My Big Adventure by Bella

A few weeks ago my mom gave me one of those "Whoo Hooo, we're going to a show" baths and got me all beautified and trimmed. I assumed we'd be getting up early and driving to the show as usual. This time we never really went to bed and at about 11:30 PM Dad drives Mom and I to his work! I'm still trying to figure out why the show was at Dad's work!

We were only in the parking lot for a few minutes when my buddy Hummer and his mom Claire pulled up. Our car was unloaded and reloaded in Claire's car and I was put in Hummer's crate and he was now on the back seat. Dad drove away and Mom and Claire drove for a looonnnng time! We stopped a few times to stretch our legs but back on the road again. Just as I finally decided to lay down and get some sleep the sun was coming up and we were pulling up to the biggest show I've ever seen.

This show was HUGE and for some reason kept reminding me it must be time to eat.!

You see… all over this show were pictures of my food and pink everywhere!

We had arrived at the AKC Eukanuba National Championship!

Every table we’d walk by had tasty samples which I took advantage of. I quickly started to think this has to be the best show yet and worth the long drive!

Mom would tell the person at each Eukanuba booth that I’ve been eating Eukanuba since I was eating solid food and I would instantly be turned into an infomercial about gorgeous shiny coats to the people standing around. Mom would then collect extra big bags full of cool gifts and I would fill my belly with extra tasty snacks. We had a great system going!

When Mom could carry not another pink bag and I couldn’t eat another treat we decided to find our hotel and take a nap. So that’s pretty much how spent Friday at the show.

When we got to our hotel Mom and I walked through the lobby (and through the crowd that always seems to form around us out of nowhere) and into a small room with windows all around it. The doors shut behind us and the floor start to feel a little unstable. As we watched out the window the ground below started to move farther away from us. As the room got higher and I saw the things below get smaller and smaller I went lower and lower. By the time the room landed I was on my belly!! This was no room but a glass elevator and we were traveling up 5 stories!
Mom says I bolted out of the elevator like a bull but I was just anxious to see my half brother Ty who was already in our room. I rode the elevator many times after that and stood on all four legs but I didn’t care to watch out the window. Mom just held my head and I held my breath! Mom says she was very proud of me for being so brave.

Mom says I shouldn’t have told Hummer about the glass elevator because he did not want to get in to go up to our room. Ty decided to get on one side of him and I took his other side and we talked him in. I told him not to look out the window but I think he did because that was the last ride my buddy Hummer took on the scary glass elevator.

Here's some pictures of my Big Adventure......

Mom scored a cute pink Eukanuba scarf for me a one of the booths.

The boys and I had fun playing in the hotel room.

Ty, Hummer and I each found a place to settle down for the night.

This is me having a dream I was competing in the labrador deck jump we saw at the show!

Mom says my legs were really kicking!

In my dream...

I checked the pool first. Us newfs always practice water safety

This will be the spot I jump from...... and I think I can jump farther than any lab and win this!

I run fast and leeeeeap!

The crowd cheers as I swim back to ramp!!!!!

After a good night's sleep Hummer, Ty and I are getting ready for the Big Show!

Ay! Caramba!!!..Boys! look at that getting ready just across from us!

Nervously waiting to go into the ring

Here I go......Wow.. a show on plush blue carpets and red velvets ropes. I wish Sophie was here to see this.

I got 2nd place and Ty got first place! Hummer had to compete with a lot of other Champions and looked very handsome and did an absolutly perfect free stack right in front of the judge.

The Olympic Gold Medal gymnast (and winner of Dancing with the Stars) Shaun Johnson came to watch the Newfs compete for Best in Breed but ended up playing with me instead while her cameras kept rolling. Hopefully I'll make the cut and be on TV in Feb. when this show airs.

We said good bye to Ty and his mom as they drove off heading for home.

While Hummer and I slept Mom and Claire watched Groups and Best in Show!

Mom and Claire decided to change hotels and get a room with no glass elevator and an air conditioner for our 2nd night- we agreed!

Ahhh much better....ZZZ (Bella) zzzzzz( Hummer) ZZZZZ (Bella) zzzzz(Hummer)

Hummer and I got a good night sleep in our new hotel room before the long drive home. No glass elevator and an air conditioner on high!

So that was my big adventure!

Bella

Happy Birthday Sweet Sophie

Sent straight from heaven to us 7 years ago

CH, CGC Bonnie Bay's Heaven Sent

(Sophie)

Ready to party

Party Animal

Birthday Pool Party

Oh come on ... can we stay in a little longer??

I'm shopping for just the perfect birthday gift for Sophie

I wonder if she'd want one of these??

It sounds like they have good squeakers

These cookies look good

I know she likes cookies

Maybe a new outfit...... I don't see her size

Wow now here is something she might like

These down here smell really good.... I think she'd like one of these

Maybe a new toy

These look like fun but I'm going to keep looking

Haa heee heee This is hilarious!!! Life jackets for dogs!!

She does not need one of these

I think I found it!!

Or maybe one of these....

No... I think I found the perfect gift

In the basket it goes before I change my mind again

Sophie taking a dip

Bella's Chewbacca Sounds

Ump! Did she buy that toy for me or for her???

Well.... It Happened Again

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

In Grimaldi Italy at the beach house

Mom spotted a Terranova!!

Hiking down to Cinque Terre

1000 year old fortified city and castle in Parma Italy

Touring a Parmesan cheese factory and farm in Parma Italy

4th time to Venice!!Back to hotel Ovidius on the Grand CanalViews from the balcony

Sophie