Happy Barkday (!) to our Dogdad

Tomorrow is our Dogdad's barkday!!! Sadly though, he will be in Alabama most of the day for project meetings so, even if we bark and bark as loud as we can (which we have been doing much of the time since he left yesterday morning -- to Mom's great "delight"), he may not hear us.

Last year was a milestone barkday. We had a big "real" party with lots of friends and family.

But this year -- what to do?

Mom had the first idea. She "invested" in the season Major League Baseball package so he (and we) could watch our Cardinals play almost all of their games. Which we have!!!

But then, we had another idea. What would Dogdad like more than anything we wondered? We looked at each other. Then we looked at Mom. She got it immediately and said, "You're right!! What clever boys!"

And that's how what you see below happened.



Yep! It's a painting of the two of us by none other than the amazingly creative Ms. Asta's mommi!!!! She painted us as a surprise for Dogdad last month and we actually managed to keep it as a surprise until this past Saturday afternoon.

That's when Mom said to Dogdad. "OK, I can't wait any longer. The Boyz got you a very special birthday present. It's hidden somewhere in this house. If you find it and realize it's for you -- then it's yours."

So the four of us embarked (no pun) on a scavenger hunt. First downstairs. No place to hide unless you count the back of the refrigerator or underneath Mom's desk or behind the bookcases. (He looked in all those places.) Then we went upstairs. Bedroom? Under the bed? Bedroom closet? Back bedroom? Back bedroom closet? Guest room? Guest room closet? Aha!! What's this?????

And yes, he absolutely loves it -- and so do we -- tail wags and scritches all around.

The only dilemma? Where shall we hang it?

That will wait until he comes home late tomorrow.

So Happy Barkday Dad. We love you!!! We love running together on the golf course and tying you up in our leashes!! We love hearing you shout LEAVE IT!! when we bark at a car door outside at 5:30 am! We love riding in the car with you! We love your sneaking us treats when Mom says no! We love all of us sitting on the couch and watching the baseball games! And we even love (don't tell) sitting on your lap and getting plucked! (Hah!)

And thank you, thank you, thank you Aunt Ami!! (and Asta and her daddi as well who packed it for shipping and had close up and personal conversations with UPS when they seemed to have forgotten where we live!!)

Wirey love,

Jake and Just Harry