A Tree, A Dog, A To-Do List

We got the tree decorated last night!  I sort of wanted to gather around it with the family and sway, singing "loo loo loo loo....." like they did in A Charlie Brown Christmas, but I didn't think the three men would go for it.  And I thought I would look like a weirdo doing it myself, so it didn't work out.  But isn't it purdy?  I always string the lights and then let the kids do all the ornaments.  They're getting much better at it.  In the early years all the ornaments would be clumped together in one section of the tree.

So Freddie is coming on Wednesday now, instead of Friday.  We're all excited, but reality is also setting in for me and the hubby.  I look around the house and realize I need to make some changes.  This time of year I always have dishes of candy put out, most of them involving chocolate.  They will all need to go up and out of Freddie-reach.  I'll also need to make sure to keep the door to the upstairs closed as much as possible.  I never shut it, and I should get into that habit.  In general, I've told the kids we need to keep the house picked up all the time so that Freddie doesn't get into anything he's not supposed to be getting into.  I feel bad that he's coming into our family when we're all decorated for Christmas--it probably looks a little crazy from a dog's perspective.  And I have no idea what he might do with the tree....

I also have been thinking about the general lifestyle changes.  We'll have to make sure to take him out first thing every morning, last thing every night, in addition to all the other times.  I'll need to take him for walks, which will be very good for me, and is one of the benefits I'm looking forward to from having a dog.  The forced exercise!  The only downside we've heard about Freddie is that he might be a runner.  So until we figure him out, he figures us out, and we get an electric fence or something, he's going to have to be on a leash when he's outside.  Which is sort of sad for a dog that lives on a farm...  And leaving home will be different!  If I leave when hubby's not here, I'll have to kennel him up when I go!  And I'll have to make sure to not leave him alone very long.  But I'm sort of excited to take him on little errands I have to run.  I hope he likes the car.

Then there's the money.  Yikes!  His adoption fee is pretty high.  We need to set him up with a vet.  We need to get all his gear.  A crate (I think I've picked the one out--it looks like a coffee table!), his food, food dishes, toys, treats, grooming gear, leashes, poop scoop, and all the bling I plan on getting him like cool collars and tags and junk like that.  Not to mention the electric fence thing.  And maybe seat covers for my car.  He's going to be so expensive!

So it's all good, and the kids are still in crazytown about it, but hubby and I are getting serious.  I think I'll do some shopping for him today, and then maybe some more tomorrow.  (Miss Chihuahua:  if you're reading this are you available Tuesday?)  It will be fun to see what's out there in the world for dogs since I was a dog owner.  Hubby and I got our first dog in 1997, and she was killed in 2003.  It's been a while since I've been willing to share my heart with a dog again, and I'm sure there have been improvements in dog gear.

My Christmas season is coming along nicely.  I actually started wrapping yesterday, so that always feels like progress.  I have probably just over half of my shopping done, but much of it was done on line, so I have to wait for it to arrive before I really feel like I can check it off.  My goal is to finish the Christmas shopping this week so I can concentrate on other things.  We'll see how it goes.  I'm going grocery shopping today, but hubby is itching to go looking at dog kennels.  So he may have to get dragged to the grocery store with me as well.  Which is hilarious, because grocery shopping is painfully boring for him. So much to do today!  And I have to clean up the house because when Freddie comes on Wednesday I'm sure they'll be checking us out, and I don't want to be embarrassed.

Eighteen days until Christmas Eve, folks!  Eeeek!