So what does that mean?

Well, unfortunately for our little girl’s website, that means you won’t be seeing any updates until we return in 2 weeks on February 13th.

And what’s even sadder than that? Well, that has to be the fact that her parents are going on this trip without her, even despite our little girl’s best attempts to stow away in a piece of our luggage.

We’ll miss you lots Abbie and we’ll be home before you know it.

Can’t you tell?

Well, it’s definitely a handful…

I mean, who uses a Belgian Waffle as a bun for a hamburger? Well, I guess out here anything goes…and to our Abbie, it really doesn’t matter, as long as she gets a prime spot for her favorite sport, people watching.

You have fun down there Abbie while us humans try to ignore what kind of nutritional value we’re actually going to get out of this meal of ours.

Looks like she also found the perfect spot to rest too…gee, I wonder who was thoughtful enough to put here bed there because it was a little bit chilly down on that ground (ahem, it was her Dad).

And the first thing we need to do is make sure our little girl is looking as good as she could, so we’re going to start off with a quick brushing.

Don’t worry Abbie, it’ll all be worth it…now just sit still so I could finish up already.

You’re definitely doing a great job there Abbie, but I’m not sure if sleeping on the job is part of the deal or not.

Blehhhh?

Is that even a word? Ok, well you have fun with that then…

And how do you snuggly an Abbie? You take one part furball, wrap it in soft blankie and presto, one warm & snuggly Abbie.

Now, only if I could find myself a blanket to use while mine’s out on loan to Abbie and we’ll both be set.

Don’t take this the wrong way Abbie, but I hope I don’t end up your BFF one day too.

Well my stinky friend, don’t you worry too much because that weekend is right around the corner and I promise, it’s going to be a fun one indeed.

Well, if you really want to know, it’s the act of going through hump day and that feeling you get when doing so.

Still confused? Well, maybe these pictures will help you understand:

Sleep well Abbie…and remember to put back those pillows when you’re done.

Unfortunately for our little girl, life isn’t that simple…but just for the next few minutes, I’ll let her have her way and we’ll stretch that weekend out just a little bit more.

Moderation Abbie, it’s all about moderation.

So with the help of her Dad, we made sure that our Abbie was nicely tucked away for her evening rest, and leaving all of her shivers far behind her.

But because of our little girl’s semi-active lifestyle, those old tags get a little worn down after some time.

So it’s back to the local Petco to order up a new one…and in case someone happens to find out little girl, we made sure they knew how much we loved her and would want nothing more than to have her back at home with us.

Some say it was by chance, but given how much this little girl has brought into our lives, her parents know it was the biggest dose of good luck that we are able to become the permanent caretaker of our little furball.

Thank you for all of the wonderful years Miss Abbie and we’re looking forward to many more 5 year anniversaries to come.

Welcome Home Abbie, 1/1/2007:

Happy New Year & Abbie Day, 1/1/2012:

Looks like you’ve nailed it Abbie…now, just help me change all of the batteries in the smoke detectors and it’s off to the New Year parties we go.

If it isn’t that extra walk she’s trying to talk you into or that extra 5 minutes of sleep she’s making you give her, chores are often times pushed to the wayside when our little girl gives you that puppy dog face and you can’t help but give in.

But after so many years, you learn to adapt to her ways. Well, if you didn’t, then nothing would get done, really.

So when it comes to filling up at the local gas station, our little girl only has one request: leave that window open & unbuckle our little girl so she could enjoy the view and sniff the breeze while her Dad fills up the Abbie-mobile.

Now, only if I could figure out how to get our little girl to check the oil and clean the windows while her Dad pumps the gas, then we’d be in business…

So how did this talk go? Well, fortunately for the real Santa, he was spared the anguish his poor friend Froggy Claus had to endure at the hands of a feisty Abbie, who obviously didn’t take to the news about her naughtiness all too well…

Well Abbie, a little bit of that action is going to include some last minute Christmas shopping and I’m not sure if any amount of sleep is going to prepare you for the craziness that’s out there for us.

Well, now you do…so you better get going. Right now, before it’s too late.

I’d tell you, but I don’t think you’d be too happy with the answer.

For a girl who’s used to wearing a leash on her walks, our little girl sure seems incredibly unhappy with the same getup we use on our kids (although after seeing us humans use these at the local Target on our own children, I’m beginning to think our canine friends are much better behaved than their upright walking counterparts).

I guess no matter how bad we may think we may have it, nothing is worse than getting denied mid-roll…but I don’t really see that stopping our little girl from finishing that nap she’s so intent on finishing up on.

Now, only if I could figure out how to get a siren mounted to the car, then we’ll be in business…

After 7 fun-filled years, her Mom & Dad finally tied the knot and officially became a family. And as with any wedding, lots of work had to go into it, especially for our own little wedding planner extraordinaire.

And as a final touch, our little girl made she she signed our guest book…but from the looks of things, it doesn’t seem like she wants to give it up after finishing either.

Well, I hate to break this to you, but your old man isn’t all that talented so unless you’re interested in learning the latest in business economics, I’m afraid I’ve got nothing for you.

You definitely are all seeing Abbie, but all knowing? You still have some convincing to do on that one…

I don’t know what’s got you spooked Abbie, but I know how much you love these walks, so let me go ahead of you and check things out for you.

Hey Abbie, sorry to break this to you but you were never in the NFL, and that helmet…well, it’s a coconut.

And from what I’ve been told, our little girl will sit there for hours, waiting, watching and attentively listening for the sound of my car to pull up to the house.

Is there any better way to start off your evening, especially after a long day at work? HECK NO THERE ISN’T.

Even though our little girl wasn’t really called on that much, just having her out there while her Dad painted a few things, cut away at some wood or put together a thing or two was all that was needed to get the job done.

You did some good work there Abbie, some of the finest I’ve ever seen. Now you rest up because when I get home from work, I’m going to be giving you one heck of a well-deserved walk…

Well, you always tried to talk turkey Abbie so it’s only fitting you decided to look like one today too.

Now let’s get down to business and get those mashed potatoes passed my way while the rest of you fight over the drumstick.

Well, I have some good news for you Abbie…you only have one more day to wait and it’s turkey time (but for your vegetarian dad, lots of mashed potatoes!).

Yay!

OK Abbie, I agree that gate was a waste of Association money, but it’s here to stay and even though you can get around it with no effort, your Dad can’t. So if you could just slow down a bit, we’ll be back on our walk in no time.

So who better to lead the charge at our local home improvement store than our own little Abbie, the world’s only shih-tzu handyman around.

Now all you gotta do is replace those treats and squeaky toys in your tool belt with some real tools and we’ll be in business.

Oh, the weekend? Well, look no further because I got it right here!

I’m sorry Abbie…I wish you never got dirty, but since you do, this is how it’s gonna have to be.

Look at the bright side Abbie…after today, it’ll be Thursday and Hump Day will be a distant memory, much like that cat food I caught you eating in the middle of the night that you kept on trying to go back to after I dragged you back into bed.

With an eagle eye and a dedication to barking at anything that might need to be barked at, our little girl is definitely the best in her league when it comes to watching out for any suspicious activity.

You’re doing a great job there Abbie, just make sure you don’t bark at the FedEx guy…he’s got some goodies he’ll be delivering soon and I don’t want to accidentally scare him away with that deceivingly pancake face of yours.

And after having such a great weekend, which included lots of walks and bellyrubs, our fantastic fuzzball definitely deserves all the sleep she could possibly want.

Happy Veteran’s Day everyone, from the proudest American shih-tzu.

Problem is it looks like our Abbie may have underestimated her ability to stay awake and has unceremoniously dozed off during her shift.

It’s all right Abbie because after looking at you, I certainly have no reason to doubt your level of dedication…we’ll just have to work on making sure you get a good night’s sleep before your next shift, that’s all.

Good job Abbie…and that smirk on your face isn’t making things any better.

After an inspection, our Mr. Ben isn’t quite sure what to make of Mr. Pig, but what about our Miss Abbie?

Well, you can always count on her to make her opinions on the matter clear and she has made it apparent that there really isn’t any room for one more in that vast kingdom of hers.

This isn’t a “goodbye”, but rather a “see you later” because there’s nothing better than having two full, uninterrupted days of Abbie to look forward to after five days of working your heart out.

That’s right Abbie, you’re in for a doozie and you’re definitely going to need all the energy you can muster.

I just hope that this rain passes before it’s time because nothing ruins a good walk more than a set of soaked paws.

We all hope for the best for successful procedure and a speedy recovery so Abbie could resume her duties to her Grandma, which include making her smile as much as possible.

Enjoy your rest Abbie because it’s going to take all of my efforts to fight my OCD and keep myself from folding that blanket…but for you, I’ll try my best.

But those hours battling the mean streets with thousands of other candy-hunters has taken a toll on our little girl, who’s not used to more than 10 minutes of physical activity at a time.

Looks like you got yourself quite the resting spot Abbie…well, hope you sleep well because you definitely deserve it.

And if you do happen to encounter our Abbie, it’d be best to hand over some of your candy or else our little girl will have no choice but to cast her curse of the big stinky breath on you…which is probably the worst thing in the world (take my word, it truly is).

You strut it Abbie because it’s gonna be one heck of a weekend, I promise.

Well, at least that’s what I was planning, until our little girl caught a glimpse of some action across the parking lot that she just had to keep an eye on.

From the looks of the U-Haul, it looks like some new neighbors are moving in…and I think deep down inside, Abbie’s hoping they have a dog or two too.

Don’t worry Abbie, that’s what your Dad’s here for. After all, I’m pretty sure you’d help your old man out if he was in the same situation. Well, if it were me, you’d probably try to eat the food on my chin instead.

Yes, I know Abbie…Dad’s not feelin’ it too.

So, if you’re Abbie, you find yourself the most comfortable place in the house and somehow make it look uncomfortable for reasons nobody else but yourself would understand.

Sleep away Abbie because before you know it, high noon will be here and it’ll be time for your afternoon nap.

She can’t seem to get enough of them, and whether they’re clean or used, she always finds herself taking off with one, whether you seem to notice or not.

So if you’re having dinner and your napkin just happens to go missing…well, there’s a good chance that our little friend here has somehow made off with it.

I’m thinking the only reason she assumed her role as top dog is because of the perks of the job…like the incredibly comfortable seat that comes with the position.

I’d like to see how our little girl does when it comes time to actually doing some work…

Usually she likes to get all stretched out when it’s time for sleepys, but our little girl had very little time to get comfortable and instead knocked out looking like a small package that wasn’t unwrapped yet.

Sleep well little Abbie, you deserve it.

Whoa there, slow down little girl…Dad’s having a hard time taking your picture. OK, forget about it, I can’t wait to get down to business too. Now let’s go have some fun already!

Today’s going to be in the 90s, which may seem odd for October, but then again we are living in Southern California.

So when an opportunity to hang out in the shade presented itself, you better believe that our little girl jumped right on it.

Take your time Abbie, after all, your Dad isn’t all that good at coping with the heat too.

Now, let’s go back home and I got some delicious boiled white meat chicken for you. Yummy!

I’m sorry that it flew by and I don’t blame you for feeling so poopy. But while you’re down there sulking, just know that I’ll be at work, eagerly waiting to get home to try and cheer you up.

Unfortunately for our little girl, it wasn’t a carbo load day for her and despite how hard it was for us, we had to stay firm on our decision to turn down her request for some of our pasghetti.

And with the help of her two friends at the groomers, our little girl came out looking like a million bucks.

You clean up pretty well Abbie, now let’s get back home so you can take that nap that it looks like you so badly need.

Oh, it’s Hump Day too?

Well, then…carry on.

I’ve seen her smoosh herself underneath a bed, crammed into a corner behind a bookcase and today, on a dining room chair that’s pushed in underneath the table.

This really makes it hard to find our little girl in a pinch, but whatever makes her feel comfortable and safe is perfectly fine with me.

I’m sorry Abbie but we’re just not ready yet…but when we are, you can be sure that you’ll get first pick on any room you want (which will probably mean every room will be hers, but I’ll let her and the cats figure that one out).

Abbie, I’m not sure if you think you’re a boy dog or if you just like marking your territory like they do, but I gotta admit, you do got good form.

You can stop struggling to stay awake because the weekend’s officially over and it’s back to work for your old man.

All I need for you to do now is to catch up on some Z’s so we can continue the fun when I get home.

Guess what day it is? It’s Friday! Yay!

I hope you’re not biting off more than you can chew there Miss Abbie because that fella looks mighty bigger than you my friend…

I like to call her my little Miss Independent since the only times she’s really interested in anything I have to say is when I tell her it’s time for a walk or when it’s treat time.

Otherwise it’s Abbie doing her own thing, and that’s fine with me.

But there are times that she absolutely demands my attention and goes to extreme lengths to stop me in my tracks.

OK Abbie, I’ll stop working on cutting that special archway out of laminated wood that’s supposed to keep you out of the cat tower already, but I will have finish it eventually because Mama & Ben aren’t too happy with you taking over their space all the time.

I’m gonna let you slide this time around because there’s really no way I can turn down that face of yours, but I am expecting you to do some kind of trick to earn this reward next time around.

I’m sorry Abbie, but there’s really nothing I can do about it…and you ignoring me certainly isn’t helping.

Now, I’m pretty sure you’re an ancient Chinese breed Abbie so that argument really isn’t making all that much sense. But, the idea of being away from you for 2 weeks is enough to have us thinking about bringing you, but the fact that you’ll spend the entire time in quarantine means that decision was made on our behalf long, long ago.

So, given those two things, our little girl actually has her own bed for her to call her own.

How does she like it? Well, I’ll let you be the judge of that…

Good attitude Abbie…now, if you need me, I’ll be hiding out in my office…

Even when it comes to the usual house chores, like changing out the sheets, if we don’t have something ready for her at all times then we’re in for some trouble.

But lucky enough for us our temporary solution is deemed good enough by our high maintenance queen of the world and we can all now breath a collective sigh of relief as another catastrophe has been averted.

You have no place here in Southern California, so you can just go ahead and leave and never come back OK?

Good bye,
Abbie
Sent from Abbie’s Thunder Hideout Underneath Daddy’s Bed

You’re looking pretty sneaky there Abbie, but you definitely are in the best position for the job.

I guess I’ll find out sooner or later, right?

So when we had a little summer BBQ get together, out little girl staked out a spot where she could keep an eye on an eye on the outside, while staying close enough to hear any errant food bits that may have fallen on the ground that she could pounce on.

The best of both worlds, as Abbie puts it…and I couldn’t be happier for her.

Now Abbie, I hope you don’t mind but we’re going right back to sleep when we get back in…oh, you don’t mind at all? Yeah, I was pretty sure you were gonna say that you lazy girl.

Unfortunately for me, I hadn’t realized that our 8-pound wonder would take whatever I gave her and use every little inch of it to her advantage.

And since Mama Cat absolutely loves our little girl, when it came to borrowing her most favorite pillow toy of all time, our sweet Mama didn’t mind one bit.

Unfortunately for Mama, she couldn’t have predicted how comfortable our Abbie was going to get and after seeing what she saw that day, I wouldn’t blame her one bit if she decided to turn down our little girl if she asked to borrow it again.

But knowing that all good things must come to an end, out little girl puts on a melancholy face as she sadly watches her weekend go quietly away.

It’ll be OK Abbie, before you know it, it’ll be back…and I promise it’ll be much better next time around.

So when she realized it was finally Friday, our funkalicious little girl decided to strut her way into the weekend, knowing that it’s going to be nothing but good times for the new few days.

And what better place to pause than a nice spot in the grass, under a big tree.