Biker beagle

On Friday morning the boys were outside after breakfast and I was drinking my coffee. I heard a single piercing shriek from Sherman which is his trademark hunting noise. Then silence. A few moments later I saw him heading to the doggy door with what appeared to be Mr. Unstuffed Raccoon toy in his mouth. Except it wasn’t Mr. Raccoon. Sherm came inside with what now appeared to be a dead bunny in his mouth. I grabbed him and yelled for Phillip who ran downstairs and blessedly took over. He managed to pry open Sherman’s mouth and the dead bunny dropped to the floor. Except it wasn’t dead, it was alive and quickly hopped under the couch. Phillip beat the beagles to it and brought it outside on the other side of the fence. I washed my hands for the next fifteen minutes (just kidding!) and Sherman thankfully went back to bed.

This is our friend Cathy on her new motorcycle! Doesn’t Sherman look tough up there?

Party’s over

This sums up the day after a beaglefest: soda cans and tired beagles. It was a great party. There were about 30 people and Phillip counted 27 dogs.

I’ve known Karen S. (right) for years but this was the first time I’d met Susan in DE!

And I also met Audrey-Mom Of Buddy & Holly In NJ. What fun to put faces to names! Audrey was just one of the many guests who allowed Sherman in the house so that they could rub his tummy.

Audrey took this photo of Phillip and a bunch of beagles who wanted in on the 6′ sub sandwich. Hard to blame them, it was delicious.

Open for discussion: April 24

Please keep Uncle Bob and Nancy in your thoughts – they lost their 5-year old daschund Baronness yesterday morning. She’d been sick for just a few days and it turned out to be a pancreatic tumor. You know how much Bob loves Sherman — he loved his Pupadoodles even more.

Passover

It’s amazing how much stuff you have to pack just for one night when you’re bringing the beagles. The crate, two beds, dog food hidden way up front under the seat. This year we started a new tradition of going to Phillip’s niece and hubby’s (Gabrielle and Chad) home in Connecticut.

Chad is allergic to dog hair but the dogs were welcome anyway, with the proviso that they stay off the furniture. I swear, we did our best. This was during the seder. Moses did not arrive until just as we were leaving so I’m sorry I can’t share photos of him.

But how about this cute baby? He’s Coleman, Gabrielle and Chad’s 18 month old son. Who is going to be a big brother this summer…of twins!

And this is Shannah, Gabrielle’s sister. She just got married last month in New Zealand!

And joy rang out across the land

Uncle Bob x 6

Because Uncle Bob doesn’t use the doorbell, sometimes he’s already seated and ready to start the love fest before the boys realize he’s here. When they do…oh my!

The littles

My niece Rachel, hubby Bryan and their children Mia and Ari came for a whirlwind visit this week during their trip to New York (they live in Seattle). Mia is 28 months old and this is about the happiest she was with the boys. Mia is not particularly fond of dogs.

As you can imagine, we had to keep her apart from them when she ate.

Sherman is training them young. Ari is 6 months old and already learning the importance of tummy rubs.

This much cute should keep you going for awhile!

High fashion

Uncle Bob and Aunt Nancy got the boys Snuggies for Hanukkah! Stanley’s is red plaid and neither of the boys particularly enjoyed wearing them, but let’s face it, a photo op is a photo op. Uncle Bob and Sherman were playing “High Five” here. Too cute.

You were warned

My sister, niece, Ari and I did a little shopping yesterday followed by lunch. Rachel wore Ari in a front pack and he napped for a couple of hours. Later, when he was ready for another nap I offered to take him for a walk in the same pack, so Rachel could go for a run. Wow. Forty years of swimming did not prepare my back muscles to lug around a fifteen pound sleeping baby. This is probably why you need to be young to have children!

Ari

This is 3-1/2 month old Ari, my new great-nephew, with his Nana, my sister Nancy.