Happy Gotcha Day to Me! Happy New Year to Yeu!... And Playing a Little Catch Up!

On the morning of December 26, 2008, I came here for a two night sleep-over with my Cousin The Luke... And on the day I was supposed to return to my Awesome Foster Home with The Herd, the woman now known as my the Mom made some kind of excuse... that carried over to the next day, and then again with regularity over the course of the next week.

This was not surprising, since [as I've come to understand] the entire sleep-over was a little of a setup. You see, I had been living with The Herd for almost nine months. And in that time, a few things happened:

1. I really fit in with The Herd. I love it there, and they love me. If I hadn't been Number 6, I would still be there. My Aunt Madison and Uncle Tom recognized that, with my shy and quirky personality, I easily got lost in The Herd.
2. I never made it onto the GRRH website, because my Aunt Madison was determined to hand select my Forever Family. She understands me, and she wanted to make sure that she could always maintain contact with her The Bleu!
3. The Luke and I got along from the day we met, because we understood each other. There were no jealousies between us. There was no competition. He wanted to be in charge, and I wanted him to be! Ha.
4. At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, the Mom committed to me. She made it official with my Aunt Madison, Uncle Tom and GRRH later in the day, January 1, 2009!

Our week long sleep-over was so comfortable... It was like magic, the way we fit together as a Family. And now, here we are today...

One Lucky Mom,
Three Wonderful Years
and
One Very Happy Me!!!

We've had a great day today. I've been playful and feeling well. I have eaten as many treats as I have breakfast and dinner foods. I ate some blackeyed  peas for good luck, I've squeaked my duck and I've made significant progress on my antler!

And now, I'd like to share some of my Christmas photos with you!

This is me with my gift from Aunt Dav!

Aunt Dav gave us this really GReat pillow, and this bag... just for me! 

DuckDuck!!!

Also in the bag... Berry Treats!!! Mmmmmm.....

Also from Aunt Dav...Gingerbread Buddy Biscuits!!![shhh..shhhhh... shhh. I'm not sure I'm telling Reuf about this!]

My Aunt Karen came by Christmas Eve to hug my neck.
She also delivered this sack... straight from Santa!!! 

It says "Have a Jolly Christmas"
and it's monogrammed...!

Yes, Yes... Nice sack!

Now let's open it, Mom!!!

Oh My, Oh My...
That Sweet Sack was chock full of the Fun Toys!!!

I'm such a polite boy...

How many more photos does a the Mom need?

Seriously... These toys need less photo ops, and more attention!

And just when I think the Holiday can't get any better...
I open my gifts from The Herd!
[I think, technically, I am expected to share the Salmon Biscuits with Reufus, but...
shhhhhh....shhhh...shhhhhh!]

That Bleu Dragon is begging for my attention!!!

Yep, Yep. Mine!!!

Now, I know that not many sweet yet manly boys would appreciate three PLUSH bath mats for Christmas, but I love the two rugs that my Uncle Tom gave me to take with me on treatment days, and I was thrilled when Santa delivered these, just like... those!!!

Yay!!!
I guess Santa really does know everything!
We had three spots that were begging for temporary rugs!!!

Toys and Treats and Rugs are wonderful,
and I love each and every one of mine!
What I love most about Christmas
is exactly what I love most about Every Single Day.


I love The Little Things.
I love the Mom.
I love Family.
I love Time.


And yes... I love my Fluffy Tail!!!

It's true that we face and fight the enemy every day, and there's a certain amount of stress in that... for the Mom, I know. We won't let that change the Spirit in Our Home.

I love the Song.
I love the Chatter.
I love the Laughter.
I love the Love.

Though I am faced with adversity,
My Life is Merry!
I'm grateful to each and every one of Yeu...
for The Power of The Paw...
for The Energy that flows through Team Bleu!!!

I'm SO not a needy boy,
If times weren't so critical, I wouldn't impose, but...
Please to keep up the Prayers, Positive and Healing Thoughts!I desparately need this protocol to be successful...
And Your Support... ROCKS!!!

Saturday Similarities: GRRH Meet and Greet!

It was kinda funny, because Reufus and the Mom were shnuggling in the bed this morning. I was napping on the floor in the bedroom, just halfway listening to their quiet festival of love and just chatter...

I head the Mom ask Reuf if he wanted to go to the GRRH Meet and Greet today to find a new home. I quickly got up from my little nest to see if I might help him gather up his kong and miscellaneous other belongings!!!

Is it Reufus or is it...

The Jaxon!!!

Jax is a one year old stray and Sweet Boy!!!
He's super cute and unfortunatley...
heartworm positive.
[Yes... at one year of age.]

Jaxon is an awesome boy!!!

And here is... The Jackie!!!

Sweet Girl!!!

Happy Girl!!!

And just so you don't worry...

Little Reufus never left home!!!

The Mom and I may joke, and we may play plot... We bond over our humorous fantasies, and we love sneaking treats behind his back, but the fact of the matter is...

We both love Our Reufus... with All of Our Hearts!!!

He hasn't always made life or love easy on us...

He's so animated and energetic and busy... And sometimes he's SO hell bent on expressing love for us, that he leaves no room for US to express our love for HIM!!!

Training has helped a lot, and we continue to...TRAIN!

I also know it must be hard for Reufus to continually be compared to me [by the Mom, if by noone else]. That puts him at the worst of disadvantages, because I am PERFECTION!!

The Mom's trainers speak with authority about managing the multi-boy home, about inequalities, and about each boy having unique needs. And we continue to work on it!!!

Reuf is an integral part of Our Family. He's on My Team. Go Team Bleu!
UPDATE!!! Jaxson found his Forever Family!!! Great news for him!!! Please consider helping another GRRH Golden by Fostering or Adopting!

Howl-O-Ween Fest & Other Fun!

We awoke bright and early to very cool airs outside and also my favorite thing about morning which is tasty breakfast food! Just after that, I began to notice the kind of nonchalent activity pattern that a The Smart Boy will associate with a trolley ride!

A trolley ride to the very fun Howl-O-Ween Festival at Bridgeland!

Thank Heavens we had Exhibitor parking passes, and we easily deboarded the trolley and made our way to the GRRH tent. We did not do so directly, as Reuf and I both did BIG BUSINESS right in front of the event greeters. The Mom was terribly embarassed, and with a huge bag [15 pounds of costumes, water, bowls, flyers and business bags] in one hand, and two leashes in the other... she began shuffling about, trying to get to the business bags, when...

The greeters quickly assured her 'No worries, it's a DOG EVENT!', and almost before the business was produced, there was someone there to scoop it up! Wow, I thought... this is like FIVE STAR!

Once we settled in at our tent, I asked that everyone turn their heads... and the Mom helped me dress in my costume. The one issue we didn't address in our rehearsal... was the leash.

We tried several adjustments, as we worked through the various and several wardrobe malfunctions... with little success, but oh well.

My lapel was a little askew, but I made up for it with my adorable freckle.

"Welcome to the GRRH tent. I am very successful GRRH Alumnus, Dr. The Bleu!"

"Yes, You may pet me... And please!"

My patented, 'Armpit Maneuver' where I slip between the arm and the torso, without my intended really even noticing. Thank you, Diana! 

I love this little boy. He gave me very good and tender attention. He really liked me, too.

In fact, the firemen were giving demonstrations just a few feet away, and they were letting children climb all over their truck. This little boy's the mom kept encouraging him to participate... but he wanted to stay with me.

The closest we came to a photo of me and Reuf together...

Just a glimpse of my Cousin Zeke!

Oh yeah... And Reuf rocked his rocket!

The slightly-reserved-always-polite-in-public Reufus... really came out of his shell today.

He was gentle. He did very little jumping up and climbing in laps [Thank you, Tracie... Reuf's favorite trainer... and the Mom for her consistency! This has been little squirt's biggest social problem to overcome!]

Clearly, the rocket has some alignment issues. Must recalculate trajectory data.

Reufus had a joyous time...

He was very gentle and I would say mannerly if he hadn't tumped over this little girl's beverage. No worries as nothing spilled, but her the mom moved the cup...

And our the Mom will be heading out to buy sippy cups for herself in the morning!

I offer you the difference between Reality and the movies (and cartoons)! This position does not lend itself to maximum trajectory but just a circle...

Much better!!!

Sticks or Treats, Sticks or Treats...
Sticks ARE Treats!

... until your little brother steals it from you!
[And now maybe you understand why I crafted for him... a rocket!]

After a while, the Mom undressed us and I have to tell you... It felt good to be naked!

I give credit where it's due, and Reufus wore his costume like a big boy today. I think he just needed to hear people tell him how cute he was and admire it... and he was all good. That said, he also did very much revel in his nakedness.

In case I've never mentioned it, I'm a BIG fan of Thing 2!

Oh, yeah...

It was SUCH a fun day!
There were SO many wonderful costumes on display at the festival,
and the Mom is disappointed that she wasn't physically able to photograph them all.
Here is a teeny tiny sampling...

Pumpkin

Winged Dragon... sorta

Sexy Lady... MmmmHmmm...

Ruffled Cuteness

And drum roll, please...
The very very VERY best costume we saw all day...
Worn by the strikingly adorable Gumball...

Banana Split!

I think I speak for all of us when I say...
"I hate to say goodbye to a banana split!"

[The Mom said to tell you that the Gumball had very seductive ears. She could have loved on them all day!]

It was a wonderful day. The festival was well planned and hugely successful. Tons of people and dogs attended. The Mom wished she had been able to walk and shop and eat, because there was a huge range of entertainment, presentations, vendors and eatables... but she just wasn't able. Old gal had what she said are Responsibilities, but Reuf and I call ourselves The Wright Brothers.

We stayed about 4 hours and then the Mom began to worry about the me. Traffic was heavy, and it took over an hour to get home. We were all pretty exhausted, so we laid down for a nap...

The Mom and Reufus would still be sleeping, but I woke them up... HUNGRY! And the dinner foods were served and we all went outside,  and then I parked myself by the nightstand.

You know... the nightstand with the drawer that holds the antlers. And SCORE! Once we settled in for the evening, the Mom being exhausted, delivered the antlers for our evening entertainment

chew chew chew chew chew chew
nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom

Poor Reufus. What's his problem?
He's got TWO antlers on the big bed.

But again... He wants mine.

We continue to work on Reuf's willingness to share, and we're making progress. It's stressful on the Mom, but we have worked quite hard and are pleased to report very good results. Tonight, though he really wanted MY antler, he did NOT steal it. And that's great progress.

The antlers have now been picked up. Reuf and I have just gotten started on our evening, but the old gal aka our the Mom has just announced that it is night-night-bedtime.

I close by saying... I'm grateful for this beautiful day. I'm thankful for my wonderful friends. I'm blessed!