The Read family is proud to introduce the newest member of our family: Alta-Tollhaus Walker Texas Ranger! We are calling him, Ranger, but I will try to refer to him as WTRanger on the blog. Carole, will that help with the W litter, W name thing? 🙂
We did not tell Lily we were getting a puppy. She’s four. The anticipation of a playdate 2 days away is enough to drive her mad. I figured telling her we were getting a puppy might just push her over the edge! Luckily, I have stupendous distraction skills which aided in explaining and distracting from the large assortment of puppy items arriving daily that were quickly shuttled to my husbands office downstairs. Yesterday, my husband, Aaron, took the afternoon off and was going to ‘spend the day with his girls’. I mentioned I had a package to pick up if they wanted to join me. I told Lily the package was at the airport because it was kind of big. When the crate was presented to us, Lily looked in and oohed and aahed. Someone asked her if it was her puppy to which she replied, “No”. I told her it was. Her eyes got big, she threw her arms around my neck and said, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”. Then she started telling everyone he was the ‘purple collar boy’.
On August 2, 2011 our beloved GSD, Thunder passed away suddenly. He’d lived a very good 12 years. We were devastated. As our family tried to recover from our loss and prepare for a future with a GSD puppy, Lily’s only request was that she get to hold the puppy first. Yesterday I granted that wish.
Now our family starts off writing a new chapter in our book. This will be our epic journey.
~Kirsten, Aaron, Lily and WTRanger
I am smiling ear to ear here at work. 🙂 What a sweet story. The 3rd picture cannot be anymore perfect. Purple boy sure is a looker and the girls are all over him already. 😀
Keep posting pics please, we love pictures here. 😉
I think you have 2 younguns that are going to be best friends, and inseparable! Looks like they fell right into step with each other. I know the bond our little one has with our dogs. I echo Josie, keep the pictures coming!
It is very amazing- WTRanger can’t keep his eyes off Lily. They are the perfect pair!
I already knew this story and it still made me cry. Lily is a really special girl.
I’m with you, Julie–though I didn’t know the story, it surely made me cry. The Alta-Tollhaus family: a bunch of tender-hearted softies! We cry over happy things, sad things, precious things, and, well . . . pretty much everything in between. Kirsten, Aaron, Lily, and Ranger, (I love the name!) your story has it all. Congratulations on the new addition to your family!
Thank you Jil! We couldn’t be happier …or colder. With our sudden deep freeze, I’m spending a lot more time outside in -11 temperatures than I’d like to! 🙂
Lily, Kirsten, & Aaron, congratulations & thanks for sharing your story with us… this is what this blog is all about: virtual hugs & sharing from all across the country.
I love Ranger’s name & he looks like he is already doing his job, with picture #3 as the perfect proof!
Enjoy & share your stories & pictures with us!
Ditto what Orly said!
Thank you! This blog contains some of the biggest hearts around! We are very proud to be a part of the Alta-Tollhaus family.
CONGRATULATIONS!
What a wonderful addition for your family!
Your little Lily will never forget that day! 🙂
You are so right! She will never forget that day and that moment! She’s already shared it with every employee and patron of the local PetSmart, her swim teacher, every one she came in contact with at swim school, and everyone she could call from my phone!!
GREAT story! I would have died and gone to heaven if I got a puppy as a kid!!!
I know Ranger will heal the hole left in your hearts by Thunder’s loss. Ranger deserves a beautiful family like yours! He’s always been such a handsome guy, and a real poser for pictures, so just keep posting! I know all of our puppies are unique, but as I look at them, I see more similarities than differences. They are all just too cute for words. Our little Wyatt West (Dutch – formerly Blue Collar Boy) konked out just like Ranger in that last picture a few times today. It’s like Julie said, they have 2 speeds: full-tilt or comatose!
The two speeds are impressive! I’m trying to take pictures but I’m apparently technologically challenged and keep getting blurry pictures from my husbands brand new camera. My phone can not capture a decent picture from a subject that is moving at such a high rate of speed (that applies to Lily and WTRanger). I’ll keep trying!
Can we start a Lily Fan Club? Because I am a fan. Love this story!
Ha ha ha ha! A four year old with a fan club?! Sounds dangerous… 🙂
Kirsten, this was a wonderful story! Thank you for WTRanger!
Please tell Lily that I believe she is an EXCELLENT dog trainer! She already has WTRanger walking in perfect position. Great job, Lily!
Lily has a near photographic memory so our goal all along was to tell her everything we could about how to care for/train WTRanger. We told her yesterday, “Lily, never step over your dog”. This morning Lily caught Aaron sort of stepping over WTRanger and she clearly and firmly repeated, “Dad! Never step over your dog.”. I think she’s got this covered!
I agree with Carole, what a lovely story and what an incredible beginning to another chapter in your lives :~) Enjoy every moment!
Ditto what everyone else said…this is a GREAT story.
Congratulations on your new puppy.
Just curious….What State do you live in?
Minnn eeHHH sewDAHHHHH
Yep. We are in Minnesota. It’s cold here. I’m wimpy.
Yes, this story made me teary eyed also. Loved your post – you have a way with words which makes the reader feel as if they were right there with you.
When I was reading it to Matt, his first comment was “I’m sure Thunder was really gentle with Lily – I hope she’s read for those little needle teeth!”
Thank you Andrea. I’ve never fancied myself much of a writer, but I think it’s easy to write about something when it comes from the heart. Yes, Thunder was extremely gentle with Lily. Lily is trying to get used to the needle teeth!
Congratulations on your new addition. As did everyone else on here, My eyes teared right up. What an awesome story. Please do keep us posted on his progress as he grows. My children and I love to see pictures of all the puppies as they grow. We are hoping for a puppy from the “X” litter. We love, love, love the puppy pictures. 🙂
How special and look at that she has him in perfect heel position already 🙂 Gorgeous puppy too.