My favorite subject...

...for my new toy.

This guy!

Why are you waking me?

I will ignore you until you go away.

He loves it. 

He just hides it well.

Motley Crew

Austin's mom Leslie is in Florida this week for a romantic trip with her boyfriend Matt. They are seeing Michael Buble in concert and visiting Leslie's family. While they are off trysting in the sunshine, I am taking care of this crew.

My house is a mess, but at least there is a whole lot of cuddling.

Happy new week!

Cone of Shame, Part Deux

Bingley is happy to announce {to all of his fan favorites out there} that the Cone of Shame is GONE!

After a few test days this week, and a noticeable reduction in the size of his {now} little bump, he is now free and clear of the cone.

You can all breathe a sigh of relief along with all of Bingley's little doggie friends. He recently made friends with the new Puggle puppy across the street {Brutus}, and Brutus is definitely glad to see the cone gone. He came over the other night to lick Bingley's face all over in commemoration. 

Happy Friday!

Snow Dog

Bingley loves the snow...

...and hates the cone of shame.

Cone of Shame

A few weeks ago, we noticed a tiny little bump on Bingley's ear.

That little bump soon grew into a big bump that we, being the responsible puppy parents that we are, were seriously concerned about. We took him to the vet and they diagnosed him with what is called a "button tumor" or a histiocytoma. The diagonosis took about 5 minutes...and $150.

In any case, they let us know that it will bleed really easily and we could pay to have it surgically removed...or just wait and it would go away on it's own.

We clearly chose the later option, being more cost effective (read: free).

Well in no time, of course the thing started bleeding, and then it scabbed, which made it itch, which made him scratch, and the whole cycle would start again. We tried everything we could think of, but we finally had to resort to...

...the cone of shame.

Here's to hoping it won't really be three months before this thing goes away.

I think our dog is losing his street cred.

Business as Usual

Well, it has been almost two months since my last post. That is disgraceful.

Let's do some life updates, eh?

First - AUSTIN IS HOME! Wooo!

I will get all the photos together to do a real Homecoming post, but in short, it was the best day. We had beautiful weather (I even got a bit sunburned) and everything went splendidly.

{This is my friend Leigh Anne and I on the pier waiting for our hubbys! Funny story - we got married on the same day, at the same time - and then both of our husbands left for the Burke. Look at those smiles!}

Since he has been home it has been pretty much business as usual.

{Normal fun family stuff, like carving pumpkins, and you know trying to keep the dog from eating it}

Austin had leave for about a week and a half after coming home and we did tons of fun things, like hanging shutters on the house, installing new lights in the bathroom and hallways...you know, totally glamorous. We did manage to get to Busch Gardens for Hallow-scream, where Austin forced me to do all of the scary stuff. All of it. And carve up some pumpkins, when Haley came to visit!

{Guess who did which?}

On the 2nd of November we both started working again! Woo! It had been a long break for me, not so long to Austin, but a ship in port is a whole different ball game that he hadn't experienced yet. He is really enjoying it, though we are both getting a little tired of the overnight watches already.

I was offered and accepted a job at Regent University as an Incoming Student Advisor for Undergraduates. I love it! I started on the same day as my new friend Brianne, and she and I have been having fun in training together. I will be academically advising a whole section of incoming undergraduate students, both Freshmen and Transfers. To see me being a professional click here. There I am, bottom right! Soon I will have a bio up on the page links on the right as well.

So, we have been doing a lot of work on the house, and trying to get in the groove of being a family in the same city, while working and taking care of a dog and a grad student adopted child (ha! if you haven't heard, my sister Ashley is attending grad school at ODU and living with us. We love having her here!)

Now that I am back to a semi routine, I am hoping that blogging will return to normal! It was so much harder to get things done when I had, well, little to do. Though I had a lot to do once we got into the house. You will see when I start updating on the projects!

Until then, I am glad to be back sharing our life -- accelerated. ;)

Fun Birthday Present!

The second of August was my 25th birthday. Oy! When did I get so old? ;)  I got such fun presents and messages from all sorts of people, but I wanted to feature one present that will look so nice in our new house!
    

  

"Oh! You have the camera out...

  

  

  

...that must mean you want a picture of me!"

     

     

No Bings, actually, just the sign.

    

    

   

There we go.

    

Thanks Corey for the awesome gift!

Happy Birthday Bings!

Yes, I know...everyone is waiting for news on the list. Rest assured - when we have news, you will too! {he turns in the list tomorrow morning and we will find out on Friday}.

So to focus on more fun {and less anxiety-ridden} topics...

Yesterday was Bingley's 2nd Birthday!

Just a little under two years ago we brought home this little thing...

...who grew into this

 

We decided to make his birthday a little fun this year since he spent his first birthday at a boarder's while we were in Charleston for the wedding of the Deans {Happy Anniversary Guys!!!} 

Anyway, it was a gorgeous day, so we went for a nice long walk - and then we went a little over into the line of 'those people'. 

... 

We baked our dog a cake. 

It's true.

... 

Apparently it is not that uncommon, as when I googled "Birthday Cake for Dogs" this one came right up. I had all of the ingredients so we figured, hey - why not?

We stuck in some dog biscuits like candles and set him down for some pictures. We did not - I repeat, did not - sing Happy Birthday. It was hilarious to watch, so I will give you the story in photos.

 

 Hey Guys, is that for me?

 

Really? Can I have it? Please?

Please??

 

 um, please?

 

This...is.... 

 

 the...best...day...ever.

 

After he finished he passed right out in what we are pretty sure was a food coma. Cheers!

Highlights of Thanksgiving

We had an AMAZING time in Virginia, and though it was quite a whirlwind, I managed to snag a photo or two, and stole some from others...

Austin: turkey carver extraordinaire: 

The pup, exploring some fabulous smells:

and the after-effects of dinner-a nap on the floor:

 

Hope everyone else had a fabulous Thanksgiving! 

Happy Halloween! Part Deux.

From Bings:

{he really enjoyed his shirt - can't you tell?}

Classes for Bings

For those of you who have not met our beagle Bingley, this is typically what you will see when you walk into our apartment...or he will be trying to lick your feet, and get acquainted with you - his new best friend.

Overall, he is pretty well behaved...I taught him sit, lay down, stay, rollover, and the ever popular "bang bang" trick (where he plays dead) when he was still a little puppy. Lately, we have been thinking about some ongoing cognitive development...we think it would be good for him...Plus he will get to play with some other pups...I know, I know, I have been studying education for too long, no worries, we are still aware that he is a dog.

So, we are enrolling him in Doggy School, aka Beginners Obedience, at "Pawtropolis" here in Athens. Tonight is our first session for seven weeks. Wow. And get this: tonight is a "Parent's Orientation." He is not even coming with us! We will see how this goes! Look forward to reports on our progress in the future :)

1 Week!

ONE WEEK! oh my goodness. I always knew that it would arrive, but now it's finally here! so here is the countdown:

 1 day until I leave Madison :(

 

7 days until I fly to Rhode Island

  

9 Days until Graduation! 

  

10 Days until my birthday!!

  

11 days until my family is complete again! 

July 2008: the month of emotional turmoil

I can't believe that it is July already.

This month is going to be insane for me and my emotions. On one hand I do not want this month to end because it means that I am going to be done with my internship and be leaving Wisconsin...

On the other hand I will get to see Austin and all my friends in VA and GA and be reunited with my pup!

This month will alternately crawl and fly by...I just know it already.

So, in the spirit of reflection, here is the beginning of my list of things I will/will not miss about WI...

Things I will miss:

• Sarah, Tricia, Melissa, Derek and Kevin (in no particular order)
• Ian's pizza...pictures to come but they have flavors like "Lasagna," "Macaroni and Cheese," and "Steak Barbecue and French Fry"
• Being within driving distance to my family for the first time in 5 years 
• Being within reasonable driving/walking distance to: Einstein's, Cosi, Noodles and Co., and J.Crew
• Temperate Weather 
• Indie Coffee
• Concerts on the Square
• The Farmer's Market 

Things I will not miss:

• Counting down to seeing Austin 
• The uncomfortable twin bed I currently sleep on 
• Not having a Bingley foot warmer at night
•  Being far away from my friends!
• Having to explain the difference between Southern and Hillbilly
• Having people get whiplash every time I say "y'all"
• Not being crunchy cool enough to have a bike
• Almost being run down by mopeds

I miss these faces