First Overnight Stay Without the "Parents"

Airlie recently spent her first week at my parents' house, with Kansas and Leo, without me & DH. Despite my worries (she would jump on the little kids, she would mouth their hands & arms, she would escape from the yard & get lost...) she did very well.

She only shredded one plant, and while it made a mess, my parents concurred that it was a plant that needed some "grooming", anyway.

I was there with them for the last half of Tuesday & first half of Wednesday. Niece2 helped me feed the dogs Tuesday afternoon. They didn't seem to mind that she stood in their midst, pouring food into their bowls and setting them down in front of each of them. She even pet them while they ate (which I put a stop to after the initial patting) without incident. Mom says Nephew helped Dad feed them all a few times after that, also without incident.

Airlie didn't jump on any of the kids. Mom made sure to tell her to "sit" before she ever had a chance, and she complied beautifully. She didn't bite or mouth anybody -apparently she just saves that for us. I can't believe how persistent she is with this. I have figured out that she's doing it to us the same way she would initiate play with Kansas, she just doesn't seem to grasp that you DON'T put your teeth on ANY PEOPLE, whether you're inviting play or not. At least she seems to be able to differentiate between the people she should/shouldn't do it to, and she seems to discern the time when/when not to.

She and Hank had a blast playing together, wearing each other out. She's respectful of Jax & Mollie, played with Kansas (as usual) and probably bugged Leo (as usual), too. She loved being out in the backyard, lazing on the patio, etc... and didn't mind not being indoors all the time (like they are at home) at all. She even went to bed and didn't need a nighttime potty break (she still goes out one more time before we go to sleep here).

Mom said she walked right over to Nephew, at one point, laid down at his feet and rolled over, wanting her tummy rubbed.

Nephew's report for the whole weekend was "I love Airlie. Airlie reminds me of Bolt. I want to watch Bolt now. Airlie and Hank are my best friends."