First blizzard of 2010 - about a foot of snow

Archie in action

Happy Lucy

Check out that snowy beard!

She actually has icicles hanging from her chin!

Snow Dogs

These dogs love the snow, especially Lucy. Watch the video to the very end...she fluffs the snow with her nose as she runs! So cute!

Autumn is Here!!!

This is Ben and me goofing around in the Jeep outside on a nice day. I was feeling rough most of the week with a respiratory thing, but we just had to get outside! The dogs had free run of the cul de sac and Ben didn't have to take turns for once.

Hey! You can check out the bumper of my new sweet ride! Woo Hoo Caravan!

OBX Wednesday - Ocracoke Ferry & Island

After a morning at the beach and pool, our daily ritual, we headed down to Hatteras to take the ferry over to Ocracoke. Andy and I figure it's one of the few lighthouses we haven't seen yet after many years of traveling to the Outer Banks. (Our first visit was 12 years ago - we found no evidence of the first hotel where we stayed in Hatteras. The whole village is completely different.) The kids loved driving the car onto the ferry, but the dogs, not so much. I've decided that we will be moving to Ocracoke ASAP and will never leave. Lots of cute little houses with white picket fences with hydrangeas. Everyone travels by foot or bike and everywhere you look is a great view. Ahhhh.

pelicans at sunset

OBX Sunday - Pups First Ocean Trip

I'll give you one guess as to which dog LOVED the ocean....that's right! It's river dog Lucy. She was straining against the leash as soon as we hit the dunes Sunday night! We let both Lucy and Archie off their leashes once we realized they were so enamored/terrified of the waves that they wouldn't go anywhere off limits. Lucy was a jumping & diving fool, while Archie mostly cowered behind the nearest human. Not a big fan of swimming yet, poor guy. We were really proud of their behavior though. They didn't maul any passersby and came when called. Not bad for their first beach outing.

Lucy in action, with Bella close behind.

Archie in his usual safety zone.

The wave won this challenge, poor girl!

Beautiful nighttime sky.

At the end of the night, the kids were soaked, the dogs were sandy, and the outdoor shower was put to good use.

Best Buddies

I love these pictures. The pups just love laying on the warm pavement on a summer day. Thank goodness we live in a cul de sac and don't get a lot of traffic! Our invisible fence was taken out by lightning a few weeks ago so I've had to watch them a little more closely than usual when they go out. Archie especially has a tendency to wander. The new transmitter just arrived and we hope to have the wire rerouted soon so Archie will stop pooping on the driveway. Ew. (It's kind of embarrassing when you have to warn visitors about watching where they step the instant they get out of their cars.)

Dog Sitting

We are watching Brady & Rudy's grandparent's puppy from Saturday to Sunday. His name is Bogey and he is an adorable Havanese. Aside from a few "accidents" in the house, he's been pretty easy to deal with. Bogey seems to be holding his own in a household of big, goofy puppies. He's got quite a vicious bark when the occasion calls for it!  He can leap to great heights to form his offensive as well!   As you can see in the picture, Bella adores Bogey and has treated him as the lapdog he is!  This experience has just proven to me that I'm a "big dog person". Ankle biters are fine in small doses!

Ten Things I Am Thankful For

Thank you to my friend Crystal of Little Bit Funky (etsy shop) for inspiring this list. Today she posted 10 things she is most thankful for to help her refocus on what's important in her life, and she "challenged" her readers to do the same. Here goes...

1. My small & wonderful circle of close girlfriends who rescue me time and time again in this "new" endeavor to be a working mom. It's so hard and I couldn't survive without you. You know who you are!

2. My husband. He didn't forget Mother's Day as I had suspected a few days ago. Well, if he did, he rallied and fooled me! He lets me sleep in on weekends, not just this one, and doesn't complain (much). And he picks the ticks off the dogs. And me. Love you honey! 

3. Benjamin and his newest catch phrase: "I love my mommy". Works like a charm every time and is always accompanied by massive hugs and kisses. 

4.  Bella wanting to lay on the couch and read her Betsy Ross book along side me while I read my scarepire book ( as Ben calls it)!

5.  My favorite books in the whole wide world right now. What else could get my butt out from in front of the TV? I love the Twilight series, I love Melissa G for introducing me to it, and I love Melinda my sitter for loaning me the other three. I may fall into a deep depression once I'm finished with #4. 

6. My morning coffees. Do I need to elaborate?

7. My job. This has been a great way to ease into the world of work again. It's a laid back environment, I truly enjoy all the folks I work with, and I've learned so much. Plus, you give the kids back after a max of four hours. Can't beat that!

8. My pups and cat. Being around them just makes me a happier person.  Even when Archie poops on the driveway and Lucy eats my lilac. Really.

9. The river nearby. We love going there on the weekends. It's something we can all 6 do together that IS FREE! It's no secret that I don't exactly love living in Fluvanna, the county with one traffic light, but this is one of the perks for sure.

 

10. Quiet walks. I can't say I go walking every day like some, but I try to get out a few times a week with both dogs. Sometimes Bella joins me and we talk about school and other things. Other times I just walk listen to my Ipod and tune everything else out for a while. I wish my knee would cooperate so I could do this more often, but I'll take what I can get! 

I'm sure I'm overlooking more obvious things for my list, but this is what comes to mind first. :)