Kimi was outside with me as we were trying to get the yard all set up for this impromtu birthday bash with about 20 of our neighbors/kids. You could tell by the way she was curiously checking everything out that she knew SOMETHING was amiss....she just wasn't sure what or if it was going to be good or not. Until the kids began to arrive. Being typically sheltie....she LOVES to be around the kids.

The more children that arrived into our backyard, the happier she became. She may have started off the afertnoon calm, but that is NOT how things progressed. By the time we had a yard full of little ones, Kimi was busy runnning back and forth to each new one....checking them out for their 'fun- potential', and being checked out at the same time. For each pet she received, she had to dole out a kiss in exchange. One thing about this breed....they never take without giving! Once she got the hang of how this worked with the kids, she was in heaven. She would race on her little short legs up to one child....let out a "YIP" (aka: "Hi...my name is Kimi"), receive a giggle in response and then off she raced to the next one. By the time she had made her rounds with saying 'hello' (I am sure that was what she was doing)....she decided it was time to make a new go-round and dispense with the formal introductions. She began anew with her circle of 'friends' and depending on their size and 'sex' would either bestow a kiss or a nibble. It seems our dearest little Kimi my be a tad bit 'gender-biased' as she nibbled more than one little boy and kissed most of the girls. Of course it could just be that she quickly discovered there really can be a diference in the way children eat cupcakes. The boys she was 'nibbling on' had most of the frosting on their fingers, while the girls had frosting smiles. (a new shade of lipstick perhaps??) I was pretty certain this was her newest tactic when I watched her buddying up to one 2 year old named Fred. He had most of his frosting on his pants leg and Kimi was being a dear by helping him 'wash' it off! (such a totally unselfish thing for her to do don't you agree?) I also got to witness...for the first time in my life, a puppy getting a real "ice cream headache"!! With all those young ones running around we knew there was bound to be some ice cream dropped on the ground so we made sure it was vanilla (as were the cupcakes...no chocolate allowed!! good going daddy!!). Kimi soon discovered the joys of ice cream on a warm spring afernoon. After she quickly gobbled (more like inhaled) a big scoop...she laid down in the grass and began rubbing her head with her front paws!! I swear she had a pained look on her face!! I know I was not the only one to think this as one of the other moms laughed and said..."Look! She has an ice cream headache!!" We all laughed....kids included. Kimi, however was NOT amused!!

Soon the "headache" passed and then the real fun began as the sugar kicked in on all the kids AND on Kimi! She was having the time of her life as we scheduled races in the yard for the kids according to size and age. Kimi was not discriminatory though..she raced with everyone. Never have I seen this little bugger run so fast! Once I was sitting in the grass by my yard swing and she took off around the back side of the house. By the time I had jumped to my feet and ran over there (my neighbor was weed-eating) she was gone! I ran back to the other side of the house to look for her and she was already there by the corner waiting for me with a look on her face that clearly said "Where ya been mommy?". Feigned innocence I am sure! Then just as quickly she jumped up to run off again, looking back over her shoulder once as if to say "Fast as fast can be.....you'll never catch me!" with her pink tongue dolling out the side of her mouth in a wide happy grin.

She even had to get involved when it was time for Ashley to open her presents. At first Kimi wanted to get right in there and inspect everyting that was unwrapped....but after a bit she became bored with the 'people-toys' (she's learning she can't play with those anyway). But then our little Kimi isn't quite the normal pooch anyway. Or is she? She began having a lot more fun with the wrapping paper! It made lots of neat crinkly sounds and tore up really cool when she would "attack it". I think she was trying to keep in practice for destroying the evils in whatever ball may happen around again....after all her yard WAS full of little ones she was being entrusted to watch over! Poor Ashley had the lime-light taken from her as Kimi would do her best Tigger impersonation and "Pounce" the paper. (ok...time for mommy to play the evil witch and step in and remove Kimi so Ashley can regain the spot light for ''her time to shine".

I know the kids all had a great time racing with Kimi...And she was fair about it, she even let some of the younger ones win! But she did her best to beat the bigger kids. As tired as Kimi was, I know she had a great time at her first birthday party too! When it was time for all the kids to go home again, Kimi sood by the gate watching each leave with a sad, but tired look on her face. She may not have been aware of what a birthday party was, but she definitely aware of all the kids in the yard and the fun she had with each.

And Kimi, great party hostess that she was, was definitely ready for a nap by that time too. No sooner had daddy put Kimi down in her basket then Kimi's sleepy little eyes were closing......and off to dream land she went. To dream of little girls, and parties....little boys and frosting coated fingers.

Kristi (sheltie puppies and sugar do NOT mix! LOL)
Kimi ( oh yes they do mommy! more sugar!! YAHOOEY!!)