I heard the bells on Christmas Day...

Well, actually I didn't. It was pretty quiet here today with just me and the hubby and two rambunctious doggers and a ninja cat. Someone brought up the word ninja to me today...and I can't get it out of my head. I like that word. "Ninja!"

So someone (not I ) was up at 0530 this morning. Not sure why. But because that person was up, the doggers and the cat had to get up as well. I ignored them all! And slept in until 0700. Good enough! All the Christmas lights were on when I got up, the fireplace was a-roaring, and my stocking was stuffed!!! Presents were also around the tree. How exciting! And there was a plate of pancakes waiting for me. How much better does it get???? Anyhow, after the eating of the pancakes, we pretty much dived into the present opening. Seeing as we don't have kids, christmas morning kind of revolved around the pets. They all opened their presents first (go figure!) and we watched the doggers play and destroy their new toys (sigh). So enough was enough after that, we gave them each a new bone to chew on and they settled down in the living room and left us to get the rest of the work done. So I must say thank-you to everyone who sent presents. We got some awsome and neat stuff and are much appreciative. So now all the excitement is over and we did a quick clean up of the house (ok, it actually took most of the afternoon and a bit into the evening) to prepare ourselves for the boxing day breaky we're hosting tomorrow.

So here are the doggers opening a 'dirty rotten kitty'. Kona has floppy toy radar. She knew what was in the packages the moment we picked them out from under the tree. There is no doubt about it, Kona loves her floppy 'hit me in the head' toys!

Last day before Christmas...

It's 1030 pm and it's time for bed. To me the greatest part of Christmas is Christmas Eve evening. It is when the best anticipation occurs. You know the next day is going to be Christmas and it's only one sleep away. The Christmas lights and Christmas tree are magical, and the presents under the tree are just dying to be opened. It's the first visits with family (if you're all together), knowing that there are more days to visit still to come. To me it's the true beginning of the Christmas season. Anticipation and magic reign at this time of year. I type this on my way to bed. Two tired dogs and a husband falling asleep on the floor. Still a couple of things to do on my 'christmas to do' list, but after today all the deadlines, and must do's are over. The end of the year draws near, and the time to turn over a new leaf approaches. So....

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a great night! (may those who can.....SLEEP IN!!!!)

2nd day before Christmas...

Ok, Hubby and I did the unthinkable last night. We went to the new Wal-Mart stoopidstore (I hate wal-mart!) on the southside at 1030 pm! Apparently this store is open 24 hours, so like the sillies we are, we thought we'd check it out late in the evening, on the last Saturday before Christmas. Hubby's reason? "I like to see the kerfuffle!" And of course I'm just along for the ride, and to possibly get a couple of last minute stocking stuffers. So we get to the store and the parking lot is PACKED!!! Yup, 1030 at night. We get inside the store and the line-up are HUGE! At 1030 at night. We look at each other and set out the challenge. 25 minutes, we both seperate and go hunting for respective stocking stuffers, meet at the front door at 1100. So off we go. After a couple of unsuspecting run-ins to each other (I ran like a freak pushing my mini buggy each time I saw him, it was funny), I made it into a fairly short line at the self-checkouts. Short line means about 10 people in front of me. Sat there for about 10 minutes as the same lady tried to check herself through the self-check out. I began rolling my eyes, then saw an opening in the line beside me for a closer self-check out and dashed into it before anyone looked! Only 4 people in front of me now! "What the heck????" That fourth person in line was feeding the self-checkout with all their loose change??!!?? They started digging through their pockets and her purse to get all their loose change. Which I guess would be fine if you continuously fed it in...but these people would pop in a nickel, then watch for the total to register on the computer screen. Then pop in another nickel. Oh lordy! They kind of smiled to the people in front of me and said "We like to use up our change!" All I could think was, people, you just don't get it, do you. Regardless, I got through the checkout in about 15 minutes. I saw hubby waiting for me at the doorway....empty handed. He promptly pointed out his deserted cart in a line up of about 100 people long. He said "Forget this noise! And abandoned his cart with my stocking stuffers in it. As disappointed as I was, I had to laugh. He just doesn't know the art of looking for the shortest line up. And apparently the other 100 people in that line don't know either!

So that was the trip to the ginormous store where you can do all your shopping in on trip. Honestly? I won't be heading back there anytime soon.

4th day before Christmas...

Ok folks. I guess it's no secret that we currently have another dogger in the household at the minute. We've taken in a foster dog. Her previous home (which was a good home) had her getting picked on by the other dogs. So she gets to stay at our house for awhile and hang with Kona. Of course Kona loves having a playmate...but she is also a jealous dog. If you want to pet Polly (foster dogger), you'd better also want to pet Kona. Kind of goes the other way around too. And because they are both under the age of 2 (Polly is 2 and a bit I think, Kona 1 year and 2 months), they still possess alot of energy. So being greeted at the door when I come home from work is quite the exhuberate experience. We've had some trials and tribulations with Polly in the house. She's not trained in anyway (didn't even know what 'sit' meant!), and she's used to being outside, so inside is new for her...and something she has grown to like very quickly (I would too if the temps outside were -25 degrees C, like they have been!). Unfortuneately for me, my clothes, my furniture, and my floors, being inside has caused her to shed the winter coat she once had. My vaccuum cleaner is getting a very constant workout. There are Polly balls and Polly bunnies everywhere. Polly is quite gentle and is very loving. She's really like a big teddy

bear, which is much different than Kona. Kona is sleek and pretty. Polly is soft and cuddly. Polly likes to give kisses, Kona likes to lay beside you and cuddle up. Crazy dogs. Polly is also alot bigger than Kona and together they're like two big galluts running rampant through the house. It is a kerfuffle when everyone wakes up in the morning (at 0530); between the two dogs and the cat there can be some ruckus. So much for ever being able to sleep in again!

Alright! So! This is the last weekend before Christmas. Anyone feeling the anticipation yet? I am. That is my favorite part! What are my plans for this important weekend? I may just brave the crowds tomorrow. Apparently this is going to be one of the busiest weekends before Christmas EVER! Everyone must have excess money burning holes in their pockets. Or perhaps they are just lookey-loos who need just one last poke around to make sure all bases are covered. Or maybe people are lemmings....if everyone else is supposedly shopping, then I better be too@! Or are they procrastinators? Just leave it all till the last minute. Or maybe they just like to feel the crowds closing in on them, the slow moving traffic jams, and the frustrations of there being nothing christmasy left to buy. But perhaps Miss Polly has a better solution to the last weekend before Christmas....

5th day before Christmas...

Ok, since my pictures of my christmas tree are not behaving I will post something else.Ok, don't ask me how I did it, I just did it. Here is my christmas tree and the picture is NOT SIDEWAYS!! Joy to the world baby!

I'm quite happy with my tree this year. I bought some new ornaments from the Bay during a 40% off sale. Just simple red and green ornaments...but BIG ornaments. So my tree theme this year is sparkly red, green ornaments with gold tinsel and white crotcheted snowflakes (courtesy of grandma!) Tres elegant. And hubby suggested I put it in our very rarely used dining room, used mostly to store bikes during the spring/summer/fall, so that everyone driving by and walking by could see it when it is lit up. I drove past the house the other day with the outside lights on and the tree lights on. Very Christmassy. I like it! So I also bought a wreath for the door this year as well. Went with the real wreath and decorated it with some cheapy ornaments....but I think it turned out quite nicely. I didn't do too much else for decorations in the house. Put out some stuff on the fireplace mantel, but that was about it. Had intentions of doing more and never really got that far. So much planned, very little got done!

I took the doggers for a walk last night to look at all the christmas lights in our neighborhood. Man does this little development go nuts on the light. We live on the street that has a blue and white theme (go figure, hey... a huge long street and everyone's lights are blue and white...well next year I'll be changing that up a little. I bought red lights at Costco this year! Gotta add a little spice to our street!). So many houses are decorated. And those big blow up figures (santas, snowment, toy soldiers) are very popular as well. What a great time of year to go dog walking...or just people walking for that matter! I've decided that the most magical time of the year is Christmas Eve, going for a walk in a neighborhood full of Christmas spirit and Christmas lights at night. The anticipation of Christmas day is at it's highest at this point, put together with lights and snow and christmas trees lit up in people's windows...you can't beat it! So this year I'm planning to take the doggers (and perhaps the husband!) on a Christmas eve walk. That will be the beginning of the Christmas festivities for us!

7th day before Christmas...

My computer sucks. I'm trying to post pictures of my christmas tree and all pictures are posting sideways! What the heck?????!!?? Who wants to look at a sideways picture if it's not meant to be sideways? Any suggestions? ANY????? Lame photo shopping computer programs. They all suck.

10th day before Christmas...

Alright people....10 days left before Christmas....and how much have you accomplished??? It seems like new projects and missions are coming out of the woodwork everyday for me. How come so hectic before Christmas? It is a deadline? Apparently I'm treating it like a deadline. So I went out on a spree today. Visited alot of places in a short period of time (before 1300 in the afternoon!) and on basically the second last weekend before the grand holiday. Almost got everyone bought for. Am narrowing it down to the nitty gritty here and am quite proud of myself. I actually started before Dec. 1 and am quite pleased that I did so cause otherwise there would be people NOT getting presents and that would have been disappointing. Anyhoo....
My lovely christmas tree is up and so are about half the decorations. Will be finishing that off this weekend. I put the tree in our dining room this year (the room that stores our bikes in the spring/summer and really doesn't get any other action any other time). Mainly to keep the pets from knocking it down. I decided that I was bored with all the old decorations so bought some new ones this year to spice it up and change it up a bit. Hopefully will get a picture posted before the weekend disappears. I also decided on a natural (REAL) wreath this year. I'm extremely pleased with my decision. Threw a couple of decorations on it and hung it on the front door. Lovely! Will throw up a picture of that as well, seeing as the only family that will get to see it is us and one other sister!
Doggers are doing good. Polly is finally settling in. Has been a bit of a challenge having those two brats around. Jingles is currently sitting in front of the big window and watching them play in the backyard. I wonder just what the heck she's thinking. Hmmmm, her ears just went flat...oops, shes now decided that's enough watching doggers play and is heading for the stairs. Oh the life of this cat. I bought her Christmas dinner today...chicken and liver. Hope she likes it. Hope I didn't make a mistake.....if you know what I mean!
Last thought for the day....if you ever feel like you want tranquility and peace, sit down and drink a cup of eggnog latte in a greenhouse. There is something about visiting the greenhouse that is calming and inspiring! I love it!
Challenge for this weekend: finish christmas decorating and get those bloody decoration boxes back downstairs where I can't see them!!!!