Once upon a time
Every morning at about 9AM Chuck wanders upstairs having spent his morning doing WHO KNOWS WHAT in the dark corner of our bedroom. Something to do with candles and a tattered copy of Twilight probably, but he instinctively knows that it's precisely that time of the day that I like to take pictures. And maybe he's going to be in one of them. Hopefully today I will be in a forgiving mood and snap a shot of him lounging on the couch, doesn't matter, he gets a treat anyway if he balances that cage of live lobsters between his ears.
Which begs the question: why have I not tried that one yet? Anyone have access to some lobsters? Preferably some persnickety ones with anger management issues.
He knows it's time to work, always has, and if I don't make him pose for a picture he becomes listless, begins to stare nervously at walls and inevitably will stand next to one of us awkwardly like he's about to fall over. Even Leta notices this behavior, and last night when Jon and I got back from a quick business trip and she asked where the dogs were, her response to the fact that they were at a kennel was, "Can they please stay there?"
"You don't want the dogs to come home?" I asked.
"I don't!" she yelled. And when I asked her why she explained, "Because Coco is crazy, and Chuck creeps me out!"
I know! THAT'S WHAT GOTHS DO.
We recently started a chart where Leta can earn rewards if she gets herself dressed in the morning, goes to bed without a fight, and tries new things. That last part is pretty open, and she's earned points for trying new food, wearing a a pair of pants that had a displeasing texture (one that caused her head to fall off), and a few days ago we got her to touch Chuck. VOLUNTARILY. She was reluctant at first, but that reward chart just loomed in her brain, and out went her hand, two of her fingers hovering over Chuck's back. And then she did it, she dropped her arm and for several hundredths of a second her skin touched Chuck's fur, and the resulting shiver that went down her spine shook the bed wildly causing Jon to wince as his vasectomy had yet to heal.
Last week when it was time to get dressed up for Halloween, Chuck was ready to work, ready for the challenge, although there wasn't much of one to conquer. This year his costume involved nothing humiliating (relatively speaking) nor did it require him to pose in possibly illegal positions. Our goal this year was to help bridge the wide divide between the dogs and our wonderfully peculiar oldest child. Leta, the dogs can play castle, too!
Just to give you an idea of what we were working with, here's Katey in Chuck's full costume:
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Heather talks about Valentine's Day on today's Momversation.
- I know zero about sports, but my entire heart is screaming, "Go Saints! Go Saints!" I am a stereotypical woman. TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE, JON!
- Marlo has a tooth! So says the blood that she drew when she grabbed my hand and tried to gnaw off my thumb!
- Leta won't eat her birthday cake. I guess we should have made it out of chicken nuggets and iced it with refried beans.
1. Daddy Scratches said:
OK, Coco looks cute and all, but Chuck's costume? That's just plain rad.
And kudos to Leta for bonding with Chuck five years on.
2. mandi said:
Fabulous costumes. Chuck's outfit totally takes the cake though!
3. Daddy Scratches said:
By the way: If you ever wanna deck Chuck out in a Darth Vader costume, I know a guy. Just get a clothespin for Chuck's nose. Oy.
4. simpliSAHM said:
Princess and Knight...of course! Perfect choice.
5. rheaa said:
Chuckles looks so stoic.
6. jesuisalouette said:
So freaking cute!
7. imjeffp said:
You know, Katey looks pretty hot in that getup.
8. tuckeremma123 said:
How do you do it? I have 3 labs and they wouldn't hold still like that if I held a T-bone over their heads. Chuck and Coco are amazing!
9. BlogalaCart said:
DO NOT TEMPT ME, WOMAN!
I grew up in a lobstering village with honest to god lobstermen as my neighbors.(I know, wtf?)
Expect a trap filled with live lobbies on your doorstep tomorrow.
Your welcome.
Send my apologies to Chuck.
10. jessiCat said:
I love the last picture of Chuck. His face is all "WHYYYYYY do you do this to me, woman". So cute!
11. dooce said:
#9. BlogalaCart, you send em, Chuck'll balance em!
12. myla said:
I so needed this today, thank you. xox
13. Lauren AT In Th... said:
Chuck looks mad at Katey for wearing his outfit in the last picture - no one told me I had to share! And I want to build a fort with Coco and feed her pink marshmallows.
14. kcbelles said:
Sir Chuck! And his damsel in distress, Lady Coco! What great costumes! I love them - very original, too, for your canine companions. Too cute about Leta and the reward system you've got going. Smart way to get her to try new things.
15. Shauna- Fido an... said:
I love that Chuck sits there with something pressed between his eyes! My dogs would flip out maybe spontaneously start talking or something!
16. brooke said:
i made my dog wear a pumpkin outfit, and the cat wouldn't even pretend for one second to wear the hat. i posted the pics on my blog too.
17. TexasKatie said:
Okay, so I just want to eat them up they are so cute. Chuckles and Coco, that is. Not Katey. That would just be weird.
Seriously, you have two of the cutest doggies in the world.
18. JillyLly said:
I agree with #7, Katey looks hot in that get up. Are these pics going in the 2010 Calendar? Because the first one of Coco and the last one of Chuck are priceless!
PS. What does Katey's husband look like? I'm overly curious..
PSS. I have to hand it to to Leta for always having such a perfect concise way of describing things. "Because Coco is crazy, and Chuck creeps me out!" HA! Love it.
19. mommaruthsays said:
Did it help? Does Leta just LOOOVE them now?
(I'm guessing not...)
20. eryn.chandler said:
i laughed so hard/loud when i saw the first coco pic that i hit my funny bone on my elbow.
well worth it.
freakin' love it
21. gingela5 said:
Chuck needs an FML bubble above his head. Those are GREAT costumes! :)
22. Linnnn said:
Chuck would rock it out as The French Soldier in Monty Python and the Holy Grail:
"I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries... No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time."
23. KatieC said:
We've had the same fun in our house, the mighty power of the treat!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56244339@N00/4061160117/
I'm wondering if Chuck's night-time bed is still intact or has Coco demolished it yet? Our jessie has a habit of nibbling on her night-bed and I would like to get her one like Chuck's if it's indestructible!!
24. kirst said:
What gingela5 said!
25. Svaha said:
Love the last pic.
Chuck looks like he's ready to call his rep about non-union models working his gig.
26. NatashAbdool said:
I love that pic with both dogs in costume!!!!
27. katielea said:
I agree with myla...I needed this today as well. Great pictures! I wish my cats would allow this. I have tried with a Santa hat & a sombrero with no success. :(
28. Liams Grandma said:
I love Chuck. He needs his own website. Truly. And take on an anthropomorphic personality, interacting with his fans, etc. He is absolutely, utterly fabulous.
29. kellyjcallahan said:
I am so tweeting and facebooking this to all my medieval recreation friends... They'll be so jealous. Hell I'm jealous, my dogs didn't look this good for Howloween.
30. leesavee said:
That is totally the perfect outfit for Chuck. He is a Renaissance Fair dog.
31. Becca said:
Chuck is so long-suffering. I love him.
32. gigantic said:
Can't stop repeating the words "wearing a pair of pants that had a displeasing texture." So good.
33. Kay said:
I am squeeling with glee at the sight of Coco and Chuck! They are so adorable!
Linnn, you hit the nail on the head with that one! I think my head is going to explode with all the laughter.
34. ...love Maegan said:
chuck is such a pro. seriously. ...and this "Because Coco is crazy, and Chuck creeps me out!" is amazing.
35. madgie said:
I swear, there is nothing, NO NOTHING, that I love more than looking a pictures of dogs in Halloween costumes.
This is a goddamn wonderful post.
36. raven1bandit said:
Love Chuck, Love Coco, Medival Looks are awesome.
I'm not a fan of Wackadoo land or having to log in...but hey, it's your blog :)
37. Meredith said:
I can't stop staring at Coco in the princess hat, it's not so outrageous but something about her eyes is cracking me up!
Also cracking me up - the line about Leta trying pants with a "displeasing texture". That is SO my Anna. Elastic, embroidery, phantom bumps, she can't take any of it. Oh, and collars. Absolutely no collars of any kind please. :eye roll:
38. kitt said:
Please oh please oh please use one of these pictures of Chuck for next month's masthead. Pretty pretty please?
39. Karen Chatters said:
I don't know how you get those dogs to not only wear those clothes but to sit still like that. PETA would have a field day with you.
40. TSWC said:
Heather, I'm not saying this to be an e-jerk or to try to cut you down or anything, I swear--I love your blog and think you're awesome--but...
it does not "beg" the question. I *raises* the question. They are two totally different things. To beg the question is to commit a logical fallacy, to, essentially, make a circular argument.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. It drives me totally nuts.
41. NatW said:
Oh my goodness, he looks so stoic in that third pic from the bottom! Like he's ready to go to battle!
42. Jennifer M. said:
That last picture of Chuck by himself leaves me speechless. I think you should sell prints of that.
43. MeMyselfandMommy said:
Chuck sounds like he might be a workaholic.
44. Ashley in OK said:
Aaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahaaa!!!!
(mostly the Lita part, but the costumes too)
45. toad97 said:
Laughed out loud at both Leta's comment on the dogs and the costumes they were wearing. Genius!
46. ZooBride said:
Great pics Heather! However, I have an issue. I want a thorough pic lesson. Is it all your camera or is it Mr. Photoshop? I am beggin', on my knees, with a handful of Jelly Belly's. Plllllllllllllllllease!!! Thank you!
~Courtney
A fellow mommy blogger with an obsession of taking spawn pics.
47. throughtheglassblog said:
The pictures are hysterical! I love them. Thanks!
48. mrs.notouching said:
Leta cracks me up! And the costumes are amazing, as always.
P.S. And I am absolutely in love with the "Saturday Afternoon Eyes" picture.
49. BOSSY said:
All Bossy's Great Dane did on Halloween was sleep. Which separates Halloween from the other 364 days a year Exactly Not At All.
50. scomur said:
I'm going to be really unoriginal and say that Katey looks better in the chain mail getup than Chuck.
Also, you should've made Leta pose with the dogs. That'll learn her. Heh-heh.
51. Erin from Joisey said:
Wow, those are the BEST costumes ever. I would proudly take those dogs out on Halloween, or more likely a Halloween parade. Too cute.
52. dukemom said:
TSWC is correct, and beat me to the grammar/usage punch. Once you know the correct meaning of the phrase "begs the question," you will notice when it is used incorrectly (almost all the time). There is a whole website devoted to the use and misuse of the phrase, in a tongue and cheek manner. www.begthequestion.info
I apologize for stepping off topic.
The dogs are hilarious and adorable.
53. kristanhoffman said:
OH MY WORD how precious!!
We are nowhere near so clever, but we DO dress Riley up every year for about 15 min to have a good laugh:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristan/2901051985/
54. barbara said:
Haha! You have to wonder what they are thinking as you dress them up and balance stuff on their heads. Great costumes, Heather!
My mom dressed her beagle up like a bumble bee this year. She was the hit of their Halloween party!
55. NamasteNicole said:
At first I was all AWWWWW... and then I saw that first one of Chuck with the helmet! ROFL!
56. adulterousellie said:
See, pugs never need dressing up. They're just naturally comic.
57. Jojo said:
Katie, you had better earn some overtime for this one.
58. joaaanna said:
Please include one of those pix of Chuck in the new calendar. I would buy one of those!
59. The Mommy Gap said:
500 points for the use of the word "persnickety" in a blog.
One of my all time favorite words.
60. Surviving Lotus Land said:
OMG. Why, oh why, have I not thought to dress our dog up in my girls' old costumes before? The fact that they have a penchant for dressing as fairies and cheerleaders and he's a boy makes it all the more deliciously humiliating.
Oh, Scout. Come here boy....... hehe
61. layners1302 said:
honestly the best thing i've seen in a while!
62. NolaMomma said:
Ha. That's awesome. You have to put the one of the two of them together in the next calendar!! Katie has the best job ever!
63. MamaCass said:
Have you ever seen The Labyrinth with David Bowie? That last photo of Chuck alone looks like the little guard dog who won't let them cross the bridge...it's been a long time, but something like that anyway. Made me chuckle.
64. robin.optima said:
I know Coco annoys you but she is adorable. Chuck is stoic.
65. Got2bVT said:
This entire series of pictures makes me very happy.
66. OldGrayMare said:
Thanks for the laugh, those are great pictures!
You know, I have the opposite problem with my dogs, my kids won't keep their hands OFF of them. Well, my son, who has anxiety disorder, won't stop hitting them, but my daughter? I'm still trying to banish the image of her at about 10 months old reaching up from the floor to grasp my boxer's private parts out of my brain. It doesn't bode well for her teen years...
67. SuzieQ1 said:
Coco is cute as can be, but I love me that Mr Chuckles dog!!
68. RebeccaLand said:
Idea for Halloween 2010: Chuck as The Cure's Robert Smith and Coco as "Miley Cyrus." Yes, I put her name in quotes since it would be the equivalent of dressing Coco as a Bratz or street walker Barbie doll.
69. Queen Bugaboo said:
Fabulous.
70. Bunny Farts said:
Coco should get points for trying something new. I laughed so hard when I saw her in that girly thing, and Chuck, well I think Chuck is great, I always look forward to the dog pictures and stories.
71. meegieshell said:
Awe...wait for it...some.
72. former-miss-kno... said:
I must admit that I am not a dog person. So when I see dogs dressed up, it's kind of like looking at traffic cones. I really could care less what they are wearing..because they are like aliens.
Your kid however, is another story..because she is just-like-my-girl (that should make you feel better). AND I live in Salt Lake (which means they should be friends). But maybe that's too much to have two Leta's together. Oy.
Anyhoo...loved the part about Leta touching the dog, and the pants that made her head pop off. That is so my daughter...weird pants, weird hair rubberbands, weird juice that looks weird, weird lady who acts weird. Who knew how much weirdness existed in the world!? And thanks to our kindi-age females, we'll never wonder again!
73. Brittewater said:
I've never met a little girl that owned dogs and was weirded out by them. I hope it doesn't last past adolescence.
74. Meggiemarin said:
Leta doesn't like the dogs?! I would be heartbroken.
Is this a permanent "Ew gross!!!" thing or temporary "I sometimes dislike cupcakes, but only every other Tuesday" thing?
75. dkmissie said:
I love Chucks costume and Coco is just cute
76. Megan Ellen said:
Hmmm how can I phrase this gently...?
I think your daughter is going to grow up into a cat person.
Now that the hate section is gone, I feel safe enough to post that without going on the wall of shame.
77. hopelds said:
My two dogs are now trying to bury any old clothes they can find - I guess I have to limit their access to your website.
78. The Bold Soul said:
Chuck the Crusader! I always knew he had it in him.
79. Bratfink said:
"Because Coco is crazy, and Chuck creeps me out!"
As if I don't hear THAT every year at my family reunion.
Seriously, I LMAO and choked on my eggs.
.
80. herbette said:
OMG OMG OMG OMG!
awesome scroll down!
81. Googooboyy said:
I wish my cats could be made to wear those mails like dogs could. The moment I bring anything that loosely resembles like a piece of blanket, my cats run for cover.
Btw, Chuck looks cute. ; )
82. the niffer said:
God, Leta cracks me up. You have raised one awesome, if peculiar, little girl. And the costumes totally rock. I can't believe you got Coco to sit for that long.
83. Chris R said:
I think it's funny when a child isn't fond of dogs. My 4YO boy gets irritated with our dog, Mary. He says she "screams" too much. [barks] Wonderful pics!
84. karenT said:
Now put katey in the princess costume! Oh wait, this isn't that kind of site.
...or is it...
85. Lifeissweet16 said:
My daughter has always been such an animal lover! We knew everyone in the neighborhood because she would befriend every person with a dog. I hope Leta gets over it soon. :-)
86. lizgwiz said:
I love Chuck so much.
And I love how delightfully quirky Leta is. Reminds me of the daughter of a friend, who once announced that she could no longer wear, touch or see any purple clothes. Why? They made her throat hurt.
87. SandraDee said:
Chuck. My knight in shining armor.
The last solo Chuck pic is just perfect. Like, "OK lady. I'm here for the knighthood and drama, but would you just get this damn helmet off my head? It's impaling my three remaining brain cells....."
88. The Prima Momma said:
WOW! Chuck is rocking that knight costume. That's the true measure of a model - whether it's your size or not, CAN YOU MAKE IT WORK? Yes. Yes he can!
I look forward to his Vogue cover!
89. girlplease said:
Awww poor dogs. I will never get why kids wind up hating their dogs. A cousin of ours always tells us of the tales of her daughter (3) and their dog. The poor dog is really suffering too. She overfills the bowl with food and then holds the dog at his collar and refuses him food. Cruel.
I hope that my son stays amazed and amused with our two dogs. He squeels at the sight of them. Our oldest one definately has the "ohhhh maaaannn" look going on while the younger border collie is defiantely "ohhhh why is he laughing? he's giving me a complex."
We are guessing that the border collie and him will be best friends one day.
And the cycle will continue with the next dogs going "ohh maaaan" and "ohhh he's laughing at me again."
90. saturdayjane said:
The expression on Coco's face is pretty priceless.
"Oh my GAWD, the other dogs at the kennel will never let me live this down...just snap the picture already."
One would think that Chuck would be the more easily embarrassed between the two!
91. d3 voiceworks said:
another chuck lover signing in [pita that it is, though :(] wonder how he did walking in two boots 'stead of four?
also, thanks to the grammarians as i am obsessed with good grammar as well, and now understand the btq issue.
92. KateHouse said:
They are unbelievably patient (looking, at least). Great work.
93. shawnadammit said:
Chuck is one handsome dog!
94. P said:
I'd swear eternal allegiance to Sir Chuck- and I'm not even into that crap!
95. suzers said:
Chuck is a saint and he's almost constantly my wallpaper. We (me and the dogs) are your very loyal fans.
96. curlsz said:
"Because Coco is crazy, and Chuck creeps me out!"
Rolling with laughter on that one - I'm guessing she is NOT going to be a pet owner when she's on her own.
The pic of Chuck with just the helmet is a perfect calendar pic! Which month is a warrior month? I'll have to google that one and get back with you.
97. The Lola Letters said:
Wow, I am officially in love with Chuck and Coco. Sheesh. That close up of Chuck needs to go on my fridge. (...and I don't even know him.)
98. vvghealy said:
Heather
Have you read the Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz?
My son has sensory integration disorder and it sounds like Leta has some sensory issues. My son has strong aversions to certain types of clothing (cannot have the tag touch him), sounds(the vacuum sends him into a frenzy), when people touch him he says it itches. He has difficulty with transitions and his sensitivity to smells! oy! Food is one of the biggest issues for him, certain textures make him gag and picky doesn't begin to describe the level of pain we go through during mealtime....There is a companion book that has really helped us as well, The Out-of-Sync Child has Fun.
99. The Lola Letters said:
My husband says that fleece blankets make his teeth hurt. (?) But he functions just fine otherwise.
100. riogringa said:
I love the close up of Chuck and his helmet so much I kind of want to frame it.
101. Jennifer June said:
The amazing thing is that you manage to get them to keep their hats on.
My daughters wrestle our boxer in to her dragon costume every Halloween...although she has outgrown it to the point where you can't actually tell what it is, and it makes her walk with a limp. But she manages to wiggle out of it record time and a hat? Forget about it!
102. becaru said:
Coco looks a little like a KKK member in the 3rd photo.
103. mynext50 said:
I love it. Good thing she's not into playing cats like the girls in my son's class used to do every recess!
104. Diana The Doggy... said:
Awwwww! In case you didn't know, I LOVE DOGGY'S! I only wished mine would let me put them in a costume. Not happening!
105. Colorado1 said:
Great pictures! Nice costumes. I love the picture #6 it's so cute, Chuck is absolutely fabulous.