New Living Room!

Gosh I wish I had proper before pictures. The change is absolutely stunning. We finally have a proper living room - which is also fairly well baby-and-puppy-proofed. Derek loves the new rug and is starting to pull himself up on my legs when I sit at the couches. I was really worried he was going to be delayed on that milestone since we really didn't have anything for him to safely pull himself up on. Lacey already knows not to even go near the couches. She's so funny - loves to gnaw on her bones while laying on a corner of the carpet.

Doesn't it just make you want to read a book? :)

Lovely

Derek scoots really quickly now

I swear he was further away when I started to take the picture!

This was too cute. I looked up from my book and Derek had abandoned his toys, draped himself across his Bumbo chair and was kicking his legs and gurgling to himself. I caught him just as he was getting off the Bumbo chair -*snaps fingers* darn. Funny little face though.

Montage

Some of the highlights of the past two days...

"Guess what I just did, Daddy... and YOU get to clean it up!"
"Joy."

These two have so much fun!

Can you see his "hippo" teeth on the top?

Fun!

"Gonna vom...."

Story behind this one: I put Derek down for the night and Mitch and I were setting up a movie. We heard these sounds coming from Derek's room for at least 15 minutes and finally had to get it on video. My sweet little boy is too cute and funny!

You Got... TAGGED!!!

My friend Stephanie tagged me to fill out this questionnaire - I think these are totally fun (you want hilarious from my freshman year, go here) so I'll tag some unfortunate people who read my blog...TAG, YOU'RE IT!!!

1. Camilla
2. Andrea
3. Makamae
4. Kelly
5. Amy
6. Mom
7. Sara P
8. Liz

1. What is your most embarrassing moment? Oh jeez... Probably when I unknowingly flashed my granny panties to a super hot guy during class. Milla can back me up on this one. Two cute guys came up to talk to us during a class break and one was looking anywhere but me. Kind of annoying but the topper was when the break was over and he leaned over to stage-whisper "XYZ." Great.

2. What is your greatest accomplishment, to date? The size of my Farmville. JK! I'd say being a mom. That's at least the contribution with the greatest effect on society and by extension to world.

3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? If I could relocate Ireland/Great Britain to the Gulf of Mexico.... it would be Texas. If not... it'd be Texas. :) Europe would be nice to visit but I'll never get the hang of driving on the other side of the road.

4. If you could only take 3 belongings with you on a mass exodus to somewhere else, what would you take and why? My scriptures so I could retain my language, my library of books so I could entertain myself and my phone so I can keep track of my family while we ride our camels. :)

5. What is your dream date like? Mmm... a realistic one is eating tater-tots at Sonic or wings at Buffalo Wings and Rings with Mitch. A very nice one is (don't laugh) 3 days and 2 nights at a hotel with a Jacuzzi in the room. An in-my-dreams date is a cruise boat with Mitch, my friends and their husbands, no alcohol and a 24 hr buffet to include (but not limited to) boneless chicken wings, tater-tots, and meat-sicles. Destinations are Ireland to Greece and then down the African coastline. Oh yeah.

6. What is your earliest memory? Weird-smelling brown shag carpet, a rocking horse under a Christmas tree and two gerbils running on a wheel in a little orange cage.

7. If you could have anything to eat right this moment, what would it be? Boneless chicken wings from Wings and Rings - or a poptart. *goes to kitchen* That, I have.

8. If you had unlimited funds to start your own foundation, what would it do and what causes would it advocate? Ooo... I'd start a no-kill shelter for dogs and cats. It would have kennels in every city in America and would spay/neuter every single dog that came in - no exceptions. I'm by no means against responsible breeding, but the stray pet population is ridiculous. And breeding just because you think your pet would be a cute mommy/daddy is absolutely dumb. Ok, end of schpiel. :)

Here are your questions....

1. What is your favorite memory and why?
2. What is your ideal date?
3. Where would you NOT like to live and why?
4. Who was the last person to see you?
5. Can you balance a ball on your nose?
6. If you could eat anything right now, what would it be?
7. If there is one thing you could do, what would it be? NOTE: You have no limitations.
8. What is your favorite book/series/magazine and what caught your eye about it?

Of Toads and Ice Cubes

Toads don't taste good....



But ice cubes do!

Just when I thought the Xbox was dead and gone...

it resurrects itself.

For Amy...

Poor Lacey



Teeth

Terrified

Come back with me to a couple nights ago...

It's late, the sun has gone down and Lacey does NOT want to go to sleep. I sigh and grab the leash to take her on a quick walk. We enjoy our walk and the peacefulness of the night - nobody else around, cicadas chirping and Lacey is doing great on the leash. We reach the end of our route and turn back up the alleyway between houses to go to our backyard. I've been paying attention to Lacey more than my surroundings, reinforcing good leash manners, when she stops dead and focuses completely on something in the dark. I look up and see....

A MASSIVE SKUNK!!!

Anybody who knows me knows that I love all animals - I think having a skunk as a pet would be super cool (http://www.skunksaspets.com/). However, this was not a nice skunk. If I hadn't looked up, we'd've been skunked! This guy was big and bad and he was out to let us know it. Tail up and running AT US out of the dark!! Needless to say, I dragged Lacey after me and ran down the path for a few yards before the skunk left us alone. And just as we slowed down, what should appear out of the gloom but... ANOTHER SKUNK!! AAAAAHH! So, we just ran until we got into our backyard, which wasn't very far, but still....

And that was the end of nighttime walks for a while.

Scootin' Around!

In other news, Lacey is such a doll. She loves to be with people and, despite her history of neglect, she's adapting extremely well. She already understands "Kennel" and "Out," is making good progress in the potty training business and plays nice with Derek (he is surprisingly gentle in return). I LOOOOOVE having a dog. :) I've been up since 6:45, I did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, mopped the floors AND I've been outside 5 times today... and it isn't even noon yet. :) Definitely an improvement.

Meet Lacey

Half border collie and half something else (probably yellow lab or golden retriever)

About three months old

Not quite as cute as this though

Or this

Or this. :)

Sick as a dog and he still makes me smile....