Island Park

Our super wonderful friends, the Daltons, took us up to their place in Island Park. Chad and I both love it there!! If you haven't been up there you should. It is so gorgeous. We really loved camping up there earlier this year. There is awesome fishing and it is only 15 minutes or so from Yellowstone Park. One thing I love about it is that it is small town. Just a few gas stations, town grocery, and a little restuarant or two. I have always loved small towns and wide open spaces. The cabin itself is amazing. It's decorated all around bears and I just LOVED the way it was all put together. It was so awesome to see all the incredible things Errin has worked on up there. He is incredibly talented!!! Chad just loves to talk about projects with him. It was such a fun way to relax. We had so a blast and it was so great to get closer with our friends. We are so lucky to have friends who take care of us!!

Ugh

We are really having a rough time. I feel anxious, sad and angry all at once and my chest feels like its being squished or I had the wind knocked out of me. This past week has been the worst time I can remember for a really long time. I miss Diesel every second of every day. I can barely go out and call Gunner in at night because I think about Diesel. I keep looking down the lane or out in the fields hoping to see him running home. I know some people won't understand, after all he's a dog. But for me, I guess, he was like a child. I took care of his every need, he in return loved me, we cuddled, I talked to him... even the little stuff like giving him baths and feeling his warm little body in bed at night. Every thing I think about him makes me want to cry. Oh, I have cried. We love him so much, and we wish more than anything right now, that he'd just show up. He went missing last Tuesday night. After much searching and then freaking out on my part (thanks to my father in law for letting me soak his sleeve) we had come to the horrible conclusion that coyotes had taken Diesel because they were fighting with some neighbor dogs that evening. I was really starting to feel like I could accept that, however sad, and just remember him lovingly. I had really starting to come to terms with the situation.

But today was really hard. A neighbor thought they had seen him last night. And so again we searched for hours, driving around, walking, calling, waiting. I tried so hard not to get my hopes up, I kept telling myself how unlikely it was. But after talking to all the nieghbors in this particular neighborhood it sounded more likely that he WAS around, and we started to get really excited. I sent pictures over and its turns out they don't think it was him after all. And if it was, well tonight is going to be cold and really windy, and I hope he makes it .... So, back to square one I guess. I have only seen Chad tear up twice, and once was today.

DEAL!!

I am just getting the hang of really stretching the use of my coupons, so I am pretty proud of this deal. I got all of this for a grand total of.... (-) 1.20

That is a NEGATIVE! Yes!! I got PAID to take these items home! I took advantage of a good rebate, sales, and coupons all at once. I could have made even more back but I splurged a little. It isn't a ton of food, but it sure helps to build food storage when you don't have to actually spend anything.

Gross-

The other day I felt a little bump on Diesel's side. We talked about what it could be from the obvious cyst, to a tick, or even a foxtail that got stuck under his skin.... I took him to the vet, who did a little squeeze test..... and out came this....

Yes, its a MAGGOT!! Gross!!

I had actually guessed this, kind of as a joke, because I once saw this video. (I'll warn you it's a little over dramatic).

I guess Diesel must have got it through a horse fly bite. The vet said it's pretty uncommon in dogs. I guess Diesel just likes to do things out of the ordinary.

Anniversary

So, yes, I know that our 1 year anniversay was a month ago...I am just too lazy to blog. But we did have a fun weekend up in West Yellowstone. We camped in Island Park, Idaho, and it was just gorgeous!!

It seems crazy that we met 4 years ago this past July! We have had such fun these past 4 years, and we have so many wonderful memories already! People say the first year is the hardest but I really can't think of anything we have had a real fight about. It hasn't been too hard getting used to living together. If this is our hardest year, we lucked out!! I am really so thankful to have such a great companion through this crazy thing we call life. I love that we are a team, and I know I can always count on him!

It's been a blast, and we are looking forward to the years to come!!

Just some of the stuff we have done this past year:
Costa Rica
Lake Powell
Europe
Visiting Sophie and her wonderful parents
Camping
Adding 2 puppies to our family
Yellowstone- (will post pictures seperately)
Lots of TV watching, Wii and playstation playing, and reading books

Friends are for:

Giving you "birthday" presents when it isn't actually your birthday, but just because they are exceptionally nice. A dear friend of mine did this for me. It was so fun and thoughtful!! She knows I love treats so she gave me this:I was practically drooling over every page. We already have a cupcake "line-up" from this book, Chad picked the order in which they will be made.

Thanks friend, you are absolutely awesome!!!

Studio 32 Shoes

Studio 32 shoes is doing a giveaway!! The shoes are so cute and they have so many different styles! You can host a party or buy them online.

Check them out here or here!

The view from our window

I was excited...

For This:

To turn into this:

Until I saw this:

Yes, that's right. Grasshoppers. Every step would cause a dozen or so little guys to hop up and go flying in all directions. These are on the staircase up to our apartment. I can only imagine how many were out in the tall grasses.

GoodReads

So one of my best friends in the whole world just turned me on to GoodReads. It is a great way to get ideas of what to read next. You go on and rate books you have read, and list books you want to read. You can compare with your friends, and even some of their friends, about books you both have read, or like I said just get ideas for your next book. I especially love the "to-read" section, because I can never remember when someone tells me a book is good, or when I think "oh I should really read that again" so this way I can go on and look at my list and POOF instant shopping list!

This is a weird post I know, but for me it's like a really convenient book club!! You can read comments people leave about the book and you don't even have to bring a treat! (or a refreshing beverage :) ) Anyway if you like to read and like input from other people, this is a great site.

GoodReads

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th is a lucky/fun day in our family. We decided to indulge- we got: (I know what you are thinking- but the crisp pinto bean burrito is some fried up goodness)

Chad was nervous about watching TWO 80's chick flicks, but you just can't resist the happy feeling that can only be brought about by 80's hair, music and dancing and by the end of the night he was having fun!

I'm dreaming...

As we have been discussing our summer plans these are some of the things I am looking forward to...

And if we work our cards right....

Give Away

Well I signed up for this on my friends blog and so I must post this...it's in the rules :)

The first five people to respond to this post will get something from me.

My choice.

For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what you get.

2- I reserve the right to make something strange

3- It will be done by the end of April.

4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be jewelry or home decor. I might scrapbook something. I might make you a beauty basket. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure! (Although I am open to suggestions- I may or may not give you what you ask for)

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same deal to 5 of your own lucky blog readers. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!GO!!!

Chad = Awesome

I have been incredibly ill this past week. It started late Sunday night and the first couple days it was all I could do to get out of bed. It is the kind of sickness that effects your entire body, with everything from raspy lungs, to congested sinus', from sore muscles, to a fever of 102. I have really slacked off, so much that everyone has had to take care of me. Jill even made us dinner last night and did all our dishes for us.

But the person that has been the best is by far Chad. He bought me every kind of sore throat and cough medicine. He read all the labels and found the ones with the right ingredients for the right symptoms. He spent a long time at the store. When he came home, he also had bought this weeks groceries and had rented a movie to watch. He does everything I could possibly need. He has been so nice, especially since I cough all night and keep him up, but he won't let me sleep on the couch.

And, he completely surprised me on Valentines Day. As I posted earlier he bought roses for me at the store. But that was just a trick. I was at the grocery store on Saturday picking up food for dinner and I called Chad to come meet me at the store because I wasn't sure if I had enough cash, and he told me he couldn't come because he and his dad were working on his truck. I have to admit I was somewhat upset. But when I got home there were rose petals on the porch, they led inside- straight to the bathroom, where he had filled up a steaming hot bath- with salts, candles and some juice to sip on. I was so happy! It really hit the spot, and I was so relaxed after (and a little embarrassed since I had been mad before).

It was the perfect Valentines gift- He might have set the bar a little high for future romantic holidays!!

Valentines

Well I guess it's well known that sugar cookies and valentines go hand in hand, because I made some and I know both my sister-in-laws made them too. For those of you who didn't find the time to make any, we have so many extra, just let me know if you want some. :)

Also when we were at the store yesterday, when we checked out, there they were, beautiful pink roses! Chad bought them for me. I know he would've picked them up for tomorrow, but we were there and they were there, and I am so happy!!! Thanks Chad!!

Ode to Diesel

Diesel is getting so funny. He is getting such a big personality and is always making us laugh. A few days ago he was playing over at Chad's parents and he ran around Tank (the Lab- who is sleeping) stuck his bumb in the air and wiggled his tail. When Tank didn't respond he ran upstairs and brought down his alligator toy, put it right in front of Tank, stuck up his bumb and wiggled away. Again no response, so he ran upstairs and came down with his tennis ball, put it right next to Tanks nose, stuck up his bumb and wiggled, then he went and got his stuffed animal hippo, put it in front of Tank...you get the picture. Here are some pictures of some of the otherc cute and funny things he's been up to.

This is how I found the boys resting when I came back from getting dressed
He loves bundling himself under all the covers, he'll bundle all the covers and then burrow his way into a tiny little hole

Having a sleep over with his best bud- who he does not realize is so much bigger than he is.

Feeling good because he gets the bed all to himself, he thinks he stole it, so that makes it that much better

This is how I woke up to him, cuddled up like a human, head on the pillow, covers to his neck

This is how Chad woke up the other day, Diesel for some reason loves to sleep by Chad, I have to steal him when he's asleep if I want him to lay by me

His new favorite thing is to sleep on the top of the couch, preferably by someone's shoulder

We just love him!

Christmas Tree

I was asked to post some pictures of our Christmas Tree. I know Christmas was forever ago but here they are...

We went with a Bird/Peacock theme, adding gold to the blues and aquas, with gold feathers, roses, and of course lots of sparkly accents. We added some other feathers for some added texture. We really loved our tree and Christmas color scheme.

Long past due-

I just have to shout out to Chad. He got our concrete counter tops done a long time ago but he did such an amazing job I have to post some pictures.

I love our counters because they are so unique and we picked out the colors together. Chad did an awesome job with the pattern and edging, I love them!