Ketchup

"Three tomatoes are walking down the street: papa tomato, mama tomato and baby tomato. Baby tomato starts lagging behind and papa tomato gets really angry...goes back and squishes him. Says, "ketchup!" 

- Uma Thurman, Pulp Fiction

I have always loved this joke, because there's only one food I can think of that I despise and it's tomatoes. But, I have no problem slathering ketchup. And, as far as I'm concerned, ketchup and tomatoes have absolutely nothing to do with each other. "But if you like ketchup, then you must like tomatoes? No, no, and did I say no! Not even close bud!! Can you tell that question drives me?

***

It was the first week of January and I was in the recovery stages from the last few weeks of December. I had just honestly skated by the skin of my teeth. Aviana's Elves is what truly carries me through, and with such an early delivery date this year...well, I was left with too much holiday break to think, process and witness all that is bright and right. For the most part - I held my own, but there were admittedly a few very low, lows.

By the beginning of January, I was overly ready to begin anew and post some of the good memories we had shared together. But, as I began gathering - our little nasty gram arrived in the mail, so we had to take a little detour instead. 

Now I have much more than just a couple holidays to share, so if you don't mind, I'm finally going to 'ketchup.'

My sweet little nephew (who is now back in Portugal pursuing his dreams), the Indian, and I.

Aviana about to open her present from Rainey.

Rainey had to join in to see if Avi liked it.

I think she does.

Yes, she does.

Ahh...that face : )

It snowed the whole time we were up there. It was beautiful. As you can see Rainey was in heaven.

This is my absolute favorite picture. It looks like she is smiling. 

"Come on. What are you waiting for? Throw it again!"

Chelsea: "Give me a kiss Ray Girl"

Snoozer: "Booring!"

Snoozer is so unimpressed with the 2 of them. You see, since Chelsea came onto the scene - Snoozer has lost his place with Rainey : ( It's quite sad...

Rainey - so statuesque.

My dad making rooster tails...

While Rainey and I played.

I was breaking the bad news to her that we had to leave...

She was saying no way.

And then started growling at me. I totally understand and if I were a dog, I would growl too. She and I are in cahoots to never leave Tahoe every time we go up there. We both cry like babies the whole way home, and then stomp our feet and paws around this concrete jungle for a while. That is, until we realize what ungrateful little brats we are being. We then come to our senses and start acting like mature girl people and girl dogs again....

but then we forget, and do it all over again on the next trip up ; )

Poor Dave.

I'm sorry.