My Dog's Smarter Than Your Dog

Today Charlie chased his own tail around my leg. Several times around.

Nearly knocked me on my keester.

Second Victim

A special prize for anyone who can guess what this used to be.

(The prize is a 5 month old chocolate lab)

We went out and got a shock collar after this incident.

Sailed Through The Air With The Greatest of Ease... just not on a trapeze

Anyone who knows Brett and I, knows there are many differences between us.... the most obvious... our sizes. He's 6'3", I'm 5'3". This doesn't seem like a big deal, but sometimes IT IS! Just imagine what it's like to try to kayak, sleep on an air mattress, share a hymn book while standing up....

The most recent catastrophe caused by this difference occurred while we were skiing this weekend.

We went skiing on Saturday night with Emily and Nyle and the kids. It was the first run of the night and Brett, Emily and I went up the lift together. I was feeling pretty confident, I'd done this before, no big deal. We get up to the top, my skis hit the snow and I'm ready to push off the seat, but Brett stands up first. Without Brett's weight on it, the seat bounces up and I'm suddenly feet above the ground! So I jump. As I'm sailing through the air, I'm screaming at the top of my lungs creating an even bigger spectacle, much to the amusement of Brett and Emily. So there I am, within the first 10 minutes of arriving, in a big tangled pile of limbs, skis, poles, and snow. I refused to ride with him for the rest of the night.

The first victim

Now what shoes am I going to wear when I go shooting? I think Charlie knew these were my favorite... Brett said he made a beeline up the stairs, into the closet, and stepped over other shoes to get this one. I think Brett owes me a new pair for not being quicker on his toes.

(Brett said he'd give me $20 if I wear them to church on Sunday... can you imagine?!)

MORE SNOW!

This is what we woke up to yesterday morning. This is from our front yard, and Charlie on the walkway to the door.

We actually like it when it snows because Charlie likes it so much. We can let him out in the backyard by himself and he'll just play in the snow and not wander off, and we can stay in where it's toasty warm. But last night he came trotting up to the door with this........

At first I freaked out because I thought it was an animal or some nastiness. But it was a gardening glove.... frozen solid. I made him leave it outside and come in, and he sat by the door gazing at it and crying like it was his long lost love. It was a grand reunion though when he got to go back outside.











Here's a good measurement of how much Charlie has grown. He still like to climb up in my lap though! But it's getting rather uncomfortable!

The Top 10 Best Things About Owning A Dog
(especially in the winter)

10. You get to hear charming little nicknames yelled throughout the house like "you brown little turd!"

9. You get to stand out in the rain and the freezing cold saying "potty" 67,000 times before he actually does. This is especially fun when there are people out there to witness you in your sweats, slippers, and bedhead begging the brown little turd to "potty".

8. As you're sitting down in church you realize that the dog had loving smeared mud down your skirt as you were trying to put him away.

7. The carpet is ALWAYS littered with leaves and twigs, and the floor by the door is almost always wet and slippery. (not from "potty", but from the rain and snow being tracked in)

6. Every time you go upstairs you have to run as fast as you can and close the door swiftly behind you to keep the dog out of your room.

5. You don't have to buy a paper shredder. Every piece of paper within reach will be destroyed and completely illegible. That also goes for shoes, socks, pillows, remote controls, cell phones....

4. You'll never have a normal Home Teacher visit again.

3. You will get to know all of your neighbors after having to chase the dog out of their yards.

2. You will tone your arm muscles while vacuuming. You not only have to push the vacuum you also have to push the dog.

1. You get to find TEETH around the house!

I pulled a Grandpa

Yesterday morning was just like any other day, I got up, got ready for work, had some breakfast, kissed Brett and Charlie goodbye, went out to the garage, pushed the button to open the garage, got in my car, threw it in reverse, and BANG - I backed into the closed garage door! I OPENED THE WRONG GARAGE DOOR AND DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE! After calling myself all kinds of names I realized grandpa must be getting a big kick out of this right now.

I fretted about it all day, trying to decide if I should tell Brett about it or not. I knew if he found the tiny little scratch on the bumper he'd ask me what I did, I would turn bright red and be in ever more trouble. So when I got home from work I told him I had a confession. Expecting a lecture to pay attention and be more careful I was shocked when he busted out laughing. And all he said was "I wondered what all that banging around out there was this morning!"

Spoiled little puppy

This is my attempt at trying to keep Charlie off my sofa (I got him his own bed). Plan B is a shock collar. Yes, Charlie is livin it up right now. He's the spoiled only child. Last night he got the full treatment... A bath, manicure, pedicure, and a nap by the fire. Sometimes I wish I were a puppy .

We had such a great time in California. And Charlie made it the whole week without any accidents! (wahoo! maybe we'll be invited back!) And he learned a couple new tricks while we were there too. Not so sure they're good ones though. He learned to climb stairs (which was the first thing he did when we got home, and I was awakened this morning to a cold wet nose in my hand), and he learned how much fun it is to jump up on the ottoman (thanks mom). It's his new favorite napping place.

We also celebrated a couple birthdays while we were there. Happy Birthday Cori and Brett!

We shopped, ate, golfed (just the boys of course), ate, shot some guns (again, just boys), ate, got pedicures, ate, and got to relax...

Sort of ---If you laid on the couch, there was a pretty good chance you'd get some lovin from Charlie.

Charlie got a stuffed Pegasus for Christmas from Mom and Taylor. Poor Pegasus doesn't look so pretty anymore. You didn't want that back did you Taylor?

He also got a rope. Anything to keep him away from our slippers. Huh Tay? I just love this little face.