Happy Birthday, Bitty and Bear

One year ago, two little creatures entered our lives. They terrorized our nights with banshee screams, peed on every inch of carpet and turned our organized home into slightly manageable chaos.




And I couldn't have been happier.






There was the first bath...



The night time snuggles...



The patter of little puppy paws behind me wherever I went...





And the sight of a little head trying to hide in our covers at night.




One year later, Bitty and Bear are even more fun than they were as little puppies that could fit in my palm.



To celebrate this grand occasion, we had all sorts of wondrous festivities planned in the Pond.




All sorts of friends attended,


including Bear's new friend the Moose.




Since Bitty had already ordered all her royal subjects to attend,





Her birthday activities included showing off her new gems.




The puppies and their guests (and ordered servants) then dined on chopped hot dog and nachos made from a corn tortilla and the finest shredded cheese.





For several moments, the only sounds in the Pond include polite snorting, wuffling with joy and slurping as hot dogs and nachos were dragged all over the kitchen floor. They were quite enthusiastic about their meal.





In fact, Bitty enjoyed her meal so much she stole the last nacho and retired to the kitchen rug, growling at all who stepped too close to her birthday treat.





Of course, there is more.



As no birthday in the Pond ever last one day (mine last a month), the Babies will also celebrate tomorrow evening with peanut butter puppy pies and chicken chew sticks provided by the Blond Duck's mom.


After such a wonderful birthday, Bear could only wuffle one last request.




Yo quiero peanut butter puppy pie, pronto.



Wuffle.


Happy Birthday to the Pond's Babies!


Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! This weekend, we have the Rubber Chicken's gallant search for his fuzzy love and more whimsical fun! Next week, stay tuned for a new Twirl, Gift and tasty recipe (that for now, shall remain secret!)

The Search for a Moose in the Pond

Bear was depressed.


You see, all he had wanted for Christmas was a moose. Just a moose to ride on through the backyard, past all the tall grass and over the cold sidewalks.



But Santa hadn't brought him a moose. He had brought him plenty of toys and treats, new Chihuahua Christmas friends, and even some new clothes. But there wasn't a moose in sight.

Wuffle.

It was enough to make a puppy wuffle with all his might.

Finally, one day, Bitty had enough.

"Stop wuffling!" she bellowed. "We're going to go find a moose!"


Then the Babies realized they had no idea where a moose lived. In fact, they didn't know what a moose looked like.




They looked in the dishwasher.





They checked the pantry.




They checked the loveseat cushions. Bear was thrilled to find a chew stick.




They checked under the entertainment center and found another chew stick. Bitty claimed it. After all, she is the Queen.





There were no mooses in the hallway.




Nor in the bathroom.




There wasn't anything in Ben's office either. Not even a dead spider.

Finally, the Babies gave up the search. They trotted into the Blond Duck and Ben's room for snuggle time.



And ran smack into a moose.

"A moose!" Bear cried. "A moose! A real moose! Sent to me by Santa!"




"Pardon me," the moose said, looking perturbed. "I'm not anyone's present from Santa. I simply live in the Land of the Flowered Bed."



Bear felt his hopes fade away. "So I can't ride on your back in the tall grass out back? I can't run to the mailbox with you and scare the mean dogs? We can't go ice skating on the kitchen floor?"

"Of course!" the Moose cried. "That's what friends do!"






And just like that, Bear had a new friend in the Moose. Even if the Moose had to stay in the Blond Duck's bedroom due to the fact Bitty had the overwhelming urge to shred it like her other toys.




He had never been happier. In fact, he wuffled with joy.


Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Tomorrow we have a new Twirl! Thursday we have the new cookbook series of bbq chicken and baked beans, and a interview with the cookie-stealing bunny Friday. Stay tuned!

A bit one-handed

Hello. My name is Gary the Gorilla.



I'd look you in the eye, but I'm afraid they've been chewed off. You see, I'm one of Bear and Bitty's toys. One of their favorite toys. They like me a lot.



Maybe a little too much.




It all started off so innocently. We were playing a nice game of gorilla in the middle when suddenly...it happened. I was a two armed gorilla one minute, a one armed gorilla the next.



And it's not just Bear. Don't worry, it didn't hurt. I have a lot of stuffing. It's simply a bit inconvenient. It's hard to play basketball with one arm. And eating macaroni cheese? A total mess.



Just let him have his fun.




Ok now. Can I have my arm back?



Please? Pretty please?




Oh now you're just teasing me. Quit scraping off the green fuzz with your teeth! My arm is not an artichoke leaf.



If only I was a starfish.



Stop wuffling. You're not the one missing an arm. You're sorry, you say? You can't help being a toy destroying machine? You can't resist the siren call of stuffing and torn threads? Well, I forgive you. You did destroy the dolphin. And now he looks better than ever after his surgery! I'm sure I'll look great. Maybe I can even be a gorilla model. I look good in green.



I'll just wait here awhile until the doctor can see me. I hope I don't get the same plastic surgeon as last time. She really messed up my nose job.


Seven things about the Babies:

1) They were born Jan.29, 2008.

2) They sleep in the same bed snuggled up.

3) They are the only dogs that literally scream when scared.

4) Bitty is only 4 lbs. and full grown. Bear is 7 lbs. He has a tummy. He likes to show it off by flopping over at night and airing himself out.

5) Bear carries his dolphin all over the house. They're inseparable. If Bitty tries to play with the dolphin, Bear freaks out and barks at her.

6) Bitty is convinced the wind is out to get us. She informs us of this daily. Loudly.

7) I had to do it.



I can't help myself.