We shared the sad news on Instagram Stories last week, and wanted to post here as well because Burger was such an important part of our blog and our lives. Last Monday, our sweet chihuahua Burger passed away at age 15. He lived a long, wonderful life and gave us so many joyful moments, but the house feels much too quiet without him.
We brought Burger home when we were 24—before marriage, before the blog, before kids, before most of the adult milestones we shared. He was with us through everything.
He was always such a happy little guy. We are so grateful for the years we had together. He seemed to pass peacefully in his sleep. After a diagnosis of a severe heart murmur six years ago, those extra years felt like a gift—he truly defied the odds. His decline was sudden; one moment he was here Monday morning, and gone around 1pm. There was no real warning.
We would give anything for one more snuggle or to wipe something silly off his nose.
He was simply the best—always making us laugh. He especially hated wearing costumes.
And who could forget his “foot phone”—one of many silly, endearing poses that became part of his charm.
We even took him on our honeymoon to Alaska. He was in all of our adventures and left us with countless memories.
We celebrated every birthday and cherished every year. Though he was small in size, he filled the whole house with his presence and personality.
Every vet who met him fell in love with him. The vet who helped us last Monday was incredibly kind and told us Burger had been a favorite at the clinic. They said he was lucky to have us, and it was clear how much we loved him. That kindness meant a lot during a difficult moment and is a helpful example of what to say to someone grieving a pet.
We miss him so much. It will get easier with time, but he worked his way deeply into all our hearts.
We are grateful for every moment, every hilarious photo, and every little tradition. Burger floated with John on pool floats during our Florida spring break trips—a true vacation ritual that showed his love of sunny, relaxing spots. He almost seemed to plan to retire by a pool.
It became a real tradition because he loved it so much.
Just look at that face.
He never missed a chance to try a new float or explore another pool.
I’m thankful he enjoyed so many sunny spots and got to relax on the deck all summer, watching our pool come to life.
He was so content here, and we’re heartbroken it had to end.
He even liked being held like a baby—only by me, and only on the front porch—where he’d drift off to sleep.
He was a sweet companion to all of us for so many years, and he’s the only dog our children have ever known. He was always there to “Roomba the crumbs up” after meals. We keep saying how grateful we are because we truly couldn’t have asked for a better dog.
Just look at that happy little face—he knew crumbs were coming.
Sometimes he felt like a cartoon come to life with his expressive eyes and silly antics.
We will love you forever, Burger.
We know this post jumps around a bit—our emotions are all over the place. We are sad, grateful, and missing him deeply. He was a treasured founding member of our family and is so deeply missed.
Thank you to everyone who loved him through the screen over the years. Your kind thoughts and messages mean so much to us. To honor Burger, we’re planting a tree in a spot he liked to sniff and mark—something we think he would approve of.