Fudge, Vern, and our Pint Sized House Guests!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

First of all, before I go any further, I would like to say I love all my nieces and nephews and all of their children.  Up until this point, the only small children we have had overnight have been my niece, her husband, and their children from my side of the family.  These small children do not have any pets and their introduction to Fudge and Vern was loud and eventful with small children screaming, shrieking, and running amok, and one great aunt extremely stressed out and trying not to yell, “how about we pay for you to stay in a hotel!” In other words, these were not the best “starter children,” to introduce to one nervous Doodle and his Chocolate companion.  I am also not saying my great nephew has any of those disorders with lots of initials, but I will say I have diagnosed him myself with something I like to call IDONOTLISTEN syndrome and I think his case is severe.  Don’t get me wrong, he is a great kid, but he is just determined to get “the white dog” and “the brown dog” to be his friends and he is not dog savvy.  I have tried explaining to him that he is not going to win Vern over by surprising him by popping out from behind the sofa and yelling, “Surprise, Vern!” and he must leave Vern alone when he is trying to get away from all the action.  He is learning at each visit and we are making progress, but poor Vern is usually on pins and needles and I stay extremely vigilant at each visit and we are all ready for a long nap when they go home.  Fudge, on the other hand, who has had just about the same exposure to small children as Vern had, has always been fine with them and seems to have figured out that small hands can rub bellies almost as good as large hands and can also throw balls.

Well, this Memorial Day weekend, another niece and her small children (3 and not yet 2) came to visit, along with John’s brother and his wife (the grandparents of said small children).  I have been worried about Vern and instructing my family what I need them to do to make this visit go smoothly.  They, in turn, have been instructing me that I have gone over the edge and they really wished I would shut up and stop being a worrywart. I put Vern’s crate back up so he would have a safe place to retreat to and I have been anticipating the worst.  Luckily, these small children have a dog that was around before the children came, and my niece was aware of my concerns.  So, when they arrived, there was no overly excited greeting, but rather a reaction like, “look, there are two large dogs!”  This made all the difference in the world. 

 

Vern barked at them every morning like he forgot they were there, but they paid him no mind and that was that.  Fudge was the ornery one and kept trying to steal their toys and I caught her once or twice with Nemo in her mouth and several plastic toys.  Even Vern got caught carrying a stuffed dog I had gotten them and I truly think they liked the reaction they got and hearing me say, “you little stinkers, drop it,” in my funny voice I used only when I said, “you little stinkers, drop it!” I had to come up with something to say since I accidentally said dumbass once and John used hell and my sister-in-law threatened to get out a bar of soap if it happened again.

Once, I could clearly see John’s brother was a lot like John when he sat and watched Fudge chew a small plastic starfish mold for a long time before he finally said, “is she supposed to be chewing that toy?” As I was throwing the destroyed toy in the trash, I thought about smacking him on the back of the head and saying, “are you an idiot?” but that didn’t seem very sisterly-in-law, so I restrained myself.  The dogs also quickly discovered that little hands drop crumbs and sometimes if they were very lucky, large pieces of food, and the closer they were to the dropper the better chance they had to reap the rewards.

 

On Saturday, the gang went on a train ride and left me home with the littlest one because the train ride was occurring at the same time as her naptime.  We all voted and felt it wasn’t fair to the other passengers to pay $20 to hear a small, tired kid with a good set of pipes on her screaming in time with the clickety clack of the train cars.   It has been a long time since I have been responsible for a small child and I didn’t want to do anything wrong and become known as the aunt that should never be allowed to babysit.  I immediately let little Elsie know that I forbid her from going Number Two while she was in my care and let her know if she just listened about that one thing we would get along just fine.  She listened better than her brother because I forbid him to A) Blow his nose B) Cough C) Sneeze D) Pick his nose and E) Honk the horn on the boat and I don’t think he understood what forbid meant because he kept right on doing all of the above, plus giggling, and announcing to me that he was doing whatever it was that I forbid him to do.

Luckily, the little one took a long nap and Aunt Laurie decided it would be comforting for her to have me take a nap, too.  I tried to sleep on the floor beside her, but decided the couch was more appealing and her mother would not appreciate coming home to find me still on the floor with her getting into all sorts of trouble because I couldn’t get back up.  Fudge and Vern both found spots nearby and I swear both of them were looking out for her and protecting her with their presence.  They were both extremely solicitous of her and did not like it when either child was upset at any time during their visit. 

At times their closeness got on her nerves.  If they were in her way when she was playing or showed too much interest in one of her toys, she would give them a big NO and an arm wave and a MOVE, which sounded a lot like her NO.

They listened better to her than they do me.

 

How one small child can wear a grown woman out, I do not know, but I was exhausted at the end of the day.  We sang, we danced, we did the bubble machine, we took a walk, we colored, we took pictures, and I sang some more.  I spent a long time pointing at pictures of me and trying to teach her to say, “pretty” when my finger landed on my face.  With enough prompting, it worked.  I even cooked dinner for the returning adults and made sure John knew this day was going to buy me many a meal out in the near future.  Vern was so much more relaxed with it just being the four of us and since she was less jumpy and bouncy than her brother, he really seemed to enjoy her.  Fudge was amazing with both children and I never once had one concern about Fudge.  Vern stayed on duty most of the visit and let us know almost every day that there was a strange car parked in the same spot in the driveway and people were moving about in the house that didn’t belong.  Sometimes, it makes my heart a little sad that he feels the need to remain so vigilant, but we gave him lots of extra hugs and I told him every day he was the best watchdog I ever had!  He threw up once from the stress he was feeling, but all in all, I was pleased at how well he did. I think he was thankful I made him sleep in our room with the door shut and it helped that all of our guests were kind, loving, and wonderful to both dogs. Fudge made me so proud and it was nice to see another playful side of her emerge.   I will never let my guard down around small children, but I would very much count this weekend a great success.  After they left, I turned to John and said, “Lots of people have kids at our age with all the miracles of modern day science.  What do you think?  Should we give it a try?”  He could have just said no. He didn’t have to add the scream.

Two beautiful cousins loving spend time together!

Our 35th wedding anniversary and John just got done saying, "hurry up and take the picture! I can't look happy much longer!"

My adorable great niece-we dubbed the pontoon boat the "Eating Party Barge," because it was snack city when she got on :)

My handsome great nephew!

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

“Lots of people have kids at our age with all the miracles of modern day science.  What do you think?  Should we give it a try?”  He could have just said no. He didn’t have to add the scream."

My first condition before accepting my husband's offer of marriage was that he be neutered. 

He was.

What a FABULOUS time you guys had!  I am so proud of how well "Salt and Peppa" did with the kids but Vern gets an extra big gold star.  Wayt'go Fella!!!

 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Laurie it sounds like such a fun Memorial Day weekend!  I love all these pictures, and you must be a really proud "Mama"....way to go F & V!!!

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Fun & amusing as little kids are...they are a lot of work..especially for humans past or post child rearing ages
The kids are super adorable....
my 3 yr old suggested to HIS pal, PAPA that we give DerbyDoodle to a neighbor..hoping he gets over high jumping the couch to avoid the puppy licks soon!

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

I so enjoyed this and love that the weekend was a success! Fudge and Vern were champs and your family is beautiful! I love the photo of Fudge and your little niece and the one of Vern in the yard with her. Your yard is looking beautiful! Is that a new piece of art on the tall metal pole in the landscaping?! Beautiful anniversary photo, Happy 35th!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Great story!  I'm can feel the exhaustion just reading the story.  Not having children ourselves, when we used to babysit my Sisters girls when they were little I used to tell her how exhausting it was for us.  Just taking two toddlers out to dinner you have to pack a suitcase.  She never understood and thought I was crazy.  Now that her girls are grown when her little Great Niece or now Grandchildren come over she is exhausted.  She finally admitted not to long ago that she now understands what I was talking about.  I have to admit these kids are adorable. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, DJ!

Charlotte, Thank you! I can tell you we really feel our age this week :) Yes, you are exactly right about Vern. He likes stuff to stay put. Congratulations on your great niece. Twins...oh my...I would still be napping. LOL

[Charlotte and Bo]

The kids are beautiful.  I'm glad Fudge and Vern got along well with them.  Vern just doesn't like his world disrupted.  I discovered that trait in a Dobie/Shepard mix I had.  I found her up in the bedroom barking her head off at a chair that I had moved.  I guess she thought it picked itself up and moved itself.  When I was younger my 2 nephews and niece  would stay with me all the time and we had a blast.  One of my nephews has 17mo old twins ( a boy and a girl).  I love seeing them but I can't imagine babysitting for any length of time without having a nervous breakdown.:-)  My older nephew and his wife  just had a little girl on the 28th. Can't wait to see her.

[DJ & Chance]

Oh, this is such a wonderful story.  Our dogs are as different as their people, and Vern and Fudge exemplify that.