December 16, 2010

A few days ago I found Marianne rummaging around in the closet.

I stood and watched her for a minute. "What are you looking for?" I asked.

Marianne jumped and looked guilty. "Nothing much. You'll see later," she replied evasively. "Hey, I have good news! Alexa is coming over this afternoon." She patted my head and walked away with the box.

This seemed like a suspiciously abrupt change of subject, but I didn't press for details. I went to tell Meryl and Mina that Alexa was coming over and Marianne was acting funny.

"Uh-oh," said Mina. "Was she looking through the box in the closet?"

"Yeah, she was," I said. "Why? Is that bad?"

Meryl shivered. Mina shook her head. "You were too little to remember much about Christmas last year, but that box has the holiday costumes in it. She's probably going to make us wear funny hats and collars." Meryl sighed and said, "And isn't Alexa her photographer friend?" Mina nodded.

Uh-oh is right, I thought.

Sure enough, when Alexa arrived she had her camera. We went into the back yard and Marianne followed with the box from the closet. I heard jingling and before I knew what was happening I was wearing a velvet collar with bells on it. Meryl and Mina looked resigned and let Marianne put jingle bell collars around their necks, too.

"Don't fight it," advised Meryl. "It's no use."

Alexa had us pose in different places in the yard. She's a kind and talented photographer and lets us be ourselves, as much as we can with costumes, anyhow. Meryl and I got a little silly and played chase with one of the hats, and tug-o-war with the antlers. But Alexa was patient and let us run around in between posed shots.

Afterwards Marianne looked through the photos and chose some of them for a holiday card to send out to friends and family. I guess the costumes were worth the hassle since I think we look pretty cute. Check us out in the attached slide show by clicking on my photo above!

Chow for now!

Mars

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