Christmas Morning

Our new tradition is to wake up, open our gifties, shower and head up to the Davis household in Meredith. We share breakfast with Karen, Jeff, Rachey, Nick, Don, Brenda and Mimi. then we watch the kids and family open gifts. It's a good time had by all. The only thing that marred this year's fun was the web cam not working. Mom had sent both Jeff and I a webcam so she could watch and be present while we opened presents. Alas, it was not to be. Yet we had fun none the less!!!!

Holiday Yummies

This year I attempted Muddy Buddies and Pretzel Pecans. (Or, alternativley, Snowman Poop and Nutty Poop on a Pretzel.) I was so proud I had to take pictures....go figure!

Pootie's New Spot

He must get really cold with the new shave. But once he discovered the cable box, he hardly moved...but see the snowman by his tail? That certainly moved out of his way!!!!

All Tuckered Out

Phew....this Christmas business is tiring...

This year's Christmas Branch

I know that I have posted about the Christmas branch from past year's but this was our Christmas branch this year. It was quite pretty!

Josie and Ayden

Josie and Ayden are our super-fun, pug dog-loving, crazy friends! These pictures were taken the night of my b-day when we were having pizza and watching the animals dress up! See Ayden pout about having his picture taken...or maybe that is because he is being touched...BOYS!!!! Why won't they let the shutter click already??????

Animal Dress Up

The night of my birthday we had company and wanted to show off Jadey's Christmas outfits. Check out how cute Pootie looks in the dress...tee hee!!!

NYC!!!!

NYC was a blast. it was cold, too busy, had too many people and some of the folks we were with were uber cranky, but it was pretty neat. The tree in Rockafella Center, NBC studios, Saturday Night Live studios, the NYC public library, Times Square, Tiffanies...it was al pretty neat!! Here are a few pictures. I'll post more over the next few days. Phew, are my feet tired!!!

Thank you

I just wanted to take a day and thank all of the people who made my 33rd birthday a blast.

Darcy, Bobbi Jo and Jessie need to be thanked for my new bright pink furry crocs. Laura made me some super yummy cranberry orange bread which I can not wait to eat! Josie and Ayden (and their zoo) got me a gift certificate to Micheals and Ayden promises one of his famous, secret recipe Strawberry Pies. YUMMY!!!! Corey took Jade and Pootie shopping so that I would have Wall-E on DVD! Plus, it came in a singing holiday bag which just made my day start the right way! He also promises to buy me new winter boots!!! Yeah for waterproof! Jeff and Karen brought a beautiful and yummy tart for our luncheon dessert and gave me the most wonderful frame with family pictures in it, along with a pug pen and a pug sticker! Yippeee!! And a GREAT big thanks to my mother for going over board with the black fuzzy crocs, hand mixer, thermometer, magnifying mirror, tweezers, ll bean bag for the beach and more to come (according to her.)

Kate Hawley-Smith called me and I was lucky enough to see Auntie Carol yesterday afternoon, have lunch with 11 of my friends and dinner at our house with Josie, Ayden, Darcy and Corey. It was such a blast!!! What a grand time!! I spent most of the day singing myself the happy birthday song and spreading cheer and joy. I just love my birthday and thank every person who called, stopped by, emailed, sent cards or just generally contributed to my happiness! I love you all!

The New Christmas song...

Sung to the tune of Dominick the Donkey…


Jadey the Doggy

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
It's Jadey the doggy.
Chingedy ching,
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
The little black Pug doggy.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Santa's got a little friend,
Her name is Jadey.
The cutest little doggy,
You ev-er did see.
When Santa visits Laconia,
With Jadey he will be.
Because the little Black Pug dog,
is such a cu-tie.


Hey! Chingedy ching,
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
It's Jadey the doggy.
Chingedy ching,
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
The little black Pug doggy.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)


Jingle bells around her feet,
And elf hat on her head.
Hey! Look at how sweet she is,
asleep on her pink bed.
A bag of ‘nip for Pootie,
and a dress for Jadey-poo.
Oh she is the bestest dog
and I think you think so too!


Hey! Chingedy ching,
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
It's Jadey the doggy.
Chingedy ching,
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
The little black Pug doggy.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Children sing, and clap their hands,
And Jadey starts to Bark.
She makes a whole lot of noise,
and then she stops to mark.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
It's Jadey the doggy.
Chingedy ching,
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
The little black Pug doggy.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)


Hey! Jadey! Happy Holidays!!
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)
(Bark-Woof, bark-woof)

The Birth of the Swaddling Baby Jenna by Mary M Davis

When I was 29 I spent three weeks over Christmas in Florida with my parents. Mom woke me up on my birthday with a snuggle and I asked her to tell me the story of the Swaddling Baby Jenna's Birth. So here it is, slightly edited for spelling errors, but otherwise intact, as my mom wrote it...(Please note, I am turning 33 today, NOT 34 as mom indicated...is she SURE I came of her loins?)

The Birth of the Swaddling Baby Jenna

By Mary M. Davis, MOM, RN

It all started with a very easy and uneventful pregnancy of our expected second child. Back in those "old" days we didn't have the wonders of such medical advances like ultra sounds which meant we had to wait the entire 9 months not knowing the sex of our child but no matter..............we only hoped and prayed for a healthy baby. If we had a girl that would be all the nicer to round out our family.

We had no idea of my due date so my doctor set a date to induce me hoping I would be home for Christmas. I was told to come to the hospital on the 15th and my labor would be induced. This was doubly nice because it also happened to be my dad's birthday so it would make that date even more special.

I called my Mom and she came down from Maine to take care of our 3 year old son, Jeff, because in those days we were kept in the hospital for a week after birth!Ahhhhh, some things in life were sweet. So she came to stay for the duration.

The 15th came and off Ian and I went to the hospital expecting to have a new baby that day. But alas, after a thorough "inspection" by the my doctor, he discovered I had not dilated at all and the baby was not ready to be induced out into this world just yet. (Jen's edit: Little did mom realize how hard it would be to pry me away from her for the next 24 years until I moved to AK!) So he sent us home and said come back in 3 days and we will try again.

Very down heartedly we trudged home in the awful cold and snowbanks up to the windowsills to sit and wait for "things" to happen. My mother was very glad to see us home because after we had left she went in the living room and found that the Christmas tree had fallen over. It was turning out to be not such a good day anywhere!

After three days and tying up the tree, back we went to the hospital. Ian was so kind to take me and leave me at the front door and then leave for work. He said he had to wait around for 3 days in the hospital for Jeff to make his appearance and he had put in his time. (Nice!)

I was put in a room and IV 's were started and the induction medicine was finally given. Earlier the doctor deemed things had progressed enough to get the show on the road. It wasn't long before the medicine started working and labor started with full blown intensity.

The hospital was under renovations at the time and there were workers all over the place. To my horror, in the middle of a #10 contraction I looked up and there were workers outside my door standing and gawking at me as I labored. I didn't much appreciate it and being a nurse on staff there I bellowed for one of my nurse friends to some get them out of the doorway and to SHUT the door!!!!.

Within 20 minutes things had progressed to delivery stage so I was moved to the delivery room in a big hurry and given a spinal. In the hurry of it all, the spinal was administered too high and I was unable to breathe which was pretty scary. But they sat me up high which kept the spinal from spreading any further upward and soon little Miss Jennifer Michelle Davis was born at 2:30 in the afternoon,weighing 6 pounds and 4 ounces.

A GIRL!!! WE HAD OUR GIRL!!! And the best part was she was pink, adorable and healthy. What a wonderful moment! I have had two best moments in my life.......the birth of our son, Jeff and now the birth of our beautiful daughter, Jennifer. (Jen's edit: She HAD to write that, just in case Jeffrey actually reads this thing. But I think we all know the truth!)

The pediatrician came in and said she was all hale and hearty with a good set of lungs and all her working parts. He asked me if I was going to breast feed her and I said of course. He said good, he would send down to the pharmacy for a set of false teeth for Jennifer! ( His ill attempt at humor).....I replied "Go ahead. They gave me my spinal too high and my nipples are numb!" (I'm not sure you should put that in our blog Jen) (Jen's edit: My mother always told me never to put ANYTHING into writing I wouldn't want people to read. Sorry mom, it was too funny to edit!)

So alls well that ends well and we have had 34 years of pure pleasure and love from pure pink little bundle of joy!

Much Love on your 34th birthday my love,
MOM

(Jen's last edit: Yes, I actually DID use a calculator to check my age. 2008 - 1975 = 33. NOT 34 thank you very much!!!!!)

Ode to Me

Ok, it isn't really an ode, but I thought I'd post a picture illustrating how fantastic my toes looked at one time. This was for a wedding...check out the rhinestones(and the cankles)!

And happy #33 to me tomorrow!

Another cheer for Cancer

Last year, during mom's dreary cancer time, she and I gathered up Rachey and Ethan and went to the Edward's Street open house. It was fantastic!!! Mom looked great in her white coat and hat, Rachey waited for Santa, the lights twinkled and both kids were super. The only drawback was the stinking cold. Phew...our toes about froze!.

But it was such a good time. I don't think mom realizes how blessed she was to be forced to stay home with us for one more holiday season. It was really the best one I've had in 5 years!!!

PS: I'm not Frosty...I'm the one taking the picture!!!

Should I rename this blog?

This seems to be a very Jade dog oriented blog this week. But I can't help it....she is so stinking cute!!! Next week will be all about my NYC trip, but in the meantime, let me mix it up a little. Here is myself, Jadey and my mother's "kitten". That's in quotes as I am sure she isn't a real kitten but in fact the Anti-Christ!!! Her name is Bumblebee, aka: beezie and while she is a sweet little kitty when she sleeps, she spent the summer terrorizing my parent's house and my dog!! She is cute, but man, we'd forgotten what a full fledged kitten is like and how much energy they have. But I hope mom doesn't see this....insulting her cat is worse than insulting her son and daughter...look out for Mama Bear!!!!!

oooooh....look at how peaceful she is! HA!!!

Dear Vegas

Dear Vegas,

Four years ago this month we visited you with friends AND family, gambled in your casinos, stayed in your swanky hotel and revelled in your shininess. Four whole years have passed since I have seen you sparkle and glitter in person. I've seen your men in uniform on COPS and I've seen your signs and allure on commercials, but we've yet to return.

You were the most fun we could pack into 4 days and I will not forget you.

Sincerely,

Jenna

Dad and Corey at the Coca-Cola place

Corey and I under Mary's watchful camera View out of our BATHROOM!!!!!!!

One of the best Buffet's EVER!

The bathroom of our suite...see the start of our view of the Bellagio pool?

seriously...

Could my dog BE any cuter? Thank you Bunny for the hat that has brought me many giggles and much tee hee's!

Holiday Night at Ellacoya Barn and Grill

Friday the 5th a group of us went out for dinner at the Ellacoya Barn and Grill. Aleda, Darcy, Kelly, Bunny, Bobbi Jo, Sherry, Jessie, Karen, Myself and Jeff all had dinner and a rollicking good time. The food was ok, but frankly it was the company and laughs that were the best. And of course I had a glass of wine (which led to sips from everyone's drinks) and got giggly! It was SO much fun. Everyone wanted to know how I felt the next day and I think I was the only rested one without a hangover! I Love my pouch!!! But more importantly I love my friends! It's alwysnice to have a great group of folks to hang out with and then who will mock you unmercilessly for the next week!