Bienvenido Bela! (and other news)

Feliz Reyes!

I've been hassling Angelines for a dog for years now, but in the piso she had a good excuse: no room. She successfully warded off my begging saying, "when we have a patio, you can have a dog." So it's been a full year in the house (with a huge patio!) and for Christmas she surprised me with the cutest little puppy ever! :)

This is Bela. She's a 5-week-old (!), chocolate lab. She is pretty much to die for. The second best part of all of this (first being Bela herself, of course) is that I didn't ask for her; this was all Angelines's doing. I had pretty much resigned myself to the idea that we couldn't afford a dog, etc. etc. I'm thrilled to have one, but the reason this is so wonderful is that any time Angelines starts to complain about the puppy (noise, smell...) she's only got herself to blame! :) (hehehe)

... And smell she does. I think the nickname "Smelly Belly" is appropriate. She's too little to have a bath yet so we've bought some dry shampoo to try to make her smell a little better. Angelines insists that she won't touch her until we can bathe her. That's two weeks away! Who can resist a face like this one?? She already smells better than when we brought her home Wednesday. And Angelines played with her a little yesterday since she was about to shower anyway. ;)

This little girl will make a dog-lover of my big girl in no time flat... so long as I can keep her from destroying too many shoes, clothes and pieces of furniture along the way! ;)

Other news:

Ni Hao! This year for the annual Kings' parade through town, the Asociación Amigos de San Pancracio did a Chinese-style float. Our little remolque is turning out to be quite versitile! (Western covered wagon, ginger bread house, Chinese pagoda...) As always, it was a fun walk around town, bowing to the crowds and throwing candy. ;)

Here are some pictures of the crew:

Happy New Year, 2012!!