With Annie’s birthday next month, I’ve been working on getting her to understand what a birthday is. And by “understand” I mean not scream and cry when everyone sings her happy birthday. I’ve shown her pictures and videos of birthdays of friends and family, and she has gotten to the point where she cheers and tries to sing along. The other day, I off-handedly mentioned that it was Rigby’s birthday on Sunday. Annie tilted her head at me and said, “Wigby bird day? CAKE?”
So, this obviously had to happen:
What! It’s really more surprising that this hasn’t happened sooner.
Annie was totally excited and thought the whole thing was fun. She said over and over, “Party FUNNY!” She meant FUN you guys. FUN.
All the coolest toys were there…
…like Ralph Wiggum…
…a dinosaur…
…and of course, Elmo.
We have a tradition that Rigby gets a scrambled egg on her birthday, so Mike whipped one up for her. It wasn’t until Rigby was chowing down that I noticed Annie had grabbed Rigby’s untouched all-natural organic dog cookie…and was chewing on it.
I freaked out until Mike reminded me that the person behind the counter at the dog bakery had told us some people eat the dog cookies. Which…wasn’t cutting it for me, so I made Mike taste it.
even Rigby wanted to see his reaction
He said it wasn’t bad…which makes me seriously question every thumbs up he’s ever given my cooking.
Happy birthday, Rigby!
You are such a good dog….who also needs a bath.
Nelly says:
This has got to be one of the cutest things I have seen for a while! Love the dinosaur in a party hat!
Reminds me of when I was little and my teddy would get ripped or dammaged, my mum would set up a surgical theatre in our living room, we would all wear surgical masks and she would “operate” with a needle and thread… Good times.
Thanks for reminding me of that, I lost my Mum this year so it has put a smile on my face for sure. x
Lynn from For Love or Funny says:
Wait a minute…did you guys sing happy birthday to Rigby? Was Annie okay with that?
Heather says:
Ha, we STARTED to sing, and Annie got this…look…on her face. So we stopped. I need to keep working on her with the song!
Sue says:
Even tho I am twice your age, Heather; I want you & Mike for parents. You two are the most fun I’ve ever seen! I hope that this introduction to a birthday party will have Annie enjoying hers, thoroughly, next month!!!
edenland says:
I adore this post SO MUCH. Made me smile the whole way through … Ralph Wiggum was sorely lacking in my day today xx
Sue says:
P.S. Oh my gosh; I forgot to wish a belated Happy Birthday to Rigby. My Yorkie, Lily, turned 10 yrs old Saturday, and still acts like the puppy that we brought home at 9 weeks of age! I hope that Rigby has many, many more happy birthdays to come!
Amanda says:
How fun! I need to prepare my little girl for her birthday at the end of this month. And just so you don’t feel so bad, on Friday I found her hiding in a corner in the kitchen with a bag of doggie rawhides, just going to town gnawing on one. YUCK YUCK YUCK! And they’re not even organic!
Isn’t having a toddler awesome?
Shannon says:
Happy Birthday Rigby!
We have a party every year for my cat on the birthday we estimated/made up for her. Mostly it’s just an excuse to eat cake.
And now we also have a party for Winnie the Pooh, which is my son’s favorite stuffed animal. (It’s October 14–we Googled it.) Mostly that’s just an excuse to eat Culver’s.
How old is Rigby?
Mike says:
Rigby is seven! Getting up there in doggie years!
TamaraL says:
Aww, Happy Birthday Rigby! You are such a cute little bug of a dog!! Glad you got your yearly egg!!
My cousin (31 years old now) was the same way when he was a kid…as soon as you started singing Happy Birthday he would freak and when he heard you sing his NAME…he really lost it! Go figure!!
Cute pictues!
Jan says:
Seriously…you guys are so so cool! Even though I am, too, twice your ages, I want to come live in your house for all the fun stuff that’s always going on! Happy Birthday Rigby!
Jenn says:
You guys are so funny!!! I laughed right out loud when I read, then saw Mike testing the dog cookie!!! Was it good Mike? Did you buy Rigby another cookie since Annie & Mike ate hers?
I think Annie is going to have a great b-day. But, if all else fails get out the doggie cookies!! Ha ha
Kim says:
I love it!! That was so cute!
Kristen says:
Happy Birthday, Rigby!!!!
Was Mordecai not invited to the birthday festivities???
Heather says:
Mordecai is currently getting a nose job at a plastic surgery center and was unable to attend.
Lisa_in_WI says:
Aww, happy birthday Rigby!
If I thought she’d keep it on her head, I would totally have gotten my cat a birthday hat and had a party for her by now.
That being said, I do sing happy birthday to her. :p
Melli says:
Happy birthday rigby! Love ralph also
susanmig says:
LOVE this post!!
the photos are my favorite part. the fact that elmo never changes in any of the shots just jumps out at me for some reason. not sure what i expect elmo to do exactly???
happy birthday, rigby!
Jill says:
That is the cutest thing ever. I’m going to start giving my dog a scrambled egg on her birthday but no banner and no party hat. I am too old and tired to go to all that trouble, plus the dog can’t read and she doesn’t like wearing hats.
Would Annabelle feel better if she clapped along to the birthday song? Being the center of all that noisy attention is too much for many people, except certain reality TV stars. Giving her something to do besides sitting there and being sung to might help.
Beth says:
Don’t sweat kids eating dog food. The food isn’t going to hurt her.
We had our dog before kids and both of them went through a stage where they nibbled on the dog’s kibble. I even found one lapping out of the dog’s water dish pretending she was a dog. The kids survived, the dog got over his annoyance and years later we have great stories about the incidents.
Belated Birthday wishes to Rigby
Rebecca says:
I want a little Rigby of my own but don’t tell my husband because he doesn’t need to know that I’d actually want a dog.
Jen says:
I LOVE you guys!!! YOU KILL me!!! You make me smile i love it!!!!
Rebecca says:
And when it’s Mike’s birthday, I was thinking that this cake would be perfect for him.
http://ipsybipsybakeshop.blogspot.com/2011/06/family-fun-cakes.html
Amy Collen says:
Love that rug!! Where did you get it? I have a day planner with almost that same pattern :). Very cool!
Kyle says:
Me too! I want the rug! Where did it come from?
Heather says:
The rug is from Home Goods!
Lauren says:
One of our dogs when I was growing up had weird allergies so we used to make home-made treats… I recall peanut butter being a primary ingredient, and the treats tasting like dried-out peanut butter cookies without sugar. So not great, but certainly palatable if you were really hungry.
Tami says:
Happy Birthday to Rigby. My pom is eight and Im glad im not the only one that celebrates my kid dogs birthday with a party. I make my dog the winn dixe dog treats. They are made out of peanut butter ,eggs,cornmeal,oats, flour.ect. My dogs Love them. I love the picutes of Annie eating with Rigby. How adorable!!
Glam-O-Mommy says:
You guys are such fun parents! What a great idea! Recently, I was talking to my three-year-old S about Christmas. We talked about Santa and then I also mentioned that at Christmas, we celebrate Baby Jesus’ birthday (equal time!). On Friday, I took her to see Santa and when she found out, she said “We go to see Santa and then to Baby Jesus’ birthday party!” LOL. I forgot that at three, the “birthday party” concept is one she understands! So I told her we would be celebrating Baby Jesus’ birthday later this month and am considering adding a birthday cake to our celebration for that reason!
Jen says:
Haha, my boyfriend’s aunt serves a cake at her Christmas Eve party every year. Everyone calls it the “Jesus cake”. She puts a little Jesus figurine on it and everyone sings happy birthday to Jesus, hahaha. I guess the tradition started when her kids were little and it just kept going!
Jeanie says:
Awww, happy birthday, Rigby. You are the cutest!
k says:
The first picture made my week! Happy Birthday Rigby!
Jennifer says:
One of the best posts ever. I don’t know how you got those perfect pictures but they’re awesome!
Alan says:
Great idea! Looks like a great party you guys had. Happy Holidays!
Amanda says:
Was really worried it was going to be a different kind of biscuit.
Sherry says:
HahaHahaaa! Those pictures crack me up!! Thanks for sharing.
Faith says:
Happy Birthday, Rigby! That is so sweet. And I love that in the thumbs up photo, she’s right back to chewing on that dog biscuit.
Tara says:
I love it!! Way to go Mike for trying the dog cookie. That picture is classic!
Jessica says:
Awwww…..Rigby looks exactly like my Milo!!!
Lanie says:
Happy Belated Birthday Rigby! Our dogs are very jealous of your party. Here is to many more doggy birthdays (and parties)! Take care.
aqua6 says:
Up in the SF Bay Area, the SF Chronicle has a parenting blog entitled, “The Poop”. I had to look it up to remind myself that I had read it but the main writer created a stuffed animal birthday party for his son to distract him when his mom was out of town, very cute:
http://blog.sfgate.com/parenting/2008/09/17/broke-guy-day-care-stuffed-animal-birthday-parties/
Amy says:
I think this might be my favorite post of yours!!!!
AmazingGreis says:
Hahahahaha!!
Thumbs up for a doggie cookie, nice!
Happy Birthday Rigby, I miss you!