This week Kimi got to go outside for the first time to play.....she got her first real taste of the sun and the grass..and fell in love. It was hard on her during the days and days...(oh please....the ENDLESS days ) of rain we had here in the NorthW Burbs of Chicago. She barely got let out to ...well...do her 'delicates', let alone to play.

Today dawned a bright clear sunny sky. Her chance to play came after the kiddies here laid down for afternoon naps. Once you set her down in the grass forget her ears working until she is ready to fall over with exhaustion. But you know......bad as it may be.....at her young age I am not ready to begin her 'disciplinary training' or obedience training. Right now she is growing and learning and becoming brave with everything in her young life. She needs this chance to explore and enjoy life to it's fullest......and boy does she know how to fill it up! LOL

You set her down and the race is on........I can easily see video taping her enjoyment of being outside, and setting it to the music of.. "Watch me now"(now that I can dance)...it would fit perfectly. She runs....she hops.....she 'attacks' everything in sight...including (much to his dismay)....the cat. She bites snippets from the grass and flowers as she tears by them....she scoops up tufts of Newfy dog hair on her way by....and all the while her little feet are floating on a magical carpet of fun. And the mud...dare we begin in this area?

She is so much like a little kid when it comes to the mud. It matters not a whit to her that there is only one small area of mud in a whole yard full of grass....she has to hit it every time. Right thru it.. SPLASH!..dead center!! And when she comes out on the other side she has this huge grin covering her face, she whirls around and spins out on the wet grass. Today she spotted the cat.....and just to prove to him she is faster and braver and tougher than anything going in doggyland today....she had to run circles around him. Literally. The cat was laying in the grass...in the sun.....minding his own kitty business.....when.....Kimi spotted him.......calmly walked over to him....face to face mind you...and let out a "YIP" ( I think this is her only 'fair warning' given!) The cat didn't move so she started to run...around him....and around him.....and around him...was she trying to make herself dizzy, or the cat (as his head had to follow her around and around..you ever watch Linda Blair in the Exorcist? Remember how her head spun around? Picture the cat doing that!) Whoever she was trying to make dizzy, she succeeded in both I am sure. The cat finally got up and very slowly and very carefully walked off. Kimi had no such restraints.....she jumped up to follow him and ran sideways til she fell over. LOL But I don't think she much cared....she had proven a point. She's not afraid of no dumb cat (sorry cat lover's I am one too, this was Kimi's point of veiw not mine! lol)....and just to prove it once her world righted itself again she took off after him and while he was walking away, she ran circles around him again! (atta girl Kimi!)

I have since discovered what one of her "YIP's" mean though. It means BONZAI!!! She does this whenever she is jumping off of something. Like the downspout in the back yard. The railroad ties used as landscaping timbers....the rocks around one tree in the back yard, or the front step. She stands there on whatever it is, lets out her loud "YIP" ( BONZAI!) and jumps up into the air as high as she can...and lands clear of whatever she just jumped from. (now you tell me BONZAI is NOT what she is thinking!) Each time she does this that huge grin of hers is firmly in place.

Today she also discovered the thrill of 'speed racing' . this is where she lines up her 'track' then scrunches back on her rear end, her head up high and ears pulled back...again the "YIP" (bonzai!) and she takes off, launching herself as far forward as fast as she can in one mighty leap and then runs as fast as her little legs can carry her...she turns..executing a perfect 180 as tightly as she can....and chases off in the opposite direction. One can only imagine the pictures created in her own little mind. Is she racing witth the world's fastest grey hounds? Is she on the Indy speedway with Mario Andretti? (chasing his car of course, not racing one!!) Whoever she is racing, or whatever she is doing, you can bet with that happy little look on her face, she is winning! Were we ever THAT happy as little children playing in our imaginary world's? One can only hope so.

But of course I had to play the devils advocate eventually and bring her inside. (oh for shame you wicked mommy! lol) I HAD to honest!! She was sssoooo tired...the best she could offer was to occasionally roll to one side and casually nip at the grass blades. Not even enough strength left to pluck one free and chew on it. When I wiped the mud off her feet (and her little face!) and set her down.....she made me smile and broke my heart at the same time. She headed straight for the open picture window in the front room.....stood on her tiny-shaking-with-exhaustion back legs....front feet against the screen and whimpered pathetically. She wasn't thru playing yet!! After two more trips to the window she finally lay down with her head on her rope toy for a pillow and fell asleep. Perhaps to dream of yet more races? More cats to intimidate? More cars to chase around the speedway? She has been asleep for about two hours now so I am sure she will be waking very soon, and then we will find out when I take her outside to begin these most exciting games of hers all over again. And I will be spending a very pleasant couple of hours watching her play in total pure pleasure. What a rotten life we lead together huh? LOL

Kristi (who doesn't even try to keep up but just sits and watches...and laughs...and laughs til the tears begin to run)
Kimi (Mommy....MOMMY...MMOOOMMYY I'm up...can we go play now??)