Old Man Winter

The week before Lillian was due, and the Wednesday after she was due, we had some icy, snowy weather here in Dallas. Hucklebear thoroughly enjoyed himself running through the snow until there were little balls of ice matted in his leg hair. Michael and I occasionally call him old man winter, a nickname all the more appropriate when you see how much he LOVES to play in the snow!

Huck, Bro Otis and Uncle Max

Charlie (Michael's dad) was out trying to document these three little Westie friends over the Thanksgiving break so I joined in the fun. Huck LOVES going to College Station and playing with his brother Otis (Michael's brother and his wife Sara bought him at the same time we got Huck) as well as his "Uncle Max"(Michael's parents' Westie). It's such a funny dynamic with the two 'rowdy puppies' Otis and Huck wrestling constantly and playing until they can't keep their eyes open and Uncle Max telling them to 'back off' and 'be still' with this growls and grunts.

The one thing that they can all agree on? If there is a squirrel in the backyard, it's time to ATTACK!

Below: Max looking up, then Huck with his tail at attention and Otis in front of him.

Below: Max stands on the tree, blocking our view of Otis as Huck keeps watch on the tree.

The Original Baby: Huck has learned to jump up.

Huck, our original and first baby, has always been a jumper on people's legs. He just wishes he could get up to your face and give you a hug and a kiss... But there are other places where Huck cannot jump. He cannot jump into your lap if you're sitting on a chair. He cannot jump up on the fireplace hearth and warm himself by the fire. If you put him on the bed, he'll stand at the edge afraid to jump down unless you say the word "treat". People will try and coax him up onto the couch and it's like he doesn't even know what they are doing when they pat that space next to where they're sitting.

This, it turns out, has been a blessing, because Huck never gets on people's furniture when they dog-sit, he can't jump on the furniture and bother company when they come over invited or not, and because we rarely put him in our bed (except for infrequent occasion that he's just had a bath and we want to wrestle with him as he burrows under the covers) he never sits besided the bed begging to be picked up.That said....

There was an incident a couple of weeks ago where Huck accidentally bounced his ball onto the love seat. He cried at the ball from the ground and when I turned around for a moment I found that he'd jumped on the love seat and was laying down chewing his ball. I turned around for one second longer to put my computer on the coffee table so I could go over and make him get down and to my surprise he was walking along the built-ins BEHIND the love seat!! Since then we hadn't seen him get on the furniture, but in the last two days or so when his ball has gotten stuck up in Michael's recliner, on the couch and last night on the COFFEE TABLE (what?!) Huck has figured out that he CAN jump up there and get the ball himself. Now it's sort of become the game to GET the ball on stuff so that he can have the fun of jumping up to get it.

Yes, last night we found the dog that used to cry at his ball from the ground, standing in the recliner and crying at this ball on the floor! It seems that we have a little monster on our hands just in time for Halloween. Oh Hucklebear you are quite the stinker!

Squirrels... Friend or Foe

So it's been a long time since we've written and though not much is new with Michael and I there has been a lot going on in our lives! We got a new sister in law when David married Sara on June 19th and just last week on July 8th our first nephew, Jackson Charles Anderson, was born to Jonathan and Ashley. I have some pictures of those events that I still need to pull off my camera, but I was cleaning off my desktop today and found this video of Huck so I figured I could at least post that in the interim.

Huck loves loves loves to be outside. His routine when we open the back door is to check the wall for lizards, then run to check the trees for squirrels, then do whatever other business he has to do out there. If he's outside in the morning there is no question that he's sitting in the flower bed looking to the sky, because those squirrels are sitting up in our trees tormenting him with their flicking tails, chirping, and scurrying about. I'm not sure if he desperately wants to play with them, or eat them, but it is the number #1 cause of a barking, whining, Hucklebear.

Poor huck.

Our Baby Huck Turns 1

When my friend Beth's bulldog turned 1 we went to an official dog party, got doggie picture frames, cooked hamburgers and Omaha Steak hot dogs (WHAT?! so delicious). She even made a special carrot cake cupcake just for Billy (the bulldog) that was safe for dogs.... On Huck's birthday Michael and I went out for date night and bought Huck a toy on the way home because we're bad parents.

To make up for our neglect of our baby on his birthday I gave him a horrible haircut last night (more on that later) and now I will post some long overdue videos of our funny little man.

Video 1 (sorry it is sideways, I didn't think about not being able to flip it when I was filming):
Michael's favorite way to play with Hucklebear is to sort of move in slow motion while Hucklebear sits and stares awaiting the burst of energy and chase that ensues at the end. In this video Michael is actually hiding in the pantry/laundry room SLOWLY opening the door. You'll see that as scared as Huck gets he always chases after Michael to continue the playing.

Video 2:
This is Huck totally destroying the snuggle we got him for his birthday in about 2 mins. We literally threw it away about 10 mins after we got home.

Our Dog, Huck the Cat

Hucklebear loves carrots. They're nearly the only treat he gets (unless he goes to the grandparents' or great grandparents' house). However, unlike most dogs who scarf up their favorite treats immediately, Huck likes to play with his first.

Huck was playing in the formal living room the other day while I worked (notice the destroyed plastic bottle on the floor) and because he was doing so well I gave him a treat...sorry the video quality is so poor.

Huck Loves the Vacuum (Or Doesn't)

He hasn't always done this, but recently Huck has started going crazy when I get the vacuum out. He tries to bite the little roller underneath the vacuum with the bristles on it. He bites at it as I roll it out and now chases it even as it is turned on and I vacuum. Here's Michael trying to vacuum our will-be-dining-room the other night.

Crazy pup!
Natasha

Huck After a Bath

Don't be Trashy

Since the night I found Huck standing in the kitchen with a noodle hanging from his mouth and spaghetti sauce on his face AND the night not long after that I found him chowing down on an entire pork chop that we'd thrown away, we knew we'd need to install an under-cabinet trash can. It also prevents our trash can from being a floating fixture in our kitchen constantly blocking one of our cabinet doors.

So, while Marcus and my dad were in town after the Christmas holiday we completed one of my favorite home projects to date! We bought the trash can with roller kit one morning and once Michael came home that evening they began the install. Within an hour, we had hidden the trash! I LOVE not having that bulky white trash can floating around the kitchen and knowing that our 'baby' isn't eating our expired leftovers.

And what does Hucklebear think of our newly completed home project? Michael said he sat outside the 'trash cabinet' crying the other night. (Oh brother!)

Happy Monday!

Natasha

Happy 2010

It's been too long since I blogged and I think that's most likely due to all the time I've been spending in the "fast lane", literally! Michael and I went 'home' to College Station Dec. 23rd through Dec. 26th/27th. Dec. 30th I headed back to College Station where I stayed until Jan. 3rd at which point I drove to Austin to work for the 4th. The evening of Jan. 4th I drove to S.A. and Jan. 6th I drove back to Dallas. Whew!

I think Michael would agree that 2009 was a banner year for Michael and I - and for our first year of marriage. We bought our first house, got little Huckleberry.... and finished the year by finding out we're finally getting a new sister-in-law (Congratulations David and Sara) and that we're going to be an Aunt and Uncle this coming summer 2010 (Congratulations J & A on your baby-on-the-way).

I am still not used to writing 2010 and it's even crazier to think it's been 10 years since we graduated High School, 10 years since Michael and I met, 10 years since so many people thought we were coming to the end of time! 10 years ago I was just barely getting my own cell phone, own car, and moving away from my family. I don't know if I could have predicted that we'd be where we are today, but one thing is for sure - I know I couldn't have planned the last 10 years better than what God has made of them.

White Dogs Love Dirt Part 2

Oh Huck, you are impossible.

Guess who else loves FALL?

Little Hucklebear was neutered on Friday the 13th (Nov.). With a heavy heart I took him to the vet and among all the other crying shivering dogs he was a pillar of strength - Mr. Social Butterfly actually - running around tail wagging meeting other dogs. "The bad part (I thought to myself) is when they take him from me...." but when the vet tech took the leash he followed her, tail still wagging, back into the operation room without even looking back!

When I picked him up I anticipated a groggy, nervous little dog - changed from his previously chipper self now that he'd endured surgery, but NOOO, little Hucklebear was happy to see me, ready to play, and hungry for treats. I took him home with instructions to keep him calm as he would still be in some pain for a couple of days.

That night I wouldn't let him play in the backyard unsupervised, but even while I was out there he was a ball of energy. I tried to bring him inside and calm him down a bit. The next day Michael was out working in the backyard and Huck proved he was far from inhibited by his little snip snip! See pictures below.


Anyone who may have been worried can now rest assured that he is just fine. His stitches are healing beautifully, he seems to have no side affects (AT ALL!) and tomorrow we can give him a bath. Thank heavens!

Mother Daughter Weekend

The weekend of September 26th, Michael went for his guys weekend in Lake Providence, LA and mom came to Dallas and had a girls weekend with me. She drove in late Thursday and I took Friday off so we could have an extra day to relax. I had a great time, but part of me thinks it still wasn't as great of a time as Hucklebear had (oh man, our kids are going to be rotten!).

Friday we took Michael's car for an oil change in the morning and then headed out for some shopping. We hit Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, Target and a few other places I probably can't remember. Though I DO remember an incident at Chick-fil-A where mom told a pregnant lady that I was due "in about two years", so we must have gone there as well. :-D

Friday night we decided to stay in, order pizza and watch a girlie movie - mom's friend Becky who lives here in Dallas joined us and we ended up watching Doubt. Though it wasn't exactly the light-hearted comedy we initially thought we'd get, we really wanted to see it. Let me also say that Becky knows how to do a girl's night right and she came equipped with Snickers, Reeses, Peanut Butter M&Ms (I have a SERIOUS weakness for these) and all sorts of other goodies - just another reason to be glad she came!

Saturday morning we met Becky for coffee/breakfast at Starbucks and afterwards took this little pic below in front of the VERY sparkly Pegasus.


Mom and I headed to the house after that and began our painting of the breakfast nook (this was the painting of the khaki pictured in the earlier post). Hucklebear tried to help too - such a trooper...

Once painted, I knew that Target had this "perfect" little bucket that I could use as a vase on the table that would go just perfect with the new paint and that is where we found THIS little gem (which we did not purchase, but did try on!

Last but not least, Saturday night we made a fall wreath with the materials we purchased at Hobby Lobby the day before. I think it came out pretty good!

HAPPY FALL!

An Anderson Weekend

Good Evening! I am in Austin writing this blog - I'm here for work for two days - and can't believe how cold it is! I also can't believe that Michael missed the opportunity to post another breakfast of champions... perhaps he went into work too early these last two days to eat like a champion - instead he had to eat like Otis (in a hurry)!


Anyway, on to our updates. We had some visitors again this last weekend - this time Charlie and Cathy - and Michael and I were both so excited for them to see the house. I've been feeling more and more settled over the last couple of weeks now that we have a picture hung in the breakfast nook and a duvet and frame 'installed' for the guest bedroom. All of this settling in has been taking it's time but I finally feel we're at a point where it is less stressful to have guests and so their timing was perfect! (It also helped that I cleaned on Wednesday because David was in town for work on Thursday - I was extra prepared!)



C&C got into town on Friday afternoon and we took a quick tour of the house and headed out to dinner at Besa's for some Italian food. We've tried to go there before when they were in town but they were closed (it was a Sunday). We had Greek salads and two huge pizzas and lots of good stuff to talk about :-D

Saturday morning we headed down to this drug store in Highland Park that Charlie read about. This store has been around since 1912 and serves breakfast and milkshakes and all sorts of other things at different times of the day. Breakfast was good but the coffee left a little to be desired... Charlie and Michael said it tasted a little bit like popcorn. STILL, there were some cool little bookmarks and picture frames and other little things to look at in the shop after breakfast.

After breakfast it was on to Steins Bakery (if you read the reviews you'll know just how fabulous it is! http://www.yelp.com/biz/steins-bakery-dallas) and picked up some cheese and cherry danishes for dessert the remainder of the weekend and breakfast on Sunday. THEY ARE FABULOUS! We headed to the house afterwards, enjoyed a danish or two, and then Charlie and Michael began work on the yard. Cathy and I headed out for some shopping at Dillards, TJ Maxx, TJ Maxx and TJ Maxx (haha), aaannnd... hmm, I can't remember where else.

We ate chicken spaghetti at the house on Saturday night and visited until it was time for bed, which it was early if you know my husband! Church on Sunday and Babe's for lunch rounded out the weekend ... after which we were ALL ready for a nap!

We had a great weekend getting to share the 'grand baby' Huck for the weekend and relaxing with our parents/in-laws. We are loving our first year of marriage, new home and the visitors coming to see it, and our fast-growing new baby HUCK!!

Natasha

White Dogs Love Dirt

A couple of Saturday's ago (I haven't been very good at posting) a very clean Huck got into some wet flower beds and dirt. I heard Michael yelling "Noooo! Don't do that!!! Mommy's going to have to give you another bath!"

When I turned around and saw him I couldn't help but think of Lexi, Ninny and Opa's dog, who LOVES to get in some mud when it is available. It drives Ninny so nuts that mom took a picture of Lexi at her MOST dirty with mud all over her little white face, and framed it!

Ninny, I know that you of all people can relate to my frustration. These pictures don't even do this little mess justice!

You Lazy Dog

The other night I took Huck for a walk before dinner. When he came home all hot from walking he lay down on the kitchen floor with his belly flat on the tile to cool down. He wouldn't even get up for the dinner I set just a few inches in front of him.

I scooted his bowl toward him to see if the smell would rouse him, but instead he lay on the floor and craned his neck to get his head in the bowl to eat. He lay there flat on his belly eating for a few mins before he stood to get the remainder of the food.

We both laughed and then Michael says to Huck "oh man... I love you." You lazy dog - you're lucky you're so stinkin' cute!

- Natasha

Favorite Things

A couple of favorite things right now...

• McDonald's Iced Vanilla Coffee (I thought this was better than their McCafe!) and though I am sort of anti-McDonald's I got some of this while I was travelling last week and it was pretty delicious and cheaper than Starbucks!
• Huck when he is sleepy in the morning and lets me hold him like a baby
• Tracy Chapman "Change" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=196a3M9CbUA

Happy Friday!!!

Scraping Scraping and MORE Scraping

Well we had a very productive weekend at the Anderson household. Marcus came to visit and amidst some of the fun that we had and playing with our puppy Huck we also managed to get some stuff done. Some of it even after Marcus left (way to dodge that bullet Pook!). One of the things we got done WITH Marcus however was the ridding of a serious yellow jacket nest that I discovered behind one of our outdoor speakers. Marcus, you were so brave - that nest was huge! See video (cinematography courtesy of Michael) below...





Michael finishing sanding down the Master Bathroom door that wouldn't close because of the carpet hitting the bottom of the door. Michael also dug out the big pot of water (formerly used for a fountain by the previous owner) that had since become a mosquito breeding ground and filled in the hole with dirt. Earlier in the week he also fenced off the bottom part of our deck that Huck had become fond of running under.

We successfully hung one HUGE mirror in our dining room and together scraped and scraped and scraped some more in our breakfast nook. That stupid project has turned out to be a LOT more than we bargained for but I feel somewhat at peace knowing that if we do it right it will be worth it in the end!


This the status of the wall BEFORE the weekend (AFTER picture to come once I make some space on my camera). This is largely in thanks to the work mom put in two weeks before! What a mess it is!