The cousins are watching a friend’s puppy for a few weeks.  His name is Jinks.  He is very fluffy and likes kids.  He decided he’d like to travel with us, and when we were leaving Valley City he hopped in the car three times in a row, trying to hitch…

Before we went swimming at the pool, we had a picnic lunch at City Park.  This precious and winsome individual found a giant mud puddle in no time flat.  He was utterly drenched, and proud of it.

There are no outdoor pools in our city, probably because it isn’t that warm that long in the season and there are scores of natural creeks and pockets of water to swim in, not to mention a gigantic freezing cold lake so big it almost feels like the ocean.  When…