today, it doesn't matter

Today, it doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter how much you lick the baby...
it doesn't matter how much you scratch the back door,
it doesn't matter how many times you need to be carried up and down the stairs,
we don't care how much you bark at the back fence,
it doesn't matter how much grass you dig up or how many flower pots turned over,
it doesn't matter how long it takes you to eat,
it doesn't matter if you sneak out the front door when we aren't looking or wriggle out of your collar on a walk,
it doesn't matter how much you lick his ears or how weak your back legs have gotten.

Today, we found out that you might not be with us much longer

and you may be here much shorter than that.

  

Go ahead and lay at our feet, 

beg to be pet,

lay where you wish,

lick us all,

play chase,

beg at the back door for dinner that won't be served for 3 hours,

drool to your heart's content all over the clean floors,

shed mounds of fur,

get up and bounce around the room to go outside at midnight,

take your time sniffing instead of walking when we go out after dinner,

lick the baby like she is your own,

take your time eating despite all the commotion around you,

lay in the afternoon sun,

sleep at the foot of our bed,

bark at the front door as loud as you wish,

and fight to be here as long as you want to.

But please help us know when we need to let go.

It breaks our hearts to think of spending any time here without you both.

Thanks for being our good boys...always.

good boys

Thank you, good boys.  

We all too often forget to thank you both for your unending patience with this busy house.

We all sincerely apologize for the lack of consistent walks, pets, and grooming lately.  We love you both dearly and never tire of your fur at our feet.  Wherever I am at home, I am never alone, you are always close by--what comfort that provides us all!

Don't give up on us, we'll get our act together soon...I promise!

the inseparable bond

My girl loves her boy.  You may remember that they are eating buddies from this post.  Lately, {along with mothering just about anything that could be mothered} my girl has shown great interest in taking care of her pointed-eared boy.  Along with feeding him, playing with him and making beds for him to lay on, she insists on walking him.  This doesn't happen too much these days because of the heat, but when it does, she is in heaven.  She walks down the street giggling as she follow along after her boys.  

My boys

My faithful friends who love so dear,

Thank you for standing by as I gather myself, 

For being patient as I mother children,

For often foregoing our long evening walks to get the kids bathed,

For licking the cheeks of the giggly babe,

For posing for many a photo,

For playing chase with us,

For cleaning up the floor after a child's messy meal,

For the long strings of drool that fall from your jowls when a treat is near,
For your perky attitude and spry ways even when you can no longer hear,
For always waiting,
For loving each other,
and

For always loving me.

I promise we will run wild and free again soon.