Must... post... something...

Time? What's that?

I have had a very full, very exhausting, but also very fun past few weeks. I don't really have time to go into all of the details or wait for the computer to load up pictures, but just know that on Sunday I became a man-dog!

Yep, I turned one year old on the 28th. Lots of prezzies, lots of wrestles and cuddles. Pictures to follow.

For now, just know that I am basking in the love of my humans, the how-the-heck-can-it-be-this-warm-in-December
Colorado sun, and my newfound adulthood!

Catch up? Catsup? Ketchup?

Yikes. Just a tip to anyone who has a reader in the family (you know who you are)-- don't give them the Twilight books. They'll disappear like, forever. That's what happened to Dad these past few weeks. Sure, he made up some excuse about needing to be up on the current "hip" things that the kids he'll be counseling are into, and he mentioned something else about two different 20-page papers he's been researching for his classes, and I think he tried to pawn off some lame excuse about final exams, but I know the real reason.

He's bored with me. *Sigh*

I'll just have to up the cute factor. Think this'll do it?


I thought so. Sweet!

Of course, the other reason is that Dad is a slacker. Always has been, always will be. According to him, he was even born late. So, remember that award I won (it seems like) years ago? Where I won the Project Dogway final and promised to show pictures of my swag when it came in? Well, it's in. It's been in. And I've already loved it all. But just to prove it, here are the pics!



I got the coolest wrapping paper ever,


A little friend to hang on the Christmas tree (although he looks like he's got the measles or mumps or something. V - E - T time for him, I say),


A totally delicious bag of treats,


and a fantastically fuzzy blue (my favie!) chew toy.


Am I a lucky pug or what? I also, even though Dad was on hiatus and refused to help me with the blogging thing, raked in some awards. Sweet!

I got the I Love Your Blog award from my Florida friends Samantha and Mr. Tigger:


And I got the Lemonade Stand award from both Sandra and Pearl and Daisy!


The Lemonade Stand award is given to bloggers who show attitude/gratitude, so I will say thank you with attitude to cover all bases:

THANX, GIRLFRIEND(S)! YOU ROCK!!!

As for passing on the love, well, I'm about ten years too late in actually receiving these awards and if you'll remember from last time picking and choosing the "pass it on" recipients kinda gives me the willies. So, I'm taking the easy way out and saying that everyone is awesome and both deserves and gets these awards. Hooray for you!

Is that it? Am I caught up? Whew!

!!UPCOMING EVENTS!!

Big-time visitors coming down soon. All Christmas week I get to schmooze with both sides of my human family, so look for lots of pictures and whatever small number of posts I can squeeze in between head scratches and family love-ins.

Elf Yourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas decorations

Dad and Mom go all out for Christmas. At least, they go all out within the limits of their budget. Mom entered a poetry contest this year that would have gotten us $1,000 worth of lights plus free setup and takedown, but she didn't win. Sad day, too, because her poem was the bomb! So, I guess Maya Angelou or someone wrote the winning one.

It all starts the day after Thanksgiving:


No Black Friday for them! They did that one year and then swore never to leave the house again on that day.

There's a Christmas tree in their entryway and a wreath on the door:


Plus a fireplace and mantel with stockings. This is my first Christmas, so I get my very own stocking! Yay!





Mom must really like the Willow Tree figurines, because I am told in very stern tones to "Leave it!" when I even look at the things. Sheesh...


I was very disgruntled to discover that there were Westie figurines in the house as well, but no pug ones! This is a travesty of epic proportions. Maybe I'll have to eat a Willow Tree just to show them.



Mom is a superious decorator, and can rock homemade arrangements like no one else.


This year for Christmas, Mom's mom and dad are coming down from Wheaton, IL for Christmas, and then the day they leave Dad's mom and brother are coming down from Asheville, NC and Lafayette, IN (respectively) for a few more days. And this is the first time I've ever seen them! So, I look forward to scoring lots of "Aaaaw, you're so cute!" snuggle time. Because I AM that cute.

Anyway, Mom and Dad have a tree downstairs too for the guests.


They're all fake, but that is the way Mom and Dad like them: easy to take down, easy to set up, and cheaper after about 5 years. Oh, and no needles EVERYWHERE. Their first Christmas they had a real tree and that was a total disaster, according to Dad.

Oh, and did I mention lights? Everywhere? And Dad's STILL putting more up. Yikes.

I think I'm going to like this Christmas stuff!

Wordless Wednesday

Thanksgiving time!

It's the thankful time of the year in Colorado!

My human grandpa came out all the way from Illinois (he drove, even!) and visited us. I like him. He played fetch all week long with me!



And yet, he seemed to be able to resist the Glummy face and I couldn't score any table food. And what table food there was!


Turducken and yams (with marshmallows!) and green bean casserole (with french cut GBs!) and cranberry sauce (jellied!) and mashed potatoes and noodles and stuffing...

My tummy is growling.

This was a fun week for my whole family, apparently. This was mom's first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner all by herself. Dad tried to help, but was told that how to best help is to make himself scarce. Which was fine with me and him, because he just watched football while I snuggled against him. The meal was a total success-- Mom totally rocked it, according to Dad.

Dad also designed a series of wines to have with dinner, although he did chicken out at the last minute and decide that four bottles of wine for three people was too much. There was a Mosel (Germany) Riesling for the lighter dishes and an Alexander Valley (Cali, Sonoma Co.) Pinot Noir for the turkey and stuffing and yams. Then, Dad broke out a 20 year-old tawny Port for the pumpkin pie.

But don't you worry-- I still got the goods. Big Brother and I got some really tasty food in a can that was called Solid Gold, and it rocked! It was turkey-flavored too, I guess. I couldn't really tell; I was too busy trying not to choke and still scarf it down.

I was very happy I could see my grandpa again! I love family coming over.


'Tis the season to be thankful!