Are 2 really better than 1?

2 - the number of ornaments Truman has claimed from my mom's Christmas tree


2 - the number of times Truman has invaded my mom's closet and destroyed the Christmas presents


2 - the number of chocolates Truman ate out of my stocking (and has yet to regurgitate...)


2 - the number of lock-ups in the crate for said bad behavior

2 - the number of horns sprouting on Truman's head

0 - the predicited number of times Truman will be invited back to Grandmommy's house for Christmas  


*My little angelito Harry is showing his loyalty....every time Truman has gone to lockdown, Harry sits right next to the crate until he gets to come out!  So, let me add to the list:

2 - the number of wings sprouting on Harrison's back

Merry Christmas to all!!!  

 

He knows if you've been bad or good...

And Truman is trying so very hard to be good!!!

 But it's kinda hard when there are stockings full of goodies hanging right at nose level!!! ;)

Hmmm, how can I get in there?!?

Darn it!  Why does Mommy always catch me?

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Hope your stockings are full of lots of goodies too! =)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Taking pictures of 2 dogs at the same time is next to impossible.  I feel for you, Sandra, owner of 3!

Luckily, Harry freezes as soon as you put clothes on him---he absolutely hates it!  So I guess he's a good model. ;)

Truman, on the other hand, only works for treats.  And since he's been on his diet, he's starving.  He can't do any of his usual tricks for treats (sit, shake, lie down, high five, roll over)!  All he could do was lunge!!!

If only Tyra had directed this shoot so the boys could practice their smizing and modeling H to T! ;)

Maybe for next year's card! =)

Sick Day

So I'm at home today, not feeling 100%.  But one thing I am loving is being with my pups.  Yes, Harry's ringing the bell to go out about every 10 minutes.  And yes, Truman has once again made our new throw his new bed.  But they're just so darn cute, that I don't mind!  Here they are soaking up the nice, warm sun in our wonderful chilly weather!

Truman loves to sunbathe...do you think they make puppy ray bans?

Harrison is always hearing something outside...ready to pounce!

Look how pretty by the flowers!  This was just before he ran off to bark at something.

Ahh, the dog's life!

Tru & Har hope you're enjoying the wintry weather too! =)

A Special Treat

Did you know Einstein Brothers sells bagels for pups? If you are a dog owner, you HAVE to try them!  Our friends, Lorraine and Calum (from Scotland), joined us for dinner Sunday evening.  They were so kind to bring wine, dessert, AND these special treats for the pups!  We had a lovely time, and the pups want to say thank you for their delicious (brilliant) bagels!

Harry ate his too fast to get a picture...and we chased Truman around for about 10 minutes trying to get a shot of him enjoying it---he thought it was too good to be true!

I found him in the computer room looking like he was smoking a cigar...then he brought it to his bed to devour before Daddy took it! ;)

Step away from my bagel!

Mmm mmm good! =)

Thanks, Lorraine and Calum, for providing these pups the highlight of their day!

`

Vintage pups

So Peter and I spent about an hour tonight looking at old photos and videos of the pups.  Here are a few oldies, but cuties!  These were both taken on New Year's Eve 2007.  Harry had just joined our family a few weeks before!  And yes, they needed clothes on for the cold weather!  =)  And, of course, the shirts had to go!

Looking at these precious pups didn't really help ease my desire to get another one.  I send Peter pictures practically daily...and this time he almost agreed!  ;)

The Race

So this blog has nothing to do with my pups because they weren't technically allowed to participate.  But I just HAD to blog about it because it's a pretty big deal...well, for me anyway!

My friend Amanda and I (and my parents) have done the Race for the Cure for several years now, but we've always just walked at a leisurely pace.  For the last couple of years, we've said we were going to run it, but it never really happened.  So this year we made a pact to actually RUN the race.  Novel idea, right?

So we both started training (and I use that term loosely) back in August.  Run a quarter of a mile, walk a quarter of a mile.  It was a slow start...some might call it Baby Steps (don't steal that...it's our team name for next year!).  We were both doing really well with a few minor bumps in the road (mine mostly the last 2 weeks), but we were bound and determined to do it!  For your enjoyment...

Here we are at the beginning of the race...you can already see my mom passing us with her power walking!

But we could only walk at the beginning until the crowd started to thin (yes, my mom's still ahead of us!).

Ok, so we were slightly disappointed that we didn't run the whole race, but we did run 2/3 of it!

Stretching in the shade waiting for my parents who finished a mere 5 minutes behind us (and they walked the entire time!!!!).

I guess there's always next year!...or the Trail of Lights 5K.  We can do it, Mandy!

One year ago...

We were lucky to meet our newest best friend, Eleanor Esquibel-Ferrall.  The day her mommy and daddy adopted her was obviously the best day of their lives, but one of ours as well!  Here we are playing in the backyard for the first time!  She was a little shy at first and kept hiding under her mom and dad's legs!

But we broke her out of her shell pretty quickly!  Luckily one of our other best friends, Hudson, was staying with us that weekend so it was like a mini puppy party!  We're so happy to have Ellie in our lives.  Now she's a big, grown up girl at one-year-old!  Here we are at Dogtoberfest yesterday!

The Cut

Que horror! I don't even recognize Harry! Harrison Longfellow Chrzanowski has arrived!

Before & After

Truman doesn't look too different...just a little more distinguished. Just call him Truman Merriweather Chrzanowski (that's his gentleman-ly nickname).

Before & After

Well, at least both dogs can see again...

Ruh roh

Our little nervous, scared, timid, shy Harry has been warned. If he can't do well the next time he gets groomed, he'll be banned!!! They told us they would recommend the "express grooming" if he can't handle the full-service. Apparently there was biting, squirming, and a near-escape. Poor little guy has a cut on his belly to prove it.

*Sigh*

Truman, on the other hand, was an angel. Was it opposite day?!?

P.S. Pictures to follow....you probably won't even recognize our white fluffy guy...he almost looks like a rat. I told Daddy to stop petting him so hard and giving him mats...maybe next time he'll listen! =/

Craziness Abounds

My pups are...hmmm how do I put it...well, just a teensy bit crazy when I get home from a long day at work! I caught the very end of Mr. Truman chasing Harry around the yard. BTW, Harrison is lightning-fast, and I think he only slows down or stops because he looooves playing with his big brother. Otherwise, Truman's little legs would never have a chance!

And, yes, that sound is Truman. That's why we call him our little Tasmanian Devil!!! ;)

A not-so-good first

Truman has an ear infection =/

Sad face.

I know! I already feel terrible, don't make it worse! We came home last night and I was petting him just like I always do, and he whimpered. So I looked at his ear and it was all red and stinky. Poor baby. I started looking up ear infections online and apparently a lot of people treat them at home with vinegar, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide. Since he's never had one before, I didn't want to risk it. So Peter took him to the vet tonight (I had bunko!) and we found out it was an ear infection....$180 later he has medicine that we put on twice a day for 2 weeks!

Other than scratching and shaking his head a little more often, he seems to be feeling fine. He's doing his crazy runs around the house and constantly growling at me when he wants me to throw his lamb! Feel better, baby boy!!! We LOOOOVE you! =)

P.S.

The tree was miraculously gone when I got home from work the next day! Thank you, mysterious tree remover, for making my life just a little bit easier ;)

3 strikes and you're out?

It's true...I have cleaned up some sort of poo mess 3 times in the last 2 days. Our poor little Harry (we think it's him but have no evidence) has had all sorts of problems coming out of both ends for the last two days. Lucky for me Peter has class every night this week so I get to clean it up. Let's not forget that Truman came in from outside last night with a wad of cat poo on his head. I didn't even notice it until AFTER he rolled around all over my carpet.

Sick.

And to top it all off, when I tried to take the poo out to my trash can, I found a tree limb blocking my way. And the kind neighbors won't answer their door. So now the poo is sitting on the driveway with no way for us to get our trash out tomorrow (our one trash day a week). Ok, this probably is not making a lot of sense. It's bedtime! At least I get to sleep with the windows open tonight!

A presidential connection?

So, as you all know, Truman was named after the 33rd president (and a little bit after one of my friend's former students because I think it's just so stinkin' cute!). Well when we got Harry a year later, we decided to continue the tradition of presidential names. William Henry Harrison was the 9th president of the United States and served only 31 days in office...he died of a cold-gone-wrong. Anyhoo, as with all children, you start calling them by nicknames. So Harrison shortly became Harry. Now everyone thinks we named our dogs only after Harry Truman. I guess our next one will have to be named S! ;) Here are our little guys and their executive namesakes.

William Henry Harrison


Harrison


Harry S Truman




Truman

Too cute for words...

The List

1. Babalou's dog food

2. Ethan's McDonald's left in his bedroom much to his parents' chagrin

3. A bowl of guac left on the coffee table in the gameroom

4. The lickings of Grandpa Mike's 2nd round of potato salad

5. A waffle dropped on the floor in the hustle and bustle of a crowded kitchen

6. Delicious pieces of Grandmommy Phyllis's roast smothered in gravy (Although this one he didn't find on his own! She-who-shall-not-be-named gave her favorite grandpuppies a few treats under the table.)




Why do I even bother packing food for Truman when we go out of town?!? Naughty little guy.

And my sweet Harry ate his regular old dog food the whole weekend. But he did looooove Grandmommy's roast, as always!

My Boys

I heart my boys. =) =) =)

Silence is not always golden

...especially when you have a little diablito like Truman.

So I was getting ready for bed the other night, calling the boys for their last trip outside. It had been quiet while I was watching tv on the couch. Harry was sleeping on the wood floor in the living room with me, and Tru was in his bed that he had dragged all the way into the hallway from the kitchen. A typical evening in our house.

So as I called them, Harrison ran immediately to the door like the good boy he is. Truman, my stubborn one, likes to take his time and slowly stretch his way outside. To hurry him up, I walked over there to get him...and that's when I saw it!

*

Peter's shoes...in Truman's bed...perfectly lined up like a person had just picked them up and put them there! He even got them in the left and right spots...better than most of my Kindergartners can do!

Naughty, naughty, naughty little boy! But all I could do was get my camera and laugh.

We left his bed just like that so Daddy could see it when he got home from class. His reaction? Same as mine...."Did you get a picture of that?!?"

*No shoes were harmed in the making of this blog.

It's just plain wrong.

Why do I have to leave my boys every single day all alone in an empty house?

It's just plain wrong.

I miss them, and I wish they could come with me everywhere!

Look how cute they were when we first got Harry. He still loves to hide under anything he fits under! Truman would chase him into the room, and then Harry would play with him by sticking his nose out and biting!

Cutest. dogs. in. the. world.

The BEST

Have I told you that Tru and Harry have the BEST grandparents in the world? Well, they do! Peter and I went to Cabo for a week and left the guys with my parents in Houston.

Here are the boys before I left...you can see they're very happy.

I, however, was NOT. I cried like a big, fat baby! I've left the guys many times before, and for longer periods of time. But for some reason, this time I just couldn't handle it. I knew they would be fine and my parents would take the best care of them...but I sniffled the whole 3 hour-drive back to Austin.

Well, let me just tell you, the boys had a BLAST! Let's just say they were probably treated better at my parents' house than they are here. Friday was National Mutt's Day, so my mom bought them special treats that tasted like tomato, bacon and cheese sandwiches. YUM-O as Rachael Ray would say. The boys loved those! They also had nightly walks, which, I hate to say, don't happen quite that often here! They especially loved getting to run around the golf course with my dad. They also enjoyed their spa days aka my mom would brush them everyday while they closed their eyes and relaxed! And, of course, when I got home I found that my mom had bought them 2 new toys! A red fluffy bone for Truman and a green one for Harry. Can we say spoiled? ;)

The boys had the BEST time with Grandmommy and Granddaddy, and can't wait to see them this weekend at our house! Thanks again, Mom and Dad! We love you :)

Lazy Summer Days

I'm trying to enjoy my last few days of summer by not doing a whole lot! I've been to my classroom a couple of times, but only for 3-hour shifts. Mostly I'm just relaxing and enjoying these last few moments of being a stay-at-home-doggy-mom!

Harry has been extra-attached to me since my recent mini-vacay. When he's not at my heels, he's right next to me on the couch while I'm enjoying my last few days of daytime television...

Truman usually starts right on my lap (if there's a pillow on it because clearly that's the sign for "come up on my lap"), and ends up somewhere else around the house with his beloved lamb. He likes his privacy! ;)

Gotta love it! :)

Home Sweet Home

After being away from my boys for 3 days, I couldn't wait to get back home! Here's a little snippet of what I get to come home to everyday:

UNCONDITIONAL Love

Sorry...I wasn't really paying attention to the camera cuz I wanted to love my boys! :)

Peter must have done a number on these guys because Harrison will NOT get off my lap! I think he's having doggy depression. =/ Poor babies...

House Guest #6

So over the course of a month, we've had 6 four-legged visitors at our house. We loooove doggy-sitting...especially because all of our guests' parents have returned the favor! ;) Boarding 2 dogs is expensive...I don't recommend it!

Our most recent (and current) visitor is Mr. Hudson Kupersztoch. He belongs to Danny and Emily who JUST got married. We're watching him for a week and we will deliver him to a new home for another week while they are on their honeymoon.


Hudson is a special guy...some might call him the BMOC. And it couldn't be more true at our house! Harry has always loved (or been obsessed with) him. And this time Truman does too! Hudson is one of the best-trained dogs around, and he's got that magnetic personality to go with it! Let me just say the dogs don't even need walks because they are playing 24/7!!!


Here he is all dressed up the night of his parents' wedding...I was going for a tie so he'd be appropriately dressed, but it didn't quite work out.

I guess he prefers the au natural look! Dogs these days...

Longing for a shih tzu...

So I've done a pretty good job at NOT getting a puppy in the last few months.

But now it's like someone WANTS me to have one. I met a shih tzu named Gizmo at the lake the other day...in LOVE. I was watching a really horrible reality show on tv today (Southern Belles, anyone?) and fell in love yet again...this time with Zander aka "Z". I really don't think there's anything cuter on this earth than a tiny little furry puppy!!!! My heart is racing right now just thinking about it. I really really really really want another one.

And then I think back to those puppy days and, well, you'll see...

*Note* This is a very MILD photo...you really don't want to see some of the others. In fact, I'm not even sure why we still have them?!?

Why...

don't dogs like to dance?

This makes me sad, especially when Peter and I like to have dance parties in the computer room when we download new songs! :)

Here's Tru biting my hand when we're trying to dance. I didn't even bother trying to get a pic of Harry...he prefers break-dancing, I guess (it's really more of a roll-over-dead-so-you'll-leave-me-alone kinda thing).

A poo collar

*WARNING: this post contains poo.

7:10 am I'm letting the dogs in from their second trip out in the morning, and they run right to their beds where they know to wait for a treat as I'm leaving for work. I put one gate up and go to the kitchen for their treats. They're so cute and smart!

7:11 am I smell something funny but ignore it and finish grabbing my things to head out the door.

7:12 am I look down to give the dogs their treats and see that my fresh, clean, white-as-snow Harry has turned black from his chin down to his front legs...a veritable poo collar (almost like those fake turtlenecks your mom made you wear in the 80s under your sweater...you know, because it was always too hot in Houston to actually wear 2 long-sleeve shirts). What was that I thought about these dogs being cute and smart?!?

7:12:05 am Panic starts to set in.

7:12:10 am Harry is in the sink, my nice clean work shirt is off so it doesn't get dirty, and I'm giving him the fastest bath of his life. I use the hand soap, lather it up, gag every 2 seconds while the poo water is running down my arms and getting stuck in my fingernails. I run to put the paper towels in the trash and find that there is no new trash bag because I forgot to put one in there the night before when I took it out (darn, really wanting to get mad at my out-of-town husband for this one, but I can't this time!). Grab a new trash bag and haplessly throw it in the trash can.

7:18 am I'm washing my hands and arms over and over again at the sink, still gagging a little bit. Find the kitchen cleaner and basically spray the whole bottle over my sink and countertop...no time to wipe it up! Plus, I figure it could use a few hours to kill all the grossness.

7:20 am Out the door on my way to summer school, more panic setting in because it starts in 10 minutes!

7:35 am Walk in the door, pick up my kids, and breathe again.


Needless to say, there are no pictures of this event. Even if I had time to take them, you wouldn't want to see them. It. was. sick.

Sorry if you're gagging now too, but I thought I'd share the pitfalls of doggy ownership. I'm sure I'm not the only one out there with a poo collar story... ;)

A Sleepover!

So our lovely friends Brandon and Amanda (Bramanda) are gambling away their hard-earned money in Vegas for a few days! Yay for retirement!

Meanwhile, we are enjoying watching their baby, Ellie. Let me just tell you how fun this is for Harry and how torturous it is for Tru! ;) They all really get along quite well, but you know from previous posts that Har is a dog's dog and Tru is a people's dog. Here's Ellie just chillaxing while I'm on the computer. What a big girl! :)

Her good pal Harry was also enjoying the quiet time! Sorry for the head-turn...Harrison is a little camera-shy.

And, of course, our special Truman was enjoying this relaxing time just the way he likes it....

By being a little devil!!! I need to check his head again for horns. Sorry, Ellie! Your bowl now has Truman toothprints all over it. We can get you a brand new one for your next sleepover! :) Harry and Truman can't wait!

I wish...

Truman still fit in his raincoat.

Happy Birthday, Hudson!

A few weeks ago the pups went to their first birthday party for their good friend Hudson. He turned the big 2!!! Truman was happy to be among his peeps, and I literally mean people. And Harry, well, he was just Harry. Within the first 2 minutes of arriving, he attacked Frank "the tank" the pug. And he drew blood!!! Poor Frankie (apologies again!).

And this wasn't it...it kept happening...and only to Frank. We soon figured out that Harry thought Hudson was only his friend, but Frank wanted some play time with his buddy too! Eventually we were able to let Harry out of arm's reach for a few minutes to catch some super cute photos of ALL the pups at the party. Enjoy! :)

Summer Style

So I've blogged before about Harry and his shoes. He just loves them! But now Truman is dabbling a bit in the fashion world. His new thing?

Accessories!

Flowers and purple and beautiful hair accessories are soooo in for the spring/summer. He's a little shy with his first delve into the wonderful world of fashion...but I think he looks so chic!