The Time Is Coming Nearer!

It's Christmas this week at work.

Tomorrow my team is exchanging gifts.  It kind of crept up on me but thank goodness I finished everyone over the weekend  (see this post).  The feeling in my fingers has returned...I can feel my fingers!
I'm super excited to see everyone's face.  They are so pretty that I almost want to keep them for myself.

On Friday is our office Christmas Party (where everyone acts somewhat professional) and the much anticipated AFTER-PARTY (no professionalism here)!  Last year we joined forces with the Maplewood office and had some bowling competition.  Their office has bowled in the past and didn't include us in the fact that leagues start at 6 pm and we would be kicked off our lanes.  Some people were only able to bowl for 30 minutes while their office got 2 hours in.  When scores are averaged, it's not really fair when they can bowl 3+ games and those of us that suck at bowling and can't get about 100, much less 80.  Do I sound sour??? Good!

This year, we are closing up shop early and getting a good couple of hours in on bowling.  And we are also including another office.....Silver Lake.  This is going to be fun/weird/chaotic with 3 different offices....other 100 people!!!  Hopefully this time there will be enough pizza and pop to go around...and hopefully it won't be cold when we get there.

Then it's the afterparty.  I don't plan on being awake on Saturday.  Lots of blankets and Advil are going to be needed.  I can't wait.  It'll be here before I know it.

Holiday Card

Our Christmas cards are ordered...finally.  Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute.  I've received some of your guys (gorgeous families and pets!) and I've been nervous about not getting my act together. 
I had a little trouble on getting someone lined up to take our photos.
But Jes came through for us on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 
It was a cold and windy day but we still smiling as we posed without coats on.
Towards the end of the hour session, our cheeks were so red that it's almost funny.
When we got back into the car, our thighs were on fire from the nerves unthawing.

I received the CD of the photos on Saturday, ran into the house and immediately popped it into the computer.  The cards were ordered with the hour and should be shipped today.  Hopefully I'll have them by the end of the week.

Stay tuned for your card in the mail.  I don't know why we didn't do this years ago.

Quiet House

No more wagging of the tale and barking when I get home or when I slip and say the word "outside".

No more puppy eyes looking at me or barking when I'm eating or when I'm sitting on the couch and he comes next to me wanting to be petted.

No one's following me from room to room trying to herd me to wherever he wants me to go. 

No more running to the stairs and barking when I'm actually just walking towards the bathroom to check my hair one more time.

No more getting trampled over and barking when going down the staircase.

As you may have guessed, Wilbur is gone.  He was picked up Saturday morning.  It's bitter sweet.
I miss him and glad he's gone at the same time. 

We miss him when it's super quiet in the house.  But it sure was nice to sleep in this morning and not getting up at 4:30 am to let him out to do his business.  And it's really nice not have to do that when it's 20 degrees outside.

Even though I love Wilbur, Goober and Boone to pieces (also Spotty, Sparky, Culpepper and Reno...all RIP), I've realized that I am definitely a pet lover and NOT a pet owner.  

He Knows If You've Been Bad Or Good....

Someone's been naughty!

He was only alone all by himself for 20 minutes this morning.  I left for work at 5:50 am and Jean got home at 6:10 am.  And this is only half of what she found...there was more in the living room. 

He took boogey kleenex's out of the garbage and shredded them!

He got the finger shook at him!
What is his mother gonna say?? 

  I guess no more independence when staying home alone. 

Wilbur's Here!

Melissa dropped him off on Thursday and he will be staying with Jean and I until Saturday. 
We've been walking him and petting him.  Had a little trouble getting him to do his business, but we'll skip over that part...

Sometimes he looks lonely or bored because it's just him and us.  He's used to having another puppy to play with.  Except Melissa's brother is puppy-sitting Goober.  He's a little too rambunctious for me.  At least at Joey's, he'll have other dogs and cats to play with to keep him busy.  All that commotion is a little much for Goober.

So this morning I picked him up a toy while I was at Target to help keep himself entertained when I'm at work and also so we can play fetch and maybe a little bit of light tug-of-war.

He came for the groomers and they always dress him in a cute bandana.  This one is a Holiday Mickey Mouse and Friends.

Chill-axing on the couch.

He found the squeaker!

Action shot:  whipping it around to get the squeaker out!