The Girls: Sophie and Isabella: July 2009

It all started shortly after our 4th of July party….. the buzzing around.. the packing … the unpacking and repacking… and then the instructions given to our boys (Justin and Chad) about how to take care of Mom’s tomatoes and Dad’s lawn. I wasn’t worried until I heard Mom showing the long list of instructions to the boys several times and almost quizzing them about how much food, vitamins and cookies we can have, where to walk us and what brushes to use. I got a sick feeling in my stomach.

You see I’ve seen this all before but only 3 times in my lifetime. I wasn’t ready to accept it so I put it out of my mind until one night Mom didn’t go to bed at all! The packing and packing and the lists for the boys started up again and my gut started telling me this wasn’t good.

Bella wouldn’t hear any of my suspicions and just got herself all excited because she thought we were going to the Carmel dog show to cheer on Hummer. I tried to explain to Bella that… sure we were groomed and bathed and trimmed like we’re going on a road trip to Carmel but other things were just NOT adding up and I’ve seen this happen 3 other times.

Bella continued to follow Mom from room to room ALL NIGHT and would run to the garage door to be ready to put on her leash. I finally gave up and went to bed with Dad. At 3:00 AM Mom comes in and wakes Dad and I up. We never leave for a show at 3:00 AM and my worse suspicions are coming true…

They’re going to Italy again!!

I just went in the living room and watched more buzzing around and more packing. Poor Bella just wouldn’t believe me when I told her we weren’t going to a show and continued to run to the garage door and stay on Mom’s heels. I just sat in the living room by myself and worked on mustering up my saddest face in hopes of changing their minds to stay home.

After big hugs and kisses bye they were gone… and Bella just stood there for a long time before going back to bed. Actually Bella was so upset she barked and cried for few days. Our boys tried hard to comfort her but nothing worked.
I knew I was in charge now so I'd have to hold down the fort until Mom and Dad come back from Italy. Oh and by the way they’re going to France too so this may be a long one.

I told myself not to lick my missing toenail because Mom wouldn’t want me to do that. I tried to refrain from playing with Bella too rough in the house and to still eat my dinner even though my stomach doesn’t like to eat when Mom and Dad go away for a long time. Our boys took us for walks, swims and lots of cookies. It’s a good thing Mom left a lot of cookies for us because the boys are easier to get cookies from.

Finally after what seemed like two months since Mom and Dad left I heard our boy Justin leave late at night. I didn’t think much about it until I started counting the days and wondered if this could be the day Mom and Dad come home. I had just fallen asleep when I heard Mom yelling from the front porch our names!

Oh happy day!!! After lots of hugs and slobbery kisses Mom tells Bella and I we’re getting a big scrubbing first thing in the morning. I guess it had been a month since our last bath! We didn’t care…. we were just happy to have them home.

The next morning Mom and Dad took us for walk at 6:00AM! Their sleeping hours seemed to be a bit off but we didn’t mind… we were just happy to have them home. Mom saw that my toenail is growing back nicely now so I was able to finally walk our usual route and not just walk on soft park grass.

After our walk Mom worked on grooming me for hours and hours. She laughed at my shaggy feet, long shaggy ears and kitty cat whiskers. I didn’t mind I was just happy to have them home again.

Mom met a Newfie in Italy or should I say a “Terranova”. Mom and Dad had been gone for several weeks and were missing us badly now. While listening to a concert in San Remo Italy Mom spotted the Terranova from far away walking with his dad. Mom ran so fast over to the Terranova it startled the man but after showing the 50+ pictures of us on her phone he understood her excitement. The man thought Bella and I were very beautiful and wanted to know how Mom keeps our coat so beautiful and how to trim our feet and ears. Somehow the man and Mom were able to communicate about their Newfies for quite some time. Remember the man doesn’t speak English and Mom doesn’t speak much Italian. Dad told us it was hilarious watching the two of them “talking” or sharing about their Newfies/Terranovas.

In Paris