It's my 9th Birthday Bash and 1st Comment-a-thon!

 

Dearest Payton,
I just want to tell you how much I love you and how much I have loved every minute of our nine years together.  All of the ups, and even the down times, are so precious to me.  It is amazing that you are still in our lives, but I thank God for you every single day, and always ask Him to bless us with many more days together.  You are an inspiration, a miracle, and an angel on earth.  Happy 9th Birthday, baby girl.  Enjoy your day!
Love,
Mom

Sorry for the sappy note from my mom, but when she asked for the laptop, I didn't know what she was up to.  I probably owed her one, but now we're even.  Anyway, let's get this party started!!  First up, let me share with you an awesome early birthday gift from the Southern Fried Pugs.  You will not believe what they sent me...the sweetest, most thoughtful thing that has forever sealed them in my dad's heart...and made my mom leaky as she was helping me open the package...  My very own Chicago Bears cheerleading outfit!!

Yep, I'm totally ready for football season to start now.  Go Bears!  Da Bearsss!  Thanks so much Isabelle, Petunia, and Tallulah!!  Mom and dad are slackers when it comes to checking the mail, but they did last night.  There was a bunch of cards and such from even more friends.  I feel so loved...you guys are awesome!  Thanks!  Who knows how long they have been sitting in the mailbox.  Sheesh!  I'll have to tell you the specifics about them later because mom said I might as well wait until tonight to open them, so I will.  Although I don't really have a choice given my lack of usable thumbs, now do I?

Now for some more GREAT news!  My inhaler came in late Monday afternoon so Gammy and Gampy are coming over tonight!!  And mom promised me a very sweet treat!  This is going to be a great birthday party, so I better get some rest... 

Oh my pug, I'm up!  What a dream!  I was traveling the globe in my private jet with my frequent-flyer friends (Lola Pug, Sid, Suki, and Puglet) there to help show me the ropes!  Gampy better come through with his promise of a private jet for me tonight so I can visit ALL of my dear blogging friends, near and far!  My mom said not to hold my breath because Gampy promised her a pool a very, very long time ago and it never happened...although he says that my "training" pool from last summer counts.  Hmmm...yeah, good try, Gampy, but I'm not sure that cuts it.

Anyway, did mom just say it was almost time for my party?

I can taste the nomables already!

I should probably make sure everything is in order!

Mom, get your butt out of that chair and let's get to taste testing all the food before my special guests arrive!

Sheesh!  My work around here is never done.  I hope mom has it all together because I'm so excited!  I'll be sure to post pictures of my party and tell you all about it later this week.

Ok, enough about me.  Remember, this post is also my Comment-a-thon to help out Wilma's "Stuff My Doghouse" project that I told everyone about last Friday!

So please remember to leave a comment on this post today (March 21st) before the clock strikes midnight CST to help a good cause, specifically the Homeward Bound Pug Rescue and Adoption of Oklahoma!  And thanks to those of you who have already donated directly, especially those that said they would do so in my honor!

Love,
Payton

PS.  I just want to give a shout-out to Sid for the inspiration to visualize my dream using the Ken Burns effect!  If you haven't seen his studly potato video, it's a must!

Holiday Rewind...New Year's Eve Pugjama Party

After four wonderful nights in the city (including the embarrassing photo shoot and fun carriage ride), mom and dad packed our bags on New Year's Eve morning and checked out of the hotel.  We made a quick pit stop for a picture in the lobby where they were getting ready for the big party that night.

When we got in the car, I was in prime form trying to make my way to the front seat.  I was just so anxious to get to our destination.

Sorry there was so much road noise that you may not be able to hear my "screaming" very well, but here's a video of me begging dad to let me up front and free me from the mean prison guard (mom).

It never works, but that never stops me from trying!  Finally we arrived.  I'll give you a hint before telling you where we were.  Anyone recognize the pink tree I'm posing in front of?

Did I hear someone shout, Tiffy?  That's right!  I got to spend New Year's with cutie Miss Tippy Toes herself!

I was lucky enough to have been a guest at Tiffy's house before for a football party, so I just made myself at home.  Tiffy's peeps are so nice, it was easy.  As you will see from the pictures to come, us pug girls spent most of our time scheming in the kitchen hoping to guilt our 'rents into food and monitoring the floor for crumbs.

How could we not, when Auntie Michele was making some yummy smelling soup?!?  (Don't worry, we conned Uncle Gerry out of some ham!)  After lunch, we relaxed a bit in the living room with our peeps, and Tiffy enjoyed a pretzel bully stick I got her from my earlier trip to Dog-a-holics.

But before we knew it, the sun set and it was getting late.  Time for the party!  The PUGJAMA Party!  Mom and Aunt Michele totally chickened out but Tiffy and I rocked our Pugjamas! 

Tiffy's pair has sea turtles on it!  The pink butterfly set that I'm wearing was one of my cool Xmas gifts from the Southern Fried Pugs!  I kept getting compliments all night about how great my caboose looked in them!  Hehee!

We were having a blast begging for food from everyone.  Tiffy's Guncles were there.  I was so excited to see them.  Mom and dad were shocked that I remembered them, but I would never forget opportunities for food!  I also got to meet the Poodles' peeps.  Tiffy stays there when her 'rents go on vacation.  Uncle Gerry made everyone pizza.  I heard it was delicious but sadly Tiffy and I didn't get any.  I guess I can't complain since we did get a few nibbles of healthier fair.  Hey, food is food, right?!?

Anyway, before we knew it, we were out like a light.  Tiffy was perched on a pillow in the family room and I was on dad's lap.

But dad did wake me up for the strike of midnight and I was none to happy (as you can see by my irritated expression)!

Thankfully we were off to bed.  And in the morning, Tiffy and I got the most awesome snack...BACON!!  Just a tiny bite, but it was heaven!  So after our peeps finished breakfast, we all got ready to watch some football.

Even though the Bears were out of the playoff hunt, Tiffy let me wear her cheer-leading dress so I could root on my team in proper style.

It was so much fun hanging with my girl, Tiffy, that I didn't want to leave!

But mom and dad said it was time to go home, so we hit the road again and made the boring trek home.  I was so tired from all of my adventures that I slept the entire way home...except to have dinner of course!  Thanks to Tiffy and her super nice peeps for all of their hospitality.  Can't wait to see you all again soon!  Oh, and just look what they got me!  A Chicago pillow!  We just love it.  Thanks so much!

Well, I thought I'd be done with the Holiday Rewind after a full 10 days worth of posts, but I have one more for Monday to catch you up on a few miscellaneous things.  Until then, have a great weekend!

Love,
Payton

Holiday Rewind...Christmas morning at home

So if you thought Christmas Eve was cool, wait to you see all the fun I had on Christmas day!  In fact, I've got two posts worth of fun.  Every Christmas morning, we get up at home and attack the presents!  Here I am waiting for the party to start!

Come on, mom!  Give me the first one!

Before I start telling you all about the great gifts, let me tell you all about the awesome Christmas Pugjamas I'm wearing.  Yeah, that's right, I said PUGjamas!  They are made by none other than my First Ever Visitors, Southern Fried Pugs' mom!  And all of the profits go to pug rescue!!  I'm usually not the biggest fan of clothing, but as you'll see, I wore them all morning and didn't even complain!  I give them 4 paws up, way up!

Ok, so I'm really into the presents.  I love to unwrap them and tear the paper and kill the prey inside!  This Christmas was no different and in fact I was too quick on the first one for mom to even get a good picture of me opening it.  So here's one of me afterwards, enjoying the tiny blue turtle in my bed.

Thanks mom and dad!  I love it!

 Mom got me opening the second present on video.

I'm a maniac, huh?  It's a cool puzzle toy with little pyramids inside the big one.  Of course, each of the little ones have a squeaker it them, so I was trying my hardest to kill them!

After only two gifts, mom said it was dad's turn.  Sheesh!  Well, I guess that's ok, but I insisted on helping open the gift I got for him.

I thought that was a fitting present, huh?  For those of you that may not know, it's a Walter Payton/Chicago Bears football t-shirt.  Dad named me after him.  Mom did have a gift, but no pictures of her.  So on to my last gift, the stocking stuffer!  Those are always good!

It's a new Skinneez!  A platypus!  Oh, they did save the best for last!  What a fun morning, and Christmas had just begun.  Tomorrow I'll tell you all about what happened where we went next...Gammy and Gampy's house!

Love,
Payton

Holiday Rewind...My First Ever Visitors!

Ok, get ready, here's the first post in my promised Holiday Rewind.  Remember to check back EVERY day this week to read about a different adventure!  Mom and I worked all weekend on posts and we are still not done.  This is tiring work!

Now on to the main story!  Usually my mom is the only one running around preparing for company, but this time, it was my turn.  That's right!  I was expecting visitors at my house.  The girls from Southern Fried Pugs talked about a road trip on their blog and when I found out they'd be passing near St. Louis, I had to make sure they stopped by.  I was so excited when they accepted my invitation.  And a bit nervous too.  I know why mom gets a bit uptight, it's hard work making sure the house is in order.  I had to make sure all the furniture was smelling just right, the pantry was stocked with yummy treats, and I had to pick out the best toys to lay out in case we wanted to play.  A couple days before Christmas we got a call that they were on their way over!  I had dad pass out snacks right away so we were all quite attentive.

from left to right: me, Tallulah, Isabelle, and Petunia

Isabelle can't hear or see very well, so she was using her nose to make her way over to us.  And let me tell you something, she is older than me, but the energy this girl has is amazing!  She was the life of the party for sure!

Sisters Tallulah and Petunia were more feisty, I could tell, and to the complete and utter embarrassment of my mom and dad, I got a bit snippy with them.  Then because I can't see very well, I tried to nip at poor Isabelle's tail as she passed.  I was put in quarantine on mom's lap and the girls took advantage of my dad's open lap.

While everyone was romping around, we got out presents for each other!  As you can see in the picture above, the SFPs got me a very cool stuff-less reindeer with a red nose, just like Rudolph!  I love those things and had hoped that I would be able to add to my collection this Christmas!  Wasn't that incredibly thoughtful of them to remember that?!?  There was also a yummy smelling bag of 100% meat jerky!  I can't wait until mom and dad bust open that package.  Lastly they gave me a special garment that I'll be telling you about in my Christmas morning and New Year's Eve posts (I can't wait for that!).

Then we had a surprise guest...Gampy!  He wanted to meet the girls (and their momma, of course)!  Isabelle made sure she was in prime butt scratchin' position,

while the sisters started getting sleepy from their long journey thus far and made themselves comfy on the couch.

Soon it was time to say goodnight since they had to hit the road early the next morning.  What a fun time we had!  It was so great to meet the girls and their nice mom.  I hope to see them again and redeem my snippy behavior a bit.  And I just wanted to say thanks again for all of the great gifts.  I played with my skinny reindeer so much after you left.

I'm going to make sure that mom doesn't pack it up with the Xmas decorations because I love to play with it!

Love,
Payton