I am blown away with how fast this summer has come and gone. Two months ago (which seemed like last week) the boys next door ambushed their father (in front of Doodle Dad) begging to sleep outside in the yard with Harley. The mere image of Harley spending the night in a tent is a comical thought. Harley is a bed hopper.
All summer long the men did their best to avoid this subject, but with Labor Day only one week away, they were running out of time and excuses. So Friday the tent went up…
Trust me when I tell you, this was not your typical “roughing it out in the woods” camping experience – oh no. This was backyard camping – with all the creature comforts of being close to home…
They had tiki lanterns to ward off bugs, extension cords for the Kindle #gottahavepower. A cooler with drinks and a shopping bag stuffed full of snacks. Mattresses for “under” the sleeping bags #comfortcomesfirst, and let’s not forget – “your parents” a few feet away sleeping on the deck.
Initially, my plan was to hang out for a couple of hours and then leave Doodle Dad and neighbor Marc out there to do what Dad’s do. Watch movies…
But the bed hopper wanted to stay…
He went in…
He came out…
He abandoned the little people as I suspected and joined the adults on the deck. Soon he settled in on his cot…
But not for long! I must have dozed off because when I woke up, he relocated and was cuddled up with the boys mother…
Even though he scored a very comfy spot, he didn’t stay there long. He returned to his cot…
I don’t remember when Bridget and her husband traded places, but when I looked again, the bed hopping had continued…
I “gave up” trying to “keep up” and decided to get some sleep. As the rising sun woke us all, we laughed out loud to find Harley back again on his cot…
Even though my intentions were never to spend the entire night in a lounge chair on my deck when I have the greatest bed in the world upstairs, but I’m so glad I did. It might sound crazy, but we had “childhood like” fun, laughing with (and at) one another while Harley “entertained” us with his bed hopping game…
To say I was exhausted all day on Saturday is a true understatement. I felt like this bear the entire day…
But even saddled with extreme fatigue, I could have ran a marathon when the boys next door brought me these handwritten thank you letters…
Yes, I teared up when I read the sentence underlined in yellow!
These are the things I appreciate so much. These are those moments that make me smile and melt my heart. Thank you God, I am furever grateful to have bed hopping Harley in my life.
Do you have a bed hopper in your house? Does he/she have four or two legs? Do tell:)
Thanks for reading, strive to make this day the BEST DAY for someone else – it’s a great feeling…
I am joining the Monday Mischief blog hop brought to you by Alfie’s Blog, Snoopy’s Dog Blog, My Brown Newfies.
August 25, 2014
What great fun “camping”. Harley is too much – although Jack is like that too – he makes the rounds of his beds each night. And your neighbors? Parents doing it right…love the thank-you notes.
August 25, 2014
Slim Doggy, I would have loved a cabin like the one you went to earlier this summer, but the backyard worked out just fine. The neighbors are great parents – and the kids are terrific advertisers for them. Those cards epitomize the kids – they’re great! It was fun.
August 25, 2014
Bailey and Katy are bed hoppers. I never know where I’ll find them if I get up in the middle of the night. I always have to watch where I put my feet down.
What a great adventure that obviously meant a great deal to the kids.
August 25, 2014
I might have to interview both Bailey and Katy to find out why so many are bed hoppers these days. I have also learned to turn on a small light before I start walking in the middle of the night. I would probably step on a body part myself BOL Thanks for stopping by, we’ll be over to sheltie times a little later today!
August 25, 2014
We like your idea of camping!!! We are always making the rounds when our peeps are sleeping! BOL!!
August 25, 2014
Hi Miley, what I didn’t tell you was that I am so not into camping – so this was huge in my world. My husband was even a little surprised that I lasted the entire night! But “sshhh” don’t tell anyone – I had a great time out there! Thanks for stopping by, we’re headed over to my golden dog in a little while.
August 25, 2014
I’m so tempted to do the same thing in our yard, but we don’t have a fenced area that would accommodate all of us.
And we’re lacking a tent and sleeping bags. LOL
So we camp out in the living room.
August 25, 2014
I could mail you the sleeping bags with the shower cap (had to throw that one in Kimberly:)) Camping out in the living room is cool too – in the winter time we do it a lot in the basement.
August 25, 2014
Wonderful weekend!! A memory for a lifetime. Well done, Cathy and Harley!! And, yes, my Lilly is a wanderer in the night. Dash settles in and stays put. Happy Monday!
August 25, 2014
Maybe I need you to explain to me Lilly, why you and Harley would walk around at night vs. getting a good nights sleep! Dash and I get it! Happy Monday to you too! Thanks for stopping by.
August 25, 2014
What a great story! Love those sweet notes 🙂
August 25, 2014
Thanks Sue – I will cherish those notes for many years to come.
August 25, 2014
I move around in the night, and so does Katie, but Bailie pretty much stays put. Camping sounds like a fun adventure for everyone! So glad Harley has his little friends.
August 25, 2014
Yeah Emma, they are filling in the gap for him the best they can. It’s not the same – but it’s getting better!
August 25, 2014
Looks like great backyard camping fun!
August 25, 2014
It was Talent Hounds, it was a lot of fun!
August 25, 2014
What a fun night! I’m sure the boys will never forget that! Might not be so fun in our yard… the only flat part of the yard is all concrete or wood! Nothing to pitch a tent into. Love the thank you letters! That’s too sweet – and a skill not too many young folks seem to have today. (e.g. Sent my friend’s kid a graduation present – got a t/y text back. From my friend – not the kid.)
August 25, 2014
I feel you Jackie, it’s rare to find parents who still believe in “old school” methods. Both parents are public school educators and I love to watch them with their children. They’ve also done a tremendous job with Harley and I as we learned to live without Leo this summer. I am blessed to have them next door 🙂
August 25, 2014
Awwwwwwwwwwwwww…. 🙂 What a wonderful story to start a Monday (@ work) off!
Thanks!
August 25, 2014
Hi there Scotty – that’s what I was aiming for!
August 25, 2014
Harley is so cute! I don’t have any bed hoppers. Zoe has to sleep in her crate because she’s grumpy and Phoenix sleeps in her dog bed, but they are both are near us at night. 🙂 Phoenix will snuggle with me until “daddy” comes to bed and then she will go to her bed. 😀
August 25, 2014
Lauren, Leo was like Phoenix. He’d sleep on the bed until Doodle Dad showed up then he would jump down. Harley has always been a “wanderer”
August 25, 2014
Doesn’t sound like much real sleeping happened, except maybe for the kids. However, I think a lot of fun happened, and that is what it was all about ! Great job 🙂
August 25, 2014
Trust me Shelia when I say – sleeping was only taking place for those two “inside” the tent!
August 25, 2014
That looks like lots of fun! And you were very brave to sleep outside, I’d be afraid if there were noises. Love Dolly
August 25, 2014
Oh Dolly there were entirely too many of us out there for any of us to be afraid of anything 🙂
August 25, 2014
Those thank you notes are so sweet! That is such a fun idea too. Harley, Shiner seems like you a little bit with the bed hopping. She tries to lay on my feet at night, but I make her get off sometimes. Then she’ll find a few other spots and eventually end up back on my feet again…
August 25, 2014
Ann, I fell in love with those thank you notes! I’m finding out that Harley isn’t as strange as I thought he was with his bed hopping – seems like he’s in excellent company – Shiner included!
August 26, 2014
awesome camping trip, I wanna camp like that, crack me up with all the cords and electronics. My gang is usually by me the whole time.
August 26, 2014
Since my husband is a retired Infantry dude, he struggled bringing out all those creature comforts but these are little kids, so you do what you gotta do. They had a blast to include Harley and that always makes him smile. Everyone had a great time.
August 26, 2014
Such a sweet story! I loved the note!
I’m a bed hopper too, but only when I stay next door at Cosmo’s house! All the kids and the parents tell my Mum that I slept on their bed, I move around in the night when their asleep so they don’t know it’s a timeshare deal! 🙂
I hope you’re having a fun day,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
August 26, 2014
Thanks Snoopy, I love that concept “a timeshare” deal 🙂 Harley’s a hopper all right, but now I know he’s in excellent company!! Take care pal!
August 26, 2014
What a sweet post! Just love the way Harley bed hopped!
August 26, 2014
Thanks Dory – do you bed hop?
August 26, 2014
Bed hopper, huh? Two of my dogs are hoppers. Jasper, however, will stay put. He likes to be comfortable.
Wags (and purrs) from Life with Dogs and Cats
August 26, 2014
Susan, I really don’t know why I’m surprised. Harley bed hops when we’re inside. He generally has three places he goes to throughout the night – and each spot is in our room. Such a silly Doodle 🙂
August 26, 2014
What fun, and isn’t Harley funny with the bed hopping! Our youngest pup Luke is on and off our bed all night….he moves to different locations on the floor, sometimes to the dog bed and sometimes to the chair in the corner. He doesn’t come quietly back up on the bed most of the time either, he usually just trods right over me and plops down half on top of me!
August 26, 2014
Jan, aren’t their habits interesting? Where do you supposed they get them from. They just amaze me, I could sit and watch Harley all day and never be bored. Thanks for stopping by!
August 26, 2014
What an awesome post about a pawsome night out with your bed hopper!! I really enjoyed reading about it 🙂
August 26, 2014
Thanks Barbara – Harley is furever showing us fun adventures, so I’m doodlelighted to share with all of you 🙂 Thanks for stopping by…
August 27, 2014
What a sweet story!! I would worry about the kids camping outside by themselves (even in the back yard) and would have done exactly what you did!
It was sort of like the Three Bears, in the fact that people (and pups) switched about where they slept.
Sampson is the bed hopper, but not to that degree. Typically he moves a lot but will only get off the bed once, once he’s down, he usually stays down.
August 27, 2014
Hi Jodi – A zillion years ago that never crossed our parents minds. They left us out in the backyard alone never worrying about anything or anyone bothering us. Unfortunately this is no longer the case. That’s why we supported the parents and stayed out there with them. The Three Bears is the pawfect description – that’s precisely what it was like. Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it.
August 28, 2014
What a really neat experience for everyone.
August 28, 2014
Yes, it was Tiffany, however I think Harley, Marshall and Mason got the most enjoyment!
November 1, 2016
My baby is a bed hopper too!! I thought he would never be able to reach our bed, it sits so high. He is a 40-lb lap pup. But he jumps right up and walks all over us trying to find a comfy spot. Yup, he is not subtle about it. We never have to wonder if he has hopped into bed.
November 1, 2016
Pups seem to be able to figure out a way to do whatever they want to do! So funny. Thanks so much for stopping by, come back soon.