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Tag Archives: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Jun 26 2009

SOPHIE & GRANDMA & GRANDPA HARKOV

Posted in PERSONAL

While Mr. Hallmark and I were in California last week, we left our little one with Grandma and Grandpa Harkov. Leaving her for the first time was a little traumatic for me, I’m not going to lie, but Mr. Hallmark was completely nonchalant about the matter. I mean, it’s not like he made a detailed excel spreadsheet outlining her eating, bathroom, command, and walking schedule or anything. I mean, we’re not those people. Pfff! Please! We couldn’t even pretend to be OCD if we tried! (Note. the. sarcasm.) OK, so I know we’re a little crazy about our Sophie, but we look into those big brown eyes and just turn to mush. (And I thought I’d be a tough mom one day…uh oh…)

Grandma & Grandpa Harkov were a tremendous help to us and despite our ambivalence to leave Sophie, we felt so assured knowing she was in such good hands running around in the country for a few days while we soaked up some California sun with the Jensen clan.

Sometimes I don’t believe how lucky I am. I’ve been unbelievably blessed with a truly wonderful family and I married into an equally extraordinary family. My second parents, as I like to call them, are truly amazing. They aren’t my in-laws, they are my second parents. I called them Mom & Dad the day Mr. Hallmark & I got married and it instantly felt right. Having moved away from my entire immediate family of 23, the Harkov’s completely welcomed and embraced me into their family and are some of the most loving, kind, generous, and thoughtful people I’ve ever known, let alone had the privilege to call Mom & Dad. They aren’t the biggest fans of having their picture taken, but I had to pay a small tribute to them. Thanks Mom & Dad! I love you guys!

Happy Friday!

LOVE this sweet moment…

3 comments

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Marianne Kedo

Maggie~the love you share in this story is so sweet. You and Ari really are blessed to be loved by two wonderful families. These pictures really provide insight into Ari’s parents . . . so much warmth and love. And, Sophie is adorable:) XO

maggie harkov

:) Thanks Mom & Dad so happy to have you on the pages of maggieharkov.com!

Ron and Kathy

Thanks for the beautiful words and photos. I cannot believe that my wrinkles are that deep…how did you actually get a picture of Kathy???? We feel so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter, who is also a great artist.

Love,
Dad and Mom (EC)

Jun 24 2009

OUR SOPHIE

Posted in PERSONAL

After years of begging, and months of strategically placing different puppy breed and obedience training books around the apartment where I thought Mr. Hallmark might happen to stumble upon them, he finally agreed. We could get a puppy.

In typical Hallmark form, we wasted no time. We immersed ourselves in everything puppy. We took quizzes to help us pick the right breed, found a breeder we loved, read books, picked a vet, puppified the apartment so it would be safe and ready for its arrival, bought all the necessary supplies and drove up to Maryland, ready to find the perfect puppy for us.

As newlyweds, what better gift to give one another than a puppy who would fill our home with fun, joy, and love? (i.e fur, late nights and early mornings, scratches on the hardwood floor, holes in our socks, and accidents on every square inch of our new apartment) and we were right. Sophie has changed our lives for the better and we can’t imagine our lives without her now.

When we walked into our breeders home, all of the little 12 week old puppies came running over to us, except for one. Crouched beneath the couch, with only her little head peaking out, Sophie looked out at us with her big baby brown eyes and we were hooked. Moments later, while we were petting her brother, Sophie came over and crawled confidently into my lap and she never left. This was our puppy.

Sophie came into our New York City apartment and made it feel even more like home. She has filled our lives with so much happiness and we are simply smitten with her. We adore her enthusiasm. We love how she runs to greet us when we’ve just come up from taking the garbage out like she hasn’t seen us in a month. We love that she bolts through the front door when she & I come back from our walk, jumping up on the bed and licking his face with an incredible fervor to wake Mr. Hallmark from his slumber. We love how she sits by the door waiting for him to come home. We love how she knows when to just be calm and be there. We. love. her. She has the ability to make us smile and laugh constantly and has filled our home with an irreplaceable joy. We simply adore her. She’s our Sophie.