Joyful Chaos - Second Brown Family Celebration

When both you and your sister marry a Brown, you get two Brown Family Holiday Celebrations. (Actually, this was our third Brown Family Celebration this season. Dave's brother hosted and cooked an over-the-top Christmas Eve dinner).
This year I decided to have a brunch meal. Imagine nine, related people in the kitchen, drinking mimosas, and giving input on how to best cook waffles, waffle toppings, sausage and eggs. Joyful Chaos.
Niece Natalie

(I-really-like-him-Natalie) Boyfriend Justin - a very brave guy to be introduced to Natalie's crazy family at a tradition laden holiday gathering.

Newly-wed, niece Vanessa

Husband Evan who's introduction to the total family was last year's Brown Family Holiday Celebration. Another brave guy I really like.

Niece Emily, back from teaching in Zambia

 Brunch with Kahlua Cocoa - YUMMMMM

The gift exchange this year was ornaments. My sister drew some garden theme ornaments. Being more of a "brown" thumb, she left them for me to adorn my greenhouse.

The boys comparing various assets of their Santas.

The best ornaments proved to be the gift bows.
Chuck

Dave

Trask

Koyuk

Cedar

To work off the high calorie meal, we went for a walk about the property and up to tour the cabooses.

Yup Natalie - Justin is a keeper.

A traditional Brown Family playing a board game while Chuck and Dave watched a football game rounded up the day that went by way too fast.  Worn out Trask

 "Can I get this stupid bow off now?"

 "Can I keep mine? It makes me even more beautiful."

First Brown Family Celebration

Dave's wonderful family celebration was at his sister's house. A point of reference of how old I am getting occurs during the holidays when I see children I have seen just annually since they were born. While in my mind I haven't aged at all, the niece and nephew generation now have children of their own.
Great-nephew Foster was a newborn last year.  Now he can get to any shiny gift of his delight and open it.

Great-nephew Andy has no hesitation when it comes to opening gifts.

Great-niece Sarah is now old enough to care for her cousin Foster.

Miserable kids. Both my niece and nephew had their wisdom teeth pulled during the Christmas school break. 

 Niece Molly and...

nephew Danny without the ice packs.

Nephew Brian

Nephew JJ with his nephew Foster.

Nan er-naner - Luke agrees with me that age is just a state of mind...

until you experience the reality gauge of growing children (and having your picture taken).

Holiday Chinooks

We were so lucky to have BrownStone Lupin as a guest again this holiday season. Record rains forced everyone inside for days. But Lupin fits right in and...

is a favorite of snuggle bunny Trask.

Then again, everyone is a favorite of Trask - he-who-has-to-be-touching-someone.

After 11 years, Lupin decided to go with up-ears.

Cedar showing her how it's done.

Koyuk

Trask - with a "present".

Mr. Handsome surveying his kingdom.

I wasn't going to have a tree because of he-who-has-to-put-everything-he sees-in-his-mouth and four dogs playing Chinook tag in the living room but I have always had a tree. This one is wired to the wall in four places and the top reindeer ornament has both rear feet nailed to the wall. Add the surrounding x-pen and all has survived thus far.

Lupin, Cedar, Koyuk and Trask

Christmas Eve we received a wonderful surprise. I went out for a last minute Costco run (oxymoron if there ever was one) in high wind, pouring rain and downed trees on the road. Came home to over an inch of snow covering the downed trees. The dogs had been out in the covered kennel the whole time and were beyond ecstatic to be set free to engage in enthusiastic games of Chinook tag.

Chasing about, even in the snow, is thirsty work. I wonder if dogs get ice-cream headaches drinking from a iced over water dish.

Mr. Handsome surveying his kingdom while sitting by the 4" deep stream of water in the back yard.

They were still playing hard as it got dark. But, in fear of scaring away Santa, I hailed them inside.

This morning we did indeed have a "white, abet rapidly melting" Christmas but the Nooks were too tired from all their play and excited by their Christmas beef tendons to make it outside until all was green again.

"Roo-Roo" and Merry Christmas.

Year's End Bits 'n' Pieces

I have received a lot of wonderful photos of BrownStone pups but have failed to get them into the blog until now.
BrownStone Cascade Mt. Tule Loowit (Tule Loowit)
Tule had never slept on the human bed until Trask spent a few days with her. This picture was sent with the note: "Guess what Trask taught Tule?"

Tule Loowit posing for the family Christmas photo. She decided riding on the sled was a much better option than trying to pull it on the almost bare ground.

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Pahto (Kyrik)
A painting by Kyrick's young owner.

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Karuk (Alaka'i)
My favorite picture of all. Alaka'i at the vet. Caption went something like: "Everything was wiggles and smiles until the thermometer went in". A copy of this picture now hangs in my vet's office where Alaka'i was almost born.

 "Say cheese Alaka'i"

Taken earlier this month - such a handsome boy Alaka'i is.

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Klah (Luca)
"Thankfully Luca is really well-behaved and is welcome in the nursing home, so she joins us on most trips. Everyone thinks she is a therapy dog so she pretty much goes everywhere with her papa these days. Still working on her dog distractions. She luuuuvs all dogs and is always ready to play, and play, and play. May be time for us to seek out another Chinook pup. I think Luca has confirmed that there is no better suited breed for us".

"We sure love absolutely everything about Luca if that isn't obvious. She is completely tuned into my energy. I have to be very careful to control my emotions around her as it really upsets her if I am upset at all. I'm a better person for it, but my connection/attachment to her is a bit scary. I've never experienced anything like it and already worry about life without Luca. Which is why I think it would be healthy for both of us to have another Chinook relatively soon. I would love to reunite her with her siblings someday too. That would be fun".
Both the chicken and cat would be toast if this was Trask or Koyuk instead of Luca.

 Luca after her second confirmation trial.

 BrownStone Cascade Mt. Koma (Laika)

"Laika earned her diploma from the PetSmart Advanced Class.  Even though she is far from certification as a Therapy Dog, Laika is scheduled for an audition as a Therapy Dog at the Coronado Retirement Village on December 11."

 I can't get over how much Laika looks like her mother.

BrownStone Cascade Mt Mazama (Bramble) and Cedar's daughter, Koyuk's sister, BrownStone Iditarod Takotna Muku

Bramble and Muku were "officials" at a Halloween Marathon in BC, Canada.

 Enjoying the new fireplace.

 After running in a holiday marathon.

 Ms. Silver, Moonsong Mighty Mouse (Mouse)

BrownStone Rogue of Rain (Rogue) from the McKenzie's Christmas litter on his 11th birthday.

BrownStone Nala (Nala) from the McKenzie's Christmas litter on her11th birthday.

BrownStone Lupin (Lupin) from the McKenzie's Christmas litter is again joining Cedar, Koyuk and Trask for a holiday stay.

Note the well protected and wired-to-the-wall tree. I figured even if the four dogs didn't knock it over chasing each other about the house, Trask would surely feel the need to mouth each and every ornament.