We are off to Wine Country today, to eat drink and be merry! I wanted to post a pic and one is all we have time for- more to come. Having fun- love to all…
just a teaser
California
Well, for those of you that don’t know- I flew out this morning to meet Jamie in California. Neither one of us have been so when Jamie was scheduled to attend a training out here we decided that I would join him the week after when he was done with his class. **warning proud wife bragging** His class was long and draining but he did pass the test (it was really, REALLY hard) and then he took and passed two more tests without taking classes on them. He stumped a few of the instructors by how well he did- but you know, he is so smart he could handle it no problem!!
It was a long day of flying so we are going to go to bed shortly (it is only 5:30 here- but 8:30 at home). The flights were okay, other than the airline moving my flight up 30 minutes and not notifying me. If you don’t know (Jamie and I learned the hard way flying to Chicago over spring break) you have to check your bags 45 minutes before your plane leaves otherwise they won’t let you check them. I was there in plenty of time for my original flight but not enough for my “new” departure time. So I fussed (a rare sight/thing for me) and the guy that was helping me got his manager’s approval to check my bag anyway because it wasn’t my fault that I wasn’t here on time. I flew as Kristen Westlake, since that is how we booked my flight to begin with (we purchased tickets in January before citizenship changes). I was told that they would change it at the ticket counter- they didn’t- I just had to show my marriage license every time they checked ID (kind of a pain but I got here). I did sit next to weird and weirder on the plane to Salt Lake and next to a girl who carried on live lobsters on my way to San Jose, CA- I am not joking here folks the box said “live lobsters”, it had a handle on the top so you could carry it upright and cooking instructions. I will post pictures soon, as we are moving to a Hotel in San Fransisco tomorrow and this will be our first day of sightseeing.
love to all :)
:(
Jamie left today at 5pm for a week in Newark, California (near San Fransisco). He is attending a training out there and will be busy from 8am-8pm. This is the longest he has been away since we have, well, know each other. Sad, I know. I really hate when he is gone- I don’t sleep as well, I lock every door in the house, Piper sleeps in the room with me, she doesn’t get her late night walks (we have to go during the day light, which throws me and her off), I don’t get my goodnight kiss and I don’t have any to annoy with all of my random thoughts at night (this is when I do my best thinking). I know I am sounding pathetic but really you should have seen me at the airport this afternoon pouting with the best of them.
It is a good thing that this week is so busy for me and that I am looking forward to joining him on Saturday. But cross your fingers and probably your toes for me that this week goes quickly and that I do get some sleep…
A pic of my hubby taken last March in Chicago.
A two bath day
Jamie and I were played today, by whom you may ask? Well, none other than our four legged lovable puppy- yup that’s right, Piper. She has been pretty itchy lately so we have bathed her more frequently to try and get the itching to stop. So, today (even though it was raining) we bathed her- yup nice parents. It was against my better judgement, because who bathes a water dog when it’s raining? But we did, and we even gave her a treat after she was through since she was so good for us. Well tonight on our walk she took off into the ditch and yup right into a small pond- hence, bath number 2. So she got to play in the water (in the “pond” and from the hose) was cleaned twice, got a treat and is now- as we speak- on her mat in our room (even though she doesn’t normally sleep with us). Life’s tough I suppose…
And because any post is better with a picture, here are a few of the princess from another day taking a bath and playing in the water…
Happy Mother’s Day!!
Happy Mom’s Day to all!!! Jamie and I had a great weekend filled with a little bit of R&R and more importantly family time. We started celebrating Mother’s Day early yesterday by seeing Jamie’s Mom, her sisters and his Grandma. We have been very sneaky and hiding some cousin pictures that we took (all 7 of the cousins were in town over Christmas) and were finally able to give them out yesterday. I think it was a huge hit! We got a little bit of “us” time Saturday afternoon which will be much appreciated with this upcoming crazy week and then we got to see both of our Mom’s (along with George, my brother- Scott and his wife Frannie) again today. It was great! Here are a few pictures from the weekend, I didn’t take any at my Mom’s house with Scott and Frannie- it don’t know why I had the camera with me. Oh well, enjoy what I have.
(Left to Right)- Aunt Holly, Grandma, Aunt Nancy, Mary Sue
Jamie and his Mama after brunch today
Blessed
I have been trying to catch up on my blog reading tonight. I was away for the weekend with 8 wonderful teenagers (I can say that when they are not mine) at a SGA state convention, so I haven’t had much time to read. I read multiple blogs, 60 plus, so it can take awhile to catch up-I know it’s crazy! But most of them are photography blogs so I am able to claim that I am “working” while taking in all of the wonderful pictures. While reading tonight I came across the same theme multiple times, and that was “life is good” and man o’ man, is it!
I had a good day at school (not great but definitely not terrible), I got to catch up with my bestest friend on the way home from work- man do I miss her, I received an email from an old friend I hadn’t heard from in years, had a wonderful dinner with my husband outside on the porch (it is soooo pretty outside right now), fell asleep reading next to my husband in the hammock- bliss, pure bliss, and then finished my day off walking with two of my favorite people- the two and four legged kind. As you can see there is nothing that could have made my day any better. I hope that you all had a wonderful day and that sometime soon you are able to take a step back and realize just how blessed you are, I know that I have today.
I will leave you with a few pictures that I have taken lately that make me smile but I haven’t yet had the time to post them. Enjoy…
Me and my wonderful co-sponsor and teacher friend- Gaby this weekend at the convention before we threw ourselves at a velcro wall
Goofy Piper- she’ll do anything for a treat
Me and my fab father-in-law at the shrimp boil- my favorite pic from the whole day!
Like I said- bliss, pure bliss
Guess who’s two?
PIPER!!! I don’t have kids yet so I am allowed to be crazy about our furry kids! That being said Piper is two today- yippee!! We have loved every minute that she has been in our home. I was really crazy before we got her and got to know the breeder before she was even born. So when she was born (I practically did Cartwheels) I got to see weekly updates in the form of pictures- what could be better than tiny puppy pictures? I still have all of those pictures, like I said I am crazy (but not super crazy like some people). I was so excited the day that she was born and the day that we finally got to bring her home. I will leave you with some “birthday” pictures that we took in the front yard before the sun went down. She had a really good but busy day, aside from hurting her eye- which was an accident. Go figure, the kid goes and gets herself hurt (noticeably hurt I might add) before Mom wants to take her birthday picture. I don’t think that she could get any closer to real kid by doing that…
the “Mom, do I really have to do this?” look
so pitiful and cute
easter card
I received an Easter Card in the mail today from my Grandma and Auntie Deb, have I ever mentioned that I really enjoy mail? If not- I do, so it was really exciting to get it. But the best part was that they put stickers in it for me, and not just any stickers- sparkly PUFFY stickers. It has been ages since I have seen a puffy sticker much less received one and especially not in mail. It makes me smile every time I look at it. I really miss them and wish they weren’t so far away.
Picture of the puffy stickers and card- it should make you smile too!
Babysitting
Last Friday Jamie and I got the pleasure of watching Leyton while Nan and Jeremy attended a friends wedding. It took us a while to get used to each other, and for Jamie and I to realize that when they said he likes to move all the time that they really meant ALL of the time! We had fun hanging out with Leyton, taking him for walks in the pouch/ jumper thing (which he crashed in- twice), and introducing him to Piper. I have been meaning to post these pictures but things have been crazy.
Either way here they are, enjoy…
Fancy Family Shot- ooh la la…
Snoozing or shall I say crashed- take a look at those smoochy lips!
Traveling in style- that thing was surprisingly easy to wear
too precious- baby giggles
stud
Leyton’s visit with Piper. His parents may not let him come over after this but I am going to risk- he LOVED watching Piper!
Bean there done that…
Late Wednesday night Jamie and I returned from a much needed vacation in Chicago. We had bizarre weather (sunshine, snow, wind, rain- the works), enjoyed the company of dear friends, enjoyed great food and well just plain relaxed- it was amazing!! We enjoyed all every minute of our trip and were envious of all of the culture and the sites that you get to see in Chicago- Orlando is really lacking. We even enjoyed the 6 inches of snow that we got- you can enjoy it when you don’t live in it. Enjoy the pictures, some of which are self portraits- the product of a vacation with just the two of us.
View of Lake Michigan from Aimee and Marc’s apartment
View down Michigan Avenue
Aimee and Marc enjoying a Chicago Hot Dog lunch with us
Nighttime view of Chicago from the Hancock Tower
At Navy Pier
SNOW!!! 6 inches on Sunday
The Bean- my favorite site in all of Chicago!!! A huge mirrored bean in the middle of Millennium Park. It was a great place to people watch and made for great pictures of the city.
Me and Jamie at the Bean
New, warm, pink (shock) hat- for snow, wind etc.
The Bean again
Chicago Deep dish, Jamie ate 4 slices of a large on his own
Me and Father Scott outside of the Mercy Home where he works- an amazing organization that fosters really needy (deserving) kids
Beautiful background, beautiful day, handsome husband
At the Field Museum to view the Pirates exhibit
Saying goodbye to Chicago and of course the bean :)
the perreault family 