Pure Happiness

On Sunday, Nick, Chino and I headed out to visit the grandparents in New Lex.  Car rides are one of Chino's favorite things, because cars typically take him out for ice cream, to the park, to the grandparents' house or to daycare.  As always, he was excited as soon as we said "Chino, do you want to go for a ride?"  In typical Chino (DRAMA) fashion and as is typical when a ride is involved, he started crying and plastered himself to my leg, just incase we were kidding and were going to try to leave without him.  We get in the car, he jumps in the backseat, long enough for me to sit down and put my seat belt on - and then he proceeds to relocate himself into "his seat", which also happens to be MY LAP.

For those who don't know Chino, he is our two year old lab mix.  He also weighs about 70lbs, so he's far from a lap dog.  The whole lap thing started because when he was a puppy, he was petrified of the car and had to be comforted and calmed down by me, on my lap.  We never thought much of this and it seemed like he went from cute, cuddly puppy to giant cuddly dog - OVERNIGHT!  Needless to say, when he rides on my lap, he gets quite a few double takes and smiles.  Nick and I tend to think this is normal - so when people look at us like we're crazy when I say that Chino is a lap dog - it takes us a minute to remember that we really are.

We are very lucky because Chino is a great car dog - he can sit for hours and for trips to Pittsburgh, just curls up on his bed and naps the ride away.  His favorite spot is my lap, and although I have the seasonal bruises and scratches from his paws and claws, I wouldn't have it any other way.  

I snapped this picture with my phone yesterday on our way home from the grandparents house. If anyone knows Chino, you know that he isn't easily posed for pictures - this picture is pure happiness, him in the car, obeying the rules (no standing and hanging out the window), taking it all in and enjoying his time with us.