Meet Ch This Is All I Ask...........

My friend Conly's parents raise and show dogs.  They have a dalmatian and 3 smooth fox terrier.  Kathy (Conly's mom) wanted to get a new dalmatian puppy to raise and show.  Mike (Conly's dad) said she could get the puppy but only if they got rid of one of their dogs.  Four dogs is his limit I guess.... so they needed to find a home for Ch This Is All I Ask...aka Chris.

Chris is a 4 year old champion smooth fox terrier. Her parents are Ch Tudex Raybill Doubloon and Ch Honky Tonk Angel. For some reason show dogs have the most interesting names. She no longer competes in shows and they tried to breed her but she wouldn't cooperate....

So me...being the sucker  kind hearted person that I am told them that I would take the dog.

This is Chris.....I could barely get her to stand still so I could take this.....

Such a cute face....... 

Everyone seemed to think that I needed a dog.  Don't get me wrong, I love dogs but I've never owned one.  I have been living alone since Leslie got married (10 years ago).  That being said...it has been a challenge to get used to having a dog around.  I've had her for 3 weeks now and I've had to make several adjustments to the house.

She is a good dog, crate trained and house trained.  Mike, Kathy and Conly have been great helping me.  Mike and Conly came over and finished the fence in the front of my back yard and doggified the back yard for me.  Then Mike and Kathy brought over an extra dog door that they had and Mike installed it and put up a move able fence so she can go right out my side door and into the back yard and then I don't have to worry about coming home and letting her out, and then I can roll up the fencing if I need to use the backdoor. 

I've bought 3 gates, one keeps her out of my living room, I needed a dog hair free room for company.  One keeps her out of the back hall and bedrooms.  I had to put Pesto in Leslie's old bedroom that I've turned into a computer/work room.  Chris wanted to eat him and then she knows he is in that bedroom and kept trying to dig her way under the door and I didn't need my carpet being tore up.The last gate I put up to keep her out of the family room while I'm at work or away. This way she doesn't have to stay in her crate all day, and she can be in the kitchen or outside.  These all may not be permanent once we get more accustomed to each other.

She has had only 3 accidents in the house, 2 downstairs and one in the kitchen.  The one in the kitchen was, I'm pretty sure, because she was mad at me.  I'd been in the computer room for quite a while and she can't come in there because of Pesto sooo she peed in the kitchen instead of going out the doggy door.

She loves to play ball and will keep bringing the ball back to you even if your arm is falling off and her tongue is dragging the ground. 

She sleeps in her crate because I just don't want dog hair in my bed, plus the fact that I don't like anything touching me when I'm really tired and want to sleep, but she is used to that.  She's used to spending a good part of her day in a crate coming from a house with 4 show dogs, so here she actually has more freedom then she used to get. 

Last night she decided that maybe the couch in the family room would be a good place to stay the night.  I turned off the light and called her and she just sat there looking at me, so I went over to get her and she rolled over on her back. I gently pulled her off the couch and headed towards the stairs.  I turned to see her jumping back onto the couch.  But guess what?  I won........

When she eats, she gobbles it down so fast that she lets out a belch when she is finished.

I watched Braxton and Gunner Saturday night while Leslie and Paul went to dinner.  They loved Chris and she had a great time playing ball with them.  Braxton at one point said "Chris sure likes her cousin Braxton".

So do I like having a dog?  Well the jury is still out on that.....we'll see.

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Jamie.......

So I spent New Years Eve watching Braxton and Gunner (Cambria had a sleepover to attend). We celebrated by watching their favorite movies and having Munchies (this is what they are called, Braxton picked them out), Chips Ahoy cookies (picked out by Gunner) and pizza and bread sticks.

Braxton tried to stay awake until midnight but didn't quite make it. He fell asleep around 10:30.  I stayed up as always so that I could give Jamie her "Happy Birthday" call at midnight.

New Years day the boys helped me make Jamie's birthday cake.  Then that afternoon we had a little cake and ice cream party for Jamie.  Angel, Leslie and Paul came (Cambria was still at her friends), Jamie's friends Paula and Lisa showed up too.

Jamie requested confetti cake and Neapolitan ice cream.  Here she is blowing out her candles..

Ignore the fact that her cake said she is 35....I had a mental moment and bought the wrong candles (I had Braxton and Gunner with me when I was shopping) she is really 34 this year.

I have been released from Primary and I am now the Relief Society's music leader.  Yes I still have to play the organ and accompany the choir.  I've been a little nervous about this new calling.  I have always played the music NEVER lead the music.  That being said....

When I went to church the next day, the heat was not working properly and the Primary room was only 50 degrees so they moved the children to the cultural hall (gym).  They also decided to take the piano out of the Relief Society room so the kids could sing.  That's just dandy, but what about the women?  Don't we need a piano so we can sing?

So my first Sunday leading the music in Relief Society was done a capella.  I wanted to cry.  I don't sing...not unless you count what I do with the radio in my car....  Yes I've sung in choirs, but when I do that I can just blend in.  So after having a small panic attack I got up and led the opening song.  I just picked a note and started singing and they all joined in.  After the meeting several of the women came up to me and told me that they loved the key I started the song in because they could actually sing the melody because it wasn't too high for them.  I was amazed that they actually thought I knew what key I was singing in......That's what I call being led by the Spirit.

Christmas Eve and Day...(almost there...)

Christmas Eve...

When I woke up I could here the kids giggling in the family room.  When I went downstairs, they all pretended to be asleep.  When I got to the bottom of the stairs they all jumped up and yelled "Merry Christmas Eve!"  They were all dressed and ready to go for the day (too bad I wasn't yet).

Here they are eating breakfast.....

I took them all to the matinee to see "Tangled". Cambria, Braxton and Gunner had seen it before (except Gunner fell asleep during it), but Jax and Trevon had not.  They all loved it and Gunner stayed awake all the way through this time.  It is my new favorite Disney movie.

Jamie came and picked up the boys after we got home from the movie.  We didn't do our traditional Christmas Eve because Jamie had her party to replace it.  So Leslie had invited me out to spend the night at her house so that I wouldn't be alone. 

When we got out to her house we went over to their new house so that Paul and Leslie could put one last coat of sealer on their hardwood floor. Because it has been rainy the last little bit it was soo muddy that our shoes were caked with it.  We had to leave our shoes on the porch when we got to Paul's Grandma's house for dinner.  It was buffet and lots of good food.  His Grandmother always makes me feel so welcome. 

After dinner we went back to Leslie's.  The kids opened their Christmas pj's and then they opened their presents from me. 

Here is Braxton ......

 Gunner.....

 And Cambria......

I slept in Cambria's bed and she slept on her beanbag. Christmas morning I was awakened to the sound of Cambria leaning over me saying "Grandma wake up it's Christmas!"  Then she proceeded to wake everyone else up.  they couldn't go downstairs until Leslie and Paul actually got up.  I forgot how early kids get up on Christmas morning.

 Here is Cambria waiting for everyone to get up..

 Braxton, he looks excited doesn't he?

 And Gunner finally making his appearance...

Santa did come!  The Lego's on the floor say "Thanks Santa".  Cambria did that before they went to bed the night before.

Paul opening his stocking...he pretty much just laid on the couch the whole time......

Obviously it was just too exciting for him..........The Steeler's blanket is what the kids made for him.....

After all the present opening we went over to Paul's parents house for breakfast.  Blake cooks the whole thing. He made home made biscuits with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, ham, and the best potatoes I've ever had. 

When I got home around noon I just laid around and watched TV in between naps.  It was fun to finally get to see Leslie's kids open their presents on Christmas and Paul's family always makes me feel a part of things.

Christmas Eve Eve.....(almost caught up)

So for the second year in a row I was able to have the Grandma's Christmas Eve Eve sleepover with my grandchildren.

When I got home from work that day Cambria, Braxton and Gunner were already there.  Jax and Trevon came shortly after.

We started out by going to McDonald's for dinner and play...they all were very good and ate first with no fussing.

Here is Cambria and Trevon playing games at the computers.....

Here is Jax taking a break for a minute.....love his smile....

Here is Miss Cambria quenching her thirst..........

Gunner loved the coloring program they had...red seemed to be his favorite color (good choice to me)!

Jax gave the keyboard a try (note the sign...then his feet...he he).

For a minute I couldn't find where Cambria went,  this is how I found her.  She was complaining about being the only girl and how the boys didn't want to do anything she wanted to do (sniff, sniff).

Here is Braxton doing his air guitar......

When it got dark we went up to the Christmas village by the courthouse. 

 It's not big but the kids love to walk through it.

After seeing the village we drove around and looked at all the lights on the houses.

When we got back to the house everyone put on their jammie-o-days.  I gave them each an m&m stocking stuffer which they all were very happy about......as I took this picture they were all shouting,

 "Grandma is the greatest!"

We watched "Despicable Me" and had chocolate milk and cheese puffs.  Cambria was the first to fall asleep (as always).  I'm not sure how late the boys stayed awake because I was tired and went to bed around 10:30ish.

Jamie's Christmas Party...(still catching up)

Wow, I am so far behind. It has been a busy month.

On Saturday Dec. 18th Jamie hosted a Christmas party.  It was attended by Leslie and her family, Angel, Charles and Debbie, Jamie and her boys (of course), Patrick, myself and JOE and his fiancee Jessica!

I have not seen Joe in little over 10  years. Here is a picture of our meeting.....he actually cried (yea, and so did I)...

We've chatted on FB but it was so good to actually see him and meet Jessica.  They are so twitter-pated with each other.  We teased them about how mushy they have gotten on FB.

Jamie made a Vietnamese spread....spring rolls and beef salad, rice and french bread (okay so that wasn't Vietnamese).  Yummy!

We had fun exchanged good conversation and of course gifts. Worst part...I FORGOT MY CAMERA!!!! I never forget it and both girls were surprised. So I have stolen from Debbie's pictures from her FB page. Jamie and Leslie haven't posted theirs yet.


Here is my present from Jamie....a copy of OUR movie "Mommy Dearest".  We watched this together when Jamie was a teenager and since that time she has aways called me Mommy Dearest and I call her Jamie Darling.  What can I say....."no wire hangers!"

A good time was had by all and Jamie did a great job!

Still catching up.....

Tuesday Dec. 14th.....

I had made a hair appointment last week for today at 4:15 forgetting that the Relief Society Christmas program was at 6.  So I called Jen and asked her if she could move it up any ( I REALLY needed to get my hair done) She said she could have me come at 2:30, YAY!  My bosses are so great and they let me burn a couple of hours of vacation so I could go to my "appointment" (that's all they needed to know).

I love going to Jen's salon "The Best Little Hair House".  They had it all decorated for Christmas and they were all wearing Christmas tshirts with funny sayings on them. When she got done with the color and cut she asked me if I wanted her to style it....duh....of course I did.  My hair looked fabulous.  If I had all the money in the world I would hire someone to do my hair and makeup everyday.......oh and of course someone to clean my house.  But if I couldn't afford both I would definitely hire someone for hair and makeup.

The Christmas program was very nice.  Carol asked me to play Christmas music (anything I wanted to) for a half hour while the ladies looked at all the Nativities that were on display. There were some Nativity sets from all over the world that the ladies had brought. 

I love playing 'background' music because I do not get nervous because I figure no one is really listening to me play.  But as they all got done looking at the Nativities they came into the chapel and sat and just listened to me...then I get a little nervous.

We have some very talented people in our ward.  Mary R played "O Holy Night' on her sax with her brother in law on the piano.  I played for Jodi and her sister Amber as they sang "When Mary Sang Her Lullaby".  Rhonda played her guitar and sang "In the Bleak Mid-Winter".  My favorite was Martha playing the piano and singing "Silent Night".  She has an absolutely knock out voice!  There were several other performances all very good.  Those were just my favorites.

Afterward we had refreshment....everyone was asked to ring their favorite cookies. I live in such a fun ward and have some great friends.  It was a nice evening.

Doing some catching up............

Sunday Dec. 12th.......

So my Sunday mornings are pretty lazy with church not starting until 1pm.  I rarely am dressed before 11.  So today I laying around in my jammies.  I had just finished my preparing my Primary lesson and had checked the music schedule to see what songs I would have to play at the organ today (Christmas songs...piece of cake) when my phone rang at 10:15ish.  When my phone rings on a Sunday morning it is usually not a social call and this time was no exception.

I looked at the caller ID and it was Carol.....and yes I answered it (I can be a glutton for punishment sometimes).  She then proceeded to explain to me that she got a call telling her that the person that was doing the musical number for Sacrament meeting was sick and could her family (all her kids were home for Jed's mission homecoming talk today) provide a musical number. So then she continues saying they were singing an arrangement of Silent Night and Hanna was playing the violin, and Jed, Caleb, Emily and Jenny were singing.  Her mother was trying to play the accompaniment but she only plays by ear.

By now I was giggling and told her that is sounded like she had everything under control.  I do love to torture her.  So she told me to asked if I could come over right now and play for them today.  I told her I was still in my jammies, she said they would be waiting for me. Whatever happened to that shy reserved Carol that I loved so well?

So I had to hurry and get ready for the day.  Yes I know I could have just thrown on some clothes and pulled my hair into ponytail but....Her family (knowing them the way I do) were all dressed and ready for church looking polished and beautiful and I became a little vain and did my hair and makeup and put on my church clothes.

I walked over and I was hoping it was an arrangement I had played before but no I could not be that lucky.  So I put my super powers of sight reading to use and we ran through it twice.  It was beautiful and I do love playing for Carol's children when they perform.  Carol's mom came up and thanked me profusely for saving her from the piano (it can be a vicious instrument).

Jenny wasn't there so Emily asked if I would be able to run through it again right before the meeting.  Well since I was playing the organ that day and would be in the middle of playing the prelude, that was going to be a little difficult. I just haven't mastered being in two places at once.

Well as I was just setting up the organ to begin, Jenny and Emily came in so I quickly went to the Primary room so that Jenny could run through it once.

The musical number was absolutely beautiful.  They are so talented.  It gave me goose bumps while we performed.

Church went well the rest of the afternoon.  I managed to conquer the organ once again, taught my Primary class (love those kids) and played for choir practice after the meetings.

Gary and Bill, my home teachers, came over that evening and brought me a pretty poinsettia.  Then Jodi and her sister came over so we could practice the song they were singing Tuesday night for the Relief Society's Christmas program.

And they say Sunday is a day of rest.......