All About Molly

I haven't done a post all about Molly since she was 18 weeks old.  She is now 1.5 years old!

When we decided to get a puppy we had our expectations.  I focused on preparing.  I did A LOT of research on training a puppy; crate training, potty training, teaching commands, walking on a leash, no biting, etc. To a certain degree we knew the changes getting a puppy would bring to our daily routine and life.  But I think we were searching for something new / a change and we didn't know it.  Molly has exceeded all of the expectations and brought more joy than I imagined.   

Molly is a very special dog with her own personality.  She has a laidback temper and loves people and affection.  She is hilarious and we laugh at least 5 times a day with her.  Molly has increased our happiness, helped us be more social, get outdoors more and made us feel loved!  And we love her.  I think my favorite part is the bond and the trust.  We trust her and she trust us and that makes trips, camping, the park and her meeting new people/dogs so much easier and fun.  Molly is a year and 6 months old but we will probably always call her our puppy.  It is crazy to me to think that she is ours for many more years.  I can't imagine her not in our family. 

Now here are many (but really a small fraction of what I could share) adorable pictures.

75 pounds

 Halloween 2018

Christmas 2018

She loved laying right under the tree.  She surprisingly wore her Christmas pajamas really well too haha

 Snow 2018-2019

 Lots of hiking and play

My sister took this and it is one of my favorite pictures

She loves to cuddle

And stick her head out the window

More cuddling

The day we learned she can run up a tree and balance there

 Nap time on Eric 

Ohhhh the patience 

Mollys favorite place to lay and watch the construction and people walk by on the bike path

She fell asleep with her ball in her mouth hahaha

Sisters

Getting dried off after a bath!

I love when she lays on me and sleeps.  It lets me know she is really comfortable with us. 

This last week I was watching my 10 month old niece.  Later that night I told Eric about the belly laughs from her, the cuddles and the love I smothered her with.... and that it all made me feel sad that I didn't have a baby of my own.  Not upset, angry, depressed.  Just sad in the moment. And I wanted to sit with that emotion and feel it.  We climbed into bed and Molly jumped up, cuddled up next to me and fell asleep.  She is such a blessing!! 

O Canada! Banff, Yoho and Jasper

After 6 days in Glacier NP we drove to Canada!  I'm grateful my passport was delivered to our home in Utah and my sister in-law overnighted it to us while we were in Montana.  It's so funny because when we were driving to Montana we stopped for lunch at Panda Express. These were our fortune cookies and we cracked up laughing, at that point it seemed impossible I would have a passport in time to go to Canada.  It was all meant to work out I guess!

This was my FIRST time out of the country and it was so exciting!  We stopped at the "Real Canadian Superstore" and we couldn't even get a shopping cart because we didn't have a loonie haha. We were very confused.  Thank goodness Eric's friend that lives in Alberta came to hang out and rescue us.

We set up camp at the Lake Louise campground and had the most amazing camping spot with the most beautiful pine trees.  We spent 5 days exploring 3 national parks there. Banff, Yoho and Jasper. I'm glad we went to Canada since we were already so close to the boarder, but this could be it's own separate trip.  There is so much beauty to see and explore.  Next time I want to camp in Jasper.

Campsite views 

Lake Louise 

Oh the famous Lake Louise.... We hiked 3 miles from the campsite to get here.  You would never know there are thousands of people standing shoulder to shoulder trying to take the same pictures. 

Moraine Lake

Yoho National Park 

Emerald Lake

Takakkaw Falls

  

Icefields Parkway

We spent a day traveling the Icefields Parkway to get to Jasper.  This was my favorite day.  We got the gypsy app and listened to the tour guide tell us where to pull over for the best sight seeing and so many interesting facts about the explorers who first discovered this area of Canada and the Icefields that are still there.  I didn't even know what an Icefield was!!  There are glaciers EVERYWHERE.  On one stretch of the parkway we could see and count 15 glaciers.  At the end of the parkway is Jasper National Park.  We explored their town, got some food and did some souvenir shopping. 

Athabasca Falls

Peyto Lake

Icefields & Glaciers 

These pictures may not look very exciting but you just have to see it in person
to fully experience and be 'wowed' by them.

Banff Village

Eric was realllllly excited to try poutine.  French fries with gravy and cheese curds.  I caught his reaction when he saw it for the first time hahaha.  He was actually really disappointed.  I did not try it. 

WILDLIFE

Seeing wildlife was probably one of my favorite parts.  All wildlife was viewed from the safety of our vehicle.  We watched this mama with her cubs for a good 30 minutes as they ate vegetation and berries.  At a spot on the Icefields Parkway there was a bear on the side of the road and sooooo many cars pulled over.  There was a large crowd gathered and watching outside of their vehicle, crazy people. 

Our time in Canada came to an end and we headed home. We stopped at Snowbird and caught the first day of a family reunion.  It was nice to take a shower easily and use clean, flushing toilets.  I miss this trip and camping, but I needed a break from pit toilets and mosquito bites.  I really do look forward to visiting Montana and Canada again!! I highly recommend going!