Best Christmas ever!

Ok, so I know I've only had one other Christmas to compare to, and truth be known, my memory isn't that good that I even remember what I did yesterday. But it has been snowing TONS this year, and every time it does, we go for another walk to the big park by the baseball stadium. The other day, it was soooo deep, that I had to jump up just to get moving in it.

On Christmas Eve (like I have any idea what day that is, but so they tell me), Richie and Christine went away for what we thought was the evening. But it turns out they had gone over to Richie's brother's house, but they couldn't cook their dinner because they had no power there! So an unspecified amount of time later, the whole Chin family arrived back at my house with all sorts of yummy smelling food! They ate and ate and ate, and we didn't get any of it! Paisley didn't like having so many people around, so she went down to her room by herself.

On Christmas Day, we both got toys to play with! Here we are just as they were when we received them, and...

a short time later, we had performed our ritual gutting and shredding of the new arrivals.

But after a long day of Christmas-ing, I found a new place to hang out. I can't wait for next Christmas!

Mischa

Snow!

Well, it has been nothing but excitement here lately... Richie's brother has arrived at our house, and so has the snow! We've been spending a lot of time over at Hillcrest Park, running around and chasing each other. Then we really got a lot of snow, and Richie's other brother Mike came over with his little human, Justin. We all went to the park in over a foot of snow!

Here I am giving chase to Richie as he makes for 1st base... he's pretty fast with those long legs, but I caught him!

The snow was so deep that I have to jump like the bunny next door to get moving - of course my ears flop around like the bunny too!

Paisley was having a gas too - she likes to run along in the snow and then stick her nose down and snuffle up the snow and stuff! I'm not sure what she's looking for, but when she comes up for air, there's always a bunch of snow sticking to her face, which makes her look kinda funny. She's pretty good at getting around in the snow too, and we would chase each other around, "joust", or wrestle in the snow.

Here you see me with my classic, "go for the jugular" attack on Paisley, while she attempts to get away.

Here is just one of our many wind sprints that we did that day - somehow Paisley managed to get a head start on me, but I am in hot pursuit! But I tell you, it is hard work running around in snow that deep - I'd have to stop and lie down and catch my breath once in a while. Christine also decided to lie down and try and make a "snow angel", but Paisley and I wanted to see what she was up to, and messed it all up.

Anyhow, I hope you are all having fun in the snow - I hear there is more to come!

Mischa

Catching up with the Berners

So sorry it has taken so long to post some new stuff here, but Ritchie and Christine went away for what seemed like forever to some place called Maui. We on the other hand, went to stay with Richie's sister Deb, Connor, Sarah and Lupin! We had a grand old time, and got into all sorts of trouble. Like the time that Mischa got up on the counter and pulled the cookie jar down onto the floor. Lupin and I didn't have anything to do with it (I swear!), but we weren't just going to stand around while Mischa feasted - no way! When we are not getting in trouble, I follow Deb around like her shadow - something my namesake used to do as well, I hear.

Anyhow, we were thrilled to have Richie and Christine home again, as you can see by my lap-dog impression above. Mischa has decided that it's great fun to stand on the big brown box (called an ottoman), and frequently uses it as a method to try and get across to a warm lap. When that happens, I snuggle right in there, and the next thing you know, there's 185 lbs. of Berner fun in your lap!

I think they really missed us too, and so Christine gave us two little bears to play with. You can see Mischa and I playing a little tug-o-war with one of them, on top of Richie's head! I actually didn't really know what to make of the little bears, and I was treating them like my own little bear cubs. Sure, I had them in my mouth - what are we dogs supposed to pick up things with? But when I was put in my room for the night, I yelped, because I wanted to be with my little bear! My nickname is "Big Bear" (Mischa's is "Little Bear") - why wouldn't I have a thing for bears?
Anyhow, after a few days of tussling with them however, the little stuffed bears got pulled apart, and I've pretty much gotten over it now.

Now we are getting ready for Christmas, which has been great fun! Richie put up this tree in the living room, except that it isn't real - you can't fool our noses. Then Richie sits back with a big glass of wine, and Christine hangs all sorts of enticing, shiny toys from the tree... we aren't allowed to have any of them, but they are still fun to look at and sniff. There are also lots of other things in the living room that she has put out for us to smell - the best one is this little stuffed "Santa" (whatever that is) but it has fur that smells like the rabbit next door all over it! I know Mischa is going to grab it one day, and then there will be hell to pay.

I think the best part about this Christmas season however, is the fact that Christine and Richie spend a lot of time in the living room, with that fire thingy going, and we get to lie on the floor by their feet - something we Berners are very good at.

Smelly cat...

So last night, we were sleeping in our "safe room" (otherwise known as the laundry room), and we woke to a strange smell. Mischa went outside, so I naturally followed her. There was this strange-looking black cat (although we can't see in colour, so it could have been really dark brown or something) with a white stripe on it, sauntering across our backyard.

Of course, Mischa and I started after it, but when we got close, it sprayed some yucky smelling fluid at us! Now we both smell bad, even after Christine had to get up in the middle of the night to bathe us. Yucky.

Paisley

Our summer vacation

So we all got in the Rover for a long trip recently. We went to a place called Shuswap Lake Provincial Park. When we got there, we went directly to the beach, as Paisley and I were hot from traveling. Who did we meet on the beach, but our friends Greg, Shannon and Bentley!

Later on, Richie and Christine set up that flimsy house thing, and we all slept together in it! What fun - early in the morning, one of us would try to snuggle up with them, as they were lying down on the ground with us!

We had a great time running around the park and chasing each other in the morning dew. After that, it got too hot for us to run around, so we went to the lake instead. Here is Paisley swimming - notice how she tries to get her front paws out of the water!

Richie tried to help her swim better by lifting her bum up, but that would only help her get back to shore. Each time she came back into the lake, she would flounder again. Here I am, fetching a frisbee and demonstrating great style and enthusiasm!

Anyhow, after three sleeps, we left and headed to Richie's parents' place for a few nights.

After what seemed like hours in the Rover on the way home, we were stopped on 12th Avenue, by a doggy sitting in the middle of the road! Richie honked, but Christine was worried that a car might hit the pooch, so she jumped out to rescue her. When she got the doggy back in the Rover, Paisley and I wanted to get a sniff, but we couldn't get close enough. She was a snorting, snuffling thing however... she sneezed and stuff came out of her nose and hit Richie on the arm!

This is Lola - we found out her name when we dropped her off at the Vancouver Animal Control; she was welcomed by the staff there, and ultimately re-united with her humans.

When we got home, we were dirty and I was a little itchy in spots, so both of us got a "flea bath" - not sure how it is any different than the bath I get when we go to the spa, but we both smell clean and I'm not as itchy anymore! We were so tired from our trip, that all we wanted to do that evening was lie on the floor with our Mickey Mouse towels wrapped around us while our fur dried out.

And that ends our summer vacation - see you next time!

Mischa

Hot summer days

It has been really hot lately, and so Paisley and I have been hanging out on the cool concrete a lot. Lupin came over for a couple of days, and we all went to the beach for a romp in the ocean.

Meanwhile, back at home, Richie made a lounge chair from some used cedar deck boards that he pulled up a few weeks back. Once it was finished, Christine was trying it out on Sunday, and I thought I would try it out for myself - it is very comfy!

As you can see, I worked my way onto the middle of the lounger, and pretty much pushed Christine off! No matter, we all got a chance to try it out.

Mischa

Keeping busy in the backyard

Well, the weather finally got better this summer, and so Christine put Richie to work on a backyard makeover. I think it was just fine the way it was - lots of places to dig, plenty of plants and shrubs to chew on/pull out of the ground. Regardless, it's been great fun hanging out with them in the yard, while they dig, build and create. Weekend after weekend, they've been toiling in the backyard, while we hang out and see what they are up to.

One of the things they have been doing, is excavating a new area for more of that solid stuff called "concrete" - when they were digging up the dirt, Richie pulled out two stumps, and they left great holes in the ground for us to lie in (above).

But sometimes, when left to our own for a bit, we'd still get into a bit of trouble - like Mischa here, got a hold of one of Richie's outdoor pillows, and - well, you can see for yourself what she's done to it.

This past weekend, while Richie was busy doing something, Christine set up this flimsy house in the yard - it was great fun to play in... apparently we are going to be spending more time in this thing soon. Not sure what that is all about. I guess we will see!

Paisley