Family times are fun

We (me and Mom and James and Liza and Miriam) went to visit Grandpa again. There was a holiday with lots of good food and Uncle Glenn brought Daisy and we got to play and Uncle Kirk and Aunt Melissa and Jessica brought CC and Casey and, and. . .
Aaaahhh. . . okay, let me start over. We drove all the way to Grandpa's house on Monday. That's a very long ride, and I had to ride in the back of the station wagon because Liza and Miriam were on my seat. It's okay. Mom put my Mat and Towel in the back and buckled me to the hook on the back of the seat so I was safe. We stopped for Mexican food, and the lady tried to say I couldn't come in because Mom can see. I think Mom was hungry because she wasn't very happy when she explained to the lady that there are lots of kinds of service dogs. After that dinner was very calm. I lay right down next to the big horse statue and stayed quiet all the time they were eating. I like making Mom happy like that. She tells me I'm a wonderful dog and gives me lots of love.

Tuesday morning Uncle Kirk and Jessica came over to visit with us. Jessica played Pull my squeaky sock with me and Uncle Kirk played puppy with me and everybody loved on me. I LOVE going to Grandpa's house. (I'm sorry these pictures are so blurry. Mom was laughing too hard to keep the camera still.)
And then it was even more exciting- I got to go visit the Granny person and her friends. One lady didn't have legs that I could see, but her chair rolled around just fine. The ladies who were playing checkers told me I'm so cute. (Of course I am, but it's nice of you to say that.) Then Granny came out of the crowded room and we went down to the chairs so we could all visit. I smelled a cat, but I couldn't find him to see if he would play with me. Granny kept saying I'm beautiful and told me I'm a "Good Girl." Actually, Granny, I'm a boy, but that's okay. I guess she can't smell the difference. Mom says Granny used to have lots of girl dogs. I guess she doesn't remember I'm a boy and just says what she said to them. That's okay with me.

Granny said she was so happy to meet me. Uncle Kirk and Jessica have been telling her about me and she was hoping I'd come for a visit. I'm glad I made her happy too. She grabbed my ears and squashed me some, but Mom changed the game and had me do tricks for treats when I looked at her with my sad eyes. I'm glad I can count on her to take care of me. That makes it easier for me to be patient. And there's something special about Granny that she needs to be taken care of. I can help with that by making her so happy. She also liked playing Pull with my Rope. I'm good at sharing my toys. I think we'll go back again the next time we go visit Grandpa. I like making people smile.
When Aunt Melissa finished work she brought CC & Casey to play. That's the dogs I smelled when I got there last time, but I didn't get to meet them. They're really old and didn't want to play with me. I tried to be calm, but I'm a big, happy boy and they thought I was scary unless I was laying still. I couldn't do that for hours. I was too excited.
Wednesday was even more fun. Mom and James and Jessica and I went for a walk. I got to smell lots of different plants and even some new animals. They're big like the horses at my foster home, but they smell different. Mom says they're called cows. We went to the part so Jessica could play on the swings. I got to play on the bridge with her. It was kinda scary. . . There weren't any backs on the steps, and I could see through them. I thought it was metal for some reason, but it felt like plastic when I touched it, so I followed Mom up the stairs. There was a little square place and then something Mom called a "bridge." That was really scary! I could see through it, and it wobbled when I walked across it. I'm such a brave boy (at least when I can follow Mom and she remembers I don't like metal) so I followed her both ways across the bridge- TWICE!
When we got back Uncle Glenn was there. He brought Daisy! I met Daisy last time we were at Grandpa's, but Uncle Glenn made her stay outside by the tree and she barked lots so we didn't get to play. This time Mom said we needed to get along so Daisy could come inside away from the heat. It was REALLY hot. I shared my treats with her, and then I lay down on the grass so she could sniff me. I'm learning to lay down whenever I meet little dogs or little people. I don't think I'm THAT big, and Mom says I'm very lovable, so I can't figure out why people and little dogs are scared when I just want to play, but sometimes they are. I want to be friends, so I'm learning how to meet them quietly.
It worked! I like Daisy and she likes me and she knows how to play and we got to play in the house and everyone laughed!

Can you see how happy I was?

Later, when Daisy was too tired to keep up with me, I got to run around in the backyard, and smelled rabbits and deer and other critters, and played with my squeaky sock. When I ignored the little yappy dog in the yard next to Mr. Bob's Mom even let me run around without my leash on. We had to go in when the smells in the bushes got more interesting than my sock, but it was really funny when Mom threw my sock and it landed in the apple tree! I even found a yummy apple in the tree, but my tummy didn't like it, and everyone got excited when I threw up on the carpet. Grandpa took me outside and told me it was okay, he still loves me and it's easy to clean up. 

Uncle Glenn took Daisy home after dinner. Aunt Melissa took Uncle Kirk home- I hope his mouth feels better soon!- and took all the girls to see something called fireworks. Mom and James and I stayed home to keep Grandpa company. I'm glad, because there were lots of loud booms out there. I wish my girls had been home safe, but Mom said it was okay so I went to sleep.