This is a picture of Cosmo, our beloved 11 1/2 year old Golden Retriever who passed away on June 10, 2010. This is when he was young, and how I'll remember him. This guy was extra special because he was the dog the kids grew up with...never to be replaced.

This is a picture of Cosmo in the last few months of his life...a good memory, too. This is how he looked every morning as I went off to work.

Well, we decided to get a new Golden friend...introducing "Murphy". Here, my wife Mari and our daughter Casey accept Murphy on Monday, October 4, 2010 from Alicia Maxey at Eclipse Goldens in St. Joseph, Illinois. Alicia and her husband brought Murphy back to Illinois from StarRise Goldens in Morgantown, WV. They were getting a pup for their program, and offered to bring Murphy back, too.

Getting to know each other.

A picture of our son Ethan, who is at the University of Illinois, and Murphy. We had to stop on the way home and introduce Ethan to his new baby brother.

Murphy, up close and personal.

Murphy has found his new "spot"...in front of the kitchen sink...he can keep his eye on everybody that way...when he's awake.

I wish he'd have slept like this last night.

Murphy getting the best of his littermate, NASA, one last time before heading to Greenville.

Checking out the chow.