Any Ideas???

So, Jon and I are planning a vacation in february or march!! We have a few ideas, but would appreciate any suggestions if anybody has any reccomendations! We have talked aboout cruises vs. not a cruise. We have talked about South America, so I can speak Spanish! Costa Rica, Panama, and we have also thrown around the idea of Australia/New Zealand!! We can't decide if we want to do a cruise! Jon wants to but I dont know if I do!! Ideas/Suggestions would be great!!

$125...and Counting....

This($125) may not seem like a lot, but when you figure between Jon and I(when I say "Jon and I", what I really mean is "Jon has purchased, but I have used!) we have purchased 5 twenty five dollar gift cards for ourselves in the past month and they are all GONE!!! Special: "Buy a $25 gift card and get a free 16 oz of your choice!" "On what??" you may ask.....An addiction I have. MINIMUM 5 days a week, if not 6. I can't live without it.
My order:
16 ounce (or 20 ounce, depending on the day) Chunky Strawberry from Jamaba Juice
Yes I would like a Free Boost
No lid, I'll eat it as soon as I get in my car!
Cheddar tomatoe bread twist
Yes, heated up please.
Total: $8.01 (times 5-6 days a week. Yep! It adds up!!)
But...It is SOOOOOOOOOO worth it!!

Four

Spending time with Dobby at the animal shelter. He is a papered Schnauzer!

Enjoying the ride home to a new life. Stella is trying to cuddle with him.

Nap time....

So handsome after a haircut!! My lil' schnauzer! I fell in love with his long scraggly hair when I first saw him, but I thought I would clean him up so he could wear a sweater!

Some may say I'm baby hungry, but the answer is, I love animals more than anything. I got Dobby (pronounced daw-bee like on Harry Potter, previously named that, 4 years old, don't want to change it!) from the Weber County animal shelter. Poor lil' guy was turned in by his owners. My heart breaks every time I go into an animal shelter. I want them all. I wish more than anything, that I could save them all. I am now no longer allowed (by my husband) to go into another animal shelter, because he knows I will come out with a third! And he is right. Dobby is so mellow and sweet. Stella loves her big brother, and wants to play all the time. I love my dogs. I will always adopt my dogs from the animal shelter as long as I live. Never will I buy one from a breeder. There are way too many that need homes. Since July, I have adopted three dogs. It brings me so much joy and fulfillment. I am SO thankful to heavenly father for giving us the cutest, fluffiest, sweetest, furriest, most loyal friends. Oh how much he must love us to let us have these lil' critters in our lives!! I am happy that Dobby has now made our family a family of.....Four.

Regrets.....But oh well.

My long hair :(

Now......

Not sure what Stella is thinking.......

I cut my hair. I regret it. I wish I hadn't. Now I can't do it curly-such an easy hair style to do. Oh well. It will grow.....I guess.

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day to my wonderful hubby. Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served our country. Happy Veterans Day to all those who are serving our country today. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you....

Stella

I SWORE I would never...............But the only thing that would heal my broken heart, was to fill that emptiness. I love animals too much, and wanted to give one a home that was in need of one. We adopted Stella (I named her). She is so cute. We are still trying to adjust. She is 6 months old, with a lot of energy. Her personality very different from Harley. She looks just like him, only not the same kind of breed. It is comforting to me because I look at her and I feel like a part of Harley is still here. We are still working on potty training. She is very playful and energetic. Very friendly and social. We are excited to have Stella in our home, and are happy that we can provide her a place where she will be loved.

We drove up to Jon's parents property up Ogden Canyon and took Stella with us. She loved it.


The new member of our family, Stella.





The only place I can get Stella to calm down from her hyperness, is when we are in the car. She is like a baby, once we start to drive around, she is out!! Sometimes she sleeps in the most odd positions!! Does not look comfortable to me!!


This is what happens when we are at home. She always wants attention and wants to play. She is a little stinker! She loves to rip things to shreds! Here we have, dog bones, toys, pieces of a cardboard box, a lufa (spelling?) she found somewhere, jon's cd's, and much more!!

I took Stella to my parent's house to play with their dog Daisy. She was a little too hyper for poor lil' Daisy.
Thanks to my mom who donated her new coat!! They bought it for Daisy and it was too big. She loves to wear it outside because it is freezing cold! When she is bored she will start to rip and bite it!

She is too funny. The other day we left her in the car (in the back seat) while we ran into our house to grab something/get a drink/go to the bathroom. We came back and she had shredded Jon's Jamba Juice cup and ate the rest (Lucky dog got a peanut butter smoothie!), and she finished off a brand new package I had opened and put in the passenger door, of Honey Roasted Peanuts!!

Thank You

Just wanted to say thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers regarding Harley. It helps to know that people are there to support us and care.
We are doing really well. I am especially surprised at how well I am doing. Knowing how emotional of a person I am, I had expected for my intense heart ache to have lasted a long time. I think normally it would have, but only because of the fasting, prayers, and blessing I received, have I been able to cope with our loss.
Thanks Everyone!!

Forever & Always My Companion

My Harley Boy

Forever & Always My Companion

Adopted by Jon & Michelle: July 25, 2009

Passed Away: October 17,2009

I guess sometimes life really catches you off guard. Harley was fine wednesday, started acting different wed evening, went to the vet thurs, and passed away saturday. Wow. His illness came out of no where, and then he was gone. Needless to say, he has left me here, heartbroken, crushed, devastated, and not knowing how I will ever live without him.

I don't know how I will get through each day without Harley at my feet, by my side, on my bed, on my lap, or sitting in the passenger seat of the car. I only had Harley for 3 months, but we were inseperable, ALWAYS together, and now he is gone.

I'm happy to say, I have absolutely no regrets with the life I gave Harley. I treated him like gold, like a best friend, like the most loyal companion, and in return, he treated me the same. I am so glad that I was able to provide Harley with a wonderful life, the last 3 months he was alive. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. The only comforting things I am hanging on to right now, are....that he was in horrible pain, but he is no longer. And also that I KNOW I will see him again after this life.

Harley was a wonderful dog, but particularly, he and I had a special bond. He was the first dog of my own. He literally followed me from room to room, upstairs/downstairs, outside/inside, even if he was sleeping, he would get up and follow me if I left his side. It's hard for me to write and express the special bond we had together. Neither can I write the extent of heartache I feel right now. I am completely devastated. At one point, I felt like "Life can't go on anymore for me." I have a very deep love for animals, and I have learned, that it does not take long for me to become attached.

Saying goodbye to my dear Harley, was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I hope with all my heart he will be waiting to greet me in the next life.

Thank you to my parents for letting Jon and I burry Harley in their flower garden, next to our family dog growing up, Sassy. Thank you to Jon for being so supportive and being there for me and Harley through all of this.

I kept Harley's collar, and his name tag. It is excruciating to be at my house and see all of the reminders: leashes laying around, dog shampoo under the bathroom sink, dog bowls with food still in them, his favorite treats "Pup-er-oni" sitting on the counter, and his hair on my clothes, and on my bed. It KILLS me.

Thank goodness we are able to have hope that we will see our beloved pets again. To me, Harley was not just a pet. He was my lil' companion and the first memeber we brought into our family.

Harley, you are deeply loved, and will be missed terribly. We love you and can't wait to see you again. Until then, please don't forget us because no one on earth loves you more than I do....

To read about Harley's disease, here are a few links.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/5133/ivd.html

http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/intervertebral-disk-disease.aspx

What I learned today...

I learned a lot about myself this morning. Well, I guess I already knew, but it was re-confirmed today.
First thing I learned: You all know that I love my dog, but, apparently I love him a whole heck of a lot more than I thought (only having had him for 3 months..)
Second thing: I have no idea how I will ever be able to have children. Scary, I know.
Third thing: I have an amazingly supportive husband.
And fourth...
The need to pray and fast.
Harley is currently in the hospital and will be there for about 3 days. After reading some articles, I found that breeds with his type of body (long with stumpy legs) tend to have back problems. I knew something was wrong when Harley lost the use of his back legs starting yesterday. We took him to the vet and found out that his condition is serious. It is called Intervertebral Disc Disease. He was in excruciating pain. It broke my heart. I lost all my composure in the room. Jon had to calm me down. And After I left I asked myself "How will I ever be able to have children??" They needed to give Harley a shot with pain medication and I wanted to leave the room. I ended up staying, but what will I do when my brand new baby is having to get poked all over with needles???
Needless to say, today has been an awful day. I am so heart broken. He may be able to come home Saturday. I hated leaving him there, but knew it was best for his health.
Apparently we are going to have to change his lifestyle, which will be tough. For the next month: no jumping on bed, couches etc, has to be carried up and down stairs, no jumping in/out of car, no jumping on laps, has to spend most of his time is his kennel resting.
Everyone thought I babied him before?? Just wait!!! It will be hard to watch his every move constantly, and I am hoping that he will be able to recover fully. Until then...I am just sick about it. The silence in the house, and not having a constant companion at my feet, is very depressing. I will update when I find out how he is doing. Keep fingers crossed (and prayers).

We're back!!

We made it back to Utah last Friday evening! We are currently trying to unpack and get settled into our house in Clinton where we will be living! (Yes, Jon has an awful commute!!) We have gotten to see our families and cant wait to see all of our wonderful friends!!
Poor Harley is having a hard time adjusting to all of the changes from moving. :(
My skin can tell I'm back in Utah!! Already starting to itch, crack, get dried out, and drive me nuts!! Oh the joys of having 4 seasons, that we DIDN'T have in Monterey!!

Packing

Packing...Yuck!!!!
Packing Today
Packing Tomorrow
Finish Wednesday
Stay in Hotel Wed night
Thurs is Jon's graduation
And then.....hit the road!!
I have been sneezing non-stop today from all the dust from cleaning!!
P.S. At least I will get a break from packing and get to take Cooper and Zack VanKomen to the aquarium!! I am SO excited to take them!! (Jon's wonderful friend Matt is coming from Utah to move us! And he is bringing 2 of his boys!!)

Bye Bye California....

Well, Jon is finally finished with class! I am so proud of him for sticking it out for the past year being in class everyday! He is a trooper, and was a great leader to the class. I am so grateful to him for bringing me to Cali so that we could spend our first year of marriage in such a beautiful place! It has been ever SO nice, that I was able to have my husband every day and every night for one whole year straight....I feel spoiled!!
But, now it's back to real life....Utah! I have mixed feelings about this. I wish we could stay, but am also excited to be with family and friends again. Jon graduates Oct 1st, and then we are headed back to Utah (yep, thats NEXT weekend! Crazy!)
I love my hub so much and have enjoyed our first year together!!
Next is Germany!!! (he he he, hopefully!)

We love the Ocean! (well, some of us...)

What a WARM and beautiful day!! The ocean felt so refreshing!!

Harley, on the other hand, HATES the water! This is what he was doing the whole time....Tugging!! He does enjoy the sand though!

We had two hot days over the weekend here in Monterey! It was great beach weather. We went to lunch and then headed to the beach with Harley! It was so fun! Oh My little dog and his silly personality! lol

I've hit a brick wall

I think it's obvious, my previous two posts (three if you include the white chocolate dog bones) having been about food....I have hit a brick wall. I have nothing to blog about.
The End.

Perfect Combination

Tonight for dinner I made Cream of Broccoli soup with corn bread and honeybutter on the side. Now that's what I call a "Perfect Combination"

Thank you...

.....for constantly saving my life.

Mouth Watering....

White chocolate dipped dog bones, from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Oh yes I did!!!

You know you are best friends when....

.....the two of you sit in the car and share an entire bag of teriyaki flavored beef jerkey together.... (no....it was not Jon and I, take another guess! cough cough dog..cough cough....)

Sleepless Nights

Here i am laying in bed with my laptop on my lap. It is one in the morning. I have been in bed since 11:30. Laying next to me, is my dog....who happens to be snoring. Laying next to my dog, is my husband...who happens to also be snoring. This is going to be one......long.......night.........

Love my Dog

Oh don't worry....there are plenty more pictures to come! Since I don't have kids and everyone else does, it's only fair that I get to brag about my dog!!

How can you resist.....

.......This face and those ears!! I sure can't!!

A few of my latest obsessions..

Chunky Strawberry from Jamba Juice (those are bananas on top in case you wondered)

Orbit PEPPERMINT (ONLY!) gum

Oh how I LOVE flats

You won't see my toenails painted anything BUT BLACK

Jon and I love sharing these everyday! (We do DDP Costco style!!!)


Downy Wrinkle Releaser....Next best thing to an iron! (or dryer)

Between Jon and I, the Kit Kat minis work out perfectly. I eat the white choc and milk choc ones, and he eats the dark chocolate!!

No Gatorade!! Yuck! Powerade ONLY!! (Blue is my faaaaavorite)


I tell myself that the "crisp" butterfingers are less fattening than regular, because they are light and airy!! ha ha!! (once again, I prefer the mini's!)

Looooove long shirts with jeans or leggings! So relaxed and comfortable!



I'm HOOKED! Will never switch my lip gloss again!! Mango Madness by Victoria's Secret.

And last but not least.....THE ONE item that I could NOT live WITHOUT........MY collection of HATS!! I wear my precious hats 6 days a week (the 7th being sundays). What would I do if I could not roll out of bed, pull up a side pony tail, no make up, and throw on a hat??!! (Don't get the wrong idea I AM NOT lazy....;)