The Bunch Celebrate Christmas

 

It's become tradition for T to wear a Santa hat on Christmas.

Our Christmas was pretty low key. D was able to go in late so he was able to have Christmas with us before he went to work which was really nice. The kids and I packed up and moved Christmas brunch to C&H's house since he needs to stay close to home and we worried about the lack of emergency care both on the way to our house and while here. I made up a potato casserole ahead of time, brought stuff for garden scrambled eggs, and banana bread while H made a really good cranberry punch and some pigs in a blanket. I have to say for only 5 people we had a ton of food! In fact, T ate so much for brunch I don't think he really ate anything for the rest of the day. He also finished his very last hour of driving on his way back home! Driver's license here we come....next week!

After the mess Axl made last time we left him in his crate, we reenforced the doors with zip ties. We also made sure to take him on a walk and to the bathroom before we left so hopefully he would just sleep while we were gone. I wasn't too worried since I felt pretty confident that the zip ties would hold. And to be fair, they did. Not one zip tie failed. HOWEVER, Axl was able to pry the hooks holding the side of the cage together apart and because he is so insanely underweight was able to slip out through a VERY small gap! In fact, the gap is so narrow I still can't believe he fit! We prodded him to see if he broke any ribs or anything, but he seems ok. After leaving C's house, I pulled up our living room camera to see what was going on and completely FREAKED out when the first thing I saw was Axl sleeping on the floor! Bonham had never seemed so far from Sanger and knowing we had about an hour and a half until we would get home just seemed like forever. I pretty much watched him the entire way back. I also checked the footage to see what time he wandered into the living room. We left at 9am. He showed up on the footage at 10:36. We arrived home at 1:45pm. The last time he got out, he dug a hole in the carpet in front of A's room. Needless to say, we were afraid what we would find when we opened the door. What we found was an uncollapsed cage (it actually took awhile to figure out how he got out. A said he was Houdini, but eventually we saw it was unhooked) and absolutely EVERYTHING as we left it! He was a good boy! 

That pj shirt has MiMi's picture on it! We got it for A for Christmas. She loved it. 

Axl NOT getting in the way while I try to take pics.

A cut out half of H.😂 Though to be fair my phone has been zooming in when I take a picture and several times now the shot I get was not the shot I thought I had. Oh, technology!

We had a great visit!

C has been doing better and only had some minor episodes.

D opened his presents when he got home.

We did put zip ties on all sides now, plus the top and bottom. I can't imagine anyway he can get out now, but since he was fine for a few hours last time, we decided to roll the dice and leave him out when we went to celebrate Christmas at my in-laws. At a minimum it would be 6 hours. In preparation, T took him on a mile walk, set him loose in the yard to get out his zoomies, and I gave him an anxiety pill. He was most definitely awake when we left so we kept watching the camera for awhile after we left until he finally laid down and went to sleep. I felt fairly confident he would be ok, but I also know he has separation anxiety and a crippling fear of rain/storms. I honestly have no idea how he was a stray or outdoor dog. He hates being left alone and being outside. 

We were able to enjoy a yummy lunch and visiting with my in-laws. I brought some tamales I got from a vendor we love at the craft fair and made some rice. My mother in law made her queso speciality, tacos, and guacamole. We all stuffed ourselves and had a wonderful day. We don't get to see them as often as we would like because of the distance, but we do enjoy the times we do get to see them.

They are always rough housing!

GiGi is getting around pretty well especially since she has to wear a knee brace.

Still rough housing. T did get the upper hand though. However, Duke, the big rottweiler, wasn't too sure about the playing.

T brought his present they got him that was sent to our house.  

A has enjoyed all the time off from the holidays. She only works 2 days again this week. She is preparing for her state licensing exam though.

What a fantastic day!

 I checked the camera a couple of times while we were there, but Axl had moved out of sight of the camera. It is a 360 camera, but in case he was sleeping on the couch in the playroom I didn't want to pan around and have him wake up. The camera is kind of loud. There was nothing to fear though. He was sleeping on the couch and the house was fine. Don't get me wrong, I am not taking down his GIANT crate just yet and claiming he is trustworthy, but I will continue leaving him out until he does something. The crate will stay up for a bit. However, I really don't think he will need it. Next up, training him to NOT destroy the camper when he is in it while we're gone. It would be way easier to not have to take the crate camping. He's probably just going to have to sleep in the bottom bunk. I see a camping trip in the near future....which the three of us really enjoy. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!