Family Style Dinner (and dessert)

When I come home from work, I immediately prepare a plate of puppy chow and take it outside with all the dogs in tow. They run and squeal and yelp with excitement because they now know the best part of the day is ahead. Not only do they get a yummy dinner, they also get to play outside in the grass.
As soon as the plate hits the ground, 24 little feet come running toward it and 6 little hungry faces swoop down on the chow. Not a sound but the smacking of little puppy lips.

(Oopsie, I see that my own foot wanted in the photo too!)
Only a matter of time before Bella, who has been lurking nearby, shows up, hoping I will not notice, of course. I have to tell her at least a couple times it is not yet time. When I finally let her come near to eat, the babies make a run for it and start nursing. As long as there is food left on the plate, Bella stays in place. The kids have figured this out by now and have learned to nurse fast and furious. It is a race against time for all involved.

Bacio is never far away and as soon as he sees his chance, he too comes and grabs some grub off the family platter. That is, if Bella lets him. She occasionally gives him a little growl, but for the most part she just lets him eat, as long as she gets most of it. Poor Dad is last on the list.
Meanwhile, the pups keep nursing away, their bellies rolling and their tails wagging.

As soon as the food has disappeared off the plate, Bella makes a run for it, leaving a pile of confused and disoriented puppies behind on the floor as they try to hang on for dear life. Bella jumps safely on top of her sun-lounger, where the puppies can not (yet) reach her. There she relaxes and recovers from the dinner routine.
That is they way the (doggie) cookie crumbles...

After dinner comes play time. Within no time, there are energetic and happy puppies with full bellies everywhere.
They now like to "bother" one another too. Just like kids.