Valentine's Day

Busted out the China to celebrate Valentine's Day

For Valentines Day Travis and I got up made breakfast and then went to church. After Church we took Valentine's Day cupcakes to neighbors. Then we decided to go for a walk, so Travis, Charlie, Henry, Watson and I loaded up the car drove to the trail and did a four mile hike. After that we came home relaxed for a bit and started making dinner (wontons our favorite). Our neighbor Erin was alone for Valentine's Day because her husband is away for a month doing training so we invited her over for a warm meal. It was a lot of fun! She has a German Shepard named Wall-E. The dogs loved running around playing. The funniest thing was Wall-E and Watson. Watson literally stayed hunched up in this position for about thirty minutes just staring at the biggest dog he'd ever seen.

Mardi Gras

Here in Louisiana they are not into Valentine's day but instead Mardi Gras!!! Coming from Washington we never really got into Mardi Gras and all I knew was that if you wanted beads you showed your boobs. Now that I am in the heart land of the Mardi Gras festivities it is much more than that...or so I have been told. It has been fun learning this new holiday that even the schools get off! Yesterday on our way to Walmart to buy our new flat screen TV we where stopped in down town Leesville by a parade for Mardi Gras! We got out of the car and joined in with all the people waving and shouting for beads, candy, cups and much more to be thrown at you (literatlly thrown directly at you)! There were probably 10-15 floats, horses, cops, Miss teen of Leesville and lots more! It was a lot of fun and Travis and I got beads and brought them home to put on Charlie and Henry so they could celebrate the festivities!
The other fun thing about Mardi Gras is a cake called King's Cake. It is a round pastries that can have different fillings like cream cheese, lemon or cherry (probably many others) and lots of sprinkles to decorate. The fun thing about the King's cake is that there is a little plastic baby and whoever gets the little baby buys the next cake...oh and they have good luck. It is really good and fun to watch the person bite into the baby!

Bistro at the Bayou

All of us after dinner

Saturday night Travis and I went with our friends Keith and Allison to Alexandria (which is about an hour North from Leesville) to the restaurant called Bistro at the Bayou. The food was delicious and it was fun to get out of town for a few hours for an early Valentines day evening!

Birthday Weekend

Attempt at a family shot....We are missing Watson and you can't see Charlie....shucks!
For my birthday I asked Travis for a pet stroller so that Watson could enjoy the great outdoors with Charlie and I when we went for walks. I knew the risk going into this, that chances are I will be labeled the crazy cat lady on the block! But if you are a parent you don't care about what others think you just do what is best for your children and seeing Watson's eyes light up as he discovers the world via stroller makes it all worth it! I received the box a few weeks ago but was determined not to open it till my birthday...but I couldn't wait any longer. Travis and I opened the box and assembled our very first stroller together! We put Henry in it to test out the weight limit and it passed. We were ready for our walk in the snow and slush! We stopped briefly to let the animals rest. The dogs were having a great time trotting through all the puddles. Watson was just looking out of his stroller never saying a word till we stopped! I think Watson was loving the ride and just getting fresh air! Did I feel like a crazy cat lady...you bet I did! People would drive by and take double takes! I felt as though my next purchase should be a straight jacket :) The stroller works great though and Travis and I loved the walk!

Here is a trail right by our house that goes through the woods. Travis and I stopped after running to take a picture before heading home. The dogs were wet and dirty so we gave them baths when we got back. Luckily Watson didn't get wet at all, but did get nervous with the jogging we did!

Snow Day!

Our neighbor Erin and her dogs Shamus and Stubbs

Henry already loves to play fetch

This morning we woke up and there was snow!!! It was so exciting we got the dogs up and got dressed and headed outside to play in the winter blanket. The dogs loved it! It is the second time it has snowed here this year, but we missed the first. They closed all the roads for the two inches! Travis and I had no plans for today so the delay didn't bother us a bit!

How did I get talked into this...

Henry Jay Park

Last Saturday Travis and I went to one of his co-workers house for a BBQ and to watch a UFC fight. The man had had two litters of labs. Travis had been telling me how cute they were for about a month and how Charlie and Watson only followed me around the house and no one followed him. I of coarse being a the sense of reason had told him all the reasons why a puppy is a bad idea...and there were a lot! There we were enjoying the BBQ and watching the fight and pretty soon Travis started bothering me about the puppies outside. There were four puppies left and before I know it Travis had talked me to go outside to "look" at the puppies. One thing led to another and before you know it we came home with Henry. If you know Travis though he gets that look about him and you know that no matter how many times you say no....Travis only hears yes.

I made sure to set up ground rules, he couldn't get in our bed or couch and Travis was responsible for Henry and all his messes. I said we could try it for a week and then I would decide. We brought Henry home and it wasn't long before he had won our hearts. First, Henry was very thin!!! He was with a much bigger and dominate puppy who ate all the food! Henry looked like a survivor of a Holocaust camp! So we started by feeding the poor thing. Next was the bad smelling ears, so Travis made an appointment at the vet and I took him. Henry got his shots, microchip, and meds for the mittes in his ears.

I knew he was really ours when Travis said, "I have been thinking about what I want for Valentines day and all I want is Henry."

So here we are with a new edition to our family! We have kept it a secret to our families because I wasn't sure he was going to stay. He has been a very good puppy though for the most part and a great friend for Charlie. It is battle every day now to get Henry outside before he makes a mess. He hasn't chewed on anything and is very willing to please.
I figure this could either be the best decision we make or one of the worse...only time will tell!

Frist Day of Work

Last Friday was my first day of work! I work an eight hour shift in the preOp department right now and have really had to dive in! I got about one or two days of orientation and then I was on my own trying to fumble through paper work and finding supplies. I just pushed through and they kept taking my patients back so I figured I was doing something right. The people there are really nice and have been so welcoming and helpful since I have so little experience. Travis woke up early with me the first morning and made me a nice big breakfast so I could have a perfect start to my day.

My first week has been quite an eye opener. Because the hospital is so small, even smaller than the last "small" hospital, as a nurse you are expected to do EVERYTHING! We also do all the colonoscopy and eye surgeries. I have done a few of my "firsts" this week. One that I will never forget was the enema from hell! Poor woman couldn't hold in the fluids in so it turned into brown squirt gun coming right at me. It will be a first I will always remember. Due to that I try to avoid giving an enema when I can, but still have had to assist with a few.

Soccer

Travis meeting the team

Travis has joined an Army intramural soccer team. Last Wednesday was his first practice. Travis met the team and practice began. It was a lot of fun to watch and I was very glad I brought the extra blanket because it was sooo cold!! After practice we went to church for the Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class. We have loved being in the class and making budgets and saving for our 3-6 month emergency fund!

Raining Cats and Dogs

Early one morning after Travis had gone to PT I was woke up by a huge crack of thunder which sounded like artillery in my backyard. Charlie was up too and shaking I called him over and put in under the covers. The next surge of thunder Watson ran into the bedroom and hopped on the bed next to me and didn't hesitate crawling under the covers. I sat and tried to sooth both of them and explain it was only thunder and lighting and they were safe! I can't wait to have our own children that actually understand and pay attention instead of lick themselves!

It continued to rain most of the day and Charlie wouldn't go out to potty! Finally when he did he pranced around not to get his paws wet. I really have to give him credit because by this time we had a small pool in our back yard that came up to his little knees!

Breakfast with Watson

Cheers Watson and Good morning!
Watson in the Word of God

Every morning I wake up after Travis gets home from PT (physical training). I kiss him good morning and then pull myself out of the warm bed and I have Charlie and Watson right at my heals. They have both become my shadow!! Watson of course runs to his food dish since it is the first and only thing on his mind. I feed both animals and then let Charlie outside. While Watson eats and Charlie poops I begin making breakfast for my husband who is busy getting ready upstairs. His favorite is toast, eggs and morning stars with a cup of fresh brewed coffee and a glass of orange juice. We both sit down to read our Bibles and enjoy breakfast. And every morning Watson picks his seat and enjoys breakfast with us. Because this act is so cute he usually gets a little snack out of it, but whether he is fed or not he sits and watches the morning progress. Travis soon is off to work and once he gets off his chair Watson seeing my disappointment does a little hop on the corner of the table and is in Travis's chair. His big green eyes look at me as if he is wanting to continue the conversation that had taken place. It is something I look forward to every morning. Watson joins us for every meal sitting, watching probably in hopes of getting a little treat. But either way Travis and I love his company!