Christmas 2011.

Christmas was wonderful. We had breakfast and gift exchange with Mary and Adam, then I baked sugar cookies, The Famous Pearch Cobbler, and Mud Pie, and Eric's family all came over and we had another gift exchange and dinner. The dogs were nearly flawless. I feel very good about them and kids - Cassie was swinging and spinning around and accidentally hit, kicked, fell on Piper I don't know how many times and Piper just sighed. Didn't even relocate herself. Just was like, whatever. Violet didn't jump on anyone a single time.


After dinner, Eric's grandfather announced, "I am 66 years old, and I have only one regret." Someone asked what it was, and he said - "That I didn't know about Brianne's pearch cobbler 66 years ago. Little did I know, 23 years ago, that the person who would bring me my favorite dessert was being born." Jeez. I don't really know what it is about that stuff, but people go a little nuts.

Eric and Adam have been complaining since I've known them that their mother has a long history of never feeding anyone on Christmas. They wake up, have to open everything before they can eat, and dinner never really happens. They have traumatized expressions when they talk about it, like concentration camp survivors. So I got up a little early and made everyone waffles in the waffle maker, before present opening. Banana waffles, chocolate/chocolate chip waffles, cinnamon nutmeg waffles. There was peace in the lands.

Wrapping presents on Christmas Eve.

The dogs each had a stocking.

Christmas garland.

During gift opening.

Mary hearts monkeys. We got her what she decided was a candy jar. I also made her a shadowbox with her sons and (luckily, both male) dogs.

After waffles and stockings and gift exchange and piles of new dog toys, the dogs were both tuckered out. Little did they know, seven family members were en route with food, presents, and noise.

Right when I was on the hunt for a third dessert for Christmas dinner, a blog that I follow called The Life of Rylee shared a recipe for Mud Pie that looked fun and tasty, so I made a mud pie. It's similar to brownies which I'm not a huge fan of myself, but it was very easy to make, came out great, and was a hit with everyone. Thanks for sharing, The Life of Rylee!

You can take the girl out of the veterinary clinic, but you can't take the clinic out of the girl. I decorated the sugar cookies with homemade icing in 1ml syringes. Worked great. When Josie, a fellow member-by-relationship of this family and a fellow ex-vet tech showed up, she sidled up to the counter and said "Nice." Everyone was else was just "Oh my god, what's been in those?" (Nothing, if you're wondering. They were sterile. I had extras from a foster kitten who was on liquid pain meds.)

With 10 people in the living room (one room away, practically the same room - open floor plan), food everywhere, chaos, presents, wrapping paper balls...Violet's place was by my side, in the kitchen. Not even begging. And that is why I love her.

Cassie helped me decorate.

Laying with her head in my lap.

Peep needs a nail trim. I like her feet.

Collie hair on everything, even the Shepherd.

The $400 book Eric didn't think he was going to get. (No, I did not pay $400 for it.)

New shirt.

Our little family...so far.

There will be a present round-up post tomorrow, because they were fantastic.

Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I have so much to be thankful for that I could never list it all here. But, naturally, I'll try.

I'm thankful for Eric. (Who, by the way, is blogging now.) I'll keep it short, but that man is my best friend. And I'm marrying him. He gets me, I get him, he makes me laugh so much, he takes care of me better than anyone ever could. He is such a pain in my ass, and I would trade it for absolutely nothing in the world.

I'm thankful for Violet. I don't know how I was ever without a Collie, and my world would be a less bright and vibrant place without her in it.

I'm thankful for Piper. Like Violet, I can't imagine how we were ever without her stoic, silly, serious self. Our co-pilot, Violet's best friend.

I'm thankful for Dewey. He's the token mutt that we never knew we needed until he came along and just fit in like he'd always been there. He's the easiest puppy I've ever raised, thank God.

I'm thankful for my parents and stepmother.

I'm thankful for my grandparents.

I'm thankful for my brothers and sister and brother in law.

I'm thankful for my sweet nephews.

I'm thankful for my upcoming-in-laws.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to start school in January.

I'm thankful for the time to pursue my hobbies - scrapbooking, photography, cooking, baking, reading, Sims, dog training...

I'm thankful for volunteer opportunities.

I'm thankful that we have a car that works.

I'm thankful for my friends.

I'm thankful for my health, and the health of my loved ones.

And since this is a dog-centered blog - holy meatballs I'm thankful for how the dogs behaved yesterday. It was their first big gathering, and Piper's just getting over her reactivity turbulence and Violet's just coming out of her intense, knock-you-over teenage exuberance, and the house was crammed full of people and food and a very energetic child...and we decided to go ahead and leave all 5 dogs roaming freely and hope for the best. (Well, semi-freely - Piper started out on a leash and Gentle Leader hooked to Eric's belt loop, but was quickly released for good behavior.) And it went perfectly. Violet didn't bark once (okay, once - but it was literally one bark), was impervious to any chaos, settled down with a bone. Slept through most of dinner. Let the 8 year old smoosh her against the back of the couch, lay on her, hug her around the neck, put a tiara on her head, anything. I've never been prouder. Piper was equally flawless. She sat calmly by Eric's side through dinner, was reserved but calm with Cassie (8 year old), sat like an angel for pictures in front of the tree. (These weirdos put up their Christmas stuff on Thanksgiving, after dinner.) She didn't have a single flicker of a second of issues with the behavioral problems we've been working through. Dewey, who tends to be just slightly skittish around children, was perfect with Cassie, settled into his open crate to nap during dinner, didn't have a single accident, chewing incident, nothing - he's 16 weeks old. It went off without one single hitch.

This morning we took Piper to Petsmart at 7am for Black Friday. We got there at about 6:55, 5 minutes before opening, and spent a little time in an extremely civilized, friendly line of about 15 people outside. It was very chill in the store, we got a couple dog beds, new collars for all, sweaters for Dewey, a bunch of toys, a Collie Christmas tree ornament, a velvet Christmas collar for Violet, for super super cheap. It was fun and stress-free, and the dogs' Christmas shopping is so done.

Cooking With Collies - Pie Edition.

Homemade graham cracker crust, homemade crust for pecan pie.

Pecan pie.

Dewey got a pre-Thanksgiving bath.  

Mary and Adam.

  

Under the table.

Mary making green beans.

  

Putting on Peep's Gentle Leader.

The (in)famous pearch cobbler.

  

Smoosh.

Watching things from the living room.

Peep's place during dinner.

Dewey's place during dinner. Sound asleep, 3 feet from the dinner table.

And Violet's dinner spot. 

 
Eric's Nan.

   

Eric and Adam trying to find the light that didn't work.

My armadillo ornament. <3

GSD ornament.

  

Such a bad picture of me, but Peep... <3