What I'll remember: Kathryn

What will I remember? Everything.

Archie was the most happy little puppy and he could make you feel his happy. He was so soft after a bath and brush on Sundays, he was so smart but also the sweetest doofus, he was almost always excited to see you in the morning and loved sleeping in the sun.

There is so much I'll remember and that I miss. I'll miss the Archie-bulletins that happened during the day because he was always doing something funny or cute or both, the way he helped you pick him up to look over the fence, and how he would run around in circles eager for his dinner yet would still wait until you told him 'okay'.

Archie's last walk was lovely, it was the day before whatever happened happened, he sat and waited while we watched the sunrise and I let him sniff lots. It was a lovely walk, I'm grateful for it.

I'll remember how sometimes he seemed so big and other times so very small, the way he sat on his side and the way he tucked his paw in when he lay, looking so regal.

I remember the time Amy dropped a bowl of tuna mornay and Archie was trying to eat it as quick as he could so he could go bark, he was barking and eating at the same time - so funny. I remember how he always made it into photos and was well behaved (most of the time) when we dressed him up.

I miss him, his happiness and his presence which seemed to make the house full. We were blessed to have him and I'll always be grateful for Archie.

I think his memory will always be tinged with sadness but with time it will fade and the brightness of Archie will shine through and we'll laugh and reminiscence about a life that was short but so sweet. 

Archie and Me, March 2011

the little things

Archie meant very brave; bold; valuable and he was so dear to us and, although not the bravest puppy in the world, he could be quite bold (like how he lay on the back on that couch a lot).

He was born in the year of the rat and he was a rat-bag, it was a leap year like my birth year and he was a Scorpio like Amy.

Archie had so many quirks, the way one of his back leg's would hop a little sometimes when he ran or walked and how his little tongue would poke out.

He had lots of names: zoo zoo bon, mr baby, fuzz face, mr 9, Ar-choo, mr pancakes and many more.
James said once Archie's nickname was Thunder because he doesn't do much but makes a lot of noise, I thought that was cute & funny.

He was really good at his training and would run straight to the back door to go out and bark and he would wait patiently till we let him run to us for his treat.

He had songs sung about him and mottos made for him, like 'get rewarded' or if translated into Latin and back 'for the aim of the prize', another is now very apt and made my heart ache when I read it: 'with you forever'.
 
Archie liked to chase bubbles (lizards, mice & birds, too) and lick ears & necks, he loved to run and to go on walks. 

And the biggest thing he did was love his family with all his being, just as we loved him.

Archie through the ages: 2010

Archie's second year was filled with cuteness, good times and adventures. It was the year we started training him, he got super muddy paws, and became a dog instead of a puppy. Here are some photos from every month:

January:

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December:

 

Posted in loving memory of Archie (10th November, 2008 – 26th January, 2012)

What I'll remember: Amy

It's hard to put into words what I'll remember about Archie. There's are so many small things, cute stories and memories, but mostly it's his fundamental, essential characteristics that I'll hold with me.

To me, Archie was pure joy. Seeing him, tailing wagging and tongue lolling, would always make you feel better. If someone was sad, frustrated, anxious, or despairing over something, they would promptly be prescribed "puppy medicine". This particular treatment, which involved pats and cuddles, was proven to be extremely effective.

He was also unconditional love. It was his excitement at seeing his family after they had been away; going absolutely mad when we came home from a trip; or transforming into Mr Cuddly for the first few people to get up in the morning. He had his moments when he was all cuddles and sweetness, as well as the times when all he wanted to do was play with us. Sometimes when I was patting him or holding him, I would wonder how it was possible to love something so small so much. My heart felt like it would burst with it.

I miss him; all his funny little quirks and habits; his sweet nature; his exuberance and excitement. And I doubt that will ever change, but eventually I'll be able remember him with smiles instead of tears. Eventually. 

-Amy.

Myself and Archie, January 2010.

Archie through the ages: 2009

We got Archie on the 21st of January, 2009, when he was roughly two months old. Back then he was just an adorable ball of apricot fluff, little did we know on that first day how much we would come to love him over the following years.
There are many many pictures from his first year, but here are a few;

Posted in loving memory of Archie (10th November, 2008 – 26th January, 2012)