My Christmas started Christmas Eve. Mom invited some friends over and told me I had to be on my best behavior.  Hmmmmm! I guess that means I can't jump on people or counter surf.  Hmmmmm!

 Mom put me and Belle and Halo outside just before her friends arrived. She said it would be better since Ellen was bringing a ham and I might tackle her in the door.  We were having a typcial nice Texas winter day with lot's of sunshine and about 70 outside.  Belle and I started rough housing and playing around. It was allot of fun.  Then I noticed mom's nice house plant sitting by the door.  This was the one I helped her put outside earlier in the day when she said it needed some sun.  She also told me that she thought it needed trimming up. I thought that mom would be really happy if I trimmed it up for her. You know a nice Christmas present, and after the last Christmas present I brought her I thought it would be an improvement (last night I killed a rat and brought it to her). She was really good about the rat.  She even told me I was a good boy, but she was muttering something under her breath about what to do with a dead rat. So, here is a picture of the trimmed up houseplant that I gave mom for Christmas.  Now to get the whole effect you have to understand that this plant was about 6 feet tall when I started.

Nice job isn't it?  I consider it one of my better endeavors.  Mom was speechless when she saw it.  I guess she must have liked that Christmas present.

Anyway, back to Christmas Eve. We had a splendid time and mom eventually let us in to meet everyone.  I knew Mariah, Ellen and Dave.  Mariah had brought her boyfriend from Mexico and I hadn't met him before.  I think he liked us though because he kept petting us.  He told my mom Belle and Halo were very well behaved.  I guess I have a little work to do on manners.  After about thirty minutes (about the time I was getting bored and looking for something fun to do, like grab some ham off the counter) mom told me it was time for a break.  That means I have to go get in my crate and take a nap.  I was good because it was Christmas and we had presents under the tree.  I didn't want Santa to come and take the presents away if I was bad, so I went and got in my crate and was a very good little boy.

Mom and her friends ate and talked and then started playing board games.  The one that sounded like the most fun was a Lord of the Rings version of Monopoly.  About 10PM mom came and got me and let us four legged kids out to do our business (that means go potty). Then we got to come in and visit.  I was really good and watched the adults carefully waiting my chance. I waited and waited until everyone was in a big discussion about who should sell Mount Doom and for how much.  The time was perfect so I ever so carefully stood up with my feet on the counter, being quiet as a mouse, and got a big bite of ham.  Mmmmm!! Ouch!!! Mom caught me and I got a smack, but the ham was worth it.  Everyone was laughing at me, so I gave a good performance of a sweet innocent little boy.  Ellen took pity on me and my sisters and said we all needed a bite of ham since it was Christmas. Mmmmm!! was that good.  My sisters also liked the ham.

The Monopoly game went on for a while longer, then everyone left and us four legged kids were laying on our bed by the Christmas tree and the fireplace.  I was waiting for Santa, but I was really sleepy and falling asleep.  That was when mom got out the camera and took pictures of us.  She said she might never get a better opportunity because we were all laying there tired from all the fun and games of Christmas Eve. 

Here is a picture and me and Halo, and another of all three of us.

So after the pictures, we all went to bed with visions of bones in our heads.  Tomorrow was the big day and time to open presents.

Oh, I forgot to mention I already got one of my presents a little early.  Halo and I got under the tree a few weeks ago and there was this one present, well we couldn't resist.  We opened it and were having a blast playing with it when mom walked in.  She told us if it happened again the presents would all go back to the North Pole. I think she was kidding, but we didn't take any chances.  We didn't touch those other presents.  Mom did let us keep the one we opened and we got to play with it.  It was a big squeaky bone. So far, the squeaker is still working too.

Christmas Day started just like any other day at our house.  We get mom up at the crack of dawn.  Except today mom said it was way to early and we should be sleeping in because we were up so late last night.  Well we would have none of that, it was time to get up, go outside and do our business and then eat. We did give in to mom though after eating.  We really were tired since we had been up until about 2 AM the night before.  So, we all piled in bed with mom and dreamt of opening presents later in the morning.

When mom finally rolled out of bed, we were raring to go.  So, she put us outside and we had some fun chasing the squirrels and generally making their life a living hell.  Boy was that fun. Mom was getting stuff ready for dinner later in the day.  Memaw and Papaw (that's mom's mother and father) and Thomas (mom's nephew) were coming for Christmas dinner. After mom got all the stuff ready, she called us in and said it was time to open presents.  That was fun.  We got some really cool stuff and the cat's got to play with the boxes and paper.  Santa brought us a bone on a rope, some hooves on a rope, a tough tug toy, a round frisbee ring, a tire with a rope,  a big rope with knots and Belle got a special bone.  I grabbed the hooves and Halo went for the bone on a rope and Belle took her bone.  Here is a picture of Belle with her bone.

And a picture of Belle licking her chops after a good chew.

And here are some pictures of me and Halo playing with the tire on a rope (you know dancing around the Christmas tree, GSP style).

Halo finally got tired of the game and I ended up the winner (of this round).

Halo pretending she doesn't care I won.

And now for round too. This time we ditched the toys and really went after it.

Look at my big boy teeth. Nice huh?

Mom didn't get the next shot, but after this one Halo had enough and flip me over and pinned me. You know, we didn't even knock one tiny ornament off the tree either.

Well it is getting late and everyone is getting ready to go to bed after a wonderful Christmas.  So, Merry Christmas to everyone.  I hope you and your family had a much fun as we did.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!