Christmas decorations....

Ok, it's been quite awhile since I've posted anything on Jake.  It's not because he hasn't done anything post-worthy.  There are the 3 ink stains on the living room carpet, for example.  No, Jake has been as busy as ever.  But when I think about writing about his exploits I start to worry about what people are thinking about me.  Like the ink stains.  People might wonder how he can get his mouth on 2 pens.  Yes, 3 stains but he used 2 pens to do the damage.  I'm afraid people will think I leave ink pens just laying around the house.  To be honest, I'm not sure how he got the pens.  I'm pretty sure one of them was on the coffee table in the living room.  A big no-no.  Usually, before we leave a room, we do a quick scan and make sure everything is up.  And by everything, I mean remote controls, phones, pens, pencils, shoes, small pillows, etc.  In fact, we pretty much just have furniture and 17 chew toys in the living room.  And the living room and kitchen are the only rooms he has access to.  All the other doors in the house are closed.   And still, he is able to get pens and leave 3 sizeable blue spots on our beige carpet.  And they're not even in a place we can cover with furniture.  Right in the entry way.  Oh well. 
In any case, please don't think my house is in that bad of shape.  I don't have a maid so our house looks like a maidless family lives here. 
And now it's Christmas.  I love Christmas.  I love the decorations, the tree, the food....everything.  Last year, Jake didn't bother the tree too much.  He found it interesting, but he didn't bother it.  We put our presents under the tree and he didn't do too much damage with them.  This year is a little different for some reason.  He's a lot more sneaky.  We have the tree up and he left it alone for a whole week.  Then one day, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him walk to the tree and then run off.  When Jake runs from something, that's the first indication that a crime has been committed.  I chased after him and he had a little plastic ornament from one of the bottom branches.  Then he left everything alone for another week.  I put a few presents under the tree, off to one side, to see how he would do.  They are on one side of the tree because he has decided he likes to sleep under the tree.  Everytime he goes under there or come out from under, the whole tree shakes and just when I think it's going to topple over, he's out and it stops.  Anyway, he left the presents alone for a few days and then decided one of the curly bows looked like fun so he tried ripping it off.  I caught him before he could do any real damage.  But now, he's back to the ornaments and has tried the "grab and run" with them in the last week.  So, the rest of you out there with your beautifully decorated homes, picture my living room this Christmas.  As you enter the house, you'll notice the window ledge next to the front door that has half of the ledge chewed off from Jake's puppy days.  Walk past our pretty entry way tile to the start of the carpet entering the living room.  This is where you'll see the blue ink stains.  They are now various shades of blue because of all the different things I've tried on them to get the ink out.  Nothing works.  I don't care what anyone says or suggests.  It won't work.  As you look straight ahead to our lovely, slightly lopsided tree,  you'll see a few presents under one side with our red hassock in front of that side of the tree.  Jake is afraid of the hassock ever since it rolled when he ran into it so he avoids it.  The tree skirt on the other side of the tree is most likely messed up because he likes to move it around when he's laying under the tree for his nap.  Other than that, I'm sure our house looks just like yours this Christmas.
                                 Here's Jake in his new favorite nap spot.......
                                 MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!