A Request from Jake

Dear V & B,

I hope you are having a good time in the mountains. I'm looking forward to your visit next weekend. I'd like to ask a favor: if you have any old tennis balls around and if it is not too much trouble, will you bring me some? We are running dangerously low, and we have had a couple of panicky moments when we haven't been able to find a single ball in the yard.

My whole family is excited that you are coming to visit.

Love,
Your Granddog, Jake

Julia and Jake

Julia loves Jake. I'll never forget sitting on the front porch in the rocking chair with Julia. Jake ran up on the porch, chomping on a tennis ball. Julia cracked up. She didn't just giggle; she belly-laughed every time he ran onto the porch. It was the first time she laughed just because she found something funny, not because one of us was trying to entertain her.

She laughs at Jake often. She wants to watch whatever he is doing. Apparently, Jake eating or drinking is especially fascinating. She will frequently let out a squeal or giggle when she sees him come into the room. If she's eating, she will stop, and her little head will whip around to see what Jake is doing. She likes to touch his fur and his paws. We have to try to keep her from putting his paws in her mouth or grabbing big handfuls of his skin.

Jake seems to *like* Julia, but he does miss getting all of our attention. He is very, very tolerant, and we're very lucky he's so good with her.

Who needs a Bumbo?

If the Bumbo seat isn't handy, she'll just use Jake to help her sit up. It's the....Dogbo!

A Wonderful Day

On a Saturday with better than average February weather, Oma, Opa, R, and I headed to the park with Julia and Jake. It was a simple outing, but it was such fun.


The athlete in action.


Hurling the ball for Jake.


The happy spectators.


Jake will fetch until he drops.


The end.

Crazy Jake

There is a standing full-length mirror in our bedroom and every few months, Jake will see the dog in the mirror and try to protect us from him. This morning, he noticed the dog and started to growl at him. It wasn't good enough. He had to stand and move towards the dog. The hackles were up on his back, and he was growling loudly at the mirror. I thought he might cross the line and attack the dog this time, so I had to stop laughing long enough to call him down.

(There is also a dog he discovered in the oven door the other day, and he gave that dog some warning growls, too.)

Best Buds

Jake & Julia

Snow Day

Jake doesn't much care about the weather; he wants to play fetch. Julia was bundled up and made a very cute spectator.