Greatest Christmas Ever

Hi friends! Sorry for the long silence. Mommy may be off work this week, but she's been doing lots of projects around the house. Those projects make her tired and when I ask if she'll help me with the blog she just says, "In a little while." Well, apparently that means in 40-leventy billion years.

I had the best Christmas ever! I've already shared Christmas with Daddy's family and for "calendar" Christmas, we went to Mommy's parents' house. But first, we took a little drive to a house here in town that loves their Christmas lights:

There was a family here that spoke Spanish also checking out the lights. A little girl called me a "perro." I was about to tell her I wasn't a perro, I was a Mister dog, but Mom said a perro IS a dog in Spanish. So now I know Spanish! I'm a Senor perro (or would it be perro Senor?)

Anyway, this is me and my Dad on the steps of Christmas house. We had a fun outing.

The next day, we left for Grandma and Grandpa's house. They live in Tennessee and have 3 kitty cats! I loved the kitty cats and they didn't seem to mind me, either!

Hi there. What are you? You have 4 legs and a tail like a dog, but I don't think you're a dog.

On Christmas morning, I saw Santa Paws found me all the way in Tennessee! I'm so glad Mom called him to let him know our travel plans.

We opened stockings and I had lots of treats! I even tried to just grab the plastic bag from Mom. She wrestled it away and gave me one of the chewies.

I'm not sure if Barbara was the present or if she just thought she was a present

Santa also brought me a new bed and it's PAW-SOME! Nice and fluffy and great spots to lay my head on.

My family on Christmas

Me enjoying all of my new bedding!

So that was my Christmas. I hope everyone else had a great weekend. I'm a little worried about this weekend. I seem to have misplaced my mommy!

Mister's Guide to Christmas (Part 4)

Hi everyone!

We're only 2 days away from the big guy's trip around the world...at least here in America. Mom said some countries celebrate Christmas on different days, so that's how Santa Paws can come to all the good puppies' houses and deliver baby Jesuses.

We are going to my other Grandma and Grandpa's house for presents (I hope I get one!) and food. My Aunt Melanie will be there and she's a huge sucker for my puppy dog eyes (remember that tip from Thanksgiving? Use it now, too!)

Mom is officially on vacation from work now, too, so that means even more snuggle time! We went by the Barkery today. I sniffed lots of smells. Mom wouldn't let me see what she got, but I caught a whiff of something delicious when we got back to the car...

I have just a couple more tips for everybody: Christmas Tip #8: Wrap all the presents. However, much like decorating, don't help too much or you'll get wrapped (see below).

Mom, you are so embarrassing

This picture is actually a little staged. When I'm helping Mom wrap presents (she's chief wrapper in our house), I usually just nap under the futon, not be right in the middle of everything.

Finally, Christmas Tip #9: Take time out to rest, relax, and be with your loved ones.

"I thought maybe we could make ginger bread houses, and eat cookie dough, and go ice skating, and maybe even hold hands." -Elf, 2003

In case I don't see everyone this weekend, my whole pack wishes yours a merry Christmas. To our Jewish pals, we hope your Hanukah celebrations are wonderful. If your pack celebrates Kwanza, best wishes for that as well. If you've already celebrated winter solstice, we hope that was special. Also, today is Festivus, so we wish you luck during the feats of strength and airing of grievances (and Mom said if you have no idea what we're talking about, read this).

A Dog's Rules for Christmas

Hi everyone! The fat one "They" call Santa Paws will soon be making his rounds, delivering baby Jesus in the chimneys of the good puppies and leaving the kitties a grinch...I think that's how it works anyway.

My mommy posted this on her BookFace thing last year. She has no idea where it came from, so if you know an author source, let us know so we can give proper credit (I don't want to spend Christmas in dog jail!) It has very important tips, some of which my Christmas guides have touched on. Of course, #7 is probably most important. And for anyone mad about kitties getting grinches, I was kidding...unless that's what really happens. Maybe you should give kitties these tips and they can get a baby Jesus, too!

1. Be especially patient with your humans during this time. They may appear to be more stressed-out than usual and they will appreciate long comforting dog leans.

2. They may come home with large bags of things they call gifts. Do not assume that all the gifts are yours.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you. They seem to get some special kind of pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree into the house and set it up in a prominent place and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as this may seem to you, it is an important ritual for your humans, so there are some things you need to know:

a. Don't pee on the tree

b. Don't drink water in the container that holds the tree

c. Mind your tail when you are near the tree

d. If there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or that have your name on them, don't rip them open

e. Don't chew on the cord that runs from the funny-looking hole in the wall to the tree

5. Your humans may occasionally invite lots of strangers to come visit during this season. These parties can be lots of fun, but they also call for some discretion on your part:

a. Not all strangers appreciate kisses and leans

b. Don't eat off the buffet table

c. Beg for goodies subtly

d. Be pleasant, even if unknowing strangers sit on your sofa

e. Don't drink out of glasses that are left within your reach

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important:

a. Observe all the rules in #4 for trees that may be in other people's houses. (4a is particularly important)

b. Respect the territory of other animals that may live in the house

c. Tolerate children

d. Turn on your charm big time

7. A big man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night.DON'T BITE HIM!!

Mister's Guide to Christmas (Part 3)

Hi everyone! I hope your week has been filled with snuggles and kisses. My week hasn't been all that great. Since the kids are all out of school, Mom has to work a lot. Luckily, I have a super cool new crate pad and blankie to make me feel better. Plus she promises all kinds of snuggle time next week because her office is closed! Yippee!

We've also been putting finishing touches on Christmas things around here, which leads me to a tip:

Mister's Guide to Christmas Tip #7: Help make gifts for people (and fur friends)

This is me helping mom make hot chocolate snowmen for the ladies at Daddy's work. They all love me, so I thought I'd give Mom a paw.

The finished product. Mom said the jars are bigger than they're supposed to be, but I think they are still fun!

Just don't be TOO helpful :/

First Christmas

Hi everyone! This was the best weekend ever! This weekend, we went to That Daddy Guy's parents house. We stayed there for one night and went to Mawmaw and Pawpaw's for Christmas! Real Christmas isn't for another week, but we're going to Mommy's parents', so we celebrated early with Dad's. The really best part? Since Dad's room is cold, I got to sleep on the big bed with Mom and Dad! I made Mom's feet really hot one night, but then I moved up towards the pillows...you know, where I belong :)

Here's my Guide to Christmas Tip #6: Remember all that help in the kitchen you gave for Thanksgiving, do it again! The treats are just as yummy!

Here's me helping Grandpa and Grandma. I also helped Grandma put frosting on a cake. It was yummy!

Mawmaw's tree. I hope there's a present for me!

What did you get, Dad? Can I eat it? I want it!

Oh boy! A treat!

All of my presents: treats, a new blankie, and a crate pad! Plus I got spoiled rotten by Grandma and Pawpaw.

Aw geez, Dad. This is embarrassing!

Good Day

Wow! Mommy totally made up for leaving me all alone the other day.

First, I DID get to walking with Molly and her mom. We went to the Arboretum again. We had so much fun, Mommy forgot to take pictures of us. Molly had a great time bounding and jumping and leaping. I just liked to sniff stuff and pee on it. Lots of other walkers were out with their dogs, too, so I said hi to them.

After we came home, everyone relaxed on the couch and after dinner, my people took me on another walk. This one was short-our usual evening walk. But there was some excitement up the street. Three fire trucks had their lights flashing (no sirens, thankfully) near a house. We couldn't see what was going on, but nothing looked wrong.

Mom decided to soak in the tub after that (I will never understand why the humans insist on going in the wet box and willingly get in the tub) and I laid on her laundry. That way she can smell like me!

The very best part of the night though was after Mom's soak. My people decided to read in bed and they let up to snuggle with them!!!! I was so excited. They almost let me sleep there, but Mom chases rabbits in her sleep and Dad was afraid I'd fall off. They promised I could sleep in the big bed this weekend when we go to my grandparents for first Christmas!

The fun didn't stop there though! This morning, Mommy took me to PetSmart. We wandered all over and looked at all kinds of stuff. She finally picked up something, but said I wasn't allowed to see because it was a Christmas present. I wasn't really listening though. I just wanted to go to the check-out line and get my treat!

Changes

Hi everyone!

Yesterday was terrible. My people got all dressed up and left me ALL ALONE and went out to eat at a fancy restaurant. They said since it was fancy, I probably wouldn't like it. Um, hello? Have you met me? I've never met a food I wouldn't try! I'm pretty sure this is abuse.

Today has been pretty great though. My mommy finally got with it and made me my own Google account! Now I can comment myself on everyone's blogs and have my profile show up! There have also been rumbles of visiting my pal, Molly, and her mommy again. I hope so, even though it's a little cold outside.

Mister's Guide to Christmas (Part 2)

I hope everyone is having a good week. It's very cold here and has been raining lots. Of course, I still make Mom go on a walk every morning when she wakes up. It's good for her. That snow stuff can't decide if it wants to come or not. I hope not. It's very cold, even if it does taste yummy (just stay away from the yellow kind).

I have a very important Christmas tip for my fur-pals. The humans are busy decorating the house for Christmas and at some point they will bring in a tree. Tip #4: DO NOT PEE ON THE TREE!!! Some families have a real tree, some have a fake tree. Either way, do not pee on it!

I know, I know. You're thinking, "But Mister, why would my people bring a tree into the house if they didn't want me to pee on it. After all, it's very cold and maybe they don't want to let me outside to potty." That is a very good argument, but arguing with the humans is a lesson in futility (my daddy taught me that word). The reason the humans bring a tree into the house is because they're crazy. But you already know that. Besides, if there was no tree, Santa Paws wouldn't know where you want him to leave presents. So unless you want wet gifts, stay far away from the tree.

I have another tip to go along with that. It applies mostly to kitty cats, but some of you canines might want to know too. Tip 4a) Do not climb the tree. Again, the humans are crazy. Probably too much eggnog (except my people don't drink eggnog...hmmm). Either way, they're more likely to pass off yummy treats if you leave the tree alone.

Basketball and Santa

Hey friends! My people and I are enjoying a quiet day today. Yesterday, my grandparents and Uncle Ryan came to my house. They all went shopping and brought home an entire tree (more on that later). Then everyone watched the Kentucky Wild(kitty)cats basketball team beat the North Carolina goats...or something. Then, they went back to their houses and my people started cleaning up for MORE people to come over. We all had great fun.

I just wanted to share something my pal, Bandit, wrote for a magazine. He's a great writer and he explains why we should all be excited for the Santa Paws guy to break into our house in a few more days! Scroll down to page 53. I'm not sure how I'd feel about the UPS guy bringing me a baby and dumping it in my breakfast, but it's why everyone is happy for Christmas!

Mister's Guide to Christmas (Part 1)

Hi everyone!

I had a big week with my mom. She turned in her last papers of the semester for school, so now she has lots of free time to rub my belly! Yay!

To celebrate, she took me with her on some errands. First stop was the Bluegrass Barkery, a local pet food store. I was low on my food and Mom also wanted to see what they had for Christmas presents.

We got my food and even a small bag of treats, to make sure I had enough until Christmas). Mom and the check-out guy were talking about new treat flavors they were coming out with and Mom said she wished they made people treats! If you're in town, you should check them out.

Next stop was the bank.

The bank is my second favorite place ever (next to the store, of course). I can always charm the people into giving me a treat. My tail wags reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally fast, too.

We also ran by the V-E-T to get more of my medicine. They even knew us by name. Mom said that wasn't necessarily a good thing. Moms are funny that way.

By the time we got home, the sky started dripping the white stuff.

I remember that from last year. It's called snow and it's cold, wet, and delicious. This snow didn't stay in the yard, but was still fun to watch.

My second favorite holiday is coming up soon and I have a few tips.

1) The humans get really busy this time of year, so make sure you hang out with them as much as possible. Jump and bark and do whatever to make sure they don't forget about you.

2) Some of your humans may be hosting parties (mine are this weekend). See my Thanksgiving tips for how to handle the people and the food.

3) No matter what, when the decorations come out, stay far, far away. I learned that the hard way.