Reclining: the new walking.

Wow, friends, so much to tell!

I'm not going to appologize for neglecting you, because I'm not sorry.

I've been so busy living life that blogging about it hasn't been a number one priority.

I am, however, sorry for the fact that I miss the connection that blogging has brought me to all of you pretties.

Let's start here.

Today I am at work...which means I am currently employed!!

Employed by a wonderful company, the one I mentioned here, about the job that I had all of you crossing your fingers and toes for me for! {Thanks for that, by the way!}

I feel so blessed.

Matt and I both do.

He loves his job, the variety and challenges that accompany it every day.

He has bid farewell to monotony and embraced the changes that each day brings.

And if there was any question before on whether or not I was overcome with obsession over my niece, all of those questions can cease to exist as I can officially tell you, I'M OBSESSED!!!!

Seriously, I am so in love with that little sassy pants that it could probably border on mental illness.

She's at the age where she recognizes people and is equally obsessed with pulling my hair and glasses.

I call them "love tugs".

Would you even believe me if I told you she took her very first steps last week?!

Because she did. She did it and she's not even 10 months old yet.

Gypsy baby is growing up so fast, I can't even handle it!

What I can handle is this:

Just chillin'. Like a villain. In the grocery store.

Homegirl is obviously is wayyyy too cool for all us folks who choose to push the carts instead of recline in them.

Get with it people.

Salt Lake or Bust

So a few things have changed since we last talked.

1.)  I'm in a new state. The state where Utahns reside, to be specific.

2.)  In true Marcie fashion, I have a new hair color to go along with my new life change. 

Burgundy / brunette would be a great description of it. 

3.)  It's a new year!! 2013!!!! Can you even believe it?! If you're reading this, I'm assuming you, like me, survived the dreaded "End of the World" fiasco that was supposed to go down in December. 

Silly Mayans. When will you ever learn?!

{source}

After a long drive {approximately 25 hours} and five states later, Matt, the girls and I all made it safely to our new home in Salt Lake City.

The girls made the trip doped up on dramamine and kisses.

 They were the sweetest road trip buddies! Such little angels for having to be in the car for so long. And would you even believe that they still LOVE car rides?! I can hardly believe it myself. They must get their adventurous spirit from me! ;)

All in all, we're getting settled into our semi-temporary home! The cold has been a much bigger adjustment than either of us expected, especially considering I grew up here! I don't know how I managed to forget how frigid the winter air in Utah! Husband started his job this week and I've had two interviews with a company that I'm hoping will love me as much as I do them! 

{Please, oh please cross your fingers for me!}

And one last thing....Matt and I feel so UNBELIEVABLY grateful for the love and support that we've received from our families during this transition! Moving is no easy task, and we couldn't have done it without their help. From helping us get packed up, flying down to help with the drive and then to helping us unpack when Matt was sick with the flu, we both feel overwhelmed with all of the love and support our families have given us. We would be lost without all of their generosity! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! We love you all so much!

The Announcement {& lovey, dovey pictures}

Honestly people, did you really think I would make you wait a month for the announcement?!

Let's review.

1.) I'm a girl. Keeping secrets is not my strong suit. So unless you don't mind my husband, best friend and sister knowing, it's best if you don't ask.

2.) My attention span is that of a toddler. I would forget the announcement if I had to wait a month.

3.) Most of you reading are already aware of the announcement.

Cuatro.) Although I was flattered by all of you assuming that I'm mature enough to grow, nurture and raise a human being {cough, cough...pregnancy}, I'm hoping that it's not because all of these pumpkin bars I've been eating are starting to show.

5.) When I posted the "In one month..." part of the announcement, I meant it in the fact that the surprise is actually happening in one month. Obviously it's not a baby.

But aren't our family pictures so cuteeeeee?!!!!!!

If only you know what it took to get the dogs to hold still for the long length of a camera click. Their attention span is almost as bad as mine! You'll notice that Lola has obviously spotted a squirrel.

A few of you sweet souls thought that we were possibly starting the adoption process......well that's not what the announcement is this time, but I would like to think it's the first big step toward making that happen.

I'm sure you're done with my rambling and ready to hear our news. Here it is:

We're moving to Utah!!!!!!!!

Yes, folks! I'll be reunited with my beautiful mountains, precious niece and lovely family!

The moving decision actually came to be reality in October when Matt was offered a job to be a project engineer at an excavating company. We both have been praying so much about this decision and have had so many little "signs" that there's no question on whether or not God is going before us in this next step! There's a lot of emotions going on as we get ready to take this big jump, but excitement is definitely predominant, especially as it gets closer! 

Our days of living on Tulsa time have nearly come to a close, and we are cherishing every single one of them! Tulsa has been a place of tremendous personal growth and we have made many friendships that will carry on long after we have moved. We're so grateful for the times that we've had here!

Now, it's on to the next adventure!

'Tis' Times Three

I just realized that I used the word "tis" in two consecutive blog posts.

This would make it three consecutive blog posts.

However, that's not what I'll be writing about today.

Today, I'll be writing about my second child's constant need for discipline and attention.

Oh, and please know, when I say children, I do mean dogs, which are pretty much the same thing as children, except they love you more and don't demand clothing. 

{P.S. If you're reading this and happen to be one of those poor, lonely souls who've never known the endless and devoted love of a four legged friend, please feel free to close this browser and click on the blog of a fish lover. You'll probably feel more "at home" there. There is really no gray area here. Dog=child. That's that.}

Yesterday the weather in Oklahoma took a thirty degree dive. Having grown up in Utah, these dramatic weather outbursts are nothing but the norm. They actually make me feel more at home.

Anyway, husband and I had a lazy day snuggled up inside by the fire with the two poochies!

Quite honestly, I was in heaven! Nothing warms my heart more than days cozied up inside with my sweet family! I even made my oh-so-famous potato soup!

However, my sweet Piper demands our constant attention. And when she doesn't have it, she finds ways to get it....like howling, barking or jumping on the counter and eating our food.

She really is an angel from heaven, even on the days when it feels like she's visiting from the land down under {and I'm not talking about Australia}.

Today she was put in "time-out" and restricted to her leash multiple times.

And when she was leash restricted, her solution: pouting.

Pouting and looking at me with that sweet bear face, pleading with me to let her run free. You would think that she is the most neglected child in the world.

Most dramatic is more like it. 

But my heart just melts in those sweet puppy eyes!

Not sure what that says about my parenting skills. One thing's for sure, Matt will definitely have to be the disciplinarian!

Insanity on Sunday {not the workout kind}

My heart is full!

Remember when I told you about the amazing adoption journey over at Treasures Over the Rainbow?

Well their journey apart is finally over and their two little kiddos are home safe!

Funny how blogs can emotionally connect you with people you've never met.

Such is the story with this family!

Here's a little peak at their adventure's beginning. 

I pretty much cried the whole 15 minutes.

God has used this family's journey to teach me something about my own.

Bear with me as I try to explain....

You've already heard me talk about the last two years...blah, blah, blah...it's been hard.

I've mentioned to Matt before about how I wonder if the reason why the consistent lesson in the last two years has had to do with patience and trusting God is because that's what's going to be required of us in our adoption journey. Yet for some reason, it has never occurred to me that the separation and feeling of loss that I've experienced could also be part of that lesson. It never occurred to me until today, when I was reading about the post-adoption process. When a child is torn away from their environment, no matter how young they may be, the emotional effects of the trauma are felt, even by infants.  It is natural for them to regress and experience grief at the loss.  My heart started aching as I read this, aching because I know how hard that loss can be at my age, and I can't even imagine having to deal with that loss at a much younger and less developed stage of life.  God was totally speaking to my heart. No, I'm not saying that God intentionally made these last two years hard to teach me a lesson. That is not in God's nature to be mean. He is good and anything contrary to that is not of Him. What I am saying is that in that moment of ache, I could feel him speaking to my heart, whispering, as only a father could, saying, "Your hurt isn't wasted and for no reason. I promised to turn all things for good."  

I already love our little ones more than words can say. And I have no idea all of the trauma and changes that they will have experienced in their little lives by the time we're able to bring them into our family. In fact, I can't even imagine it! But what I do know is that if this small taste of loss that I've experienced in my life will make me a more compassionate, patient and understanding mother, I would go through it 100 more times so that my child wouldn't have to feel like the pain they're going through is gone through alone. Is it weird that I already love my kids that much and have no idea who they are?! Sometimes I think I could claim insanity.

25 Like This.....

{early} Birthday shopping {with mom} for this:

{Shirt: Mint Boutique, Skirt: Mint Boutique, Shoes: Steve Madden, Jewelry: F21 & 31 Bits}

Wearing jewelry like this:

{this company changes lives like this} 

With red lipstick like this:

Staying in a house like this:

{vacay...hey, hey!!}

And eating cake like this:

But most importantly, being both surprised and spoiled by amazing people like this:

Needless to say, my love tank is on "full"!!!

Husband put soooooo much effort in to making the day {week} special!

There were surprises around every corner!

I was honestly blown away by the little details that were put in by my friends and family to make turning twenty-five such a special and unforgettable experience!

I'm convinced it's only a foretelling of all the awesome things that this next year holds!

Bring it on 25!

Prisoners of Hope

Today I'm feeling extremely grateful. Grateful for the hope of a bright future and that our present hurts and disappoints don't deter us from the greatness that God has locked up inside of us. Grateful that, for the first time in quite a long time, I'm excited for what the future holds!

Growth has been on my mind a lot lately. Specifically, the type of growth that only happens by going through hard times. It is from that type of growth that comes not only a deep wisdom and understanding, but also a deep compassion and tenderness for people and all of their humanity. Growth is the positive reaction to trials; all the while, bitterness fights as its opponent. It takes a determined heart not to let bitterness win the victory.

The last two years, our journey has been filled with ups and downs. Luckily and thankfully, I've had Matt by my side through it all.  Moving away from family is probably the hardest thing that I've ever had to do. Ever.  And it's only gotten harder with the arrival of my little niece. It's so hard not to think about how much I'm missing. It's not just birthdays and holidays anymore, it's missing out on watching my little niece smile for the first time, wondering what makes her laugh, and having to watch her grow up through a computer screen.  My heart aches for home and the familiar. I feel like my life has been nothing but uncertainty the past two years. After getting married and moving to Oklahoma, I finally felt like we had developed a routine. We had our cute little house we had finally transformed from a bachelor pad in to a home, two little poochies and a couple of very close friends. That all didn't last long, because after only nine short months of being married, we packed up our sweet little house and made the move to Tulsa and were going to move in with my in-laws for a couple months until we got settled and found a place of our own. Once again, it felt like the rug was pulled from underneath us as we discovered that the contract on our house fell through and we were stuck with a house in another city, living with my husband's parents, and struggling to make ends meet. That year was the most difficult as we both worked extremely hard to keep everything together financially, only to watch the money we had saved for our future home slowly drain. It felt like the life was draining right out of us. We both took those changes in stride {with a little lemon and salt}, and kept going.

Finally, in February, we had a huge financial burden lifted as we found someone who wanted to rent out our house. We both felt so relieved that we could once again, start rebuilding our savings account. It's been such a huge blessing!  However, this year gifted us with a different set of challenges. Challenges that I had heard countless stories about, but never experienced on a personal level. All the changes that these past two years have held finally caught up with my body and has spun me in to a whirlwind of depression and anxiety attacks. I won't go in to too many details, but I will say that for being a person who is usually very happy-go-lucky and glass half-full, I have never struggled more with the inner battle between deep sadness and an overwhelming sense of guilt, frustration, helplessness and complete darkness. Depression truly is a deep pit that feels completely hopeless.

But the thing I'm learning through all this {and granted, I have my days}, is that even though the situation seems hopeless, it's not. Even though the depression and anxiety attacks make me feel like I'm going crazy, I'm not.  I can only thank God that I've had Matt to be here helping me through everything. Having battled anxiety himself a few years ago, he's there to help remind me that this is not my fault, it's nothing I've done wrong, I'm not going crazy and deep breaths are my best friend. He is truly the human form of God's graciousness in my life.

Oddly enough, this whole journey makes me grateful. Grateful for days like this when I know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Grateful that I woke up this morning, and the picture at the top of the screen was the first thing I saw, and I just knew it was God whispering to me the message of "hope". Grateful that God never disposes any of our hurts; He's as green as they come when it comes to recycling and making things new. And most of all, grateful for the love and support of family, who have been so gentle and patient with me through this process.

One of our good friends gave me the best analogy: sometimes our life is like a sling-shot. We have to take a few steps back in order to be launched forward in to our destiny. So maybe these setbacks are just pulling us farther and farther back in order to be released forward in to something so much greater than we could have ever imagined! The set backs are the ammunition that's used to launch us forward.  And as difficult as it seems some days, I'm reminding myself to stop looking at the destination and enjoy the journey. I keep reminding myself to live everyday on purpose. To not let any of my sadness overshadow the good days that we have here. And as my dad so eloquently puts it, "Do your best to soak up every moment; because when you look back, the good days will be the ones you remember. The bad ones will just fade away into the past." Thanks, dad.

So, this is my goal:

"To love life, to love it even

when you have no stomach for it

and everything you've held dear

crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,

your throat filled with the silt of it.

When grief sits with you, its tropical heat

thickening the air, heavy as water

more fit for gills than lungs;

when grief weights you like your own flesh

only more of it, an obesity of grief,

you think, How can a body withstand this?

Then you hold life like a face

between your palms, a plain face,

no charming smile, no violet eyes, 

and you say, yes, I will take you

I will love you again."

{Ellen Bass}

I will grab life by the face, life that so often seems plain and ugly, and I will choose to unfold and dig up the passion that is buried deep within. My journey is more of a hunt. A treasure hunt. A treasure that was placed there by one who loves me, chose me and considers my soul the true treasure. The One who gave me this promise, and will not fail to fulfill it.

"As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you." 

{Zechariah 9:11-12}

Yes, friends. There is always hope.

And then there were three....

I guess this is usually how people announce they're pregnant??

What a cute idea!

Well, sorry to disappoint you, but there's none of that water in this house.

But, I did have the sweetest little dream the other night that I wanted to share with you!

So, Matt and I have a big dream of adopting one day.

It's a dream that's been stirring for quite a while. 

In fact, before I got married, my dream was to go over to Africa and work with orphans.

That dream is still there, but has taken on a different form.

Matt and I would like to do international adoption. 

Now,  I understand a lot of people turn to adoption because they aren't able to have any children of their own. However, that is not the case with me and Matt.

We want to adopt because, well, we want to adopt!

Simple as that!
It's part of our heart. Part of who we are.

So the other night, I had a dream about the sweetest little eighteen month old African boy. He had the biggest little cheeks that were perfect for kissing! And in my dream, I just knew that this little boy I was holding was mine. Man, oh man, was I in love with him! I remember just crying when I looked down at him, I was so in love! It was the most incredible thing!
I truly believe it was God's way of reassuring me of all the dreams that he planted deep inside our hearts!

One of my favorite blogs to follow right now is Rachelle over at Treasures Over The Rainbow. She and her husband are in the final stages of adopting two little cuties from Ethiopia! Their journey has been long, nearly two years, and has required a lot of strength, patience, faith and love. It's truly inspiring and exciting! If you get a chance, stop by and leave them some love and encouragement.  Heaven knows we all need it!

Anyway, I can't wait to meet that little boy I was holding in my dreams. I've also had dreams about a little girl, so let's just say, I'm a little more than stoked to meet them one day! If you catch me on a real emotional day {which is nearly everyday}, I'll start crying just thinking about it!

I'll leave you with one of my favorite adoption stories. I literally have played this about fifty-seven times, and still cry {shocker, I know}! 

Blessings of a Burdened Heart from smith on Vimeo.

Crackers and Peanuts

Pardon the absence...

...but this little peanut surprised me with a visit!

Two amazing things about my little Rosie Posie:

{1} She slept the entire flight here.

{2} She rolled over at only 5 weeks old! Is that normal?! Because I feel like she's wayyy above average.

Isn't she adorable?!

I could just spread her on a cracker!!

Husband also put on his pastor pants this week for a friend's wedding!

We kept ourselves quite entertained!

And now it's time to play catch-up!

To the Best Gift A Girl Could Ever Be Given: Dad

To my Dad:

The most selfless, hard-working, patient and loving man I know.

Once upon a time there was a little girl.

She had a mom, a dad, a big sister and little brother.

The little girl grew up, very loved by her whole family, and she loved them.

She also loved to dance.

When she was very little, she would dance around the house to the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack.

Her daddy taught her how to dance. 

He would pick her {and her baby doll} up, and they would all dance around the room together.

It was a grand time in the kingdom!

He taught her how to have fun.

When she got a little older, and would sometimes not understand things, he would pick her up, put her upside down and help her walk on the ceiling. 

He gave her a different perspective.

He taught her how to see things from other points of view.

The little girl would get very excited when he came home at night from building things around the kingdom.

She would stand at the top of the staircase and wait for him to walk through the door.

When he would, he would glance up and say, "Hello, Punkishine!"

The little girl would light up and jump from the staircase in to the safety of his arms!

He taught her how to fly.

The dad worked very hard every day. Always making sure there was enough food for everyone and that everyone in the kingdom was happy!

Everyone loved the dad, and he especially loved the queen!

As the girl grew older, she watched her dad very closely, studying every move he made.

For when the time came, she knew she would want to find a man just like him.

Many a gentlemen came to call, but each time, the girl refused.

For none of them held the courage or integrity that she had grown up with all her life.

Then, one day, a knight came along that possessed the character that she so easily recognized.

They fell madly in love and the knight asked the dad for her hand in marriage.

The dad was very sad, for the knight lived in a far away kingdom.

However, he knew that the knight could be trusted to take care of the princess.

So on a day of much rejoicing and some sadness, the two were wed.

The dad had one last dance with his daughter.

It was the time of their life!

They said their farewells and as the knight and princess rode away, the dad knew that he need not worry, for her had taught her how to fly. ♥

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Thank you for being the best demonstration for what a man should be.

I love you so much and so wish I could be there to celebrate in person!

Love,

Punkishine

And now....for your viewing pleasure....I present to you: The Dad Life

Seriously peeps, where would we be without our dads?!

Hangover

Hello long-lost lovelies!!

Has it really been {longer than} a week already?!

My, my.....how time flies!

To be quite honest, I've been on a vacay hangover the last couple days. 

{And FYI, that has nothing to do with alchy.} 

Pretty much all it means is that I've been hit hard in the face with reality. 

OUCH!! That never feels good.

But you know what does feel good? This. Blogging.

So I will be spending the next few days catching you up on my adventures and also catching up on yours!  

Here's a summed up explanation on my absence:

I took this

to go here

to see these

and meet her!

I also had quite a few coffees along the way.

What did I miss?!

The Best Mom's Day Gift....Ever!!

Today has been the greatest Mother's Day yet!

Simply because she arrived today:

The little niece that I've been talking about has finally made her appearance! And my sister did it all natural! She's one strong lady. Just like my mom. 

I am SOOOO in love with this little face!!! 

And in only a few days I will be holding that sweet little bundle that is,

Cambria Rose.

Simply said, I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

The fam has been warned that I will not be sharing.

Hope you and all had as happy of a mother's day as we did! :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Friday's Letters

Dear Friday, I am so happy to see you! You are literally the prettiest day of the week and I always look forward to your 5 o'clock {p.m. that is} alarm letting me know I'll have a couple days to wear whatever I want {or don't want} and act like a crazy gypsy! Thank you!! Dear Oklahoma, your allergies are kicking my butt and it's not appreciated. But thank you for all the rain and greenery...so lush and pretty! Dear husband, let's go watch The Avengers again!! And can you pleeeeeeease let me hire someone to do family pictures?! The girls won't stop bugging me about wanting to see themselves in their new rhinestone necklaces {collars}! And I need an excuse to go shopping. Dear Cambria {my future niece}, you are 4 days past your due date and driving me crazy! Every time my phone rings or vibrates, I'm convinced you're on your way! But you do have the cutest little heartbeat....I've been listening to it over and over again. I can't wait to meet you!!! You are already so very loved! Dear Technology, thank you for allowing me to hear my niece's heart beat on my cell phone. I'm thinking of making it my ring tone?? Or writing a beat-boxing song. So fly.

Dear Utah, in only a few short days, we will be reunited!!! This will be my first time that you will see Matt and I visiting as husband and wife! Please be nice to him, I'd really like to move back. Oh, and please tell my niece to arrive in time for my arrival. Not all of us have the luxury of living in a uterus for 9 months!

This next week holds so many new adventures! Have I mentioned that my niece is due to arrive?! I'm so in love with that little peanut! I feel like my sister is a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment! Ok, maybe not explode, but I'm not sure what else you would call pushing an 8 lb human out of your fancy lady. Explode is the closest thing I could think of. I can't wait to be her aunt!!! I'm still trying to think of a cool "aunt" nickname, though. I need something that says, "Cool, funny and will give you all the candy you want {before I send you back to your mother}".....suggestions??

Oh and p.s. my best friend took this picture! Pretty awesome, right?! She fly.

Fall Trips

Matt was given the awesome opportunity at the beginning of October to go to California and attend Kip Barber's Driving School where he got to learn how to drive Formula 1 race cars! He was only one of two people that were chosen by his work to go on the trip.  It was all-inclusive and he had so much fun!!  I, on the other hand, was so excited for him, but was going to miss him for the four days that he was gone! However, my parents had something up their sleeve and surprised me with a buddy pass to travel back home while Matt was in California! Needless to say, I was MORE than excited!!!!! Especially considering I would make it home in time for my favorite season and be able to see all the trees change! 

It was the most refreshing trip, like a breath of fresh air for my soul! Not only was I able to soak up some much needed mom and sister time, but was able to ride my sweet horse, Cuddles {who I miss so much}, go trail-running with my best-friend and drink up wayyyyy too much Beans and Brew coffee! Ahhh....I can almost taste it right now! I must tell you though, my favorite part of the trip was a day when we went driving up to the mountains to see all the colors and exercise a few of my photography muscles! There is nothing more refreshing than taking a deep breath of mountain air in the autumn! I wish I could bottle it up and use it as an

flowers and dogs and husbands....oh my!

It was a Tuesday morning...nothing special about the day. In fact, I would actually consider it a little too drab and a lot too hot! {I don't know if I'll ever adjust to this Oklahoma humidity!} Anyway, I received a wonderful kiss goodbye from my hubs {all of his kisses are wonderful :) } and we both set off on our separate ways to work.  We both had a busy weekend and didn't get to spend much time alone together, which is always disappointing, but just a part of life sometimes!
Early in the afternoon, Matt told me he was going to try to come visit me and needed the address to where I was going to be {I change locations almost daily with my job}. Of course I gave it to him, because I love ANY excuse that I get to see his sweet smile with the dimple on the side!  Little did I know he had something else up his sleeve.  Later in the afternoon, these came parading through the office and landed on my desk! :)

Sigh.....
Have I mentioned that I really, Really, REALLY love him?! Because I do.

In other news, Lola is about to turn 1!!! Which means that I'm googling "doggie birthday parties" like crazy! Here are some of my favorite ideas so far....

cake {in pink of course!}

{source}

game {bob for the bone}

{source}


party favors {from Lola}

{source}


outfit

{source}

Ok, now realistically, Lola wouldn't keep an outfit on for five minutes....whether it's her birthday party or a movie premier!  But one day, when she grows out of her "I like to eat everything" stage, I'll buy her a cute outfit! Until then, we'll stick to cute collars! :)

{sometimes} we sing {songs} and ihave {favorite} things

My favorite part about being married? I'm glad you asked. That would be singing {made up songs} while driving.cleaning.doing laundry.cooking.texting.feeding the dogs.turning on the lights...pretty much anything that requires energy {or no energy at all}. Matt is quite fond of all my made up songs, although he may not always admit it!  He humors me {me and my tone-deaf voice} sweetly! Even though I may not sound that great singing {my made-up songs, or any song at all for that matter}, I think it adds to the awesomeness of it all! And yes, I just said awesomeness. Right at this moment, both of us {we} are singing along to Glee. So.much.fun!!!! But I will admit, he sounds much better than I do! It's part of his husband-appeal! Not many people know this, but Matt has a great voice! It's one of the things that hooked me when we first started dating!! But my husband is modest when it comes to his creative {painting, singing, playing the guitar, && any hand-man needs} talents. I admire that about him, because quite honestly, I wouldn't be so modest! :)

In between the singing {fever}, I was scrolling through a few of my favorite blogs when I found what could be my newest favorite place to visit! Here's a list of that and my seven favorite things {for the moment}.

1. Shabby Apple....ah heck, just look here! :)

2. This one kind of goes along with #1....I love all of Shabby Apple's dresses! I always tell Matt that I was

My {Morning} Cup of Coffee

I woke up this morning, in the greatest mood! Like something you might see in the 50s, I woke up, fixed my husband breakfast and sent him off to work with the children {dogs} smiling and an extra long kiss....xoxoxoxo....all this while having my hair done, {red} lipstick applied and heals gleaming. Ok, well maybe the last part isn't true. It was more like bed head with my {utah} hoody and {baggy} pajama pants....but it's nice to dream, right?!

After Matt was out of the house, I made my coffee, opened up my laptop to check on current events {facebook} and just as I was about to take my first sip of that deliciously rich cup of steaming energy, I realized Lola had been giving me weird looks. I imagined it was because of the horrible smell that was coming from her {gas}, but then as she ventured over by our pantry, the smell still lingered. I looked over to see what she was smelling just in time to notice the smeared treat {poop} that our newest and youngest doghter {Piper} had left us. Not only had she pooped, but I had neither seen nor smelled it before I had stepped in it, smeared it all over my {favorite and only} slippers, which had then tracked it all through my house. "Oh joy" was not my thoughts as I began cleaning up the horrible smelling mess. In {one part of} my cleaning process, I forgot that I had crawled so far under our table and my back was greeted by the stab of the {sharp} edge of that lovely seating arrangement. Let's just say {not nice} words were flowing. I finally composed myself enough to stop jumping around and yelling, threw my {favorite and only} slippers away and began a Craig's List listing for a 13 week old {free} boxer mix puppy. Let me back up, because I think it's important that you know that while this whole crazy mess was going on, Piper was sound asleep on the couch, blissfully unaware of the fate that awaited her. She woke up just in time to come over, look at me with her big brown eyes and melt away any anger that I held against her. But let's just say, the Craig's List listing, though not present to others, is still lingering on my computer in case of {unhoped} emergency.

So here I am, sipping away, so grateful for my {crazy} little family, the {unexpected} parts of life that make for great blogging stories and most of all, for my {morning} cup of coffee. Sigh. Oh life.

Her name was Lola...she was a show dog?!

Meet Lola Bell! My birthday present and the newest member of the Weiszbrod clan! She has been the funnest (and cutest) addition to our house! Right now, her list of favorite things to do are sleep, chase bugs, puddling in the house and more sleep. She loves giving kisses and contrary to most labs' energetic tendencies, Lola is the most quiet, laid-back dog that I've EVER owned! We just love her to pieces!!!

In other news, we're back from our honeymoon in Jamaica and had such a great time being able to just relax! Married life is the greatest! Having a long distance relationship has made us appreciate our time together much more! I love being able to hang out with my best friend every day and go home with him at night! We're getting all settled in to our house and it's been so much fun!! Pictures will be posted soon! :)