Canine Attachment

We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot

Well, I have tried not to go 'Tess' crazy and only post photos of our adorable pup :) but she is growing so fast, so I thought I would give an update.

She went to the vet last week for her 12 week appointment and weighed 22lbs! I think she weighs closer to 25 now, believe it or not. She is growing like a weed and is all legs (lucky girl). Unfortunately, like most labs, she got a slight ear infection so we have been medicating. Other than that, she is happy, healthy, and oh so hiper!

Troy has been working with her pretty extensively on hunting 101. She has nailed "Sit" and is pretty good at "stay." She is house trained (so far), knows to wait for the command before she can attack her food, and has almost completely conquered "Kennel Up." She is so smart though, and is getting a little better at "Heel." Troy is doing good with fetch and teaching her to "Drop" her toy. It is so cute to watch her frolic after a toy almost too big to fit in her mouth!

Here are a few pics of our cutie Tess and how she's grown:

When we picked her out

Her first day home, with her favorite toy.

About 9 weeks old

At Thanksgiving

Passed out on her new[est] bed

Puppy kisses time!

13 weeks old, still with her favorite toy.

She's getting so big :(

I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better. They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying.

~George Bird Evans,Troubles with Bird Dogs

Cookies and [Tacky] Christmas Sweaters

This weekend was full of Christmas festivities and we had so much fun! Saturday was my first annual cookie exchange and Christmas soiree and it was a success if I do say so myself! Just look at these beautiful confectionary creations, compliments of my fabulous guests:

Brownies, Hello Dollies (Linds), Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cookies (Whit), Angel Wings (Allison), Peanut Butter Surprises (Sarah), Puppy Chow (Lindsey), White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies (Caroline), Fudge, Iced Cookies, Gingerbread Cookies, Chocolate-covered Pretzels

Peanut Butter Surprises - Sarah

Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Pecan Cookies, Whitney

Chocolate-covered Christmas Pretzels, Hostess

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies, Caroline

Funfetti Brownies, Hostess

Hello Dollies, Lindsey Stanley

Once everyone dropped off their goodies, we sat down for a [yummy] lunch. I tried my hand at a three-course meal from scratch and I'd say it was a success; lots of work, but a success. We snacked on various appetizers, then sipped on some tomato basil soup with ricotta cheese dumplings and sourdough croutons. Next, we had a "Ceasar" salad, herb carrots, new potatoes with herb sour cream, and an Italian stuffed chicken breast (kudos to the hubby on cooking this one for me). We finished the meal with an apple tartlet. It was a great lunch with great friends and I cannot wait to do it all again next year!

Not photographed: Whitney and Lindsey J

What's a party without fresh flowers? Well, I suppose it's still a party. But I never pass up the opportunity to buy fresh flowers, and decided to go with a holiday theme for my table. I also got to set out our china for the first time (yippee), and I think it all came together nicely. Here are some photos of the tablescape:

My favorite - Hydrangea, with pine and evergreen spruces

Our beautiful china - Lenox Pearl Platinum, with silver charger and pine spruce

Later that evening, we got all dressed up and met up with friends for a tacky Christmas sweater party at Velvet Melvin. We had a lot of fun and saw some very 'festive' outfits. I think ours were some of the best:

The holidays are well underway and we are enjoying every bit of it! We have another busy week and look forward to this week's events - Troy's 25th birthday celebration, another tacky Christmas sweater party, and Christmas with the Davis family to Sunday. Lots to post, so check back soon!

Let It Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

If you read the last post, you saw that I ended my "Christmas Is" list with the hope for snow, and old Saint Nick was definitely listening!!! It snowed in Houston (are pigs flying yet?) and boy - IT REALLY SNOWED! The drive to work was a quiet one, but cold. And by the time I got my hot chocolate heated up, it looked like a snowglobe outside. I was anxious to get home, and at about noon I headed that way. The closer I got to Katy, the harder the snow was coming down. It was beautiful! Troy left work early as well and we pulled out our ski clothes, bundled up, and let the dog out in the yard to play in the snow. Tess was hesitant at first, but warmed up to the idea and really had a blast:

Tess, getting acquainted

Play with me!

She almost blends in!

Snow!

The snow was great, but all along I was praying that it would not affect my parents' flight to Houston. This was their first trip since we bought the house, and it was SO important to me that they made it in, and safely. Every flight before theirs that evening was cancelled, but by the grace of God, they made it! We had a fun and relaxing time, and it was great to see them. Mom and I did some shopping Saturday morning while the guys loaded up on man food and watched football. We went for Cajun food that night and filled our bellies with oysters, bisque, and beer and then headed home to watch some more football. I introduced them to my Christmas in a Glass drink and they loved it! (well, duh - it rocks). So in a food (and slight vodka) comatose, we called it a night. It was a great visit to say the least :)

On a side note, my stockings arrived from Pottery Barn! I ordered two large ones for Troy and me, and two small ones for the furballs, and had them embroidered with our names. They look great, if I do say so myself, and Tess seemed to like hers too!

We have a busy week this week, and there is lots to do to get ready for my Christmas soiree and cookie exchange, of which there will be plenty of photos to post, I'm sure! But I'm looking forward to it; it should be great fun. Until then, have a great week :)

19 Days Until Christmas! Let the Countdown Begin!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We are 3 days into the wonderful month of December and I think it is the busiest time for us, by far! We have done lots to make our house festive for our first Christmas without the 'constraints' of an apartment, there are lots of fun parties and events in our neighborhood, our circle of friends, and at work, and I can't seem to get out of the kitchen! Between birthdays (Troy and Matt's is coming up soon), an anniversary (my parents'), a visit from family, and of course Christmas, we are jam-packed this month! But.... I look forward to this time of year for 11 months and it's finally here. And for me, this is what it's all about...

Christmas is...

The glow of pretty lights, big and bright

And those who volunteer to hang them, late at night!

It's road trips for hours, across our great state

And coupons worth clipping for sales that don't wait

Christmas is my puppy, getting herself in a mess

Then falling asleep next to the Polar Express

It's my festive mantle -- (the stockings are coming)

And Christmas in a glass -- so yummy yummy!

Hehehe, that was fun. But really, Christmas brings with it (believe it or not), a cheerfulness, a giving spirit, humility in knowing that we are happy and healty, and very, very blessed.

Now if it would just snow already!!!

(Too cute not to post)

And The Victory Bells Will Ring Out!

Fight, Raiders, Fight! Fight, Raiders, Fight!

Fight for the school we love so dearly.

We'll hit 'em high, we'll hit 'em low.

We'll push the ball across the goal,

Tech , Fight! Fight!

We'll praise your name, boost you to fame.

Fight for the Scarlet and the Black.

We will hit 'em, we will wreck 'em.

Hit 'em! Wreck 'em, Texas Tech!

And the Victory Bells will ring out.

We got tickets for my dad for his birthday, to the Tech/Baylor game this weekend. It was held at the *new* Cowboys Stadium, and we were all really excited to check it out. We packed some turkey sandwiches (leftovers....yum), some cold drinks, and went to tailgate before the game. The weather was perfect, there were so many Tech fans, and the new stadium was amazing. I have never seen anything like it before. It was huge, with steel and glass everywhere, the nicest amenities football can offer, and oh my gosh - the big screen! HUGE! It spanned over 60 yards, and the worst view in the whole place is supposedly like watching a 70" TV from home. Way to go Jerry Jones, way to go!

We ate over-priced popcorn, drank expensive drinks, but cheered hard for our Red Raiders and enjoyed the game. After a nerve-racking first half, we pulled through with a win and it was a perfect end to a pretty great night. It was good to watch a Tech game in person this year, and to see our Goin' Band from Raiderland. It really makes us miss the good 'ole college days though. I hope my dad enjoyed his birthday gift - I know we did! Troy and I agreed that since Baylor and Tech will apprently be meeting up like this every year, we will make this a new tradition, one that the four of us can definitely look forward to. And hey, it may very well be the only chance we get to set foot in this monstrous, but awe-inspiring venue.

Wreck 'Em Tech!