CHRISTMAS!

The pupsters had such an adventure on Christmas day. We all went to my mom's house, and they have never been there before. They began by going over the whole house, inch by inch, with their noses. Mom doesn't have a fenced in backyard, so we had to take them out every so often to make sure their own little deeds got done. but they associate the leash with fun walk, no functional one. There was an accident. Jon and I had to find a small dog park in the area so they could run free and do what they needed to do. They had such a blast at the park that they were completely out of steam by the time we got back. Here are some pictures of the crash sites:

Bella starts out in a chair.

Accompanied by her new Christmas present

I just love her face here.

Then migrated by the tree.

Bo started out crashed by my brother Myke...

Then moved over to Julie (his wife) in hopes for some attention while he was down. But they were engrossed in their new games. Maybe next time Bo.

Jon made Bella sit up for a picture...

But that didn't last long at all!

It was a great Christmas day and the pups were a hit. They were happy to be home, but they enjoyed all of the new faces and yummy treats they got that day.

Learning to love to travel

Neither of my two seem to be born to travel. They make a fuss about getting into the car and once in the car they won't lay down right away. Being rather tall dogs I cannot see around them in my rear view mirror and they cannot seem to keep their balance around turns and stops. But I have been making sure that all trips lead to something fun, and slowly but surely they have been getting in without as much fuss, and laying down quicker (for the comfort of all). This weekend was a busy one because of Christmas, so there was a lot of travel. On Sunday we took them to the dog park bright and early so they would be worn out by the afternoon, when we had to leave them for a few hours. And if you wonder how we fit a 90lb dog and 65lb dog into the backseat of a small Ford Focus... very carefully:

Bo Snuggled down behind the passenger seat

Bella sitting up and smiling, she knows where we are going! DOG PARK!! There were 10 dogs there Sunday morning. Bella is just to the right of the red muzzled dog and Bo is the one all the way in the back to the left. It was a blast seeing them all run together!

Christmas Morning. As we are driving to mom's house, Bella rests her head against the headrest and catches some early morning zzzzzzs.

Loveable Bean

The Bean is always looking to get us to give her attention. So as we were working on our computers, I feel a pair of eyes burning into my back. It was just Bella staring at us in the chance that we'd turn around and give her some affection...

And as we see here, her tactics worked!

Outside

With these short days, I rarely get to spend good outside time with the pups. Yesterday morning I made sure to spend a little time with them before I had to go to work. But they are still in a velcro stage. If mama is around we gotta be right next to her. But just look at the faces... I don't mind if they stick close. :)

Where are you gonna go, what are you gonna do? I have to stay right next to you so I don't mss anything!

Hey, is that a squirrel? I thought I saw a squirrel. Oh, it was just a leaf... but I thought it was a squirrel. Should I chase it just in case?

Secret Santa!

Yea! Secret santa came for Bo and Bella! It was a little bit of a frenzy of all the new stuffies and yummy treats that they smelled. They got it early b/c I was too excited to wait (tee hee)

Is this for me???

No, I think it's mine... and that other one too!

A hedgehog of my very own!

Hold on, I gotta kill this new stuffie!

Forget the stuffy, look at all the yummies I got!

Check out this haul!

Oh, man... there are some good things in here!

Cookies! Don't worry about the carpet mom, I'll get all of the crumbs!

Space

Bo is the kind of biy that wants to be loved on his terms. He loves to be loved, but likes his own personal space. Well, some nights they are just so pooped from the day that Bo will let Bella get in a little closer. Whenever I see them snigglin a bit I can't help but get the camera.

What a pair of snoozers!

Some cute faces

The soulfull eyes of Bo Seeya

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

"Can't you see I'm getting my beauty sleep?"

Random pupper updates...

With the chaos that comes with this time of year, we haven't been able to take as many pictures as we'd like, but rest assured that the pups are as active and as naughty as ever. Bella Bean got a Secret Santa package recently, and to her dismay, we aren't delving into it until Bo Seeya gets his. Believe me, there has been whining. This weekend we brought the 2 troublemakers to the dogpark, sorry no pictures there either. I personally like the one a little farther away, but has a "small dog area", not because it has small dogs seperate from the larger, but because the small dog area is better contained and I know I can't lose these pups around a bend. They love it and run like mad. I usually see people looking on from the other side and I have to admit, my guys look really cool when they get full speed. Watching them, we have some ideas on why they didn't do so well on the track. Bella will take off for anything... but is easily intimidated to back down. Bo has no interest. He will only be convinced to run, if he is running after Bella, to cut her path (how rude!). Bo has no interest what-so-ever in chasing anything but Bella... and even that seems boring after a run or two. We had some friends meet up with us there to meet the pups and they were fortunate to see the whole spectrum of greyhound life. Full speed outside, barely vertical while inside. Today Jon and I were gone for about 5 hours (getting some errands done) and they had way too much pent up energy when we got home. I take them outside 1st thing (as usual) and in their excitement to see me and Bella's excitement of seeing a phantom squirrel caused such a flurry that a big brawl broke out. Fortunately only egos where damaged, no physical injuries. But all was forgotten in a heartbeat because they got to do their favortie thing ever... go for a walk! Since then they have barely been on their feet. The hard life of a greyhound!

Poor Pups

Look at the mournful faces of the pupsters who have nothing to do. (They do go out to run outside at least once an hour when we are home, but they want excitement!)

*sigh* nothin to do!

Can you think of something fun to do??

Finally they get excited about something... Dinner. Mmmmm, kibble, veggie juice and liver My favorite!!

Cabin fever

As we are nearing the shortest day of the year, there are fewer and fewer opportunities that we have to take the dogs out to play. The have the backyard, yes... but it is dark and they find the backyard boring. So I try to spice it up with play indoors or doggy day care on occasion. They LOVE doggie day care. But for the most part I get the bored whines from them. *SIGH*. So cabin fever is in full swing... getting naughty. Even Bo, who since we got Bella hs been so good! He has stolen the skirt off of the Christmas tree, taken a Cristmas card off of the tree and shred it, and gnawing on wood (I stopped that quick). All the while Bella Bean is acting as if she is starved, sniffing the kitchen hoping that I've been just a little careless whith anything. We are all just itching for spring!

Weekend away

No new pictures I'm sad to report but the pups had a great weekend. Jon's work had a company party in Chicago this weekend and sadly no dogs allowed (I don't think they would have had much fun there anyway). So we call my mom to see if she can babysit her grandpups. They had a weekend full of playtime and treats and seem quite pooped out from the weekend by the time we got home. I'm proud to say that they didn't get into any trouble and didn't give their abuela any trouble at all. I'm getting the camera out soon I promise! :)

Christmas time

Yea! This weekend Jon and I bought our christmas tree. I was so excited to decorate the tree and the home. I even got a special ornament depicting my princess Bean.

I know she isn't black and white speckled, but it has her purple coat and diva attitude. :)

And sorry for the dark, blurry shots, but the flash really killed the mood of the next pictures. We were almost finished the tree and decided to finish the next day so we could sit and enjoy the Christmas glow. The pups got all comfy by the tree and it was a very sweet evening.

Bella Snuggled up in her throne next to the tree

Bo basking in the Christmas glow.

Ms. Bean is generally a very happy go lucky little girl. But she has her moments... take for example the other day. She's adjusted the couch to her liking (even if it isn't to ours), and is fast asleep:

Mmmm, comfy... Zzzzzz Zzzzz Zzzzz

We get up and play for a bit and she is just a beaming, happy girl.

That was so much fun mom!

After a the brief moment of bliss, she starts to fall asleep mid-grin.

It was so much fun when you threw me that stuffff... Zzzzzzzzzz (drool, drool)

Then I get the teenager glare of disdain:

I can't believe that you took a picture of me like THAT. You better not post it!

A sleeping angel, to hyper pup, to zombie state, to angry glare. All within a fifteen minute period. :D

More dog park adventures!

Well, I was on my own this last weekend. Jon is working some nights now, and I have to leave the house otherwise poor guy gets little sleep. So I took the pupsters to the dogpark. They LOVE the dogpark. They get to run and sniff and mark and get into all kinds of things without having a human holding them back. This week we met a jack russel/ fox terrier mix. To say that Bella Bean was excited to meet this little, snow white, running ball of energy is an understatement. These 2 were tearing the place up! The terrier's owner was happy that there was a dog there to give his little energizer a run for his money. There was a little accident though, Bella got so excited that she misjudged a turn and smacked her knee on a bench. Fortunately, it was just a small scrape (a vet visit since showed that it was nothing more than a scrape and a bruise), but it gave me a heart attack! She was crying and it was all I could do to keep myself from running her to the car to see the vet. But she squirmed out of my arms and continued the chase. No little scrape is gonna keep her from her fun! Bo was more interested in sniffing than the chase, so no ouchies for him.

Dog park pics

Oh, so many sniffs! Do you have a good one? Let me smell!

YEA! a LIVE white fluffy!

I tried to get a better picture, but this is the only one that isn't a white and fawn blur! :D

You do your chasing, I've got too many smells to check to be chasin'!

Bo's Birthday cont...

With the untimely passing of Mr. Penguin (please see penguin massacre), and the joyful day of Bo's Birthday, a Mr . Polar Bear came into our homes. Bo gave him a warm welcome by prancing around the house with Mr. bear in his mouth

Should I destuff him now... or later? Lets do later when mom's guard is down. I would never destuff your present! I just wanted to "talk" with him, I promise! Oh, what? Was this for Bo? I coulda sworn that you said it was for me.

Bo turns 3!

My baby Bo turns 3 on Nov 25th. He has only been in our home for 3 1/2 months, but he brings a smile to Jon and my face all the time. Happy early retirement my sweet Bo and we'll always make sure you have a full belly, a soft bed and unlimited loves and snuggles!

Why did you wake me up? I was snoozing good!

Bo dozing on my robe to keep me from leaving.

Pointy eared sleeping

*wink*

And so the Bean doesn't get jealous, here is a twisty sleeping position.