Dori & Rua's Blog (27)

I just wanted to send a BIG thank you to Jane for ALL of the work she did organizing our FIRST EVER Doodle Cruise sans Doodles, of course).  She spent endless hours....doing too many things even to list here.  Not to mention all of her hospitality in Miami (pre-cruise cocktails and snacks), Bon Voyage drinks always available in our cabin (spiced rum, Baileys, vodka), adorable Doodle Kisses doorhangers, arranging the door decorating contest and all of the prizes she brought (yes, we were the…

Oh, and so is her momma!  It has been a rough 3-1/2 months since I found out that my DH (and I no longer mean dear) wanted to continue his life without me.  I had just started a new job and was in a town we had relocated to because of his job.

My dream house (had built on a golf course) has been up for sale for the past 3 months...getting some action on it now and I am praying it sells soon.  Many people have said they wanted to buy it, but they had a house to sell first. …

My DH's beloved grandpa died this morning.  He was the greatest man I have ever known and has touched so many people.  He lived a wonderful and full 96 years and is now at home with the Lord and is walking in Heaven with his wife Mitzi and his son Bill (DH's dad).

The funeral hasn't been arranged yet, but I just know we will have such a special time together paying tribute to Elmer Bergman!  He will be missed by so many.

 …

It is so hard to believe that Rua will turn 1 tomorrow!  She is the absolute love of my life (of course, my DH is, but in a different way....you all know what I mean) and it just seems like we brought her home.  The last 10 months have flown by so quickly. 

The progression from:

• Crates and ex-pens to roaming the house and sleeping on the bed. 
• Trips outside every hour to "potty", Poochie bells (upstairs and downstairs) on the doors, purchasing a gallon…

After reading several blog posts and discussions about Doodle Moms with OCD...I think there should be a new acronym.  OCDM.  We have one Doodle Mom who MUST have all of the toys neatly kept in the toy box (I happen to agree with Murphy...you can't PLAY with toys when they are in the box).  We have another Doodle Mom who worries too much about, well, just about everything (I am just like that too, Jennifer).

Are you ready for what OCDM stands for? …

There are two wonderful parts to this!  Mother's Day and article in a magazine.

First...Mother's Day.  I was in 7th heaven when I got the mail yesterday (I normally don't...as soon as I come home I take Rua out) and there were two cards in the mail to me.  One from Puffy (aka PuffDog) and one from Rua.  Haven't opened them yet, since Mother's Day isn't until Sunday.  But, I was thrilled.  My DH has always help the cat, PuffDog, get a card...but this time, both were mailed. …

Hey everybody...Rua here.  I am SOOO excited.  Today it is all about Momma & Me (ok, so most days it is like that, but this is really special). 

First, we are going to go Three Dog Bakery & Spa so Momma can look for a new pretty pink sparklie collar for ME!!!!  I just LOVE pink and Momma has been on the search for just the right collar.  It has to be 3/4" to 1" wide (difficult to find for a small) and have rhinestones or Swarovski crystals! 

Then, it…

Rua will be 9 months old in a few days...so hard to believe she has been with us for 7 months already.  I can't believe how much she has enriched my life and how much joy she brings to each of my days.  When I go to bed at night I can't wait to get up so I can see her.  Every now and then I realize how much has changed as she continues to mature.

Potty Training...we started out taking Rua out every hour or so and asking her to "go potty" and never letting her out of our…

Rua and I did a little AKC S.T.A.R Puppy training this AM.  I took out my baggies of training treats.  I have Cherrios in one, kibble in another, freeze-dried beef liver in one, and another full of 4 different training treats, cut up into 3/8" x 3/8" pieces).  I alternate rewards....Cherrios for the easy stuff, kibble here and there, the tiny pieces for harder and the liver for high-value.

Well, I was working on sit/stay and down/stay.  I was giving her Cherrios for sits,…

Third week of AKC STAR puppy training...Momma has been SOOOO happy with my training AT home.  I can FOCUS, I have really worked on SIT AND STAY...and even DOWN AND STAY (hey, I didn't even know what that meant until this past weekend).  Hey, you give me a cookie (Momma just got some freeze-dried 100% beef liver treats) and I will recite the alphabet!  Heck, I can do SIT, DOWN and STAY with hand signals. 

WTD...Momma was NOT happy tonight in class...there were WAY too many…

HI all!  Rua here.  Thought I would update you on what has been going on lately.  My Momma already told you about my traveling adventures recently - California to Florida - in less than 2 weeks.  I had a blast!  Everybody was so suprised that I was on the plane, and everyone kept telling my momma how cute I was.  Like she didn't know!

My momma has been sick 4 times since Christmas and I am having a hard time getting all of the attention I deserve from her...she has taken some…

Haven't spent much time on DK lately...have been either traveling or sick.  Please accept my belated thanks for all of the birthday wishes and condolences on the passing of my Daddy.  They were greatly appreciated.

It started at Christmas when we drove north to Minnesota to spend Christmas with my DH's family.  Rua truly is an awesome traveler (already had done the same trip at Thanksgiving), though, I must say it was not easy to try to "potty" her in 1 foot of snow.  We…

On my way home from work tonight I got a call from my sister.  Funny how I knew what that call was for.   My Daddy had just died.   He was 93 in July, lived an absolutely wonderful life.  He was a great Daddy to all of his kids (blood and chosen - I was chosen when he married my mom when I was 11).  He always had a smile on his face and a story to tell.  He worked with his hands his whole life...he was a cabinet maker.  The last thing he made was a china hutch for my nephew...this past…

I have mixed emotions...she looked so stinkin' cute with her shaggy hair look and she looks so stinkin' cute with her velvet soft hair.  It really is weird...depending on which way the light hits her, she is either REALLY dark or REALLy light.

Take a look at her! 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/photo/albums/ruas-first-grooming

UPDATE:  More on…

Rua's MOM here for a change.  Rua just went to bed...and as usual, she doesn't make any fuss.  And, as usual, when my alarm goes off tomorrow morning, and after I hit the snooze a few times, she'll get up when I open the crate.

I have 5 fabulous days off!  No work, no shopping to do (except for some wine).  Don't have to clean house, cook dinner or clean up after!  I am LOVING that!  We will drive north to Shoreview Minnesota on Christmas Eve early AM as my DH has to work…

Rua here! Momma thinks I am taking a nap while she is downstairs with Papa watching the Minnesota Vikings). Life is going pretty well for me. My Momma keeps buying me new toys and clothes. Yesterday she came home with a rain coat and a pink t-shirt that says "social butterfly". Papa rolled is eyes and gave Momma that look. He did laugh when he saw me in my new t-shirt, though, and said I looked cute. She also bought me 3 new chew toys - something about that being better that the dining room…

Rua here! It has been quite a fun week. I brought my parents with me to Puppy Pre-School (my teacher told me it was about how to train them and not me so I am all on board with that) on Tuesday. I was the smallest,and if I may be so bold, the cutest. My Momma and Papa had gone the week before without me and got some training. I was able to complete all of my assignments PLUS I knew "down"! EVERYONE thought I was the cutest puppy there. I get to go back again Tuesday. Momma works everyday…

Rua here! The Vikings are playing the Green Bay Packers right now so the computer is free and I thought I would up you on what's happening in my life.

I really love water. Eating ice cubes, taking baths, drinking out of a water bottle or jumping in the shower with Momma. I can just walk into the shower, they forgot to put a door on it when they built it apparently. So, as soon as Momma goes into the shower, I give Papa the slip and join her. I asked Papa to take of picture of…

Rua here! I can go all night without having to go potty and while Momma and Papa are at work, I go 1/2 a day before someone comes home to let me out and play. I haven't had one accident in my crate...that should count for something.

Well, it was Papa's job yesterday to come home at noon and take me out to go potty and play with me for a while. I'll just fast-foward to the text message he sent Momma as he was going back to work... "I am…

Rua here to update you on my morning! Papa left on Wednesday for a vacation (whatever that is) in Florida (that's where Gramma J lives) for his birthday but Momma stayed home to be with me since I am so little. Momma thought she would try to read the paper this morning (they are in the driveway every morning when we go for our walk...in an orange bag. Momma has Thursday's, Friday's and Saturday's in orange bags still so I don't know why she needed to take Sunday's out of the…