It is HOT!

Dear Gavin,

Oh, my boy, it has been so very hot here! Gramma says that the heat has attracted all manner of rif-raf. I asked the others and they are as baffled as I am about this new word. Oscar tells me that if I just listen to what she is saying I should be able to figure her out. I don't know about that.......

There have been like a million people in and out of the store door. Oscar was right, I am tired of barking at people. It is just not fun anymore. I still get to see some people every now and then but Gramma is so busy that she just keeps working all the time! She closed the store early yesterday and played with us in the back yard. A storm nearly blew that fence down and she warned us to stay away from it because it might fall on us before Papa has a chance to fix it. That would not be good!

Gramma has been sick! She said her ear hurt and that she couldn't hear out of it. That was yesterday. Today she doesn't have much of a voice. Poor Gramma, she hasn't slept good either. She kept waking me up coughing. That's what Oscar said she was doing. At first I thought she was trying to bark!! People don't bark unless they are making fun of us dogs, you know, so I was really confused when she did it in her sleep. You never know with Gramma, though, she does some crazy stuff!

She said we all due for a bath tonight. I am going to try hiding from her. She knows all my hiding spots and I have been looking around to find a better one......... I usually get under the table, because she doesn't life to crawl after me. The last time I did that she moved the table! She is very strong when you make her mad! I guess I will just have to let her bathe me even if I don't think it is necessary.

I am missing you! Gramma let me sniff your cot and I sort of howled. She laughed at me! she said it was pitiful attempt and that I should listen more closely to Oscar and Emmy. They think they are so smart! I wish you were here, we could play tug of war or ball....or just lay in front of the TV. I miss you a lot!

Your dog,
Wall-E

I Miss You!

Dear Gavin,

I know I told you in a letter that I thought it would be fun to ride in that wagon behind the tricycle.............. sorry I jumped out. I was scared! I thought to myself, "Oh, no, this whole thing could turn over!" I must confess that I did not realize what a careful driver you were. Emmy said she had a very pleasant ride with you. And now you are gone and I find myself wishing for another chance!

Where did you go? You were here..... I know you were, I saw you. You played with me and I slept with you every night. Then all of a sudden the house was very quiet........ and you weren't here any more. Where did you go? I miss you!

There were a lot of people here. I saw Maya and Jada and Zara. I had the greatest time under the table when all you guys ate. You dropped some really yummy food for me. Oscar and Emmy liked it, too! I really like Baby Zara. She gave me pretzels...... then she chased me! I remember a long time ago when I still lived in Minnesota. I went to your Uncle Jeffy's house with you. Baby Zara didn't even know how to walk! She can run now. It was okay, though, because I can still run faster than her and I ate everything she gave me. She never caught me!

Did you go with your Aunt Diane? I know I never saw your mom come back..... but there were a lot of people here. I saw Gramma Barb here with the girls! How did she get here? She went to the pool with you guys. Papa tried to give her a life vest to wear and she laughed at him! I thought it was funny, too, cause that life vest was for a baby! I really like Gramma Barb....... she brought food!

I really miss sleeping on that cot in Gramma's room with you. I was kind of hoping that Gramma would leave it there. When I jumped on it I could get up on Gramma's bed a whole lot easier. Gramma told me that it was not a trampoline and to stop jumping on it. What is a trampoline? Oscar and Emmy say they have no idea what she is talking about. In all their life with Gramma, this is a new word. I would really appreciate it if you could find out and let me know what it is. Emmy said that curiosity killed the cat. Curiosity....... what is that. Whatever it is that cat Gremlin must not have it, cause he is still here. Spooky, the other cat, doesn't have it either.

I watched you play from that big window in the house. Gramma says we leave nose prints on it when us dogs look out. She sprays it with something she calls Windex and then wipes all our nose prints off. That is a good thing, because after awhile it is hard to see out that window. I saw you help Gramma shovel rock from that big, big pile that Papa put there with that big truck. He called it a dump truck. You and Gramma are really good shovellers, because after only three days that pile was gone. I even saw you help Gramma dig holes and plant a garden. I did not know you were so strong!

When the girls came I watched you all ride your bikes. I liked watching you, but I liked playing with you even more! Write to me soon and tell me where you are and what those new words mean. I really want to know about curiosity. I will not rest well until I know what it is and why it kills cats. Don't forget that I love you, my boy!

Your dog, Wall-E

Hey, That's For Me!!

Dear Gavin,

Gramma bought me a new toy. See it? I like that color, I think it is my favorite. Gramma says it is orange. I like the way it sounds when she says it. But that is not the reason I am writing. Oscar took my toy! He walks around with it and won't let me have it. Gramma says that he is jealous. Jealous....what is jealous? That is a new word and Oscar won't tell me what it means. Is that because he is jealous?

Emmy said she thinks it means that he doesn't like Gramma buying stuff for me all the time and not him. She said that it was okay with her because she knows that Gramma will always love her no matter what. Emmy thinks it might be because we are both guy dogs and said that guys are more competitive. That means that we both want to be the best. Gramma said that I was the best white dog in the world and that Oscar is the best black dog in the world.

I guess I can share my toy with him. I mean, he did let me play with his new ball. Gramma says that we play tug-of-war with the orange toy. I didn't know what that was, but she told me to grab one end with my teeth and then she told Oscar to grab the other end. Man, that was fun! Your Gramma has some pretty good ideas.

I like tug-of-war and I like orange; but I love you! Gramma says that you will be here tomorrow. She has been getting everything ready for you. She said we will have a party while you are here because you will have a birthday and turn 5. I am not sure I will like that........ When you turn 5, will you still be my boy? Oscar said that was the dumbest question I have asked..... so far. He thinks he is so smart. Emmy scolded him for not being very nice. I guess he is jealous cause I have a boy and he doesn't. Now I feel kind of bad for him..........every dog should have a boy, shouldn't they?

Gramma told me not to worry because you would always be my boy no matter how many birthdays you have. I was glad to hear that! Do you think you could play with Oscar, too? He likes to play catch with his ball. He doesn't care much about being picked up and petting, but he really likes to chase that ball. I would consider it a personal favor if you could indulge him. Ha ha. I have been listening to that cat, Gremlin talk. How did I sound?

Gramma made all of take a bath last night. I didn't want to and I scartched Gramma on the neck. I got in trouble for that and she says she is buying a muzzle for me and that my nails will be clipped no matter how much I protest. Yep, had to ask Emmy what a muzzle is. She told me that Gramma used one on her to cut her nails. She says I will not like it at all. It goes over my mouth! I won't be able to use my teeth to show Gramma that I don't like what she is doing! This is not good; no, not at all. Emmy said that Gramma only used it one time on her, now she lets Gramma cut her nails. I am afraid that Oscar and I both are going to have to try out this muzzle thing. I do not want her to take those things and cut my nails, I like my nails, I do! Oscar agrees with me on this subject and we are planning a protest. Oscar says we should howl as loud as we can. I plan to hide for as long as I can and then run as fast as I can. Oscar says that will not work. He says Gramma will get me in the end. She is tricky, that Gramma of yours!

Gramma says that our time is up. She has grass to cut and gardens to tend and time is of the essence. I think that means that she is done here her and I have to get out of her lap. I will see you tomorrow! I am sooooooooooo excited. Don't forget that you are my boy and I love you!

Your dog, Wall-E