Dusty the Horse

Two Christmases ago, my Dad bought Jack a stuffed horse. For the longest time it just sat in his room, although he would occasionally drag it out and make it dance. Earlier this year, it became a toy that he started playing with regularly. Then, after watching the Backyardigans episode "Ping-Pong Bandit," which features Uniqua riding a dun colored horse named Dusty, Jack started calling it Dusty.

At first, Dusty just gave (stationary) horsey rides. Then Dusty started wrestling. But the longer Amelie has been around, the more animated Dusty has become.

Dusty is occasionally sick and has to be nursed to health.

Jack reads Dusty stories.

Dusty takes bike rides, dangerously riding on the handlebars.

Dusty has to eat out of Homer's bowl. (That is the picture above. Homer is not amused.)

And then there is this...

Yes, my son is nursing a toy horse.
"Dusty hungry! He eat milk!"

Yup.