Brad and Heather were home this past weekend. It was a work weekend for Mark – working nights and sleeping days. And Kacey was gone for the weekend with Connor at his grandpa’s cabin. And Jake? Well it seems like he’s always gone. We sure don’t see much of him. So I had Brad and Heather mostly to myself.
We enjoyed a low-key weekend, not wanting to be out and about too much. Brad wanted to make sure they were around during those windows of time when his dad was awake and not gone to work yet. So we entertained ourselves by cooking together and eating together. We did a little shopping and played with the dogs. We watched movies and enjoyed mornings on the deck drinking coffee.
I love these weekends with my oldest son and his clan. I love that he and Heather don’t mind hanging out with the family and I enjoy cooking for them and taking care of them. These weekends always go too fast and there’s always a lump in my throat when it’s time for them to leave again.
Lucy loves these visits too. In fact, I’m quite sure she thinks that our visitors come solely for her benefit. When they first arrive, she’s beyond excited to see her pal, Dacotah. And as soon as she can garner some attention from Brad and Heather, I’m all but forgotten. Normally, Lucy comes to bed with me and stays there until I rise in the morning. When Brad and Heather are here, Lucy wants to sleep wherever Dacotah is sleeping which is usually with Brad.
Lucy and Dacotah wear themselves out tumbling and playing in the living room. Lucy is still “on restriction” since her hip surgery, so chasing around the back yard is out of the question. Instead, the two dogs entertain themselves as best they can in the house, scuffling over toys and fighting for human attention with one another.
I think Lucy thinks that Heather belongs to her. I don’t know exactly what it is. Does Lucy understand that Heather is a “dog person” through and through? Maybe it’s Heather’s sweet voice that appeals to Lucy or the generous affection and attention Heather showers over her. But when Heather is around, I am chopped liver.
Sleeping through a movie together
Dacotah is so tolerant of Lucy’s antics. Lucy insists on walking underneath Dacotah and knocking her off balance. She licks Dacotah’s ears and refuses to let Dacotah play with her toys. When anyone comes home and the dogs go to greet them, Lucy “boxes out” Dacotah so she can be the first one to receive a pat on the head or scratch behind the ears. Still, Dacotah loves Lucy and graciously takes the back seat to her younger pal.
And after Brad, Heather and Dacotah go home again, Lucy pouts. She sleeps a lot too. Having visitors takes it out of her! And she always spends a day or so looking to see if her guests are simply hiding on her. Today, she wandered down the hallway to Brad’s bedroom, scratching on the closed door. She wandered away, dejected upon realizing that neither Brad nor Heather was going to come out. It makes me feel a little sad to see Lucy feeling so lonely after they’ve gone. But I’ll gladly resume my place as the favorite human in the house. I’ll pamper her and be her cuddle buddy when she wants attention at least until her visitors come again!
