I don’t know who’s worse when it comes to the anticipation of the holidays–kids or dogs. Yes, I do–it’s the dogs.  Every time I come in the house with a bag or package, I have Amber and Krissy glued to my heels until I put them down.  Then they have to stick their noses in the bags and if there is anything that could even remotely be considered a toy for them, out it comes in a flash.  My husband’s socks, a package of ribbon, a pair of slippers for my mom, a t-shirt for my son–have all been danced across the room with gleeful abandon and christened with a wee bit of slobber before being rescued.

And when the big night comes and everybody is supposed to be all nestled in their beds with no one stirring, not even a mouse–Amber is scheming under her stocking next to the fireplace.  Since more than once, she has crawled up and taken her stocking down by herself, we have taken to barricading off the fireplace and putting her filled stocking up high on the mantle once it’s filled.

It is small moments like these that make the holidays fun, memorable and special.  And when it comes down to it, it’s really the small moments in life that really mean the most. So enjoy your every moment of the holidays with your family, friends and dogs.  Appreciating the moment may be the most important lesson we can learn from our dogs, not just during the holidays, but every day.