Dogs in party hats!

Come on, admit it: You like torturing poor, unsuspecting dogs as much as the next person. Who doesn't?

So, as we were all discussing the fact that yesterday was the sixth birthday of all our dogs, it quickly became apparent that we needed to put them in party hats, just as we did some years ago. Jennie did, though, get them new party hats; hey, we're not mean!

As you can clearly see, the dogs are loving it!

Okay, maybe they're not loving it, but at least they're sitting still for it.

Well, not exactly sitting; more like held in place by my hands and Jennie's; that's her paw reaching in from out of the frame.

Still not convinced? Try these happy expressions on for size.

Fine. I admit it: these dogs were not happy. They were long-suffering pooches, but afterward we rewarded their pain with grated cheese for all! Nothing says love like a sprinkle of cheese on the floor and the permission from all humans present to lick to your heart's content.

For those who do not know our noble hounds, the very short version is that we met them as puppies on a beach vacation almost six years ago, and they turned out to belong to a man in Durham. Our household chose (and named) Holden, the black and white goofy guy on my left. Jennie selected Shibori, the almost entirely black dog her hands are holding. Gina opted for Pixil, who's sitting right in front of me, because Gina is taking the pictures.

These three play together almost every day at our house while we're all working, and I love them all. (If you could see Holden wiggle, you'd love him, too.) They're the best dogs in the world, and if you don't believe me, you simply haven't met them--but you do now know that they look great in party hats.