After 365 Long Days: AT LAST.

Mary-Ann Sontag December 31, 2021

The Sparklers’ Fifth Birthday Celebration limps to a close — but do not think the last are the least! The limping reflects the reality that 2021 was probably one of my most challenging years on this planet.

But back to the birthday — this is Baby Claire with Baby Tika…

I send my condolences to Aysha, who lost Tika’s canine sister/aunt, Kaya, recently. Such a grand girl Kaya was — my heart hurts for Aysha and she is officially excused from submitting a birthday update. Trust me — I get it.

Tika is doing just fine and I think she wins the Snow Contest…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TIKA!

Claire finds this truth highly objectionable…

But will take what snow she can get, which isn’t much but certainly better than her Arizona and California siblings…

And here are my last words for this Hellish Year: GOOD FORKING RIDDANCE, 2021.

Sparkler Birthday, continued

Mary-Ann Sontag December 29, 2021

Baby Abbie!

Brace yourself — the logjam in my mind that has made words difficult for the past few months is about to break loose. But for today — more celebrating the Sparklers’ FIFTH birthday!

Ashlee sends us this update:

“Sweet Abbie!! We can’t believe you are five!!

Abbie is the sweetest, kindest, biggest energy, love bug. She is our best babysitter, highchair cleaner upper, face licker, snack sharer, snow romper, ball buddy and all around best friend.

And she is the only one that we can get to pose for family photos anymore.

LOL! Kids do not learn “stay” as easily as a dog! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBIE and thank you, Ashlee and family, for her wonderful life.

Boy Birthdays

Mary-Ann Sontag December 23, 2021

This is Zimmer at two weeks old…

No freckles to well-decorated with those sweet kiss spots…

Kathy sends this update about Zimmer: “He has spent most of the year traveling to see family. He has been to Kansas City three times to visit our daughter’s family, especially three year old Hal and our newest grand baby, nine month old Ellie. He has also been to San Diego three times to see our son and his three boys. Luckily he is a stellar traveler and a perfect gentleman in hotels.

One of his favorite pastimes is any squeaky toy he can find, especially if we are watching TV or talking on the phone. He is still our goofy puppy!

Another favorite pastime is unmaking the bed.

He manages to do this very quietly. We have never caught him in the act, but this is the result every day.

Do any of the other Sparklers partake in this activity? Just wondering if it is a family trait.”

“Unmaking a bed?! Would this face do such a thing?!”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZIMMER and Happy Holidays to Kathy, Jack, and the rest of Zimmer’s family.

Zimmer’s littermate, Lucas, started life in the snow…

…and is now living his best life in sunny Arizona. Kay sends this update: “As the time has flown, our little Sparkler pup, Lucas, turned into a handsome and sweet dog we are so happy to have with us.

And this year, he has been joined by his nephew Bright Star Sage so that’s been an adjustment in his world. Lucky for us, they get along very well. Lucas has also been training for obedience trials and draft tests during the year.

He’s always eager to go out and train for his cheese rewards and especially likes the jumping and retrieving. We are looking forward to having the 2 pups with us this Christmas.”

Thank you, Kay and Sue, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCAS. Team Lucas now has two CDX legs — well done! Good luck in 2022 :)

There were just three boys in that Sparkler litter. We named one for our Dear Friend, Carol Dewey…

When he left for his new home, his named was changed to Zelimir Dewey — ZeD for short — and now he is five!

Tony shares, “Another birthday in quarantine…sigh! [Editor’s Note: Sigh indeed].

While it hasn’t been a good year overall for dogs and humans alike, we are very grateful to have each other. ZeD is still on his quest to find money on his daily walk.