Christmas in October

We gathered together for an early Christmas last night. Brian was called again to serve- apparently once is not enough. He will be off to Gitmo next week and will miss out on the holidays so Jackie decided to make Christmas come alittle early this year. Complete with Christmas decorations and presents and the "Christmas elf" even made an appearance hahaha!

We will miss him but hopefully this send off will remind him how much we all love him--

And just like every other Christmas we tried to take family pictures... and even having Christmas in October didn't make it any better!!

quiet

Its incredibly quiet here this morning. Overcast and dreary too- Maizy went to the vet yesterday to be spayed which meant she needed to stay overnight so there was no puppy to wake me, no puppy to chase the cats, no puppy to try and get close to Bonnie-- its amazing that something only 10lbs can create such chaos in the morning.. but like the sound of the coffee pot brewing its become a comfortable sound.

Random Thursday

Random thoughts

• Three dogs, Three bowls, three different types of food... do you think any of them could get it right? Nope
• Got a call from Christopher-- he asked what I was doing... me of course "working, what about you?" "sitting 6 feet from the ocean" Yea both my kids are on the shore... Amanda moves into her new place tomorrow and he's working down in Norfolk for the week
• Maizy starts school again tonight.. kinda worried as she may have forgotten everything from puppy class.... and no we didn't go take a refresher session like the teacher suggested in between classes
• Trying to find new kitty litter because nothing so far is working with Furbee-- Another reason why dogs are better than cats
• Lovin gas prices being down to $2.93-- actually filled up for less than $50 today

Madison

Madison is staying with us for the week... Her momma has a business trip this week and unfortunatly its not a dog friendly event.. But we are ok with that! Its been alittle challenge with Maizy here... seems the routine that we worked out with Madison is the same one we have taught Maizy-- theres alittle tension during dinner as they both feel its their "right" to sit between Mikes feet... and at bedtime they both ran to the bed waiting for someone pick them up... Needless to say Madison has much better manners in bed than Maizy. She quickly assumed "her spot" and Maizy thought it was a good time to play! After some reworking Madison decided that perhaps she would take a spot under the covers (one of her favorite bedtime spots) -- you would think this would be the key to all of us getting some sleep... but Maizy didn't understand, shes not an under the covers kind of girl... and thought it was a game to un-cover Madison... yes you could her the growls from the covers... today we will try some new tactics to keep the peace...

Wedding weekend

Somehow David grew up overnight.. and now he's married. He's been Christophers best friend for as long as I can remember. They went to kindergarten together, They played sports together, they went to cub scouts together, they vacationed with each other year after year... We adopted David as our "other son" years ago, and I know his Mom set an extra place at the table too many times to remember... Christopher even introducted David to his new wife... and I think everyone would agree that she fits just perfectly into their lives...

This weekend we were blessed to attend David and Natalies wedding. The weather was as close to perfect as you can get for a fall wedding. During the ceremony a rainbow even graced the sky.. blue birds were playing in the trees and it was warm enough to sit outside all night.

The ceremony was just what I would have expected from David-- afterall his groomsmen were all his buddies from HighSchool... they were all dressed up but underneath they were the same silly little boys -- each one charming but as a group they couldn't help but revert to class clowns. They are a good bunch-- full of themselves, full of happiness...

Luckily Natalie is a good sport because there was nothing solomn about the days events.. the boys giggled at every turn and kept us all wondering would happen next.

Speaking of Natalie-- she was beautiful (as always) --her dress suited her personality-- She glowed all night. She did a remarkable job of planning her wedding to suit her and Davids personalities. And I know everyone had a wonderful time.

And once all the prerequisite wedding "stuff" was done-- It didn't take long for the dance floor to fill and we all danced the night away-- She picked a great DJ who had no problem mixing the popular dance music in with some country classics set to a dance beat.. I'm not sure everyone understood it but the kids loved it and didn't sit down all night. I can't help but laugh as for years I listened to country music and the kids quickly turned the station on me.. its funny to hear them singing right along with it now...

Sad face

Thats an unhappy face... but sometimes you gotta treat a dog like a dog... Poor Maizy has never been on a chain... leash yes but on a chain outside by herself nope... and she just wasn't sure what to do.. Unlike Madison who would scratch at the door do come in ... or Bonnie who would bark.. Maizy did neither.. she just sat there looking in.

Maizy hasn't figured out how to bark yet. strange I know. She cries, she whimpers, she even makes growly noises but no barking -- shes tried but it always comes out like a whisper... And I don't encourage anything more. I like my silent dog... with no tags hanging shes quite stealthy-- only her breathing (snorting) gives her away. I think barking would take away her charm.

So how long was she treated like a dog? How long did she stay on that chain... only long enough for me to go grab the camera... and then once again she was free to chase her cat friends and run circles around Bonnie..

jars

This is how I left the dining room table... Mason jars all lined up neatly in a row... cleaned...shining brightly... but somehow hours later Mike decided that they needed to be all put away before I got to play with them.. decide exactly what to do with them...

Funny I can't get him to throw his coke can in the trash, nor can I get him to hang his coat up or even collect his tools that he leaves on the table... but these blue jars --hmm he had no problem putting them away..

These jars were our first wedding purchase. Amanda mentioned them and Mike jumped on finding them and buying them.... alot has changed in the whole wedding planning since then...They were the perfect touch for a barn reception ... but like a puzzle piece we will find a way to incorporate them-- They catch the light just so... almost like they glow... and they are just the perfect blue...

Show your Voice

So have you voiced your opinion? I know you watched the debate, I know you are checking in with CNN to see if in fact the "Vote" is in... but have you told your congressman what you really think???

Yea Tom Davis heard from me today.... And it wasn't hard for me to say VOTE NO--- I am tired of hearing how every candidate for office is against unnecessary government spending but then turns around and supports it.
Shame on all of them for trying to slide "pork" into this bill.... How can they look us in the face and add on money for Wooden arrows???? IF this was truly as important as they say-- a CRISIS then maybe they should stop the greed and treat it with the importance that it needs.

And furthermore... When there is $5.00 in my checking account I certainly don't spend $100... and isn't that what they are voting to do??? WE HAVE A DEFICIT right??? We would have to borrow more money from CHINA right???

Winner

Continuing with my winning streak of late-- I posted on
Jeanettes Blog and won some cute decorative scissors for the scraproom.. gotta love free! now I just have to convince Mike that they are worth putting a nail in the wall.. he really "hates" when I mess up the walls with nails...
I think it just might be time to buy a lottery ticket

A little t-shirt...

This picture is for my favorite children... Rockin it old skool-- what you think??? Ok this t-shirt was actully bought for Madison last christmas... its supposedly a size medium.... in whose size world I don't know???? It never fit Madison... and I put it on Maizy awhile ago-- but really in 90 degree weather is it fair to put clothes on someone whose body temp runs 101 all the time??? No I think not... so I put it away... but today she refused to get out of bed because it was so cold (hmm 52 degrees this morning) (I think Madison taught her that trick) (mental note to self: close the bedroom windows BEFORE GOING TO BED)

Anyway tonight she still looked alittle cold... so I thought its not really sweater weather but maybe a little shirt was in order... from these pictures it looks like shes doing fine... alittle neck roll ... T-shirt shrunk??? hahaha but what you don't see is her running and rolling trying to chase the shirt off of herself.... This may take some training...
But the question remains... Are you on the list???? Thought you would like that one Christopher....

Signs of Fall

I guess Fall is here. I reached for my slippers tonight... that is after I changed into my sweat pants.... While I wouldn't trade Summer in for any season there's something comforting about pulling out slippers and jammie pants...certainly easier to slide into laziness at the end of a day.
Its not like our 80 degree days are gone... not for a longshot. But the cool crisp mornings and brisk evenings once the sun goes down are definitely here to stay.
Any day now the leaves will start to turn and then fall and then I know I will be wishing for days sans slippers.. but today it was "a good thing".

GRADUATION

-- Tonight was Maizy's night!! GRADUATION!!!

Oh yes we passed all the tests-- Sitting, Waiting, Walking, finding our mom's, even the hard Down command... And for a brief moment we even showed we can stay.....

Unlike the "other" graduations we have attended recently --the graduates in Maizy's class got to show off what they learned at graduation AND have some fun they all took part in one of their favorite class activities-- Puppy races and they got to play in the tube...

I'm not sure who learned more in class me or Maizy but after so much fun with our class mates we decided to continue on to Advanced classes...

Now to be honest I'm not sure how much Maizy has really learned other than sit and down... she rarely "leaves it" and never gets the "off" command... and stay--hmm she can only stay for a blink of a second before she comes running toward you... but her teacher promises that if "we" keep practicing she will eventually be a pro at it... I guess we will wait and see

But tonight just like her friends, Madison, Cooper and Rusty she is a GRADUATE!!

Happy Birthday!

In my bestest singing voice...Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthdayy(yes I hit the high note and no those are not dogs howling in the background) tooooooo youuuu!

Sending Birthday wishes out to my favoritiest Sister-in-law, who is also my bestest buddy & partner in crime..

Enjoy your day... and remember "Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History"

late night

After working way to late tonight, I came home to happy mail.... Maizy found it interesting and I bet Amanda would too-- after all its "stuff" for the big day... Maybe its a surprise for now... but maybe she'll let me show it off later???
I learned the hard way that working late + puppy = an even longer night once we get home. See Maizy is done everyday at about 4:30pm-- shes had enough being "good" and is ready to go home. My boss feels otherwise... he thinks we should stay that last hour-- And tonight staying for an extra hour and then the 45 minute drive home made it a very long day for puppy!! Needless to say shes been going at 100mph all night and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight!

marching on

Slow day== I did clean the desk-- haha, and actually moved the filing cabinet to a more accessable part of the room... like that is going to solve the desk issues??? And I got the car vaccumed out-- other than that it seemed like I just puttered all day not accomplishing much of anything.
Mike is still nursing his poision ivy-- It seems to be getting worse not better-- but I read that it could take up to three weeks to heal... maybe next time he will listen when I tell him not to work in it..hard headed and stubbourn all in one.
Christopher went to a wedding yesterday and the best man as it turns out is also going to be his "new" brother in law. Small world-- Ryan and Christopher hung out for most of the day today. I guess Ryan flies back home (Oregon I think) tomorrow. I always forget that Coreys brother and Christopher were friends too in high school... at least we know some of the family will get along!

planning and cleaning

I find it harder and harder planning "the wedding" with the bride being long distance. Email and phones are great but its still hard. We spent alot of time this past week going back and forth over designing the Save the Date cards.. it would have been much easier if we were in the same state.... But I am happy to say we can check that off the list... now on to bridesmaid dresses... another long distance nightmare.. with the Bridesmaids in 4 different locations separated by 4-7 hours again we are turning to email and phone calls to get the dresses picked, tried on and ordered.

Somewhere in this mess of a desk there is a list of items to be done.... maybe the first item of business should be to clean the desk?

Just my opinon

So its been 7 years since 9/11--- I don't know about you- but it certainly doesn't seem like that many years have passed... I guess these are memories that will linger forever. But after all these years all I can think of today is what happened to Shock and Awe?? While I don't think any of us wants war, I think if we are going to be in war alittle Shock and Awe is in order.... We are supposed to be a super power and 7 years later we are still trying to be politically correct. Either they are the bad guys or they are not... if they are I say Atom Bomb ...if they are not then its time to come home. We can Flex our muscles here at home just as well.. protect our boarder. Stop importing-- stop exporting... become self sufficient. We have enough "wars" to fight right here on our own land. We could embrace the ingenuity of our people, we could all speak the same language, we could educate our children to solve OUR problems and not those of the world. Let the world struggle alittle without us. Let Mexico figure out what to do with their population, let the Middle East figure out how to live in harmony by themselves.. let Tsunami flooded countries rebuild by themselves as we rebuild our own bridges and roads... Do I need to make a list of what we should be taking care of right here in the good ol USA?
It seems we have spent way to much time trying to help others in the last 7 years and not enough time helping ourselves.

One three day weekend is not enough

Nothing like a 3 day weekend that felt like a whole weeks worth of fun. Hurricane Hannah may have blew through but she sure didn't stop us from having a whole lot of fun. Despite the knowledge that the races would probably be cancelled/rescheduled we all drove to Richmond Friday and like a precision marching band all descended on Richmond at the same time making tailgating together easy... the weather held out until late afternoon-- hot and sticky --perfect for a day of hanging out under the tent--telling tall tales and playing games. Even when the rain came it wasn't enough for us to run-- we stood our ground waited for the official notice that the races were rescheduled... And as it poured made our plans to come back and do it again.

Our original plans were to head to Lake Anna for the night-- but Hurricane Hannah made a Nascar race for Saturday an impossibility and the thought of getting stuck with that many people in Mike's small house and the fact that the animals were probably missing us as much as we missed them we decided to head home in the pouring rain... Christopher went to the lake-- Corey, Amanda, Mike and I headed home... despite the longgggg ride in the rain it turned out to be such a good thing.. we were able to get Maizy (who was vacationing with Toni and Robin) get a ton of house work done and repack the car for round two once the hurricane passed.

So yesterday we got up at 6am and did it all over again-- ready for not just a day of racing but a doubleheader--- one race at 1pm and another at 7pm... talk about a long day. This time we decided since Amanda had to leave after the first race we would try and leave Madison and Maizy in the kitchen with some baby gates-- it actually worked out just fine... unless you count a puppy who was so full of energy there was no way she was going to sleep when we finally drug ourselves home at 11pm... Other than alot of leaves and branches that were down you would have never noticed that Hannah had come through the day before we got lucky with a day that was bright and hot--again... Everyones driver made the race exciting giving us all something to cheer about--even Bowyer managed to make it into the "chase" with points to spare. Hey even Casey Mears, my driver gave me something to cheer about-- he actually made his way to the top 10 for a good portion of the day and you ask why do we do this to ourselves?? just so we can see this happy face...

If I close my eyes I can see you

Off to spend a redneck weekend in Richmond! its NASCAR time.....Left my Maizy home vacationing with her buddies Rusty and Phoebie-- missing her terribly.....

Crossing my fingers the hurricane winds and water stay way east... no fun hanging out in the rain waiting for someone to cancel the race....

holiday weekend

I know I know-- it was a long weekend.. and its just turned into a long week--even though its really a short week... I just checked my email for the first time all week... 178 emails that I've missed all week.... crazy busy at work and at home?? I guess busy too-- doing I don't know what though... This weekend will mark 5 weekends in a row that I have been out of the house... out of town to be exact... I think the stress of never staying home is starting to get to me because I feel like nothing has been accomplished in a long time.. yea the dishes are done and the clothes washed... but other than that all my lists remain uncrossed off and they just seem to keep growing...

We were at the lake this past weekend... wonderfully hot! and that made it super easy to spend time in the water..

And of course it wouldn't be a holiday without a "fish" picture--- Mike may not have gotten the big one this time... but Nick did! A big ol Catfish...