Riku, the best dog.

It has been a very rough Christmas for me. I spent the night of Christmas Eve up with Riku after what appears to be a stroke. His breathing was pretty crazy and he was wondering around looking like he was going to pass out. Not much sleep. After we did the Christmas morning thing I took Riku into the emergency vet. Not much they could see or do, blood work and all tests seemed normal, other than the breathing. They gave him a "cosmic cocktail" (puppy narcotic) to try and settle him down but that didn't work, by the time we got him home he was wide eyed and possible halucinating. I took some pictures that would be very funny had he made a turn for the better, but now they do not seem funny anymore. He passed away on Christmas day, he went outside and didn't come back. I found him in the snow. Today I buried him and said goodbye.



Riku has been with me through a TON of things. He came with me from Wyoming and what was probably the most difficult decision of my life, moving away from McKenna. He was with me through the easiest decision, marrying Krista.

He loved to swim. It was funny at different times to have a neighbor come and say "umm...do you know your dog goes swimming when you are not home?"

He loved to talk when he was younger, I remember my neighbor in Spring Hill say that when she would garden in the early morning he would come to the fence and chat with her. If you are not familiar with Husky chat, it can be entertaining.

Riku will be missed a great deal.

HO HO HO....Merry Christmas!!!!

Having Christmas without McKenna is always tough. She is definitely the MVP of the Dojo. We did receive her school pictures in time for Christmas and she is getting more and more beautiful by the minute. (and you guys wonder why I train to beat people up?)



Jason's Christmas holiday started a day early as Riley came down with the crud on Wednesday afternoon. I worked from home that day, since I had my laptop out, Riley decided she'd get some work done too.


Sneezing and working, that is what her day consisted of. Weelllll, there were a couple naps in there also.



Nashville is certainly not known for snow on Christmas, but this year we got some! Here are some pics from around the house. Not the several inches those of us who have lived in Oregon, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado or Oklahoma are used to, but we'll take it.






News of the Oregon Ducks making the Natty meant just one thing in the Curtis Dojo this year. Nobody had to stretch to think of what to get Jason for Christmas! It was darn near a 100% sweep of Ducks stuff this year. GO DUCKS!!!

I had already received a sweatshirt and a t-shirt featuring the back to back Pac 10 Champions The Mighty Fighting Oregon Ducks, but what would be in store for me today????

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO




Not pictured, the one I'm wearing right now which reads "I LOVE MY DUCKS".

Krista liked her gifts, I hope. :) I went 100% off script and on my own. She had asked for bags of cash and slippers. I went with a coffee grinder and some much needed kitchen essentials. She also got a nice big gift certificate to a spa in the area. I have no idea what goes on in those places but I'm sure she'll be happy. My mother decided to give Krista exactly what she wanted, every box that was sent had cash in it, a pretty good haul!



But, I fear none of you came here to see what I got. Or even what Krista got. So let's turn our attention to the star of the Dojo, Riley.

Riley's love for "the wheels on the bus" is greatly known. We just couldn't resist a bus that sings wheels on the bus. They don't know the verse about the Ducks on the bus say we're #1, we're #1, we're #1???? What kind of bus is this?


A Ducks bear, it says "Go Ducks" and it also plays a little of the Ducks Marching band.


Riley got a couple of puzzles, one from Big sister McKenna and one from her Momma.


Last but not least Riley got a new baby to take care of. She loves her baby.



And last but not least here is a nice video of Riley playing with her baby!

Christmas Season is upon us

The holidays are a busy time. One of the 1st things we needed to do is get a new camera. Ours was old and just not getting the job done anymore. To prove that we got a new camera, here is a picture of the old one. How would I do that if I didn't have a new camera? Huh, tell me that?




And here............drum roll please......is the NEW CAMERA **crash**bang**thundersound**




Tried to get the dogs to pose in front of the tree but the command "sit in front of the tree!" doesn't work quite as well as "get on the blanket" does. (not that 'get on the blanket' yields tremendous results.)
Riku

Raimo



Riley is getting the camera down great. She loves to take pictures. Says "cheeeeeese" with the best of them. Then of course she asks for a piece of cheese afterward.




Of course you really need to visit Santa, every kids dream. Riley had so much fun she could hardly control herself!!!!

Snow day!

The Nashville area has gotten its first snow of the season. I think we got about 2 inches in our area. All the schools, and daycares are closed, so we are taking a snow day. It's a little too cold for Riley, but the puppies seem to think it's okay.

Riley's latest obsession is the computer. She loves to watch "The Wheels on the Bus" video. We often find her sitting in the chair typing away and clicking on the mouse. One day she had three internet windows up, and had googled M & Ms, which seem appropriate.

Riley also loves to harass Riku. He may have been hiding from her on the other side of the coffee table, so Riley just scooted in to get closer.

McKenna is in All-City Children's choir in Cheyenne. Last week they went to Washington, DC for the Capital's Christmas tree lighting ceremony. They sang some songs and did an awesome job. Below is a link to their performance.

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2010/12/07/HP/A/41636/2010+US+Capitol+Christmas+Tree+Lighting+Ceremony.aspx

AAAAAHHHHHHH!

... and there was much rejoicing



it will go back more, but we have to fix the plug



Our first officially baked items were biscuits (did you know they really only take 8 minutes to cook?)

AND, did you know the Oregon Ducks are in the National Championship?