This page is in loving memory of my forever dog, Macey.
Year 1
Macey and I found each other in October of 2014. We clicked immediately… but Tim and I still went to a few different shelters, not wanting to jump to a decision. No other dog pulled my heartstrings like she did. They told us she was dog aggressive, but, working with a trainer, we discovered she was dog reactive. Walkies could be a challenge! At home, she was all cuddles, snuggles, and just casually getting all 50 lbs of her onto your lap. We left Illinois in June, spent a month in NY with family, then reunited with Tim at our new apartment in New Hampshire. Check out the slideshow and videos from that first year below.
The day we met. She rolled over for belly rubs through the fence. That was it, we belonged to each other. 
Freedom ride! Coming home for the first time. 
At the beginning of the adventure 
Had no trouble giving kisses her first day home 
First belly rubs with Dad 
When she wasn’t being a goof, she could look very distinguished 
“Mother, this is ridiculous.” 
DOGBALL 
Leg fort! One of her favorite nesting spots. 
Spoiled by all the family 
Some gifts… didn’t last long 
Sleeping was one of her favorite activities. Doing so in one of Nana’s blankets, doubly so. 
50lb dog is a lap dog 
She always needed to be touching her humans. 
It would be years before we had a yard of our own, so we walked everywhere. Yes, dog reactive and all. 
Space collar 
Prairie dogging for some whipped cream 
The only thing that truly terrified her… the battery low beep on the fire alarm. (Or, you know, the actual alarm.) She went to the Tardis mat for safety! 
Put her to work! 
“Paint me like on of your French girls” one of her favorite poses 
Halloween costumes were… tolerated 
Ride or die 
HEEEEEY 
“Where’s the cat?! I can smell her!” (The cat was NOT in the crate.) 
Sniffing new things was her favorite walk activity 
Macey loved sunbathing… but not getting in the water. 
Walkie finds 
When we moved from Illinois to New Hampshire… our furniture came weeks later. 
So, they mislabeled her when they said, “dog aggressive.” 
She adored being adored by our students 
She’s chew the ball, but she wouldn’t FETCH the ball 
YAWNMLEM
The early NH years
Macey followed us through a few rentals and, finally, a home with a fenced yard. She even got to see us off to our wedding!
MLEM on a walk 
Fall in NH on our trail walk 
Goofy baby loved belly rubs 
The “Snoopy” pose 
Looking into your soul 
Halloween at the office! 
Peanut butter is the best 
Can’t stop the licks one they get started 
Kisses for Dad 
Sweatshirt for the cold winters 
First time trying on the space onesie! This was a winter staple 
If I fits, I sits… 
Uppies with kisses 
Absolutely refusing to go potty on an extremely cold day 
In memory of Jinx, Macey’s sister and frenemy 
New place, with a yard! Not fenced, but better than nothing 
Sleeping like people 
A trip to the hardware store 
You say laundry? I say bed. 
Encouraging Mom at the barbell 
Rolls in the grass forever 
Belly rubs for finals week 
I see you 
Not a fan of winter 
Driving to Christmas dinner 
Innocent look 
New… hat? 
Nope. 
Snackies 
That time she was a sandbag at Crossfit 
Mom’s Day card 
Happy to be at work 
Looking strong on our walk 
TEEF 
This is the indoor grass patch that she REFUSED to use as a potty. 
We tried to get her to go UNDER the table. This is what happened instead. 
KONG 
Very distinguished 
Sleeping in the sunlight 
WHY BATH?! 
Needs to be touching both humans 
Hoodie life 
Hanging with the uncles in NY 
Waiting for eggs from Nana! 
Crossed legs like a lady 
EAR 
The poncho to keep the sky water away 
Doggie office hours 
Dogball 
Walkies blep 
Checking out the new house 
Fashionista 
LOVES the sun… no matter how hot 
Derp 
Hugs 
The new, fenced backyard 
Enjoying the new deck 
She’d stand in a pool JUST long enough for a treat, then RUN 
Pride doggie 
Wedding day! 
The prettiest wedding dog 
Happiest when touching both humans 
No dogs here 
Smart doggie 
Caught enjoying day care at Christmas!
Life with Luna
I promised Macey that one day I would get her a sibling. One Thanksgiving while watching the dog show, I landed on a picture of Luna, a young pit mix up for adoption. Macey and Luna met and they clicked. Shortly after… a global pandemic meant the humans were home ALL the time!
Meeting Luna for the first time 
By the end of the visit, it was clear they liked each other 
Move-in day for Luna 
Note the separate dog beds. That won’t last… 
All the kisses for mom 
These two were napping together from the start 
Sure, that bed is big enough for two 
SEESTRAS 
Walkies times two 
No such thing as personal space 
Leg fort 
Two beds? Nah. We can share. 
I’m such a lucky dog mom 
Macey made sure to get the prime spot next to the humans when she could 
March 2020… the humans started staying home every day. 
Hanging out in mom’s home office 
Vet visits 
Working out from home… and losing my yoga mats to these two 
We had so many entertaining wrestling matches in our living room 
Stacked doggos 
Gotcha day treat! 
MLEM 
YAWN 
Cuddle buddies 
This should not have been physically possible… 
Never one for tug-of-war, Macey just wanted pets 
Luna invited herself to Macey’s dog bed every night 
Happy girls post-walk 
We never fed her. Ever. 
Mid-wrestle derp 
I can’t get over these two 
Road trip! 
Senior Years
Macey never looked her age. But, she became an old lady nevertheless. We kept her as active as we could, and having a fenced yard helped with that when walks got to be too taxing. We went through tremors, tumors, an aural hematoma, a heart murmur, and laryngeal paralysis. She was a trooper (or just stubborn), refusing to use doggie stairs to get on the couch, insisting on getting herself up there, no matter how long it took. She did seem to get a little too used to having a diaper as a backup! It was hard to watch her slow down, but she was still my baby.
My favorite Halloween costume for her 
SKY WATER BAD 
When walking got tough for her, we tried an alternative. 
Never not rolling in the dirt 
The first diapers were… not great. We upgraded shortly after. 
Going to the sitter’s house. 
The 10th Gotcha Day! 
This seems to be about the time that they decided that one crate was enough for two 
Sweater from my friend B! 
We fits 
She wasn’t able to stand after a procedure, but she STILL wanted her food 
Cooling down with ice packs 
We spent a decent amount of time at the vet. Might as well nap. 
After larpar surgery, she felt YOUNG again… young enough to dig through the trash 
Where’s dad? 
Sliding into the “Luna crease” 
Always touching both humans 
White faced beauty 
More Nana blankets 
Cone? We still fits! 
From a series of professional portraits done May 2026 
The last picture before she got ill. It was my birthday. The pose is perfect. 
My future tattoo
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