Happy 7 years Benny boy & Bella girl!

Bennett & Bella have hit the 7 year mark this St. Patty's Day! It's hard to believe that we have had them almost our entire marriage : ) They continue to make us laugh & attempt to consume all socks in the Valentine household....well,  at least one of them named Bennett does. 

Life with two mutts at 7 years:

• These doggies are sweet, rarely cause trouble & are loved in this house.  
• Char & Elo don't know life without getting licked daily.  
• Recently we watched Charlotte playing with Bennett. The game went like this....Bennett would spin & chase his tail until Char told him to stop. She then screamed "my turn" and she would spin until stopping & then yell "your turn!" when she was ready for Bennett to take over the spinning again.  
• Bennett & Bella are delighted once again to have a small baby in the high chair that passes food to them throughout any meal & snack time. I think Elo likes how their tongues feel....gross I know.   
• Bennett still has a sock fetish & anyone who glances at our grass can tell....also gross. 
• Bella has not required us to spend ANY money on medical bills this year.  We hope she is not saving it for a double whammy between her 7th & 8th birthdays. 
• If their leashes are left on after being taken out, Charlotte is quick to grab them & take them on a "walk" around the house.  She is a tough dog handler & they obey her more than me sometimes.  
• Bella still loves her kennel & will run full speed into it when you give her the command. Bennett on the other hand, oh my, you would think we were sending him to die! Robby sometimes has to carry the 80 pound dog like a baby & set him inside his kennel! This means that if Robby is ever away overnight, Bennett gets to be a couch dog because I don't have the strength or energy for that matter to get him to go in.  
• Charlotte has become very defensive of both dogs & will tell you "Be nice to my Bennett/Bella!" if she catches you correcting them.  
• Eloise is obsessed with trying to touch their paws & tails. The dogs don't tolerate this for long & leave the room. 
• We still turn the TV down at night when we can tell they are dreaming & doing their "sleep barking & running." It makes us laugh every time!

In honor of their birthday, we made some cupcakes & since it is St. Paddy's Day, Rob put some green sprinkles on top. Here is Char with them...

The dogs got to split an un-iced cupcake & thought the celebration was over.  Charlotte then began sticking her face in the icing & leaning down to let them give her a lick, or two or a million. This went on for quite sometime. I couldn't help but laugh : ) The dogs & Char were SO happy! The following two pictures will bring us smiles for years to come

Eloise was munching on Cheerios & observing the fun from her high chair. Today was the first day she wore a bow in her hair without a headband...a feat Charlotte could not master until she was 18 months old!

I looked though some pictures from the early years with the pups today & can't believe how old they look only 7 years later! 

Benners at 9 months old

Ol' Man Benito at 7 years

Bella Bella Blue Dog at 9 months old

Bella girl at 7 years

These two have been together since they were in Drama Mama's womb.  It will be a sad day if one goes before the other....they can't stand being apart!

2005- roly & cute as could be!

2012- no rolls left but still pretty darn cute!

I have definitely complained about these dogs & on days when I feel like I am ready to be a no dog family, I force myself to re-read these posts. Bennett & Bella. I then laugh and snuggle up on the couch with both little pups, give them a good scratch & think about how many more years we all have together : )