For Megan...

Stressed is an understatement for me today... I am trying to tie up loose ends with house things, I have a full day of work (and 3 payrolls to run today!), I have a stack of applications to call for American Lab Rescue, Tubbs has a vet appointment this afternoon, and I haven't given up yet on my goal of making it to a Yoga class tonight... Not to mention, I leave town tomorrow for about 2 weeks! BUT.... my sweet pregnant sister has pointed out that my blog is not entertaining enough these days-- and being on bed rest, she has more time to read blogs-- so this is just not acceptable. Whatever my preggo sister wants, she can have (Please refer to her "Fat Feet" post to the right)...

So, Megan, there is an update of my day for you :) You see... it's not the BLOG that is unexciting... it might just be your little sister's daily life! ;)

More reading for Megan:

Here is a recap of my last 2 Saturdays ... our weekdays are pretty routine.... work, home for dinner, an occasional movie, and Tuesday trivia nights at the Ale House... And on Sundays, we sleep and lounge around the house. But we were unusually active the past two weeks, so this should spice up the blog a bit... haha.

Last Saturday: 11 mile run, kayaking/fishing with Taylor (we threw the 2 fish he caught back OF COURSE, and we saw 2 dolphins!!), then finished the day with a passions party (google it if you don't know what it is... :))

This past Saturday: 5K Jingle Bell run on the beach (freezing), Daytona Chili Cook-off with Tubbs and Taylor, Home to watch the Huskies loose the Apple Cup, then we attempted to make Brandy Alexanders-- which were GROSS! We both ended up eating all the ice cream and then tossing the Brandy... Brandy does not taste good at all. We finished up the night up with Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

As the movie came on, it said there was Nudity and Adult Content...Taylor then says, "SWEET...Nudity" of course, to get a reaction from his wife, who really doesn't care one way or the other...but reacts with a gasp of disgust so he thinks he has offended her.

5 minutes later, we are staring at a full frontal of a man-- it was fantastic. Taylor was so bummed out. A few more male nudity shots graced us throughout the movie, and there were not really any topless girls-- poor Taylor. haha :)

Our family (minus our 3 precious anti-social little ones who can't yet accompany us to social outings).
Brandy Alexanders-- before we threw them out. We were so proud at first.

ONE WEEK LEFT UNTIL CATIE ROSE MEETS HER FAVORITE AUNT!! (I'm her only aunt actually-- but she has 4 uncles, so they can fight it out for "favorite" ;)).

Neighbors

Taylor and I have lived in a number of different cities, and we have only ever had neighbors that we would smile and wave at, with an occasional conversation about the weather or sports. But we have moved into the most wonderful neighborhood down here in Port Orange, FL. Our neighbors host Friday happy hours and holiday parties-- they even loaned us furniture when they noticed Taylor and I were living in a furniture-less house for our first 2 mos in Florida (bad movers-- it's a long story!)! They have gotten me into running recently--after a few glasses of wine of Labor Day, I agreed to run with them the following morning... and now we are training for the Disney 1/2 Marathon in January! Here's a picture of us after a 5K in Daytona... Kathy and I both won 3rd place in our age groups (Charlie is on the left). Also... soon after we moved in, Taylor met our next-door neighbors' (Charlie and Kathy) dog, Emma... She had a whippet/Italian Greyhound look to her with Gamer-esque mannerisms-- so you can imagine how hard and fast Taylor fell in love with her! And I was right there with him! We were her babysitters for about a year, and then a couple months ago, her 14 years caught up with her, and she left us :( I am tearing up as I write this-- she was one of those special dogs that captures your heart with the most sincere eyes and a personality that was just so human! Needless to say, everyone who knew sweet Emma was heartbroken when she passed away-- and her parents were absolutely devastated. They just started warming up to the idea of another dog a few weeks ago (Kathy was ready... Charlie was not quite there yet)...and luckily they are living next to someone who is just a little involved in dog rescue ;) They have met close to 10 dogs over the past couple of months-- I always bring my Florida rescues over to my house for walks and to introduce them to my socially awkward crew to get them out of the kennel-- but they have all been big labs or lab mixes, so they weren't the right fit. Last weekend, on the day I was leaving for Nashville for a whirlwind weekend of wedding planning with Anne and Suzanne, I mentioned that we (American Lab Rescue) had rescued a Lhasa Apso mix named Scotland.... Kathy asked me to send pictures, so I did and then left for my trip. While I was at the airport, I got an email that they wanted him!!! It then hit me that I had to find a way to get this little guy from Maynardville, TN to Port Orange, FL ... but that was just a minor detail. I was SO happy that they had decided to bring a dog back into their lives, this dog was going to get to them no matter what! Long story short, the shelter director agreed to help me out and drove Scotland to the Knoxville airport on Sunday morning, and I picked him up in Orlando on Sunday night when my flight landed and brought him back home with me!!! As we drove up the street, Charlie, Kathy, Pam, and Stu were waiting outside, huddled around an outdoor heater in a rare 45 degree Florida night... Pam took these pictures right after I handed Scotland to his new mom!!

Scotland is now Scooter, and he is doing great! He has gotten super attached to his mom, so they are working through some separation anxiety... but it is already improving, and he is the happiest little guy! His tail is always wagging, and he is coming out of his shell every day-- he has even started stealing shoes from Kathy's closet ;) It's amazing how much happiness one little dog can bring to so many people! We're so happy to have him in our neighborhood (and no, I am not speaking for my 4 when I say that-- they of course see him as yet another intruder... we're working on that ;)).

My co-workers

Here's a typical day at our house with our precious little ones (and I guess...one not-so-little one ;)). Who could ask for better co-workers than these 4!!! Except, of course, when you're on a conference call while the lawn is being mowed or a package is delivered... ;)

Gamer still guarding a bone she doesn't even like to chew. She and Tubbs were battling it out to the end until Mom took the bone away. I love how she is falling asleep over the bone :) If Tubbie only knew how much bigger he is...

Tubbs' favorite spot in the kitchen
Pumpkin-- she's getting used having this strange person follow her around with the camera

And our sweet Maggie :) Ok, the tutu is not typical, but I had it on her to take a picture for Halloween, and she gets SO excited when we dress her up that I couldn't stand to scare her with the camera. She was having too much fun dancing around in her ballerina costume! So I waited until she quickly tired out and went to take yet another nap (Mags sleeps 99% of the time if we let her ;)). Such a precious girl.

AND... The countdown has officially begun... 28 days until my little niece, Catherine Rose Cox, enters the world!!!! :)