Best Christmas Ever!

Hi friends!

Wow! This was such an awesome, busy Christmas I have finally caught up on my napping (I missed a lot of my naps) and am ready to tell you all about it!

Events started Sunday when Uncle R called and said he was on his way from Virginia with The Thing, could he stay with us. I tried my hardest to convince Dad to tell him no!, but Mom reminded me Santa Paws was still watching and he doesn't like when puppy dogs are mean to their cousins. I said, "Well Santa Paws never had The Thing as his cousin!"  A few hours later Uncle R and The Thing came through the door.

How Derpy hasn't bitten that stupid tongue off yet, I'll never know.

Stuff happened Monday, but none of it involved me, except for the car ride to pick up dinner that night. We went to the fry store, but I didn't get my own order this time :(

On Tuesday, the best thing happened! Grandma and Grandpaw came and they brought Mawmaw and Pawpaw! They sneak me most of the treats. A few hours later, Uncle R left but forgot to take The Thing. Boo. He came back with The Blur (The Thing's sis-fur). Apparently all dogs stayed at my house for Christmas. A little later, my other Grandma and Grandpaw came with Emma. Just to keep everyone in the loop, we were up to 4 dogs and 9 humans. Lots of treats were had!

Uncle R and The Blur after her batteries ran out

4 dogs!

It's hard getting 4 dogs to sit for a picture

Christmas Eve is also Pawpaw's birthday, so we had cake...wait, the humans had cake. Dogs got nothing.

We had to go to bed early so Santa Paws could come.  I was nervous The Thing and The Blur would scare him off, but when we woke up, the tree had a billion presents! I felt like Randy from A Christmas Story ("OH boy! That's mine!"). The humans ate breakfast first, but it involved food, so that's OK.

It's all mine! I think.

I wore my nice Christmas bow tie. I'm fancy that way.

The Thing wore his tie too. Copy-Cat.

Dress-up picture. Check out The Thing's underbite! He gets derpier by the second!

Bet you can't tell who gives the dogs the most treats!

It was finally present opening time. I got a bunch of treats (of course), a new food dish, and a new water thingy that has a bottle to hold extra water and it lets a little out as I drink it. Now I don't have to herd Mom and Dad into the kitchen when my bowl is empty!

I helped Mawmaw and Pawpaw

And Grandma

That's a big mess. And it's not my fault!

Me and Dad

I hate you sometimes, Mom. I blame Uncle R and J for giving me the antlers. Now I know how Ralphie felt in the bunny costume.

Opening presents wore Mom out!

After presents, I had the most important job--helping Mom cook Christmas dinner! I take my job as sous chef and janitor very seriously, but all those extra dogs kinda cramped my style. But it was Christmas and I was feeling generous, so I didn't get mad.

The rest of the day was spent eating and begging and talking.  Everyone went back home (and took their dogs) on Thursday and I've been trying to catch up ever since. The good part is Mommy only had to work Monday, so I've really enjoyed having her home. We're catching up on all of our snuggling!

Santa Points

Hi friends!

The second greatest holiday is quickly approaching. Christmas is in less than two weeks. Christmas is the holiday Santa Paws brings your presents, lots of people are around to sneak you food and everyone has a big dinner! You are probably saying, "Mister, if it has all that, then why does it come in second?"

I'm glad you asked. I rank Christmas second because unlike Thanksgiving, Christmas is also a very strange holiday that I don't completely understand. First, humans bring a tree inside the house then expect you to NOT pee on it. Then, Santa Paws brings presents, but he drops them down the chimney, where they get dirty. Plus, you're not allowed to bark at Santa! THEN, humans have to do lots of stuff which takes their attention away from you. Finally, lots of people ring your doorbell to leave packages. That doorbell is my arch nemesis.

So that's why Christmas is second. Too confusing to be first, but way better than Halloween or Firework Boomie Day (also called the Fourth of July).

I got a great surprise today. My daddy stayed home from that work place. Mom still had to go though, but I decided to give Dad an early Christmas present. I was a very good boy! My day started like normal. Mom gave me the B word (breakfast in case you don't speak Mister) and took me on a W-A-L-K. But Dad was still in bed! Once he was up, Mom was ready to leave for that work place. So Dad took me on a c-a-r r-i-d-e.

I really like Dad's seat warmers

When we got home, I didn't even notice Mommy was missing until way after Daddy finished the B word. I still got up on the couch with him. Until the Wood Guy rang my doorbell. He left us lots of logs for the fireplace. Then, I got back on the couch until Mom came home for lunch.

The best part is after Mom went back to work (well, that's not the best part), but I stayed on the couch the WHOLE time. Even when UPS Guy rang the bell. Dad told me to stay and I did. I never left the couch the entire time Mom was gone.

See? Snug as a bug in a rug

Friends, that is HUGE news for me. I hate nothing more than when Mommy is gone and it doesn't really matter if Dad's there or not, so for me to not pace and whine is a big deal, let alone relaxing on the couch!  Mom says I've earned extra Santa points AND big bed privileges!

Christmas Cards

Hi friends!

This year, my mom signed me up for a Christmas card exchange.  She knew several of my Blogville friends would participate and it sounded like fun. Whoo doggies did I get a lot of cards!

Here's one from one of my faves, Benny and Lily

And from my favorite walking buddy, Molly

And from my pal, Oskar (Oskar's mom person also blogs here)

The final card count for me was 41 (not including the many e-cards I received). I even got one all the way from the Philippines! I've never been there, but Mom says it's far away. And we would have to cross an ocean, which would be a problem since I don't swim or like water.

The best part of Christmas cards is that my people only got 23! BOL! We had a lot more around the house, but Mom and Dad both got lots of cards from people at their work places, so those didn't count either.

I'm really glad to have so many pals around the country and around the world take the time to send me cards. Of course, I (hopefully) sent everyone on the list a card, too. I had to send e-cards to most of my pals overseas because Mom said postage was breaking us. Um, Mom, I'm still one whole Mister, so I don't think we're broken. People are weird.

On one of the trips to the mailbox, I had a very special package from my Twitter pal, Tiny. His family lives in Louisiana, so the snow card made my mom giggle a little. Maybe I should send him some of our snow. Anyway, I'm also very thankful for my frame and treats and can't wait for Mom to print a picture for the frame!

Mom has started taking down all of the Christmas decorations, which makes me sad...Mostly because that means she's not sitting on the couch where she belongs and I have to get up and supervise. But that also means it's almost a new year. I'm working on my list of resolutions and will share those hopefully tomorrow.

Christmas Recap

Hi friends!


Sorry it's been so long. Mom got very busy with work and Christmas, plus I didn't have much going on. But now it's the day after Christmas and let's just say best. Weekend. EVER!!!!!  We celebrate 2 Christmases, one with Mom's family and one with Dad's. This year, we celebrated first with Mom's side and spent "calendar Christmas" with Dad's family. We left after Dad got home from that work place to go to Tennessee. We got in late, but Grandma was very happy to see me.  She even baked me treats like she brought for Thanksgiving. I'm kind of talking her into getting a dog. I'm not sure how I'll feel about another dog stealing my grandma though. I have enough of that with The Thing.  But her kitty cats like me and I don't pay much attention to them, so she's thinking about it. Grandpaw was happy to see me too. I even let him take me on a W-A-L-K one evening, just us. Usually I look and look for Mom, but not this time!

Waiting for Santa Paws

Anyway, Santa Paws dropped a couple of presents early. I got an antler, chewies, and a puzzle game (it has places for treats and the people cover them up and you have to figure out how to move the covers to get the treats. I'm awesome at it). Mom opened the antler when we got home and I love it! She's read up on them and thinks they'll be a safer option than the bones I usually get. I also had a big time burying and finding my chewies. I took one and hid it several times. Then I ate it all up and forgot, so I kept looking in the hiding spots. At least, I think I ate it up. Hey Grandma's kitty cats, if you find my chewy, it's mine!

The tree (and Mommy) at Grandma and Grandpa's

Barbara and Charlie (two of Grandma's kitty cats) inspecting Christmas

Christmas is so tiring!

Grandma and Grandpaw left their house to go visit my Aunt Melanie in Florida. We hung out for a little bit and then packed up and headed back to Kentucky, except we didn't go home. We only rode a little bit and stopped in a town called Bowling Green. We got to stay in Mr. Holiday's hotel! I love hotels because there are so many smells. Our room even had a full length window, so I could look out at all the trees to water. The only thing I hated was the Lelevator. And I had to ride the terrible thing a lot. Boo. Dad took video, so I'll try to get it on here later and show you just how terrible the thing is.

The Mister window

I love hotels!

You can't tell just how flat I am on the ground in the Lelevator, but I got flatter each time I had to ride that thing.

Anyway, we went to Bowling Green because Daddy had to work there on Christmas Eve. Mom and I hung out, then ran an errand and met him at the office, which was across the street from Mr. Holiday's hotel.  I worked very hard and there's talk of giving me a raise! Then a little girl came in to pick up her mommy and I didn't like her. She was very nice, but I didn't like her petting me. Mom said Santa Paws wouldn't come visit, so I apologized, but Mom said the little girl should pet me since I was being so grumpy.

I'm working very hard

After Dad was done working, we went to Mawmaw's house! It's the only place better than Grandma's house. Mawmaw and Grandma both sneak me treats and food. The only bad part was I had to put up with The Thing. By the end though, we were almost getting along. I still didn't like how he was always trying to play with me, but I growled and we played chase. The best part was I'd get bored running in circles, so I'd go off somewhere, but The Thing would keep running and had no idea I wasn't playing anymore. And he wonders why I think he's a dummy.

Uncle Ryan and The Thing and Mawmaw

Helping cook breakfast

Anyway, Santa Paws found me at Mawmaw's house, too. I got lots of treats. Mom made me share one with The Thing. And I did, since it was Christmas. Earning points for next year. After lunch and naps, we packed up again and came home.

Christmas is tiring here, too

The Thing playing with Flat Dog Mom made me I gave him

Me and The Thing

Save me Dad!

Now Mom's off all the rest of the week, so we're going to do all kinds of cuddling and snacking. I'm so excited!

Christmas Planning

Hi friends! If your house is like mine, the humans are very busy getting ready for the next holiday, called "Christmas." Christmas celebrates the day Santa Paws rode his sleigh and hit a grandma (!) on his way to deliver a baby Jesus in a donkey's breakfast. Good puppy dogs get presents, but bad puppy dogs get a grinch. I think that's the story, anyway. Christmas is an OK holiday. There's lots of food like Thanksgiving and presents which is great, but a lot of the food isn't always safe for puppy dogs and a fat guy named Santa Paws has to break into your house to leave presents. I'm not so sure about that part. Seems shady.  Plus, there's a giant tree in my house I'm not allowed to pee on!

Anyway, last year I posted these rules for Christmas. Still don't know where they came from, but I just wanted to remind everyone of them.

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.

 

(I luckily didn't have antlers that year. Mom has some though)

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!!

Shh! Don't Tell Mom

I was catching up with my pal's blogs and Twitters and learned that today is National Dress Up Your Pet Day. Don't tell my mom, or my grandma for that matter. My kitty cousins and I have been subjected to enough humiliation.

My 2010 Halloween costume

Charlie one Halloween

Barbara and Charlie on Halloween

My stupid Christmas hat 2010. I luckily talked Mom out of reindeer antlers this year.

Barbara

My 2011 Halloween costume

Oliver

I'm calling Animal Welfare. Anyone have Sarah McLachlin's number?

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!