Lynette George

This past Saturday, we were photographing an adorable, normal-size pet when we heard a ruckus behind us. Someone yelled, "Huh oh! Look at those Saint Bernards!"

Sure enough, a couple was struggling to keep their three extra large (200-plus pounds each) fur kids at bay until it was their turn for photos. We finished the small dog, opened the door, and in bounded the excited St. Bernards, dragging their mommy and daddy behind them. That's when the rodeo commenced.

"They get to go on an outing once a year and this is it," exclaimed the out-of-breath mom.

The friendly female dog was thrilled to see Santa, promptly running into him full force. Following her lead, another of the threesome ran to meet the jolly, old elf. The third beautiful dog, however, wasn't exactly fond of the weird guy in red.

I took my eyes off Santa for a moment in order to speak to the rambunctious fur kids' mom, who said she'd love to have at least one picture with all three dogs together (something that had never been accomplished before), then three individual photos with Santa. By the time I turned back to check on Santa, he was face down, spread eagle in the floor with three happy (Okay, two happy and one less than thrilled) St. Bernards bouncing on and around him. I should've taken a photo but couldn't because I was laughing too hard.

Word quickly spread through the store and into the parking lot that Santa was being "mauled" by Saint Bernards. A crowd was gathering.

For about 45 minutes, four adults ran around like chickens with our heads cut off, trying to corral the lively kids. I didn't realize Saint Bernards could make faster moves than an NFL running back. Eventually, we did get the group and individual shots. How, I'll never know. Mom was ecstatic, dad was relieved, and an exhausted Santa was trying to recuperate, his suit covered in dog drool, his beard, hair and hat all lopsided. But we enjoyed every crazy second of it.

"Now we're taking them to see Holiday Lights," Mom happily announced while being dragged down the store aisle.

Has anyone checked those lights this week?

Happy birthday Thursday to Cyndi Whitley, Maggie McLoren, Camron Fulse, Nina Mathews, Patsy Landmon Speed, Regina Johnson, Delton Mundine Sr., and Wilma Sanders, all of Denison; Don Allen, Shelley Reddell Turbyfill, Jamiya Monique Braxton, Sharon Griffin, Tammie Peters, Ovid Cole, Linda Nickerson, Ka-Leigh Windom and Don Bills, all of Sherman; David Killough of Paris; Ricky Tillett and Carolyn King, both of Tom Bean; Tanner Stone of Bells; Karol McAfee Hughes of Gordonville; Mac Wayne O'Dea of Honey Grove; Marcus Tre' Kelly of Plano; Sonny Bell of Calera, Okla.; Dylan Armstrong and Jeff Slate, both of Pottsboro; Gina Crites of Savoy; James Bond and Pam Colvin, both of Whitesboro; Pamela Smith of Denver, Colo.; Kaye Beard of Garvin, Okla.; Kimberly Snyder of Platter, Okla.