What We're Doing For New Year's Eve

Tomorrow, late afternoon or early evening, a fairly decent amount of humans will be stepping into sparkly dresses, buttoning up dress shirts, bundling up for First Night, and everything between. They'll be adoring glitter infested 'Happy New Year' headbands. A copious amount of booze will be consumed. Platters of appetizers. High-spirited anticipation of the last few minutes of 2015. Televisions will be blaring as the ball drops, or raises, I forget which.

More Of This. Less Of That.

Over the past couple of weeks, I've wallowed in my end-of-year reflective mode. It happens every year during the month of December. For as long as I can remember. I take a thorough look at the past year. When I say "thorough" I mean just that. I'm on the outside looking in. It's like watching a movie. Scene after scene after scene. This isn't a process that takes hours. It takes several weeks.

The Best Kind Of Humans

Special friends who have become family. Our kids refer to the as Auntie Char and Uncle Bob. An evening of scrumptious food, wine, good conversation, lots of laughs, and the proverbial "letting our hair down." And...when Auntie Char shares a made-for-humans-but-pup-friendly stuffed potato with Sophie and Lobo. Without flinching at paws on the table. Like THIS. Well, our hearts melt just a little bit. Such love.

Christmas Day Was Spent At Home

Christmas Eve, we stayed home. Today, we stayed home too. It was the first time ever that we didn't make big plans or have people over. Lisa and I enjoyed some much needed down-time with the kids. It was the 5 of us. At home. We ate. Played. Ate some more. Got on the floor and played with the kids. Snuggled. Watched about a half-dozen movies. Ate more.

A Christmas Story For The Kids

We adopted Coco the summer of 2012. The last week of November, we put our Christmas tree up. Later that evening, Lisa sat on the sofa with Coco and told him all about Christmas. He sat on her lap. Content. Listening. He'd look at Lisa. The Christmas tree. Lisa. The tree. I sat beside of them on the sofa snapping a few photos. Coco was taking it all in. His first Christmas.

An Early Christmas Gift For The Kids

Two of our neighbors, who have become like family to us, are pet parents as well. When they venture off for the day, weekend or a week-long vacation, we take care of their 3 babies. They live across the street. Our kids adore their Auntie Char and Uncle Bob. We celebrate special occasions and exchange gifts for Christmas. They never forget to include our kids.

More For The Pups. Less For The Humans.

Christmas baking has always been a big deal for me and something I looked forward to. This is the time of year I make and bake a selection of baked goods that are reserved for Christmas. The entire process takes 2 solid days. In the days leading up to my Christmas Bake Fest, I make my lists, check them twice and pick a night to shop for ingredients and supplies. Despite hitting sales and gathering most of the goods where the prices are reasonable, the total is right around $150-$200.

I Almost Fell Face First Into A Grocery Store Freezer

Today we decided to run errands and grocery shop. The Sunday before Christmas. It's something we planned. The next few days we'll be busy delivering holiday biscuit love to local animal shelters, baking for a handful of humans and getting ahead on work stuff. Our next available day to pick up groceries and other odds and ends would be Wednesday. You couldn't pay me enough to step foot in any retail or grocery store the day before Christmas Eve.

Ready To Party Because Mom Has A Latte

Yesterday Lisa arrived home from work with a latte in hand. My favorite. All of the kids were in the kitchen....looking up at me as if to say, "What is it, Mommy?" I held the coffee cup out a bit. "Looooooook kids! Mommy has a latte! A latte! A latte! Yayyyyyyy! Mommmmmmmy has caffeine!" My voice was slightly louder than normal. Excited. I did my happy dance.

This Man's Story Broke My Heart

One of the benefits of living in a somewhat small-town is getting to know the people. Whether it's a trip to the grocery store or filling the gas tank at the convenience store down the street from us, we see the "regulars" quite a bit. A lot of the "regulars" have pups. With a slight ping of embarrassment, I'll be the first to admit, we remember the names of their pups and greet them first.

Grammy And Grandpa Are Visiting Tomorrow

Lisa called her parents a couple of weeks ago. They invited us to visit for the day the following weekend. Or the next. Three years ago, we would have said, without hesitation, "Sure! We'll be there." I would have spent a few hours baking cookies and whipping up a side dish or two the day before our journey. On the day of, the vehicle would be loaded with treats, gifts, essentials, camera, a tote of necessities for Coco and...Coco.  By 8 a.m. we'd have coffee, bagels and be well on our way to New Hampshire.

Random Rant - Why Save It All For Christmas Day?

I'll be the first to admit I have a love hate relationship with the Christmas season. While I enjoy our decorated tree, doing a little shopping for the kids, the lights adoring our porch and the snowman inflatables on the front lawn, overindulging in bottles glasses of wine and making gifts for the handful of friends we have, I can't wrap (no pun intended) my head around the rest of the Christmas bullshit.

Lisa Handed Me A Yellow Slip For My Birthday

I'm sitting on the sofa. Fresh cup of vanilla caramel chai tea. My new throw blanket covering the bottom half of my body. It's covered in fur and smells like it should probably be washed in the next day or so. Lisa and the kids are all sleeping soundly in bed. We all had an incredible night. Dinner and a movie at home. Lots of play time with the kids. Treats for everyone. I'm getting tired. Just looked at the clock. In another hour or so I'll officially be 42.

Random Rant - Maybe You Should Call Back After You Muzzle Your Dogs. Um. Excuse Me?

Yesterday we ordered takeout. It's not something we do often. Maybe once a month. It's been a busy week. Baking dog biscuits. Getting ready for our last event of the season. Packaging. I lost track of time. No dinner prep done. In fact, I hadn't even thought of dinner. Lisa didn't miss a beat and said, "I guess it's my night to cook." That translates to takeout. It's a standing joke between us.

Our 2015 Personalized Photo Christmas Cards

Last year, for the first time ever, I ordered Christmas cards. Not just any Christmas cards. Personalized photo Christmas cards. Over the past few years we've received quite a few from friends and family during the holiday season. I've always found these cards to be kind of cool. It's a nice break from the boxed cards and the photos add a personal touch. And, we get to see updated photos of friends and family.

After-Hours Throw Blanket Bliss

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Lisa surprised me with a luxury throw blanket. Plush. Soft. A little heavy. A gorgeous plum color. She gets me. I use throw blankets year-round. I'm the one who swoons over throw blankets at the store. I have to feel each one. Some are just "meh" while others send me into a dreamy state where I moan softly. I could, quite possibly, have a throw blanket addiction. Our kids have followed in my footsteps.