Our Christmas tree

Todd and I finally got our Christmas tree decorated earlier this week!

We've been busy with house renovations (more on that later) and just haven't had a chance to get the tree all decked out. 

We received several wedding ornaments this year, so we started with those.

This set is from Todd's mom Nancy...

This is from Nancy's friend Judy...

This "T" and "K" are from my parents...

And this one is from my friend Jamie in D.C.

Todd putting the angel on top...

Stage one of decorating: lights and angel...

Todd decorating...

Me decorating...

The finished product!  I love sitting and watching the tree with nothing but the Christmas lights on after it's decorated...

I thought Lulu would be really curious about what we were doing when decorating the tree, but she and Rigby just laid there as we worked.  The next day, however, she had to check everything out, starting with one of the candycanes.  She didn't lick, just sniffed...

On to a few ornaments...

Hmmm...back to the candycane...

"Anything under here for me?" 

Sorry, Lulubelle, those are just some wedding presents we recently received and decided to save for Christmas morning since we're not doing gifts to each other this year - except the gift of house renovations! I'm pretty sure, since you've turned into such a good girl, Santa will leave some new toys and treats for you!

Like fishes

A while back, Todd and I took the dogs out to Alcova Reservoir to let them swim around.  Todd had worked with Lulu once before to see if she had her dog paddle down, and, as to be expected - but still excitedly - we learned she can't get enough of the water.

The morning we took them out was an absolutely beautiful one at the lake.  Hardly any clouds...no scorching heat...clear water and few boats.  It was awesome.

And the dogs thought so too!

They ran, and swam, and jumped and fetched... it was an absolute heyday for them!

Here they are in the back of the truck.  They'd already gone swimming once, but were waiting to go to our next, nicer location.

I did a little playing around with photo shop on some of the photos.  I love this one.  It might just find its way into a frame...

Lulu's first time riding in the back of a truck.  She's a natural...

Looks like this is all friendly fun and games, right?  It's really not.  Getting the toy is a total competition for them.  A struggle.  A battle to be first to the toy and the one who gets all the praise when hauling it out.  You should hear them breathing while they "share" the toy and swim!  There were a few times we thought one of them might drown the other.  I love how you can see Rigby's feet underwater in this photo...

Lulu was very hesitant to jump from the dock.  She'd run in from the shore, but jumping off into the unknown was something she didn't do at first.  But one taste of the jump and she was hooked.  She jumped, and jumped and jumped some more from the dock...

Rigby, on the other hand, will barely jump from the dock to save his life.  He did it twice...with Todd's "help"...but really doesn't want to go willingly.  I take that back.  He WANTS to go, but CAN'T.  I love how he watches Lulu like he's half jealous, half thinking she's crazy...

Here's what I did while Todd threw the water toy...

And one more photoshop pic for the road...