I wish I could!!
Last weekend was wonderful!! Why? What could we have possibly done over the weekend to experience such a "wonderful" weekend? Are you ready for this? We....did....absolutely NOTHING!! It was GLORIOUS!!! I really feel like we run around ALL the time!! I love my home. I love nothing more than to spend a friday evening relaxing after work, sleeping in on saturdays and getting house chores done at a slow and steady speed. THAT is what we did this past weekend. We scheduled a date night for friday and after I got off of work we headed to the local movies to catch...of course...nothing other than Batman :) It rocked. Then we headed home to do spend the weekend at HOME!! We slept in saturday...well, I slept in as long as the dogs would let me. Dogs??
Yes, that is Ali's news. He welcomed home a brother 2 weeks ago. They love each other and are the best of friends. They do fight occasionally but for the most part they arent seen far from each other. I had been debating on rescuing a dog. Ali LOVES other dogs and he has been such a great dog that we thought we could handle another one. I checked w/ our kennel/boarding facility to see how much another dog would cost to board if we were to board them for vacation or anything and it was actually not much more if they stay in the same kennel. So I started my search for a rescue dog. We reallllllllllly wanted another Brussels and I searched and searched for one. However, after looking over numerous dogs...dog breeds, dog rescues, dog pound...etc etc. and after turning down dog after dog after dog. We finally found and fell in love with Ren. I was set on not getting a puppy...I really wanted to rescue a dog and I know that puppies have a much better chance of getting adopted. Plus...I didnt really want to deal w/ the puppy stage. So after work one day I decided to stop by the local humane society and look around, I had just been there the week before and was not expecting to find anything...but I had also been going just to walk dogs and give them a little exercise...so I was thinking I would just walk a few. The last cage, down the long row of cages sat Ren. A skinny, flea covered, long eared, sad eyed, puppy. I said no no no...I was not getting a puppy, but I thought he looked sad so I could at least give him a walk. He was scared to death and just hid under my feet while I tried to walk him to the door leading outside. When I walked by the help desk the lady said "oh I see you have the newbie, he just came here from lexington county he was about to be put down there but we had room for him here and thought he could use another chance" I asked his story...and come to find out, Ren the puppy was actually Ren the full grown Doberman dog. He was THAT malnourished. He only weighed 19lbs and was only as tall as below my knees. If you know anything about Dobermans, they are BIG dogs...by 8months old (Rens age) he should have been well over 50lbs and standing at my hip. Come to find out Ren had been rescued off the side of the road. By the looks of his docked tail he was probably sold or born to be kept in a kennel to try and keep him small and then re breed to create a smaller doberman (think miniature pinchser breed). He either escaped or someone finally let him loose on the side of the road. Either way...he will never be the size of a regular healthy Doberman. Sev came to the pound after I called and told him Rens story and 3 hrs later we walked out with a very shy and timid Renegade, Ren for short :) He is so sweet...and still very skinny...but we're working on that. I will post pictures eventually. He loves to play chase w/ Ali. They created this game where Ali will run up to Ren and bite him and then take off, Ren takes off after Ali only to find himself stuck on the outside of our kitchen table while Ali hides under it. I swear Ali has a smirk on his face when he does this. Once Ren starts to loose interest Ali will bolt out from under the table and zoom around the house as fast as his little legs will carry him...Ren right behind....and then back under the table he will go...its their new game and it is HILARIOUS!!
SO...after the dogs woke me up saturday morning, I let them outside to get an hours worth of shaded outside time. I made pancakes and woke sevy up. I took the day to clean the house. I caught up on laundry, dusting, vacuuming, dishes, and I even threw in a nice bathroom scrubbing. Sev worked on his truck and tended to the garden. I left to go to the grocery store and then stop by blockbuster. I picked up ingredients to make homemade pizza and two movies before coming back home. Sev and I LOVE homemade pizza!!! However...saturday nights pizza was even better!! Why? because we used all the veggies from our home grown veggie garden!!! Yep...thats right...home grown veggies!! YUMMMM-O!! We watched Drillbit Taylor and then ate icecream. Sunday morning we woke up and went to Shandon Baptist church together for the first time. I was really excited to visit this church with Sevy. I had gone alone before and I had gone w/my mother...but Sevy had never attended this church w/ me so that was a real treat!! The pastor I grew up with is actually at Shandon and thats another reason I've enjoyed visiting that church. I really enjoyed the message for the day, Sevy said he did too. We left church and went to get Mexican for lunch. We headed back home and finished doing what we left off on Saturday...NOTHING :) Just a little cleaning here and there, rough housed w/ the dogs and then said goodbye to the weekend and went to bed after watching Army Wives on Lifetime.
THAT was our glorious, wonderful, much needed weekend :)
My parents made it back from Canada...I'm excited to see pictures from that little adventure. This weekend I hope to have a re-play of last weekend. Then the following weekend is...drum role....my BIRTHDAY!! Hey I have a few more years to be excited about my birthday before I start hiding when my birthday is, haha :) :)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 07, 2008
Crawling out from under my rock :)
Actually...I wish I had time to hide under a rock. We've honestly been super busy with life.
I really need to catch this blog up...whats the point in keeping a blog if you're not going to write in it...right?? No wonder I have a thousand journals that are only filled up on the first couple of pages, geez!
Anyways, we had the best time planning and participating in the activities leading up to Jessies wedding. I was at the beach three weekends in a row. The first weekend was for my families vaca. We really had a lot of fun! I must say the BEST part was parisailing with my grandma, she rocks, lol. Oh...and watching my dad on the banana boat, that was hilarious!! Ohhh AND I did a swing thing with my cousin and her husband...scared me to death!! You free fall for a few seconds before the swing actually catches you and then takes you back up to the other side...it was fun and I can now check that off my bucket list, lol.
The next weekend was Jessies bachelorette shower in Charelston. We had ALOT of fun hanging out with Jessie before her big day. Jess is very fortunate to have a very sweet best friend, Jessica Foy. Jessica planned the entire weekend for Jessie. We rented out a room at the double tree and walked downtown Charleston. Jessica made reservation at two different lounges and we ate and drank our little hearts merry. I guess I won't go further into detail there. Oh...I will say that we all wore buttons...some said "buy jessie a drink", "sing for jessie", "kiss jessie" and mine said "spank jessie". Jessies said "I am Jessie"....I won ;) It was lots of fun going out for one last single celebration with Jess...it was bitter sweet :( The next weekend was the wedding and we were once again back down at the beach. It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding, I was so happy for Jessie. Sev and I took Friday off of work and drove down on Thursday night. We staying in a little beach house that his parents rented for us and shared it with Sevs sis Angie and our nephew Eddie (whom I ADORE!!). Eddie carried the ring and I made the pillow for him to carry. I pretty much spent the weekend rushing around doing last minute things with Jessie...it was actually alot of fun and def. a great way to spend time together before her big day and her big move. Sev spent the weekend hanging out with Don and the boys...golfing, goofing around and keeping Don calm, cool and collected. Friday night was the rehersal dinner...it was wonderful!! The mullen family flew in from all over the country, they are ALWAYS a hoot to be around. We ate and enjoyed each others company until late in the evening, then the bridal party all went out for drinks. Jess and I went back to the beach house and relaxed...by this point I had lost my voice completely and she needed some beauty rest!! The boys took Don out for one last night out on the town. The next day came quickly...we rushed around getting everything ready for the big moment. We prayed for NO rain...as the wedding was planned to be on the beach. I did a few tourist things with Angie and Eddie and then we all met back up to get ready. The girls met at a beach house and took pictuers, toasted jessie with champagne and cried a little. The weather turned out to be PERFECT and Jessie could not have looked any more gorgeous. Sevs uncles played guitars while jess walked down and a close friend of Jessies sang a beatiful song before the "I do's" were exchanged. The reception was a blast and the best part had to have been the song Jessies family (her three uncles, dad and aunt) wrote and preformed for her and Don. The title of the song is "Mullen Prison". Please feel free to go to You Tube.com and search "Mullen Prison" it is HILARIOUS!! I will post pictures and a link to the videa soon. After the wedding we all went back to Sevs parents beach house and hung out with the entire Mullen crew. My parents joined in for the fun...and lets just say my mom can no longer say she things OUR family are nutts!! We had a blast just catching up and singing along with Sevs uncles, both of which are musicians. A little bit of background info. Sev's dad, Dave, has three brothers and one sister. His baby brother Andy lives in Alaska with his wife Lynx and is a local musician there, they also run a B&B. His middle brother lives in Colorado with his wife and is also a local musician. He also has a brother, Don, whom lives in WV with his wife and two children. He is a pilot. Then there is Diane and thats Daves sister. She lives in Cali with her husband and two daughters Amanda and Emily. If you can imagine Daves personality times 5..THATS the Mullen family :) I absolutely love them. Then Sue's brother Dan, from Montana was also in tow, he was Jessies photographer and is a retired pilot. We really enjoyed the wedding/family reunion.
We woke up Sunday to have breakfast with Jessie and Don before they departed for Texas. It was sooo sad and not the way I would have preferred to end our weekend. Jessie and Don reported that they enjoyed their honeymoon and are getting settled into their new home. We really miss them...its like the old saying goes "you don't know what you have til' its gone".
Soo that brings us up last weekend...the 4th of July.
Sevy and I drove to Rock Hill and stayed with some friends and their family on the lake in their beautiful million dollar lake house. It was so nice and relaxing. We played on the water all day friday...ate some great food and watched some awesome firework displays!! Saturday I went to a gun range with Sev, Danny and Kyle. Danny is part of SWAT and just recently recieved a new gun...not just any gun but an M4. This is the type of gun Sev carried in Iraq, so of course the boys had to take it out and shoot it. I got to tag along. Let me just say...no matter how many guns you have heard on the television...or out hunting...NOTHING sounds like an automatic M4. I was NOT prepared for the sound. We all had ear protection and now I understand WHY it is SO important to have that!! When we first got out on the range I was going over gun safety with Kyle (he has a glock). I had yet to put my ear protection on because we were far enough away from where Danny and Sev had gone to shoot the M4. I was paying close attention to Kyle when Danny unloaded his rifle. I have never in my life...honestly....jumped that high and thought my heart was going to come out of my chest so fast!!! After I promplty put my ear protection on, Kyle and I took off to the other side of the range to shoot his glock...I decided I would start out small. Let me just tell you...it is NOT as simple as just pulling a little trigger. That sucker is HARD to aim and keep steady!! It kicks!! However, I am very proud to say I hit my target on the first try :) I decided it was time for the big gun!! The boys taught me how to hold the gun properly and shoot from the laying position...I decided I was much more comfortable laying down and shooting the M4 at first. It was a crazy feeling and actually pretty emotional...I never really took the time to think about what it was like to be in a war torn country. I mean, I knew sev was at war. I new he was fighting. I knew guns were being shot and bombs were going off around him. However, I never thought of the sound and actual feeling that went along with the idea of being at war. Just the sound and smell of the gun was enough to have me on my knees praying that we as Americans NEVER have to face war in our homeland!!! It's so different on TV. I know anyone reading this is thinking, "well duh"...but it really was eye opening for me. When we got back from the range...after going through a couple hundred dollars worth of ammo (which also blows my mind!! we're talking about billions of dollars of ammo being shot in Iraq weekly!! I never knew bullets cost so much!!) luckily Danny got all of his for free and we paid nothing. We went back to the lake house and Sev sat around and starting talking "war" stories. I've never asked him much about Iraq. I had been briefed a million times by the Army FRG to "let your soldier speak about the war on his time". So we rarely talk about Iraq. I knew a few things...but not nearly as much as I learned after the gun range. He had his thumb drive that he carried with him in Iraq and he started sharing stories and pictures with us. I realized why he had never shared the pictures with me. I honestly don't know how he carries around the effects the war had to have had on him. All that I have seen are pictures and all that I have heard are stories. Just like I was saying earlier about never really knowing the sound of a gun...I can never really know what it was truely like to be there. I'm glad Sev opened up to Danny, Kyle and I. He was even able to laugh at a few of the videos....videos of actual bombs going off and near death experiences....not a haha laugh but a "I'm lucky to be alive isnt that crazy!!" laugh. Which is much better than stone silence. I'll never ask him to see those pictures again...but I'm glad he finally shared them with me. It might be small...but I feel like I have a better idea of what his life was like in Iraq. I remember thinking about how the gun had such a distinct smell when it was being fired...gun powder and hot lead smell. I can't imagine what that smell was like on top of death.
Okay!!! Enough of that :) Over all the weekend was great...we were able to catch up with friends and let loose!! We were able to really experience what 4th of July means and for that I am greatful.
Oh...Ali...How could I update my posts without the mention of little man. He is doing okay, he actually came down with kennel cough two weeks ago and is finally getting over that nasty little cold!! He has some news he wants to share with everyone...but I think I'll hold off and post about that a little later on ;) This post is already a bit lengthy.
Hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July...I can't believe its already the middle of Summer!!
I really need to catch this blog up...whats the point in keeping a blog if you're not going to write in it...right?? No wonder I have a thousand journals that are only filled up on the first couple of pages, geez!
Anyways, we had the best time planning and participating in the activities leading up to Jessies wedding. I was at the beach three weekends in a row. The first weekend was for my families vaca. We really had a lot of fun! I must say the BEST part was parisailing with my grandma, she rocks, lol. Oh...and watching my dad on the banana boat, that was hilarious!! Ohhh AND I did a swing thing with my cousin and her husband...scared me to death!! You free fall for a few seconds before the swing actually catches you and then takes you back up to the other side...it was fun and I can now check that off my bucket list, lol.
The next weekend was Jessies bachelorette shower in Charelston. We had ALOT of fun hanging out with Jessie before her big day. Jess is very fortunate to have a very sweet best friend, Jessica Foy. Jessica planned the entire weekend for Jessie. We rented out a room at the double tree and walked downtown Charleston. Jessica made reservation at two different lounges and we ate and drank our little hearts merry. I guess I won't go further into detail there. Oh...I will say that we all wore buttons...some said "buy jessie a drink", "sing for jessie", "kiss jessie" and mine said "spank jessie". Jessies said "I am Jessie"....I won ;) It was lots of fun going out for one last single celebration with Jess...it was bitter sweet :( The next weekend was the wedding and we were once again back down at the beach. It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding, I was so happy for Jessie. Sev and I took Friday off of work and drove down on Thursday night. We staying in a little beach house that his parents rented for us and shared it with Sevs sis Angie and our nephew Eddie (whom I ADORE!!). Eddie carried the ring and I made the pillow for him to carry. I pretty much spent the weekend rushing around doing last minute things with Jessie...it was actually alot of fun and def. a great way to spend time together before her big day and her big move. Sev spent the weekend hanging out with Don and the boys...golfing, goofing around and keeping Don calm, cool and collected. Friday night was the rehersal dinner...it was wonderful!! The mullen family flew in from all over the country, they are ALWAYS a hoot to be around. We ate and enjoyed each others company until late in the evening, then the bridal party all went out for drinks. Jess and I went back to the beach house and relaxed...by this point I had lost my voice completely and she needed some beauty rest!! The boys took Don out for one last night out on the town. The next day came quickly...we rushed around getting everything ready for the big moment. We prayed for NO rain...as the wedding was planned to be on the beach. I did a few tourist things with Angie and Eddie and then we all met back up to get ready. The girls met at a beach house and took pictuers, toasted jessie with champagne and cried a little. The weather turned out to be PERFECT and Jessie could not have looked any more gorgeous. Sevs uncles played guitars while jess walked down and a close friend of Jessies sang a beatiful song before the "I do's" were exchanged. The reception was a blast and the best part had to have been the song Jessies family (her three uncles, dad and aunt) wrote and preformed for her and Don. The title of the song is "Mullen Prison". Please feel free to go to You Tube.com and search "Mullen Prison" it is HILARIOUS!! I will post pictures and a link to the videa soon. After the wedding we all went back to Sevs parents beach house and hung out with the entire Mullen crew. My parents joined in for the fun...and lets just say my mom can no longer say she things OUR family are nutts!! We had a blast just catching up and singing along with Sevs uncles, both of which are musicians. A little bit of background info. Sev's dad, Dave, has three brothers and one sister. His baby brother Andy lives in Alaska with his wife Lynx and is a local musician there, they also run a B&B. His middle brother lives in Colorado with his wife and is also a local musician. He also has a brother, Don, whom lives in WV with his wife and two children. He is a pilot. Then there is Diane and thats Daves sister. She lives in Cali with her husband and two daughters Amanda and Emily. If you can imagine Daves personality times 5..THATS the Mullen family :) I absolutely love them. Then Sue's brother Dan, from Montana was also in tow, he was Jessies photographer and is a retired pilot. We really enjoyed the wedding/family reunion.
We woke up Sunday to have breakfast with Jessie and Don before they departed for Texas. It was sooo sad and not the way I would have preferred to end our weekend. Jessie and Don reported that they enjoyed their honeymoon and are getting settled into their new home. We really miss them...its like the old saying goes "you don't know what you have til' its gone".
Soo that brings us up last weekend...the 4th of July.
Sevy and I drove to Rock Hill and stayed with some friends and their family on the lake in their beautiful million dollar lake house. It was so nice and relaxing. We played on the water all day friday...ate some great food and watched some awesome firework displays!! Saturday I went to a gun range with Sev, Danny and Kyle. Danny is part of SWAT and just recently recieved a new gun...not just any gun but an M4. This is the type of gun Sev carried in Iraq, so of course the boys had to take it out and shoot it. I got to tag along. Let me just say...no matter how many guns you have heard on the television...or out hunting...NOTHING sounds like an automatic M4. I was NOT prepared for the sound. We all had ear protection and now I understand WHY it is SO important to have that!! When we first got out on the range I was going over gun safety with Kyle (he has a glock). I had yet to put my ear protection on because we were far enough away from where Danny and Sev had gone to shoot the M4. I was paying close attention to Kyle when Danny unloaded his rifle. I have never in my life...honestly....jumped that high and thought my heart was going to come out of my chest so fast!!! After I promplty put my ear protection on, Kyle and I took off to the other side of the range to shoot his glock...I decided I would start out small. Let me just tell you...it is NOT as simple as just pulling a little trigger. That sucker is HARD to aim and keep steady!! It kicks!! However, I am very proud to say I hit my target on the first try :) I decided it was time for the big gun!! The boys taught me how to hold the gun properly and shoot from the laying position...I decided I was much more comfortable laying down and shooting the M4 at first. It was a crazy feeling and actually pretty emotional...I never really took the time to think about what it was like to be in a war torn country. I mean, I knew sev was at war. I new he was fighting. I knew guns were being shot and bombs were going off around him. However, I never thought of the sound and actual feeling that went along with the idea of being at war. Just the sound and smell of the gun was enough to have me on my knees praying that we as Americans NEVER have to face war in our homeland!!! It's so different on TV. I know anyone reading this is thinking, "well duh"...but it really was eye opening for me. When we got back from the range...after going through a couple hundred dollars worth of ammo (which also blows my mind!! we're talking about billions of dollars of ammo being shot in Iraq weekly!! I never knew bullets cost so much!!) luckily Danny got all of his for free and we paid nothing. We went back to the lake house and Sev sat around and starting talking "war" stories. I've never asked him much about Iraq. I had been briefed a million times by the Army FRG to "let your soldier speak about the war on his time". So we rarely talk about Iraq. I knew a few things...but not nearly as much as I learned after the gun range. He had his thumb drive that he carried with him in Iraq and he started sharing stories and pictures with us. I realized why he had never shared the pictures with me. I honestly don't know how he carries around the effects the war had to have had on him. All that I have seen are pictures and all that I have heard are stories. Just like I was saying earlier about never really knowing the sound of a gun...I can never really know what it was truely like to be there. I'm glad Sev opened up to Danny, Kyle and I. He was even able to laugh at a few of the videos....videos of actual bombs going off and near death experiences....not a haha laugh but a "I'm lucky to be alive isnt that crazy!!" laugh. Which is much better than stone silence. I'll never ask him to see those pictures again...but I'm glad he finally shared them with me. It might be small...but I feel like I have a better idea of what his life was like in Iraq. I remember thinking about how the gun had such a distinct smell when it was being fired...gun powder and hot lead smell. I can't imagine what that smell was like on top of death.
Okay!!! Enough of that :) Over all the weekend was great...we were able to catch up with friends and let loose!! We were able to really experience what 4th of July means and for that I am greatful.
Oh...Ali...How could I update my posts without the mention of little man. He is doing okay, he actually came down with kennel cough two weeks ago and is finally getting over that nasty little cold!! He has some news he wants to share with everyone...but I think I'll hold off and post about that a little later on ;) This post is already a bit lengthy.
Hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July...I can't believe its already the middle of Summer!!
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