Nine years and 6 months

My darling girl turned 9 on Monday the 27th.  I'm so happy to have her in my life.  As we've already taken a trip down memory lane about Fynn's life, I'll focus on this past year.  First off, to celebrate her birthday, Fynn got a HUGE bone...

Here she is waiting ever so patiently for her birthday bone.

And it wouldn't be a picture without a photo-bomb from Ella the foster cat.

Finally!

As of right now, we still haven't quite conquered the massive gift but it's ours and we're very happy to protect it!  

As fun as it is to celebrate her birthday, it's important to take a moment and remember that we almost didn't have this time with her.  Six months ago today, Fynn was rushed to the vet with a deadly case of bloat.  

Fynn post-bloat surgery

I cherish every day with her, not only because she's getting old and we're not sure how much longer she'll be with us but because this reality almost didn't happen.  So thankful.

So, in honor of the past six months that I consider a bonus, here's the past year in review.  

Aside from the obvious, we had a pretty good year.

This summer when the weather was good we took lots of leisurely strolls through the nearby cemetary with our brotha-from-anotha-mutha Milo.

We also went camping where we had the pleasure of sleeping right next to mom, what a treasure!

Fynn saying goodnight laying her head on my sleeping bag.

And we took lots of cruises with mom - one of our favorite things to do!

For Christmas, we got to go to lovely Lake Tahoe...

Fynn enjoying our stop at Lake Shasta.

And on Christmas day, we not only got to partake of lovely bows (our tradition)...

but also the love of our favorite Auntie Jennie.

This past weekend for her birthday we went to Neah Bay... one of Fynn's favorite places... where we got to go to the beach.  Like her parents, she's such a beach girl.

Fynn at Tsooes beach

Priceless

So grateful every day for my Fynn.