CRASHED!

I came home from school today and well, for lack of a better word, CRASHED!  I came in, nodded at Jamie, went directly to the bedroom and crawled into bed.  I have had a headache all day that I cannot shake and sleeping seemed like the best way to endure it.  I was out (completely out) until sometime after 8pm and after publishing this I am going to head back to bed.  I am sure that I looked something like the below pictures- out to the world.  

I have been wanting to post these pictures of Piper (but things keep coming up) and thought what better day than today.  Piper can frequently be found snoring logs on her mat.  It is really hard to get these photos because her mat is located at my feet, below the computer desk, so when I move to get the camera so does she.  So ignore the cords, enjoy the pics and sleep tight…

So delicate and lady-like


Happy Shrove Tuesday to Ya


Jamie and I finished up the dishes from a Shrove Tuesday dinner, or Pancake Tuesday Supper.  Growing up in Canada we would always have pancakes on the day before Ash Wednesday, usually in the form of a huge Pancake dinner at the church.  Celebrating Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday is an Irish/English tradition that started because pancakes use up a lot of sweet/ rich foods before lent begins.  I have never been particularly fond of pancakes, they are a little too soft for my tastes, so Jamie doesn’t get them (or any other sweet breakfast food for that matter) very often and after taking a look at all of the dishes we had to do he may not get them again until next year.

Retraction

Actually one thing can in fact top the door greeting, body wiggling puppy love and that is a husband.  Especially one that comes home from the office (yes that is unusual, he generally works from home), makes supper (I have a headache and didn’t feel like cooking), helps with the dishes, takes the dog for a walk, helps paste together two pictures into a one for me to use tomorrow at school and says how grateful he is to spend time with me.

Now that’s love and nothing can top it…

Now That’s Love


How can you not love this face?  EVERYDAY when I get home I am greeted by this face and wiggling body, her tail is wagging so hard that her whole body wiggles.  It’s very cute and puts a smile on my face regardless of the day that I have had. Piper is always excited to see me, regardless of how long I (or we) have left her.  She all but attacks me when I walk in the door, I mean she gives you an all out WELCOME HOME!  After we say hello (me petting and rubbing her belly) she follows me around the house while I put things away and do whatever needs to be done.  After I am finished with that and I sit at the computer to check my email or read blogs she sits on my feet- yup on my feet.  She is great company and a wonderful foot warmer.

Yup puppies are great, but she is the greatest.  Nothing can beat this love…

Surprise Kisses

A surprised look after kisses from Mommy- this is my favorite pic from the night.

Daddy and his little man

Playing with his Daddy and sitting too- which he doesn’t like too much.
Jamie and I had dinner at Nan and Jeremy’s last night, it was delicious!!  Nan made crab cakes, one of my absolute favorite meals and it was great.  Not only is this woman the Mama for the adorable little guy pictured above but she sure can cook.

I took my camera over to their place yesterday, I generally don’t go over there without it.  Leyton loves my camera and I love taking his picture, it works well for us.  I was even “allowed” to take pictures of Jeremy, who never enjoys smiling for the camera.  I guess parenting really does change you.  We had a great time guys- love you.

Why is it?

Why is it that when you are at the dentists office and have every possible instrument in your mouth plus their hands- they want to strike up a conversation with you?  I mean come on people, like I really want to chat while I am guaranteed to drool on myself.  I think that this should be added to the list of great things to ponder, I mean why not chat when I am just sitting in the chair?

FINALLY!!!

For those of you that have not been keeping up with this, I have been married for 2 1/2 years but have not been able to change my name yet.  By the way, I honestly wanted to change my name and was really excited about it.  However, I was a Canadian citizen and had a greencard which made this whole process a whole lot more difficult.

Flash back to August 2006 with me, I was a new blushing bride with all of my paperwork put together, ready to go as I took the trip down town to the social security office. I was going to change my social and then get my new drivers license- no big deal right? WRONG! I was informed, after waiting for a few hours and sitting next to some very sketchy people (the Social Security office is full of random and scary people but that is a whole other post), that I would not be able to change my name until I changed it on my greencard. Okay, not the answer I wanted and a little frustrating but I was still thinking that it would happen soon.  Wrong yet again.  In order to change your name on you greencard you have to reapply for a new greencard, not just renew your existing card.  Reapplying for a greencard means that there is a possibility that they won’t let you stay in the US.  Yippee, I just got married but if I wanted to change my name I had the possibility of being kicked out of the country.  Woohoo, just what I wanted.
What a pickle I was in, I wanted to take my husband’s name but I didn’t want to (possibly) be told that I wouldn’t be able to stay in the US.  Being asked (forced) to leave would be a long shot- but I am a worrier, what can I say.  So Jamie (my wonderful husband) and I spoke with a lawyer and started looking into Citizenship.  Now comes the easy part, right?  WRONG again…
The paperwork was a pain and it took me 1 1/2 years to complete it to the point that I was comfortable turning it in.  In brief, they wanted to know every time that I had been out of the United States since I moved here, with the exact dates and everything.  Well come on people I was 11 when we moved, give me a break!!  I don’t remember the exact dates of the two or three trips that my family took back to Canada each year since I moved here, I sometimes don’t remember what I had for lunch that day much less trivia from 15 years ago.  Eventually, after worrying about it for a while I completed it to the best of my ability, crossed my fingers, and mailed the application.
Fast forward to last Friday with me now, when I was sworn in as a US citizen.  Yup, a bunch of paperwork, fingerprints, photos, $700, a ridiculous interview, one ceremony and a whole lot of waiting later, it’s official!  I am a US citizen and I have the certificate to prove it.  However, I can’t take a picture of it; I’m not allowed to but if you stop by you can see it if you want.  You other, born in the US citizens should be jealous, you didn’t get a fancy certificate- but I did.
The long and the short of it is that I am officially a Perreault now- woohoo.  I may not be a blushing bride anymore but I am very excited to be legitimate.  Now I have to go through the long process of changing my name on every piece of official/legal paperwork that I have, applying for a new passport and once again sit in the social security office.  

Feel the Love

I know that it is not yet Valentine’s Day; but, I wanted an excuse to post one of my favorite pictures of our kids.  Piper and Dolce for the most part tolerate each other, actually Piper LOVES Dolce and he tolerates Piper .  However, there is a rare occasion that they are really sweet to each other- like this time when they were sharing Piper’s mat.  So sweet…

Favorite Christmas Pictures

I know that I am way behind in posting these but they are really cute and I wanted to share. I hope that everyone is enjoying the new year!!

I think that this pic is too cute, all of the “kids” were all hanging out in front of the Christmas tree with Dad.

Our family picture by the Christmas tree, we decided to include the whole family this year but we aren’t sure that Bella and Dolce thought that it was a good idea.

Cute one of Jamie and me at the Vickers family sing-along

My absolute favorite Christmas picture from this year!!!  Sean (Jamie’s cousin by marriage) deserves all of the props on this one.

Traveling Piper Style

I haven’t gone through all of my Christmas pictures yet, so I am going to post a little out of order. I know it’s unusual for me and it makes my OCD flair up a little bit however, these pictures of Piper are so funny that I couldn’t wait to share them.

We were on our way down to Terra Ceia last Friday night, where Jamie’s family owns a house on the bay, and Piper came along for the ride. She loves to ride in the car, primarily because she knows that when she gets to go in the car there is fun to be had. While we are driving she sticks her head out of the window, takes in all of the new and interesting smells and when that gets old or the car is moving too fast she falls asleep on the back seat of the car. Man, the life of a dog!
Below are a few pictures from the ride, the last being my favorite. Even though we were going down the interstate Piper had to stick her head out of the window every few minutes, and when she did her eyelids would “flap” in the wind and her lips go crazy. It was very amusing for Jamie, me and everyone that would drive by and see her.

Crashed on the backseat with her make-shift pillow

Piper wearing her seat belt, she doesn’t travel without it :)

“Why did you disturb me?” look- I know it’s a little fuzzy but still cute in my opinion.

“Smiling” at all of the people driving by