A Long Overdue Post...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas...ours were very busy and fairly eventful throughout, hence the sudden and lengthy disappearance. I've been intending to come back and post something, anything, before now just to let those know that have been asking if everything was well that yes, all is well. Time on the computer for the last month has been very scarce, and, shockingly, I've taken few photos of my pups during this time as well. There have just been other things that have taken over our time for the last several weeks.

All is very well in our household. In fact, my husband and I found out around Thanksgiving that we're expecting our first child, so it's been a very exciting time for us recently. Many many changes to come over the next several months, but we're both happy about it all and ready to experience those changes as they come. I keep being told how happy and joyful I look lately, so apparently pregnancy suits me. And my husband has become sweeter than ever.  :)  I don't think the dogs have noticed much of a difference yet, but I'm sure at some point they'll realize something's changing.

In addition to all the activity and busy-ness that comes around the holidays, we had a health scare or two in the family (from probably not-going-to-make-it to wonderful recovery, thank the Lord), and a little unwanted family drama that we'll continue to see how it all eventually plays out. Definitely not my favorite parts of the holiday season this year, but overall it was a wonderful time.

The dogs are doing great as always. Unlike the previous two years, our dogs did not accompany us to our parents' houses for the holidays. We once again live within easy driving distance to both, so stopping back by to let the dogs out, feed them, and give each some attention in between visits wasn't hard to do. That, and carrying three dogs around, plus their crates, was just more than we really wanted to deal with (especially after last year's fiasco with the huskies' escape from their crate and later dance in a big cow-made muddy "pond," ugh). The dogs had extra treats/bones for the holidays and got along just fine without making any trips out and about.

My husband and I continue to hope for snow before winter is gone. We still have a few months yet, so there's always still a chance it'll come. It's been a pretty mild season so far, with temps see-sawing all over the place, but never low enough to accommodate the right mix of conditions for snow. We're not asking for a blizzard (that sort of thing is pretty rare in these parts anyway), but just enough snow to let our dogs pull us (or my husband, that is) around the yard some. We both think they'd really enjoy that, especially the huskies. Isabella has played in the snow, during her first Christmas, but Jake and Champ have yet to see or experience it (for photos of Isabella in the snow, click here and here).

Well, that sums up our holiday season pretty well...I will try to get back into blogging regularly from this point on, but I make no promises as to how often "regular" will be for now.

I wish all my fellow bloggers a wonderful New Year's...and hope your holiday was a great one. Stay safe out there!

Last but not least, I leave you with a few photos of the pups on a (fairly) recent playdate with Molly...

Pasture Fun

Huskies and the Cows

Isabella has seen my dad's cows once or twice before, when we brought her to my parents' house for the holidays last year. Jake, until this point, had not.

Isabella kept jumping around, getting into her "let's play" stance, while Jake said rigid, barking at them all. The cows weren't spooked; they merely crowded around closer to the fence to get a better look.

It was a bit funny to watch.

For more photos of the cows, please click here.

Off-Leash in the Country

MUCH fun was had by both on Christmas Day.

Initially they were together in a big pen, while the humans enjoyed Christmas lunch inside the house. (Animals aren't allowed in my parents' house.)

At some point in the afternoon, our houdinis escaped the pen and tried to enter the house...Jake through the back door (straight into the kitchen), and Isabella through the front door (into the foyer and next to the desserts). A joint effort to break in, and they almost succeeded. :) Luckily I caught Jake, and Isabella came fairly willingly back to my husband.

Later that afternoon, they enjoyed some time out in the yard with Skunk. It took Jake and Skunk a little bit of time to get adjusted to each other, but after that they all had a blast chasing each other. Isabella and Jake don't get many opportunities to run as hard as they like outside, off-leash, so they kept doing funny little jumps into the air almost as a way of expressing their pure delight at being allowed to for once.

Late afternoon, we went for the usual Christmas afternoon walk out in the country, with my dad and some aunts and uncles, and Isabella, Jake and Skunk in tow. We took their leashes off at one point, amid all the cow pastures, and they took off again, enjoying the freedom and taking in all the smells (aahh, cow patties...).

Alas, that's when things went a bit downhill...for me and my husband, at least. Skunk suddenly darted off through the pasture, Isabella and Jake hot on his heels...and right past a huge, muddy water hole. Have I mentioned my huskies love water? Oh yes...Skunk doesn't like to be wet, so he went around the huge hole (like a good dog), but not my dogs. Jake merely walked through the muddy mess to the other side, after a drink or two...but Isabella DANCED in it, like a dog that had never been given such a pleasure in her whole life. It took a bit of convincing to get her to come out of it, especially since she was pretty sure she was in trouble for it. Needless to say, both were a mess when we finally got their leashes back on them. They both knew they were in trouble, but they didn't look near as worried about it as they usually do.

After a hose-down at the house, a bit of towel-drying and a little more air-drying in their pens, we drove our huskies home for the night. Quick baths (no way they'd stay in the house smelling and looking like that) and they were out like lights, worn out from the days' events.

A very good Christmas in all...

Christmas with Skunk

Christmas Presents, Oh, Boy!

Small plush toys which took little time to be de-squeeked...and of course tasty bones as a follow-up treat. :) They weren't sure what to think of the wrapping paper at first, but after a few helpful tears from Mom and Dad, they were off and ripping away.

Christmastime Fun with Molly

Can I PLEASE go back outside now?

More Snow Photos

A Snowy Christmas Holiday

The day after Christmas we got snowed in. While my husband and I were stuck inside with under-the-weather symptoms (what horrible timing, I know), Isabella spent a little time out in the snow. It was the first time she'd ever seen it or been in it, and, as one might have guessed considering her breed, she loved it, which made it hard to convince her to come back in...

Isabella's First Christmas

A juicy piece of meat made especially for her by her daddy, much running and chasing with Skunk, and an afternoon walk in the country...A day well spent, a night well slept. :)