Our dog chair...

Way back in 1999,  Aaron and I went set out to buy some furniture.  We had been married for 2 years and the only furniture we had bought up to that point was a kitchen table and chairs for $150.  Aaron wanted leather couches and we settled on forest green.  Yep, we were totally styling (that was popular then I swear). 
They matched our kitchen counter tops, which was perfect for our very first home that was little and had an open floor plan.  I feel in love with a chair (also stylish for it's time...not so much now)...and sense Aaron spoils me, we got it too.  When we got this furniture we had one dog.  My Daisy...She was a Basset Hound that didn't know she was a Basset Hound.  Example: she would jump over the back of the couch.  Yep-crazy.  She was my first baby....but Daisy is a story for another day!  She was allowed on the couch.  And she loved this chair.  Several years later we got Emily, she was my 3rd baby (Jake came before her, and he of course was my first real baby).  She was allowed on the couch and chair until she became full grown (an 100 lab-she wasn't fat, she was just big), at which point Aaron kicked them both off the couches.  But they were still allowed on the chair.  Long story short I have not let Sadie get on my chair because she is different than Emily and Daisy were.  She is a little more...how shall I say this nicely...less bright?...

No, that isn't true...She is less responsible....That is as good as it is going to get!  I didn't think she could remember that even though she was allowed on the chair, she isn't allowed on the couches.  Turns out she can. :)  Sadie really is a very smart dog, but she held onto to her puppy phase longer than our other dogs.  I really noticed she was an adult about a month ago.  She started sleeping the morning away and seemed more relaxed.  She is a very good dog.  A little neurotic about squirrels, but good.  But, I still didn't let her on the chair until Jake reminded me that she knows she can get on his bed, but not our bed.  So yesterday, at the age of 2 1/2,  Miss Sadie has graduated to the dog chair.  It is such a comfortable chair and some day I will will recover it and banish all dogs from it, but for now it is back to being the dog chair.  Today Jake and I were in his room playing with Lego's and guess where Sadie was?  All the way on the other side of the house in the school room, sleeping in her chair.  That makes me happy.  She is no dummy... :)

This is what a decade looks like...

I can't believe it has been a decade already...Yes, Jake turned 10 three months ago and we just got around to his annual photo shoot (don't look back for last years because it didn't happen for the first time in his whole life...I am okay with it though.  It seemed fitting in our crazy life to let it go...since I take tons of other pic's any way.).  I have realized that the more important events (Jake's b-day, my parents getting home from their mission, our month long vacation in VT...for a few examples) are the ones I don't post about.  Probably because I am the busiest around those times.  Whatever the reason, this year is almost over and I have a whole lost of stuff to post about before 2012...I will start with a celebration (3 months late) of our baby turning one decade old.  Where has the time gone?

I am not a photographer but I pretend to be.  Here are some of my favorites.  Some are goofy. Some are just for fun.  Some are moments when Jake is SO ready to be done (it's not hard to figure out which ones those are.)  Some are so Jake and those are my favorite.  I am going to number them so tell me which ones you like the best (Nana, Nee, Aunts, relatives, friends: Christmas cards are going to be going out soon....)

In no specific order...#1-I keep seeing the whole frame thing and I like it so I thought we would try it.  Turns out is was too heavy to hold out at arms length long enough to get the perfect shot...So, we tried it sitting down.  Don't you love the hat.  What a stylish dude.

#2-Just getting warmed up...What should I do with my arms?

#3-Jumping for joy? No were are not even close to done dude...

#4-Love this goofy kid...

#5-I am going to play around with this one and get his face to not be quit so pale looking, but I had to post it because I love it.

#6-Love...

#7-I love this one...I caught him giggling.  Not the best but I just love it because it is so Jake.

#8-Aaron says this looks like an album cover.  We were walking back to the car...or so Jake thought...We weren't done yet but I didn't tell him that...

#9-Jake wanted to do this one.  The first try he threw it so high it wasn't even in the picture! This was try number 2. :)

#10-Jake was done at this point and was trying to ignore me...The attitude actually helped because the rest are some of my fav's

#11-This was him pretending to smile when he was being grumpy...

#12-But then it turned into this...I now the weed is kind of weird, but it was there and I kind of like it...

#13-a little closer up...He is so dang adorable...

#14-Same one just a more...zoomed out?...I told you I am not a pro...You know what I mean right?...

#15-LOVE. This. One.

#16-and this one....

#17-and this one....

#18-Okay so my compliments must have started to be reruns at this point because he wasn't buying it anymore...

#19-He's back for a couple of more SO Jake pic's...

#20-Ahhhh...This is really the last one I took.  In his eyes I see...sweet relief.

All the pain and agony was so worth it. I love my decade year old little man. He is funny, mature-but not (totally a kid) at the same time, kind, friendly, talkative (to ANYONE that will listen-customer service people thanks for your patience.  I know you have to act interested when a random kid tells you about the cool...whatever he thinks you will want to hear all about! :) ), smart, witty, goofy, on occasion he has a bit (understatement) of an attitude (it isn't fun when you see yourself in your child and it is in a bad moment not a good one...), amazing, loving, cuddly, sensitive, compassionate, and just plan wonderful.  Wonder how tall he will be in another decade...I wonder if his mission companion will be a good photographer to take his b-day picture for me....

We really didn't forget Father's Day, I swear...

...I just forgot to post about it.  And we forgot (didn't forget just didn't make a priority...) to get cards in the mail to Papa G. and Papa Harmon-but we did talk to them on the phone.  Happy (late) Father's Day to all the fathers out there!

We started the celebration on Saturday by surprising Aaron with 2 of his favorite things:

1. Sweet and Sour chicken from his favorite local Chinese restaurant and
2. A blueberry cheesecake milkshake from a little drive-thru hamburger joint called Cookout.

I went to pick Jake up from his friend Corey's house after a day of swimming (yes I was jealous) and we picked them up on the way home.

We also let him do this since he:

Going to school full time and working 3rd shift full time is not much fun. (The little blue rug is for Sadie.  When we are sitting on the couch and she sits down next to it for us to pat her, she slides around on the hardwood floors.  How spoiled is that mutt?  Ruining the decor of the living room with an old blue bathmat just so she can sit her furry bum down without sliding all over the place.)

The next day I made 2 more of his favorite things:

1. Homemade rolls and

2. Homemade chocolate cookies.

So, you see we didn't forget Aaron.  Jake even wrote a song and played it on the piano for Aaron.  Thank you Aaron for all you do for our family.  Jake said it best one time when he said: "Daddy makes too many sacrifices for this family."  At first I didn't know how to respond, but then I just told him that is what good Daddies do and yours is the best.  Thank you Aaron. I love you.

I finally finished "Laddie, a true blue story"!

I finally finished Ladie, a True Blue Story by Gene Stratton-Porter and it was so good!  It was much longer than I thought it would be at 564 pages (on Kindles is doesn't tell you the page number it tells you the percentage you have read so I had no idea how long it was!).  Not that it seemed too long, it just the list of books I want to read this month is long, so I anticipated being done quicker.  I was hoping to finish it last night because the last few chapters really answer all the questions that you have through out the story, but at 12:30 I couldn't keep my eyes open in a longer.  After I dropped Jake off I came home and read for about 10 minutes and was done.  I wish there was 564 more pages!

  This book paints such a picture of the farm it took place on that I wish I could live there too...or at least visit in more than just my imagination!  READ THIS BOOK!  You will love it.  It takes place after the Civil War and is about what I would call as close to perfect a family as you could ask for!  It teaches the importance of having God in your life and the joy it brings.  Father even gave up some of his land to build their church on.  It teaches how important family is.  I love this quote that from the book when Shelley (one of 12 children the Stanton family was blessed with) is going through a hard time over a broken heart:  "Of course you do, child," said mother. "Families were made to cling together, and stand by each other in every circumstance of life-joy or sorrow.  Of course you need your family."

This book also teaches about the importance of education.  Little Sister (the little girl who is the narrator is nicknamed this by her beloved older, perfect brother, Laddie) loves to be outside and puts off going to school for 2 years and then has a hard time wearing shoes (she goes barefoot everywhere but church and school), and sitting still in school.  She is truly educated at home and her parents don't push her to go to school until she is ready.  She knows all there is to know about the world around her on the farm and seems to learn even less in school.  Of school she said: "Schoolhouses are made wrong.  If they must be, they should be built in a woods pasture beside a stream, where you could wade, swim, and be comfortable in summer and slide and skate in winter.  The windows should be cut to the floor, and stand wide open, so the birds and butterflies could pass through.  You ought to learn your geography by climbing the hill, walking through a valley, wading creeks, making islands in them, and promonotories, capes, and penisulas along the bank.  You should do your arithmetic sitting under trees adding hickory-nuts, subtracting walnuts, multiplying butternuts, and dividing hazelnuts.  You could use apples for fractions, and tin cups for liquid measure.  You could spell everything in sight and this would teach you the words that are really used in the world."  That sounds like the best kind of school to me! Mother tries to explains to a grumpy neighbor, Mr Pryor, how it is their children seem to have been so well educated.  She explains how they did it by saying: "By educating ourselves before their coming, and with then afterward. Self-control, study, work, joy of life, satisfaction with what we have had, never-ending strife to go higher, and to do better."  At one point in the book Father is talking to Dr. Fenner (the local doctor) and is concerned that Mother doubts she can ever teach Little Sister to sew or become a housewife. To this Dr. Fenner says:  "She isn't cut out for a seamstress or a housewife, Paul.  Tell Ruth not to try to force those things on her.  Turn her loose out of doors: give her good books, and leave her alone.  You won't be disappointed in the woman who evolves."  It seems Little Sister was born early and I spent the whole time I was reading thinking how intelligent and observant she seemed, but not really knowing her age (maybe I just missed it.  It says she put off going to school 2 years..Back then they didn't go until they were 7 right?  Maybe she was 9 when the book starts?  I am going to have to go back and see if I missed it somewhere..). I found myself wondering if she had a learning disability based on the discussion between the Dr. and Father.  I doubt it though. Maybe she is just a late bloomer...She seems SO bright and full of life, but there are parts that make me try to diagnose her with today's childhood issues, rather than just assuming she is just a little different from the other girls in her family.  You have to read this book and let me know what you think!!!   If you read it, you will love it.  It is a true classic! 

Read it and tell me what you think!  I haven't even gone back to reread this so sorry if it makes no sense. I was just too excited to wait.  Now I have to get ready in record time to make it to work!!! :)

Same boy. Different dog.

It is official: 2 out of 2 Black Labs (I use the term loosely...I think Sadie may have something else in her too...) love bubbles. Our first black lab, Emily LOVED bubbles. We found out yesterday that Sadie does too. Sadie however was a little harder to photograph enjoying bubbles than Emily was. In Aaron's words: "That is the most jumpingest (is that a word? No...but that is what he said...or something close to that any way and no Aaron isn't my child he is my husband. We make up words whenever there is a need in our house.) dog!" Jake had a great time blowing bubbles for her and Sadie had a great time eating them. I took a walk down memory lane today when I pulled up these pictures: (humor me people this is a lot of pic's...)

Jake and Emily blowing bubbles:





Jake (picture me sniffing and maybe even a tear...Look at how big my baby has gotten!) and Sadie blowing bubbles:






I am glad we waited almost a year to get another dog because it gave me time to get out of my mind I needed another dog just like Emily. She was...amazing. So, amazing I wrote a post about her here. (If you don't have time to read it you at least have to look at the pictures-she was a beautiful dog.) Sadie is Sadie. :) She is a crazy and loving little puppy. She is ADORABLE. She may end up being a little more Marley (I never saw the movie...yet-I still plan on it...but we read the youth version of the book and LOVED it.), than Emily but that is okay. Emily (don't tell Jake this) was my dog. We had a connection-like human and dog soul mates. Jake has that connection with Sadie and it is SO fun to watch. My friend from work, Sharlene, came over last week and dropped off a file cabinet her family was getting rid of (it will come in handy for home schooling and it was free!) and she brought her teenage son to help with the heavy lifting. While they were at our house they watched Jake and Sadie playing crazily in the front yard. Sharlene told me the next day at work that her son said Jake and Sadie feed off each other. It is so true. Jake laughs hysterically while they are chasing each other and I am sure Sadie is on the inside too. :) I almost forgot! Sadie is 13 weeks today-about the same age Emily was when we got her. They are so different, but they both won our hearts. I love dogs. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he made man's best friend. :)

Note to Aaron...

Aaron you will probably read this tonight at work while you are bored, so I thought I would let you know 2 things now so I won't forget:

#1-Jake told me he couldn't wait to do more yard work with you. :) I am so glad you are teaching him how good hard work can feel. You are a wonderful example to him and me. Thanks for killing snakes, going to school, and working all night for us. I love you.

#2-Jake also told me you broke a promise to him. You promised him you would take him snowboarding...The season ended sooner than we thought...There aren't enough hours in the day...or days in the week...He gets the craziness of your schedule, but I just wanted to give you a heads up. He has $8 left to earn toward the new Lego Star Wars: Clone Wars Wii game coming out...He could easily be bribed into forgiving you (not that he is mad...he just thinks your forgot about snowboarding and it bummed him out...and he just remembered that you forgot, so I think he forgot too...), if you chipped in a little more...Just saying. :)

Day 3 of Our Week of Love...and it snowed I think...

Last night we had Aaron's favorite meal: homemade lasagna....

Aaron is a P.T.P.P (picture taking party pooper) on most occasions. I am just glad that he decided to act crazy for this picture rather than ignoring the camera completely like he usually does...
Yummmmm..

I love the old school doily (that is how spell check said to spell it...) hearts so much I had to put some up in the front windows of the house. The shade not going all the way up is driving me a little crazy..

The real reason I went outside was to take a picture of what appeared to be the snow we were told we were going to get. Depending on where you get your information we were told we would get any where from nothing all the way to 3 to 4 inches...This was pretty much nothing. But it was enough that Jake got to stare at the snow that covered the window on the roof of the car as we drove to school, which I thought of taking a picture of but it was already melted. And in some places you could actually tell it was snow. :) Hold on Winter don't give up yet!

I got a love note yesterday. Thanks Aaron for the sweet note. And to your P.S.-yes I will finish the Thomas Jefferson Education book so you can read it soon I swear! :)

Wordless Wednesday...Day 2 Of Our Week Of Love

Check out other peoples Wordless Wednesday here.

Our Week of Love: Day 1

This week I am making everyone's favorite meals. I guess I got mine last night! We splurged. We went out to dinner. Don't get me wrong we occasionally hit the Taco Bell drive through, but going out to dinner almost never happens. The last time we went to a sit down restaurant was last summer when we went to IHOP with the Powell's (Jake and I). The last time we all went to a sit down restaurant together was when Nee and Papa got their mission call and we took Papa out to celebrate (Nee was in Uruguay with the Powell's. We opened the mission call on speaker phone...you can see that post here.), and went to Chilli's. That was over a year ago! Last night we went to Olive Garden-one of my favorite restaurants. I had a coupon. (Did you even know Olive Garden had coupons? I got it out of the newspaper.) It was for $4 off....But it is still expensive and I admit I felt a little guilty, but once a year it is okay right? It was a fun splurge to start off our week of love leading up to Valentine's day. Jake watched as a couple left their table and said: "You mean we just leave our plates on the table and they come and clean it off?"...See what I mean by never going out to dinner? We spent the whole afternoon out, again something we NEVER do.Aaron and I both needed new sneakers. It is so hard to buy things like shoes for us. If Jake needs them okay, but we need to really need them to break down and get them. We also made a Target run and got tissues (it turns out Jake takes after me and is allergic to long haired dogs...), and a few things of that nature. We spent time together-the whole afternoon! We lived a little. :) Usually our afternoons consist of homework (Aaron and Jake's) that takes forever (Jake is not a fan...7 hours at school...I don't blame him!), cleaning, cooking, etc. It was a fun way to start the week off. Will it happen again? Not for a LONG time. Maybe when Nee and Papa get back from their mission in August. :) It was not the Family Home Evening I had planned but it was amazing. At dinner we wondered how many of the people in Olive Garden went out to dinner every night...Probably a lot! We made lists of places we would each want to go out to eat if we were rich. It was pretty fun to think of, but what a waste of money going out to eat all the time must be! It is much more fun when it is a treat that only happens...once or twice a year I guess! :) At Target I got my guys a little 1st day of a week of love treat...

Here is part of our new tradition for a week of love....(That we were to busy to even look in this morning since we had to finish some homework that didn't happen last night. Plus the guys didn't know about it since we didn't get to have the planned FHE last night...That is why my mailbox's flag isn't up.) We are going to write little love notes to each other every day this week. I just stuck a kiss and a little post it note folded in half that has something I love about each of my guys inside. Aaron will have to check his tomorrow since today is his school/work day. (We won't see him until tomorrow morning and he left this morning...).




For anyone who is wondering, I got these cute little mail boxes at Target for $1 a piece. I love a deal. :)