Our Little Rugrats

We don't have any kid rugrats running around but we do have these two pups. 

This is my girl, Aspen.  I got her about a year and a half before I graduated college.   Wasn't she so stinking cute?!?  She still is but she keeps me on my toes.  Oh and yes, she does cross her legs when she lays down :)  If you ever tell her you want kisses she'll run up to you and lick your chin, sweet.  She is laid back kind of lazy much like me, lol.

This is Cooper, Tommy has wanted a Weimaraner named Cooper ever since I met him.  So once we got married we got little (now huge) Coop to give Aspen another dog to play with.  He's the funniest, quirkiest dog ever.  His tail wags constantly, even when he is scared at the vet.  His bark is LOUD and he barks often. He's very active and so much like Tommy. 

From these descriptions of our dogs you can tell we love them very much.  Seriously, we do.  But here lately I've been ready to strangle them both at times. 

About two weeks ago, I ran some errands after work and by the time I got home to feed the dogs it was maybe 6ish.  I go out back to find that Aspen is not there.  I frantically look all over the yard and find a tiny hole near a gate we never use - she got out.  I'm hysterical, Tommy comes home to help me look, our friends Rachael and Clay come over to help (love you guys!) and our wonderful neighbor rode around looking.  7:00 comes and goes... no Aspen, 8:00 same, 9:00 I'm getting really sad/depressed/upset and then Tommy walks in.  He finally found a neighbor that said she had spent the afternoon with them until animal control picked her up.  omg, I felt so relieved yet so mad at her!!  She spent the night in doggie jail and we bailed her out the next morning for $40.  Shew... what a night!  Our thoughts, Cooper dug the hole and Aspen got out.

Last weekend we came home late to find out that Cooper had been sick while we were gone.  I was afraid they had killed some animal while we were gone so I sent Tommy out in the yard to see but nothing.  We brought them inside thinking that maybe he just ate too much but when Tommy went to let them out that morning he had been sick again (inside... ugh!  now we need new carpet in the basement sooner than later) AND his mouth was swollen huge.  I'm talking his lips were enormous.  Here we go off to the vet.  Cooper freaks out on the table at the vet but other than that he's pretty good.  The vet said he thought that he got stung by something and thought the throwing up was unrelated.  Lots of shots, meds and a vet bill of about $125 he's all better.  Our thoughts, Aspen tried to snap at a bee (bc she does this to all bugs) it stung Cooper, he ate it and made him sick.

Promise we love them but they are definitely our rugrats that are usually causing some kind of trouble.

sew what?

Ok, so back last fall my mom had me sorting through all of my stuff that was still in my room at home.  That process led me to the idea of sewing a t-shirt quilt.  what?? I had no idea how to sew, did not have a sewing machine and had no clue what all this would involve but in my mind, "how hard could this really be??" ha.

Here's the sewing machine I got for Christmas.  Yay, easy to learn to use (definitely what I needed) and the cute sewing case my grandmother bought me.  I don't have pics of every step but I'll put up the ones that I have.

The next step was to start cutting the shirts (eek!  that's scary) and then iron on interfacing to the backs of the shirts.  Thank goodness for my friend Mollie because I had to google what interfacing was... lol.  She let me have some to use on the shirts and borrow this fun tool that helped me to cut the shirts in relatively straight lines.  Straight lines and I apparently don't get along well and that can make sewing stressful let me tell ya!  Here are all the shirts cut and layed out in the pattern I want to sew them in. 

(they didn't quite end up in this same pattern or look this perfect but I made do)

Well I started sewing and my Type A personality started taking over.  I think I was seam ripping more than I was sewing.  Shew... it began to not be as fun as I thought it would be.  After about a week of just sewing after work some I had all the shirts sewed into rows and was able to get them off of my living room floor (Tommy was thankful he could finally walk across the living room again) The next time I brought the shirts back out I got WAY too frustrated and put them in a garbage bag.

Almost two months later I pulled out the bag and let go of my perfection and just sewed the shirts together.  There are a couple areas that need a little TLC and I'm going to recruit some help to fix these but overall I'm so proud that I have the all in one piece :)  It feels so good to accomplish this step in the process. 

There's alot more to do for this to be a quilt but I think this was by far the hardest part.  I'll keep you posted on my progress and hopefully have a finished product soon.

Cruisin' to Cozumel

Here are some pictures from the cruise that Tommy and I took last week.  We had a great time and enjoyed our much needed time off from work. 

Formal night

The boat docked in Cozumel

We have a picture almost identical to this one from the last time we were in Cozumel.

Tommy was even wearing the same shorts, lol.

Carlos and Charlies

Tommy got them to make me a flower bracelet.

This picture is probably the best one I have of the water. 

Pictures just don't do it justice.  Everytime I'm in Cozumel the water just about takes my breath away!  It is so, so blue.

Last night on the ship :(  Headed home.

We got back in time on Monday for Tommy to make it to class and then back to the real world.  I think I really love vacations too much, I've already been searching for what we should do on our next trip.  Suggestions??

a little reading material

This year I have been reading like it's going out of style.  I love it!  It's been so long since I have been able to read for pleasure without feeling guilty for not studying instead.  At work we have been passing around some great reads...

These two have to be the best books I've read in a while.  I could not put them down.  Tommy was pretty glad when I finished both.  I've only read one book by the next author but it was another feel good book and I plan to read "Folly Beach" next. 

My next recent book goes to the opposite end of the spectrum. 

I've always loved John Grisham but lately I haven't been enjoying his newer books, they all seemed to be the same with different names.  This one kept me reading and was pretty good.  A patient was reading it at the same time I was and they actually brought me an autographed copy of  his next book "The Associate" (I think this is his newest, not for sure though).  How cool is that?!?  I'll be reading it soon.

Lastly, my grandmother and I have always read these hilariously crazy books by Janet Evanovich.   I thought we were the only people that read them and then I ran across someone else that did too.  I was so excited to find out that others love these books too.  Seriously, you'll be laughing out loud while you are reading.  Start with "One for the Money" and you won't put them down.

Now, it's yalls turn.... any good books lately??  Obviously, I can read just about anything!

All Aboard!

Tommy and I are headed out on a cruise the end of next week.  It was a last minute thing that we just decided to book.  I'm so excited for this much needed break! 

After booking the trip I realized that my sunglasses have been missing since January. I really haven't needed them because it's been so dark everytime I drove to and from work.  Now that things are getting brighter it's been killing my eyes and I've been much more aware at how much I need new sunglasses.  They finally came in yesterday and I love them :) 

Shopping for sunglasses is a terrible ordeal for me because I have a narrow face and everything is wide. These RayBans were great because they were square but still wrapped around my face.  Now, I need some black sunglasses... any suggestions?  I still really miss my costas and hope they will be found one day.  I kept up with them for 4 years, I think that could be a record for me. I sure hope I keep these for that long!

Pictures to come of me wearing them after the cruise.  Happy Saturday!

two years already?

Tommy and I celebrated 2 years of being married yesterday.  Whoa... that went way too fast.  Last year I was pumped about what I gave Tommy but this year he wins the creativity award.  The traditional 2 year anniversary gift is cotton.

Can you tell what it is??  Cotton Candy!  Dang, why didn't I think of that?  It was great.  Here's to remembering our wedding, probably the best time of my life with our families all together.  I'm just not sure there has ever been a happier day.

Anyone else??

Is anyone else as excited as I am about daylight savings time??  This was my view on the way to work Tuesday. 

It's a quick cell phone pic but it shows how bright it was around 6:30 am :)  Last week at about the same time it looked like midnight.  I REALLY dislike losing an hour of sleep but I LOVE driving to work while it's daylight.  Daylight savings here we come!