15.

I am thankful for our dog, Nestle. She is such a wonderful companion. Her temperament can only be described as very active and she is incredibly playful. But as fall turns into winter, she becomes a great cuddler on the couch, especially if I have the fleece blanket draped over my legs. She is also a fantastic snuggler when one of us us sick. Her light brown eyes are quite expressive and she has mastered how to plead with those eyes. She is a fantastic jumper and loves leaping after her tennis balls. She single-mindedly pursues retrieving a stick on her off-leash walks and nothing will distract her from that quest. Her sighs and groans speak volumes about her rough life as a pampered pup, and they make me and Kyle smile and imitate her whenever they escape from her mouth. She is quite smart: she will remember where we hid her about-to-be-torn-to-shreds toy and even days later she will whine at the closed door, asking for us to get it back out for her so she can continue maiming it. Her velvety triangle ears, scrunched forehead, tilting head, and white paws make her so darn adorable. She is a good protector, and even when her loud barks are a bit annoying, I know that she is just trying to do her job to guard the house and keep us safe. She loves meeting new people, so much so that it can be a bit overwhelming for visitors. She's getting better about greeting new people, though. At two and a half years old, she is still very much a puppy. I wonder when she'll grow out of her hyperactive mode and become a more mellow dog. Or, will she? No matter what, she is ours and we love her dearly.