicated, though, so has a completely flat affect and the thousand-yard stare. He visited us overnight last week, and the only time I saw him smile in that 24-hour period was when I suggested that, now that he was living on his own, he get a dog, and he said he was thinking about it.

A dog is a wonderful thing for many reasons. It loves you unconditionally and doesn't care if you are schizoid or brilliant or bulemic or ugly or old or beautiful or what.

Awwwwwww!

I want a puppy! (cant have one) The way he's sleeping reminds me of my dog. But, TinyMonsters used to end up twisted like a pretzl with his head near his back feet, and his front paws angling away from his body. Looking like the fossils I've seen of some dinosaurs, all twisted up.

When TinyMonsters was a puppy, I WAS the chew toy. He was a large dog, and they're considered puppies for 3yrs. By the time he was nine months old, he was big enough to knock me to the floor and sit on me. (he must have thought that was funny)

He'd knock me down, and stand over me, licking my face and demanding food...which I couldnt get because I was on the floor with a pushy dog in my face. Thank goodness for puppy school and obedience training!

I think my new million dollar idea is to become a puppy chiropractor b/c that has to hurt!

awwwwwwwwwwww! puppy belly! did he still have that fantastic puppy smell? you know, not the stinky one from accidents; i mean the one when you kiss puppies up near their mouth and ears, that sweet scent that only smells like puppy...

The puppy is sooooo cute!

It really is impossible to be sad or mad around pets. I know my cats totally brighten up a bad day! They just don't understand that I feel like moping and whining -- all they want is to snuggle!

A new puppy AND In-N-Out? Man, you CA folks sure know how to live. I'm SO very very jealous!

It's nice to see your grandmother so rosy-cheeked and happy. And cute pup! (Though I prefer cats.)

puppy happiness training should be a required course
some people should even have to take it twice.

Me want puppy!!:)) HOW cute:)

He is so stinkin' cute! I want a dozen just like him!

Perhaps your high-stylin' genes come down through your grandmother - her outfit was pure springtime! The puppy is reeeally cute. I agree, I can't be unhappy around a puppy - no matter what they just chewed up.

Awww,I love puppies.I agree that having a puppy around just makes you happy. My dog has that kind of energy at 2 - OY! - and he makes my elderly parents so happy when he spends the day there. I don't know if it's better for him or them!

How sweet - he looks a lot like my Jackie-boy. A friend was just joking about puppies, I had said something like "People should just..." then I stopped and laughed at myself, and said, "OK, if I were in charge of the world, people would..." She said, "If I were in charge of the world, everyone who wanted a puppy would have one!" Yay! for puppies.

That's it. I have figured out what's wrong with my life. I was supposed to be a puppy. Puppies have it made.

I was catching up on a few posts and I got a real smile out of your cracked plate. Ten is my magic dish number but I use them and a few substituted bowls frequently. There are only two of us humans here but I have a bunch of nieces and nephews and the brothers and sister that accompany them near by.

What made me smile was your desire to have just enough of something you like. We hunted for our very simple, white plates for days! I got them at Crate and Barrel, they are fairly inexpensive but the hunt took so long because I needed to LOVE these plates in order to give them precious room in my Cambridge kitchen storage area (cabinets are a rare treat in the Boston area - we have some shelves).

We have had them for two years and they bring a smile to my face every meal. I know it sounds lame but I accept it as a side affect of entering my late 30's.

Like you I derive a powerful feeling from thinking about my purchases. NPR asked people to send in their "inner gloat" and if I was one to do that staying within my weekly budget of spending cash would be it.

Thanks for providing a forum of sorts and posting of the cute animal pics!

Please warn your brother that Lab puppies don't grow out of the goofy, hyper stage until they are around 2 or 3. They still are completely *ADORABLE* but will drive you bonkers!

Puppy/Grandma - equally cute! Though to be honest, I'm not tempted to kiss her nose, just the puppy's.

That puppy is too damn cute! I think the world would be a much happier place if everyone had a puppy. Same goes for In-n-Out. YUM-O!

OMG!! I love puppy bellies!!! We got a kitten a few months ago and I still can't get enough of his little round kitten belly!!

Lab puppies and babies are both wonderful to visit with but aren't you glad to give them back to their parents?

Two years ago this fall a friend of mine brought her beautiful black lab puppy, Judas, to our homeschool park day. We immediately went and got his sister, Buttercup, for our very own(they were free because they have gold brindling). Last June she and her family moved to Atascadero and couldn't take Judas with them. Guess where he is now? Yep, we jumped at the chance to take him in. Now his name is Buddy though, aren't all black lab boys named Buddy?LOL We also have a border collie/lab mix and a cairn/daschund mix, 5 indoor-only cats and 9 guinea pigs. Good thing I homeschool because taking care of them is a fulltime job!

Such a cute puppy! I have a 5 year-old black lab named Max who is the biggest, goofiest dog in the world but I wouldn't trade him for anything.

What a gorgeous cuddlepuppy! I would like to borrow him for several hours, please!

Laurie, I wanted to let you know I've nominated you for a Arte y pico award. See my blog for more information!
http://trixieshome.blogspot.com/

Sorry-- I'm not anonymous but my last comment was!

I agree with you - the world would be a better place if we were all that happy!

I love your pictures. You are right people should be mandated to have puppies so that they can learn true happiness. My wheaten terrier is six (acts life a puppy) but I do miss his puppy days....the same goes for my 15 year old son - I miss his puppy days as well.

I have days where I could sprawl out like that puppy too. :-)

Oh he is such a cute puppy...are any of them not. I can just feel him gnawing your hand. That's sort of creepy, but I know what it feels like having had dogs in the past. We have only our little ancient cat now to amuse and cover us in cat hair...which she does frequently. We just got home from a short trip and she was all smiles and headbutts and hair absolutely showered off her all over me. Achoo!

my parents just got two lab puppies, nellie and sadie (yellow and black) and they're sisters... it's a hoot watching them play.

YEA PUPPIES - i agree - key to teaching us to be happy. you just can't be in a bad mood after watching them for even 10 seconds.

Ohhhh, what a cute pink belly he has. Don't cha love puppy breath?

didn't have time to read post, but saw the pics. Your cat is looking so dang cute these days!

woof.

Cute pup....But I can't help but notice...you've got really bloody nice hair. What's your secret?

Oh....I want a puppy, too. That sounds like an awesome day! I got to hold a brand new baby today and that was the highlight of 2008 so far for me!
Sara

Your Grandma is beautiful. The puppy is cute. Then you went ahead and mentioned In-n-Out Burger...went there last February, and it was quite the treat to this Chicago gal. :)

And by the way, I own your book. It is AWESOME!

Animals in general are a great leveler, they really do make you stop in your tracks and think about life in general i find.

I just visted my sister who has a puppy and yes you are right you just can't be sad around a puppy, well maybe her cat isn't just a fan but he seems just fine as long as the dog stays away.

And look at the size of his paws! He's gonna be a big boy!

What I've found, since getting a black lab 7 years ago, is that they ALL sleep on their backs. My brother had given me Buddy when he was a year old, along with his kennel. Very well behaved and obedience trained. First morning after he spent his first night, I saw him on his back in his kennel, with his two front legs sticking straight up and stiff. I thought "oh no... my brother has given me a defective dog!" Then I said his name and Buddy stirred and all was well. Our wienie dog, Winnie, chases Buddy all over the house and out in the yard. He runs like a rabbit, with his hind legs coming up in front of his front legs..almost dragging his butt the whole time. lol
In our school district we have therapy dogs in each school. They get lots and LOTS of love!
Glad your aunt has a wonderful friend in a black lab. They are the best!

Yeah, what THEY all said! But only - I would hug the puppy and kiss Grandma on the nose. I'd have to say, though - any pictures of a get-together of Clan CAP seem to be rife with merriment, I think the pup was just reacting to the Vibes.

I just wanna SQUEEZE him!! And tell Rebecca I am so jealous of her hair!

awww - I miss having a puppy. YOu sure are getting a lot of cute canine action in your family lately! Enjoy!

Puppies and kittens are just automatic smile-generators. We have a new kitten and I smile at her even when she is painfully biting my ankles.

That puppy is PRECIOUS!

I'm a cat person, but love other people's puppies! I do the whole baby talk thing and rub their bellies (if they'll let me). I *totally* let puppies lick my hands and feet.

He's cute all right - but still can't compete with your new little bro, who's just Stark Raving Adorabule!

I just adore your Grandma. I wish you could share her with me....although you kinda do through the blog!!! :oD

Pam's puppy is adorable. Jean looks great. Conveniently, we do have In 'n Out in Pasadena. We also have 4 cats and a black lab/border collie mix. Lots of cat hair. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.