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Colonel's Corner
The Celebrate team works hard to produce a platform that brings family and friends together, one celebration at a time. Throughout this journey, Colonel, our black Labrador, has been by our side. What became clear early on was his uncanny ability to photo bomb at the most inopportune time. Yet, when looking at the pictures, we would always say, “It’s perfect!” We concluded this was Colonel’s way of saying he is as much a part of this story as we are. So, we are dedicating Colonel’s Corner to all our 4-legged family members. Follow this sweet boy throughout the blog and look for pictures of our other little boy, and Colonel’s younger brother, Louie. Together, these two cuddle bugs help our team celebrate life!
 Colonel’s favorite toy…I mean Louie’s favorite toy. (And a pouting Colonel.) |  “I’m sleepy.” |  Snug as a bug in a rug. |
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 Who’s the Alpha? Both exhausted from a morning of play. Colonel on the floor. Louie sleeping in Colonel’s bed surrounded by Colonel’s toys. |  What? This isn’t the real Louie? |  Using the coffee table to do my knee exercises. Someone wants to join in. |
 On those days I work from home with my recliner, laptop desk…and Louie. |  When it’s cold outside I always know where to find Louie. |  Drying Louie off after exploring in the rain. |
 Louie posing by his pillow |  |  |
 “Why do I have to stay outside?” |  Louie always “gets in line” behind big brother when we are about to go somewhere. |  Mail delivery brought to us by Colonel! It is part of his daily chores. |
 Big brother always has a pillow ready for me. |  “Wait. Let me give you my profile." |  Dad checking out Louie. Colonel saying, “I’m sorry, brother. I didn’t mean to hurt your leg.” Narrowly avoiding an emergency vet visit. |
 “I tap!” |  “I can go to sleep now.”-surrounded by favorite toys. |  Happy brothers. |
 Some days you just need to crawl back into bed. |  Just dreaming |  "I know he’s here somewhere!" |
 Tough day modeling my new bandanas. |  Marketing Team quote: Dogs are harder to photograph than tablescapes. |  Are you ready for me to model the Foggy Dog bandana? |
 Louie said to Mom, “They’re not really Sorry. |  Colonel will not leave his little buddy’s side. |  "This is how you do tummy time,” said Colonel. |
 Soaking up the sun; cool mountain air; roaring fire. That’s the life! |  "Wanna play?!?” |  “I’m sleepy.” |
 “I have the whole bed but there’s still no room!”-says Louie. |  “Who, me?” |  Dog-tired! |
 What’s up? |  Oh no! I just saw Dad’s suitcase out. Another trip. I’d cry if I could but I can’t. So I just bite my security pillow and pout. |  Nothing much softer to sleep on than a British Lab’s backside. |
 Peek-a-boo! |  Bedtime. |  "Seriously?" |
 Colonel’s favorite toy…I mean Louie’s favorite toy. (And a pouting Colonel.) |  “Move!”-Colonel. “No, you move!”-Louie. |  Hey Dad, want to play? I found this old bottle outside. |
 Colonel is proud of his new toy. Bringing it to mom as a gift. |  Sometimes you just need to be close to your big brother. |  When you just need a little snuggling. |
 I’m pouting. Dad left on another business trip. |  Dad, Louie’s asleep on my paws again. |  Snug as a bug in a rug. |
 Night, night, Louie. |  Sleepy Sunday. |  This is a daily scene around our home. Louie hunts. Louie catches frog. Frog gets mad. Louie foams. (Don’t worry! I’ve had many conversations with our vet. No worry about dangerous frogs near us.) |
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 Both exhausted from a morning of play. Colonel on the floor. Louie sleeping in Colonel’s bed surrounded by Colonel’s toys. |  |  |
 Sprawled out on the covers and happy in lala land is usually where we find him after his meal. (CZ felt Louie was a little too exposed so he now wears a sarong. And like the rest of us, he wanted to honor St Patrick’s Day in green! |  |  |
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 |  |  Of course, Colonel has started figuring out the spellings, too! |
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 Every morning my husband lays on his back to do his quiet time and stretch his back, and every morning Colonel joins him and assumes the same position. If my husband gets too quiet Colonel will paw Christopher’s head to get him going. |  I can look really tough if I lay on my back. |  Family watching football opening weekend. Colonel laying on Cecelia’s lap, gazing into her eyes saying, “Can we play yet?!?” |
 Colonel is trained to bring the mail to me that falls through our front door. He brings it one piece at a time, so delivery takes about 20 minutes, but it’s worth seeing those eyes shine with pride. |  Listening to 80s music this morning. Walked into bedroom with Final Countdown playing. Colonel’s tight grip on “dog” was fitting. |  Watching a movie with Mom. We call this “drumsticks up.” |
 "I need to tell you about my day, Dad." |  Having fun playing with squeaker. |  Hiding under the covers. “Whatcha lookin’ at, Mom?” |
 Ready for opening ceremony! |  This is how we wind down our evenings. Colonel crawls on my lap and gives me his paw to hold. |  Working on my business plan with my supportive sidekick. |
 Louie eagerly waiting for the bank teller to send the capsule. He loves running errands! |  I’m just plumb tired from playing with my toy. Fell asleep with it in my arms. |  Nothing much cuter than little paws and a sleeping dog. |
 Picture Perfect |  Long day. Played hard. Retrieved mail. Guarded house. I’m pooped! |  Walked into the room to Christopher and Louie watching a video together. Two peas in a pod! |
 Just too cute. Colonel and Louie fast asleep, back paws crossed. |  I’m ready to go retrieving, Dad! |  “Every night after dinner we curl up on the couch together,” say Colonel and Louie. |
 Getting a belly suntan on the patio. |  Love the puppy eye look. |  “Dad’s exercising on the Peloton so I thought I should get in a few aerobic somersaults.” |
 “Do I have to get a bath every time I run through poison ivy?”-said Louie. |  Perfect thing to do on a rainy day in the mountains...snuggle with your brother and take a nap! |  Colonel (thinking he is a lap dog) lays next to Mom and Louie sleeps in Mom’s arms. |
 When he goes outside to potty, he pokes his head back in the doggy door about every 30 seconds to make sure his pack leader is still there. |  Trying to do my Bible study but there’s a little one sound asleep in my lap. |  Caz may be married and living under another roof, but Colonel loves it when his brother visits. |
 Enjoying a rainy, cozy weekend together. |  Put himself in his guard dog stance. |  Colonel wouldn’t leave Caz’s side. So excited to see his brother. |
 Let me help you, brother. You clean your left paw, and I’ll clean your right. |  Let me help you, brother. You clean your left paw, and I’ll clean your right. |  Let me help you, brother. You clean your left paw, and I’ll clean your right. |
 Louie watching an old MASH sitcom in bed with the family. |  Dachshunds remind me of little peanuts when they sleep curled up. |  “Instead of playing Where’s Waldo let’s play Where’s Louie?!?” |
 We don’t call this toy Louie. Don’t want him retrieving his real brother. Yikes! |  I’m sitting cross-legged and working from the couch today. Even the dogs don’t want to be outside. Colonel is curled up next to me and Louie is under the pillow and on my lap. It’s a little hard to type! |  Bedtime in the Zook family (gotta love my oversized favorite plaid flannels). Louie decided “dog” is |
 Best buddies enjoying a warm fire together. |  Best buddies enjoying a warm fire together. |  Bet you didn’t know dachshunds were part bat! |
 Yes, Colonel is asleep. |  Colonel and Caz were great partners! |  Playing Dog-opoly. Colonel advises Cecelia to buy the property! |
 Louie makes a great pillow for Colonel. |  “Where’s Waldo? I mean Louie?” Sleeping buried like a typical dachshund. |  Hard for Christopher to concentrate on the game with 13 pounds laying in his arm. He still won! |
 Louie and I are working hard today. |  His pack follows him. The mundane morning routine of getting dressed? That’s alright with Colonel and Louie. They follow him loyally and wait for his next move. |  “I’m stuck!”-Squealed a loud Louie upon trying to retrieve his ball. |
 “Was that thunder?!?”-said Louie. |  Put himself to bed. Already had a long day! |  Time to break out the sweaters! |
 This is why they like to burrow under blankets. Louie has an entire bed to sleep on but unless he can bury his head he does not think he is underground. |  Another cozy, rainy day on the porch. |  “Another rainy day. Watching the rain and feeling cozy on mom’s stomach,” says Louie. |
 You’re telling me I just caught an elephant?!? |  Long drive in the car. This was the look from the backseat. Interpret it how you wish! |  Working at my desk. Feet on my stool. “Mom, may I sit in your lap?” |
 Colonel makes a good head rest. |  I’m not allowed to run around for a few days so I sit in my toy box and play. |  Tough day. |
 Beautiful fall day in the North Carolina mountains. |  Waiting for the veterinarian to come get me for my flu shot. Mom and Dad are getting theirs tomorrow. Have you had yours? |  Great visit with our daughter (in law). She exercised every day, and Louie worked out with her. Actually, she meant he sunbathed while she worked out. |
 |  Sitting on a small loveseat. Now joined by 96# Colonel and 12# Louie who are scared of the noise. We don’t all fit! |  |
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 Gazing into the sunset. Wonder what he’s thinking? |  Gotta love those eyes. |  A stick will work. Who do you think won this tug-of-war?? Louie or Colonel? |
 Always together. |  Immediate reaction? Colonel ran to Dad, put his head in his lap as if to cry, “ My brother stole my toy!” |  This is the sweet picture I see each morning. |
 We call this position: Sticks up. |  Louie on an outing with Mom. |  Designated two shelves for all things dog related. Louie misunderstood. 😂 |
 Louie had an active morning playing with Colonel. |  Even sitting straight up he’s still snoring! |  Colonel always gets on his back so Louie has a chance. They are best buds! |
 Louie after a hard day playing with his brother, Colonel. |  Grabbed my coffee and getting ready to do my bible study. Louie beat me to it. Found him perched on the ottoman, listening to the birds and sitting on top of my journaling bible. He knows who his Creator is! |  Best buds taking a break from playing fetch. |
 Colonel and Louie asleep |  Be on the lookout for a podcast @cecelia__zook and I will do together about the Mother-in-law/Daughter-in-law relationship. What are the pitfalls? How do you achieve a great relationship, and what is God’s plan? (9- month Louie was enjoying listening to the birds!) |  And little Louie says ”...ahhh, life is good.” |
 Sleeping Louie |  I was running circles around the island and suddenly saw another dog. I quickly sat and stared at him. He just stared back. I need to be on alert. He might come back! |  I just had a big meal and ready to go to sleep in Mom’s arms. |
 On back, drumsticks up, head covered. Making him feel he is hidden because head is covered. Forgetting how long his body is. Adorable! |  Another day of blogging |  Every time I pick up a decorative pillow to make the bed, Colonel picks up his pillow and walks back and forth with me while he “makes” his bed. |
 The world’s largest livestock show, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, begins tomorrow. The bluebonnets are beginning to bloom and today is TEXAS Independence Day. Spring is coming and today we celebrate! |  Mission complete. “Well done, Mom!” |  Even though we are very different, we have learned to play well together. |
 “I found my big brother’s toy basket!” |  Running errands with Mom. That coffee at Starbucks sure smells good! |  “Ok, you’re morning quiet time has gone on long enough. Please play with me!” |
 This is my best trick. I can fall asleep (you can tell by my half open red eyes) and still hold the bottle in my mouth. |  And Louie said to Colonel, “Wow, you’re big!” |  I've mastered the puppy dog eyes |
 Happy Hour with the family. |  I slept most of the way. |  Mom and Dad named the house after me! |
 Dad and I play Hide and Seek every night with each other. |  Watching Hallmark movies with Mom. Ok, well, actually laying in Mom’s lap while she watches Hallmark movies. Life’s good. |  I just had a big meal and ready to go to sleep in Mom’s arms. |
 My little brother, Louie, had his first vet appointment today. I came along and got to hang out with my friends at the front desk while Louie was with the doctor. They played games with me. |  At bedtime I get my cheese stick and lay in bed with Mom and Dad. I get a belly rub every night! |  I’ve mastered the puppy-eyed look! Mom and Dad melt every time. |
 Puppy love and computer work. Best way to spend a Saturday. |  Fell asleep in Mom’s lap while watching a movie. |  Today was very exciting. I got to see a commercial filmed in my home. I almost caused an accident, though. I thought the commercial people had used my tennis balls without asking me. I went over to retrieve them back! Uh oh, those weren’t mine. I kept my favorite toy with me, for security, the rest of the day. |
 At just 10 weeks and 6 pounds, I can carry my big brother’s ball! |  Sitting with my little brother, Louie, at nap time. |  My favorite hideaway. |
 First visit to the vet. |  The world can seem very big to those around us. So love others well by meeting them on their level. |  Colonel meets his baby brother, Louie, for the first time. |
 I’m ready for the Christmas party my family is hosting! |  Anxiously awaiting the mail delivery. |  I'm getting into the Christmas spirit with my bandana! |
 Look at all of us hard at work, creating great things for all of you. I love my team! |  I'm exhausted after a long day of blogging. It takes so long to type when you have puppy paws. |  Helping mom get clothes planned for tomorrow. |
 “I’m a yankee doodle dogggggy.” I was Uncle Sam for Halloween. |  Staring at the birds in the North Carolina mountains. |  Mornings doing Bible study with my mom. |
 When mom makes the bed, I get my pillow and make my bed, too. |  If I stare at mom long enough she’ll come throw the ball to me. |  I know I'm cute! |
 I can dribble the soccer ball by myself. |  Cone of shame. I’ve been neutered. ☹ |  Oops, sorry. I grabbed a little extra with the ball. |
 Football is my favorite sport! |  I love Christmas! |  Helping my mom unpack her suitcase. |
 I must admit. I’m a daddy’s boy. I pout when he gets ready in the morning because I know he’s going to work. So I hide between his legs hoping he won’t go. |  I’m getting bigger! So is my puppy belly. |  This was when I was just a puppy. |
 Trips to the vet can be scary! |  Mom and dad chose me out of the entire litter. I was born in Mississippi but on my way home to Texas! |
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