Sweetheart's 11th Birthday

Wow, how time flies!  Leah's "pet" dog, Sweetheart, turned 11 on May 1, 2017.  And yes, we held another party for her.

Sweetheart, getting ready to celebrate.

 What is more amazing:  the fact that Sweetheart doesn't look a day over 7 or that we're still throwing birthday parties for her?  Granted, they are not as elaborate as they used to be; we have it down to dinner (with brownies for dessert) and a few cards and Sweetheart-appropriate gifts.

Sweetheart likes hamburgers and
hot dogs for her birthday dinner.

I think Leah is just in it for the brownies.

I used to decorate for her birthday with leftover themed birthday decorations and tableware, but now she just gets the generic "happy birthday" tablecloth that we all get on our birthdays.  When we lived in Japan, it was easy to buy her gifts.  Japanese people love all things cute and the 100 Yen stores always had a great selection from which to choose.  Now I have to keep my eye out and collect things when I find them.  It was challenging, but I found her some appropriate gifts.

Sweetheart received a new bed, a tiny
 (working) Rubik's cube and her own
pet cat (with carrier).

I'm not sure how long we'll keep having parties for Sweetheart.  I guess that depends how long Leah keeps playing with her.  Knowing Leah and her love of chocolate, though, she may just keep celebrating Sweetheart's birthday so she can get brownies!