I think I'm growing up

My sister is getting married.
My brother is buying a house.
Another friend is pregnant.
All news I've received in the last six days. On Sunday I was hit pretty hard with my sister's news and the news of another pregnancy. I even cried when my sister announced that she was engaged. I totally wasn't expecting it, and still don't know what I'm supposed to think about it all. My family first me Chad (her fiance) in August and now five months later he's going to become a family member. It's a little too much for this older sister to take. I'm happy-- don't misunderstand me. I'm a little stubborn when it comes to change I don't choose. I admit that. So, we've got a wedding to plan for sometime in August!!!
I'm not even supposed to say which friend is pregnant, atleast not until later this weekend after Mike finds out. It's a family member of Mike's. Ahhh! More babies in the family! Better her than me, thank you.
Now, this news of my brother buying a house is nothing I've been officially told. Thank you  facebook for giving me information! I'm disappointed that he didn't tell me in person, and that I found out by his girlfriend's posting along with the rest of the world. This announcement I have mixed feelings about also, none of which I'm going to get into.
None of this news is totally life changing for me. It just solidifies my getting older.....
Ugh. I'm not supposed to be old enough to have siblings getting married and buying houses, even though they are capable individuals. I don't even feel old enough to have a normal job and a house to pay for and all those "grown up" tasks! Actually, I'm exagerrating, but time flies by so fast that you don't notice the little things that compound and slowly change the things and people that surround you. Or maybe I'm just too stubborn?

My dog wears shoes.....

I bought my dog boots today. Well, actually I've bought her boots twice before, this time they actually fit her.
I think finding a dog boots is harder than buying shoes for a child! I looked at Cabelas, Gander Mountain and Scheels and then finally found some in her size that fit her correctly at Petco. It's not that I think dressing a dog is super cool, it's that when we go for walks in the winter and she steps in slush she dances around for a minute or two afterward alternating which paw she holds up because it makes her feet cold and stick to the ground. I think anyway-- she won't tell me why! So, I simply solved the problem.
I felt kinda bad tonight walking her because she slipped on the icy spots numerous times. When I first put the boots on her, she didn't even want to get up, and it took a few minutes before she walked like normal, but then I think she may have forgotten they were on.
Mike has yet to see that his hunting dog was wearing snow boots. He was against me finding her some hunting boots two years ago because he thought it was stupid for a dog to wear them, and he told me he'd never take the time to put them on her. Then she came back one day with a bad cut on her paw pad. I got the OK to find her boots, but never got around to buying them.
So, now my dog's wardrobe consists of snow boots, a winter jacket, a rain jacket and a sweater. All of which I slowly phased in so Mike wouldn't make a stink about it!
It's all in good fun! :) Happy walking to me!

ode to my Christmas tree

I just finished packing all my Christmas things up for another year. :( Sad!
But, I need to compliment my Christmas tree for turning out so awesome-- and myself for decorating it! hehe! This tree is by far my favorite of the last five years. I used browns and golds this year with pheasant feathers and LOVED how it turned out. I try to use a different theme and color each year. I've had a baby blue tree, a red one, a gold one, and last year was purple, hot pink, lime green and blue.
On an unrealted note-- I'm super bad at blogging, it turns out. The last thing I want to do when I get home at night is sit in front of the computer. And, lately we've been so busy running around that I don't have time even on my days off. Grrrrrr. I'm hoping that January brings a few boring weekends so I can catch up on some things.