Domo the Pup!

Well, we got him! Domo, the loving, sweet, biting, spastic, adorable puppy. All 4 of us are in love. He attacks your feet as you walk past, then he snuggles in your lap and goes to sleep. The kids are super crazy about him, walking him, taking care of accidents in the house, playing with him. It's fun, and EXHAUSTING, having a pup.

Spud is slowly starting to approve - for the last three days, he's initiated play out back, nipping Domo and then running off, wagging and ready to pounce. Last night was the first time he's wanted to play inside the house - typically it's been Domo walking by Spud and Spud growling. We're getting there...slowly but surely.

At the breeder, Tate surrounded by Yorkies. She is apparently a Yorkie whisperer. 

You can't quite tell, but she had four on her lap in this picture.

Cuteness.

This is his mole picture.

Settling in nicely - guess he feels safe!

Into and ON everything!

Snuggling.

Texas and NO SCHOOL

(Very) shortly after the New Year, David and I were off to Austin, Texas. We have an annual conference in early January every year, this time in Austin. I'd never been before - I'm not sure I can say I've really been now, as we mostly saw the inside of the hotel! We did get two nice dinners out (Italian and Tex-Mex with some DELICIOUS prickly pear margaritas), and a walk down 6th Avenue in the evening, with all the bouncers begging us to come in by offering us free shots, delicious Long Island Iced Teas, etc.

Coolest vacuum EVER

6th Avenue/Street, whatever, the "cool" part of Austin

The meeting is exhausting - long hours (6am-7pm), standing on your feet, etc. My niece came, too, and worked the desk with us. She and I flew home together on Sunday evening. Well, it was barely Sunday evening by the time the plane got there. Our flight was supposed to leave at 5pm, but with crazy weather in New England several days before, the whole country was in an uproar with flying. We stood in a very long line at ticketing where we tried to figure out what the heck was going on with a crazy mural - really weird stuff. Our 5pm flight finally arrived and was ready for us by 11pm, getting us back home by 3am. What a day! But Cassidy and I know how to have fun in any situation, so it was not bad at all. Nothing is bad when I'm with her!

What is he throwing? And why? And is she trying to stop him or be part of it? 

Kissable armadillo

Very, very tired, but finally on the plane.

Getting home, we had record cold days, so school was cancelled Monday and Tuesday. I was EXHAUSTED. My ramp up to busy-ness starts in late October, and so by the time this meeting was over, I needed a break. Tate was so sweet and made us all breakfast. And lunch. We went to the park and walked on the ice. It was good.

She even cut bendy straws so they would fit in the tiny fancy glasses.

Our lunch menu :-)

Ringing in the New Year

Roller skating, PUPPY PICKING, puddle stomping, New Year's Eve, snow. 

What a way to end 2013!!

We are picking up our newest addition to the family this Saturday. A new BULLDOG!!! His name is Domo, and boy he is a cutie. He wanted to be in our laps, snuggling, sleeping, playing, eating our zippers, wanting to be on us. In fact, when we were about to leave, he left his brother, mother and aunt and raced (while tripping over his giant paws) to us at our car for one more goodbye! We left him there for another two weeks to get more growing in, and because we were away in Texas. So meanwhile, David and I alternate between JOY and TERROR with having a new puppy in the house - the kids are all JOY. 

Ohhhh - look at that FACE!!!

New Year's Eve, we did our typical. Smith and David make their own sushi and Tate and I make calzones. Yum! They didn't even bother to cut the sushi into rolls this time, but just ate them as sushi sticks. Midnight couldn't come fast enough if you ask me - I was tired. It was nice snuggling with my people and watching terrible tv. But we made it! We waited until the ball dropped, and it was fun counting down as LOUD AS WE COULD and hugging and kissing into the New Year.

The Thursday after New Year's we had an unexpected snow storm. Well, we expected snow, but around 1", not the 5" we actually got. It was so pretty!!

2013 was a good year. I think if I were to work out how I want things to be different or the same in 2014, I would work on trying to do less. Making the things I do agree to matter more. Like the holidays (still so fresh!) - it is such a busy time for me for work, and to add all the extra stuff just makes it so complicated and intense. I'd like to think of different ways to make that time better. Maybe doing more earlier so December is ONLY about the joy part and little about the purchasing part. Easy to say, but I imagine it's going to be the same anyway!

I have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to appreciate when I see the last 12 months of pictures. Two kids that are happy and healthy, a solid marriage, adventures, laughter, friendships. Not sure there is a whole lot to change.

Christmas Projects

I'll post Christmas pictures soon, but here are the things I made this year for gifts.  I think I've said this before, but I really feel like these things I make have some sort of spirit or soul to them, as they accompany me in weird places and remind me of things as I look back on them. I did not get a final picture of the cowl for Cassidy - I have to say, while the yarn was lovely mottled deep green, I did not love how it turned out. It should have been slightly bigger, and slightly looser knit. But, can't do anything about it now.

Coffee sweaters - made for my group of friends. We did a "3 favorite things" party, where we each brought 3 of our favorite things, and drew names and shared them. I made three coffee cozies and put in a gift card for a local coffee place. This was a super fun idea and I hope we do it again next year! These coffee cozies are quick and easy to make, and rewarding because they come together so fast. They make me think of traffic on the way to work where I knit these, while stopped for MANY minutes at stop lights. It's a good distraction from traffic.

The start of Cassidy's cowl. I started this in a hotel room on a business trip, while watching Flashdance. So, yes, this cowl makes me start singing the Flashdance song. I also brought it along with us on long car drives, to and from the office on days David drove, sitting in front of the fire at home...lots of places! This scarf has been places. 

Smith really wanted me to knit him a beard! He mentioned this about two weeks before Christmas, and I told him it would be after the holidays, but I fit it in. It was fun to make, even David didn't know about it.  He's already worn it out and people think it's hilarious.

Made Tate and her two AG dolls matching hats. This David knew about but was a surprise to Tate. I made her hat mostly at home but some on the road. This was fun because I knew she'd be happy about them - and she was! She wore her hat all day long.

My good sport husband - I made him a nose warmer. His nose is always chilly. This took all of 30 minutes to make and was worth it seeing his expression. Everyone said I should have made it red for Rudolph!

Lots of fun making this stuff - I knit and crochet to help me relax, so making gifts out of the stuff is a bonus. 

The lead up to Christmas

The lighting of the tree

Business trip in DC - one of my favorite busy days each winter, seeing a friend for dinner, 

then having two evenings in my hotel room alone

Decorating

First snow!!

The annual making of the marshmallows

Santa coming to the 'hood

Smith and my brother did a fun 5k run - the Ugly Sweater 5k. My niece and I took a couple hours and made amazingly ugly sweatshirts, matching of course. 

These two bollards were right in the middle of the start of the race, so my niece and I decided to risk our lives for the cause...we stood on it in a sea of ugly sweater hats. The race was really fun (to watch). Brett ended up staying in the sweater for some time - we went to another town for lunch, and kept wondering why people were staring...