belated birthday

Dear Gus,

You turned one on June 11th and we are so proud of our one year old puppy!

You have brought so much joy to our lives (and we will supposedly live longer because of you) and have been a fun challenge!

We didn't really have an issue with potty training you. Luckily for us, you lived outside until we brought you home so you were used to going outside to potty. Our challenges have involved toilet paper and the destroying of your beds. You love your bed and are constantly chewing and snuggling with it.


We are really strict about what you eat (you have some tummy troubles and food allergies) and we didn't give you treats until you could do tricks for us. Tricks that you do: SIT, STAY, ROLL OVER, CIRCLE DANCE

You are not a very snuggly dog and you prefer to sleep in your own bed than ours. But we know that you love us tremendously. You are very protective of your momma and try to defend me from getting kissed by papa.



Things You are Afraid of:
*the vacuum
*the fan
*the noise of blowing on a bottle
*windshield wipers

We love you buddy boy,
Momma Girl

confessions.

i love the smell of skunk.
i know it's gross.
but it's true.

i think peanut butter sometimes tastes like coffee.
especially when mixed with chocolate.
i like it.

staycationing...

this summer is the summer of the staycation. we are imploring all friends and relatives to come to nashville and stay at the
...bird's nest b & b...
however, it's a little more bed and booze than bed and breakfast, be forewarned. what can i say, i'd rather go out for brunch at fido or the pancake pantry than make it myself...

over memorial day weekend we hosted ryan's lovely parents and i actually managed to take two days off in a row. we had a blast playing mexican train every night, picnicing at arrington vineyards, taking a drive on the natchez trace parkway, playing with gus, and cooking risotto.







then two of my bffs from my awesome summers working at shepherd's fold came to visit! we also had a blast picnicing at arrington vineyards, watching a sounds baseball game, shopping, laughing, talking, cooking, and consuming wine and popsicles. i love these girls!

the teenager in our house.

our sweet little puppy boy is starting to evolve into a rebellious teenager.

a few weeks ago we watched a friend's puppy and he taught gus how to bark. for no good reason. bad dog.

on monday i discovered that while we are away his favorite thing to do is destroy/eat the carpet behind the doorway in his room. bad dog.

yesterday he found a ball point ink pen and ate it, thus getting ink all over our white-ish carpet. bad dog.

but he's so stinking cute it's hard to be angry at him for more that a minute.

hopefully this is a phase and we can get him to grow out of being ornery and destructive.

in the meantime check out how crazy he is when the wind shield wipers are on in the car. we don't know if he is afraid of them or if he sees them as a threat and is trying to protect us from them...either way it's pretty funny.

domestic goddess

today was my day off and i spent it actually getting stuff done. this is very rare for me. days off are usually spent parked on the coach watching whatever i'm allowed to watch on the dvr without ryan, or they are spent at work (don't ask).

but today i was motivated, and i am proud of myself so i wanted to list what i accomplished (because i love lists)...

*woke up before 9am (on my own)
*walked Gus, fed Gus, and walked Gus again
*had a phone meeting with my boss
*washed, dried, and folded 4 loads of laundry (they are all waiting to be put away by my loving husband)
*had a lovely lunch with ryan at whole foods...yum
*trip to target to buy cleaning supplies and other necessities (like dresses)
*cleaned both toilets
*emptied and loaded the dishwasher and hand washed the pots and pans
*dusted the downstairs
*changed the sheets on our bed

whew. now, i know that this is really not much for some people. but when i am home, i am l.a.z.y. it is my down-time, my me-time, my shut-off-from-the-world-time. so i am pleased with this list. who knows, maybe stay at home motherhood is in the cards for me?