Someone Turns 3 Today!

And that someone would be Ms. Cali! :) I couldn't just pick one picture, so I posted several instead (lots from birthdays past). Happy Birthday to my youngest niece. I love you very much; I hope this day is an extra special one.

Day 2

Here are just a few more pictures that I took from this morning. I don't think too many were actually expecting any accumulation, so this was definitely a surprise to wake up to. Here we are- Day 2 of Spring!

Welcome Springtime!!!

Today marks the first day of spring, so it only makes sense for us to celebrate it with some snow flurries right?!? Hey, I'll take it! :) But really, I'm ready for it to warm up a bit. So I welcome spring today with open arms, even if it is snowing today.

Tara's Zoo

I was surprised by this little picture of me and my "zoo" just the other day by Arthur. He works with this person who created this; he used to do this at Six Flags too. I really love it! It has all of the varieties of pets I've ever owned, with the exception of a rabbit and fish. Altogether, all of the animals in my care (though most were just temporary) have consisted of the following: hamster, ferret, turtle, duck, raccoons, a baby opossum, rabbit, sugar gliders, a few birds, several cats, prairie dog, and of course my wonderful dogs. I don't know if you can make it out, but the sign reads "Tara's Zoo". And yes, sometimes I do think I live in one. :) Thanks Arthur, it came out beautifully.

Lazy ole' Charlie!

I love it when he falls asleep like this. So cute!

So, I opened his cage to see if maybe he wanted to come out and play. If he could speak, this is what he would have told me- "Shut this door woman! Can't you see I'm trying to sleep!!!". Yeah, I knew better. You see, Mr. Charlie is very particular. If he's not asking to be let out, then you best just leave him be, lol. He actually tries to close the door himself when I do this. He's so funny!

Winter Wonderland in Texas!

FINALLY, I am posting some pictures of our snowfall from last week. BTW, there's still a blob of snow left from my backyard snowman; he'll be gone tomorrow I imagine. :( Oh well, it was great while it lasted. And it wasn't even all that bad shoveling the driveway. Enjoy!

Got my hair did.

It's been a while since I changed my hair, so I decided it had to get done this past weekend. I miss the dark hair, so I decided to go darker yet again and get a much needed haircut. I really love it! And I used a new stylist this time around. She was fabulous! I will definitely be going back to her in the future.

Happy Birthday Austin!

I know I haven't blogged in a while, as I don't have computer access as often as I would like these days. There have been a few changes, so it'll be a while till I'm blogging again regularly (if at all, we'll see...). But today marks Austin's 18th birthday- officially an adult! Wowzas!!! :) So Happy Birthday to you!

7 Weeks Old!

Yesterday Mallory and Marina turned 7 weeks old, so here they are. The two most precious puppies of 2009! ;) I posted more pictures on the puppy blog, in case you'd like to see more. C'mon, you know you want to take a peek.

Thank you Trying2StayCalm

I'm so excited to have won something again from Trying2StayCalm. First was a giftcard to Jamba Juice, and now I've won a pair of cute little Spa Booties (just warm in the microwave and wear)! :) I highly recommend you guys to check out Shauna's blog, it's all giveaways over there- really neat stuff! She gets the opportunity to review so many things, and then has these giveaways (like almost everyday, it's great). Thanks again, Shauna! Keep em coming....;)

Puppies in a Sleigh

For those who haven't visited Maya's puppy blog (or already seen them on facebook), I thought I'd post these on my personal blog. I just want to make sure EVERYONE sees them, lol. :) They're now 4 weeks old- anyone wanting a puppy in January??? ;)

Mallory

Marina

Updated Videos

I invite you to head on over to our puppy blog to view some just posted videos of this past week. Our little puppies are growing up so fast! Just click here to view!

Mallory

Marina

Hiya Charlie!

I'm sure maybe a few of you remember big bad Charlie boy. I've neglected him in recent posts, so I feel I must make up for it today. Maybe a couple of videos, pictures, and that should suffice for the time being. :) Charlie is just as much of a handful today as he was when we first got him- still a brat, that is. lols Prairie dogs go through what is known as rut. Rut is basically mating season, and their personalities are drastically altered due to hormone changes within their little bodies. We failed to fix him before his season hit (and you can't fix them during rut), so now we have an even bigger little monster on our hands. Oh wellsy! He certainly doesn't get out as much, since he's pretty cranky these days, moreso than usual. When spring arrives, he should be back to his calmer and less irritable self. He's still my sweet little boy though, and I love him regardless.

I'm going to be absolutely honest here, but these pictures (I have several like this) always make me a little sad for him. He almost seems as though he's yearning to be out there- outside. I was told he came from a breeder, but after reading more about prairie dogs (after the fact) I highly doubt that was the case. He was probably taken as a pup, young and frightened away from his mom and friends. Of course, this is just speculation, he could have come from a breeder, though I think it unlikely as they're difficult to breed in captivity. The only comfort that I have, is thinking that maybe he was taken from a farm or an area that his life would have been in jeopardy. Maybe his life was spared in capture, rather than to have been shot due to his family causing destruction on a property that couldn't have that. I'd like to think so anyway. In efforts to save the lives of prairie dogs, they have been sold into the pet trade vs. being killed. I guess it's a better alternative though I do have mixed feelings.
I'm sorry Charlie, but there's no way you can go back. A domesticated prairie dog can not go back, he would die and/or be killed. These are the thoughts I have when I see him staring out the window like this; it saddens me.

And then he makes these silly faces and it makes me smile again.

My b-i-l asked me today (after I'd taken these videos), whether he liked the dogs. This video should answer your question, lol. But for those who can't decide whether or not he seems happy to see her, trust me, he's not happy at all. He thinks he's pretty tough apparently; it's a good thing Chloe can keep her cool. ;)

Chloe's Birthday Bash

Okay, so we didn't do anything big this year, just something small to recognize Chloe's big 11th. I stopped by Petland and picked up some birthday cookies, aren't they adorable. I think she (and Maya) must have thought they were just too pretty to eat, so they licked them a little and let them be. Oh wellsy! :) Chloe rarely gets to have wet food (too much upsets her tummy and the fact that she is long-haired and white makes for quite a mess), but on her birthdays we make an exception. She was in doggy heaven! She got a new toy, which she really likes too. When I pick out new toys, sometimes I try to pick things out that are similar to socks in shape and texture. She LOVES socks, just ask my dad. She used to run into his office as a pup (back when we lived at home with the parents) and steal his socks, lol. If his sock(s) were missing, we always knew who the culprit was. Chloe! That funny dog; she still has that obsession, too. The way she acts when she has a sock in her mouth, you would never guess she's 11 years old now. That's my girl!

If these had been labeled "cookies for humans", I think she would have loved them. Sometimes I think she knows how to read. :/ BTW, I should have tried one of these, they actually smelled really tasty.

Chloe and her new toy. It's actually a really long squirrel, with no stuffing in it. Light-weight and perfect for flinging around the apartment while in a state of pure bliss and contentment.

New Puppy Photos!

I know what you're thinking, "Will she ever stop posting puppy pics?!?"; the answer is NO. muahaha! I think our girls' eyes are getting close to opening. I think I see a tiny hint of it. Yay! I can't wait to see their little eyes! The first three pictures are Marina, and the last three are of Mallory (9 days old). Enjoy!

Marina

Marina was saying, "ENOUGH ALREADY! Get that thing outta my face!". lol

Mallory

Mallory had just about had enough, too. She was a big ole sleepyhead after pictures.