Doggie Friday: show 'em that you care

It's Utah's "Week for the Animals" this week.  Do something special for the animals in your life.

Right now our dogs are having a day at the spa (okay they're getting groomed, which I think might be torture for them but none-the-less).  Can't wait to see them all short-haired and skinny.

updated: my dogs get groomed down the street from my work.  i usually leave early to go pick them up because i can't stand to leave them there all day locked up in kennels, but since hardly anyone was at work friday, and upper management said it was okay, i picked them up and brought them back to work with me.  i thought i would love it (i always wanted a 'bring your dog to work day') but it wasn't all that great.  i kept worrying about them, hoping they wouldn't bark or have an accident in my office (although it wouldn't have been that big of a deal since we're in the process of moving out and into our new building which, by the way, will cut my commute in half!).  next time i do this i'll just take a half day and take them home.

mysterious mustache

he’s such a funny man, my nephew Skyler. always wants to make people laugh. for sunday dinner he showed up with a sweet mustache on. said he drove to my mom’s with it on…fooled all the cops into thinking he was old enough to be driving. since it looks real and all. (he gets to drive my sister’s car once they are in my mom’s neighborhood…he thinks it’s so cool, especially when my niece is with him…such a show off). he thought it was funny to put this mustache on everything, take a picture, and send it to his cousin who was also doing the same thing. (oh, to be fourteen again…)

i took a nap after dinner. and was rudely woken up by the sound of a camera. and a mustache on my face.

He’s hilarious, right.

Side note: Gordon also has a fake mustache. He keeps it in the ash tray of his land cruiser for special occasions.

the cabin

I love the Hardcastle family cabin.

It’s a place that brings family together.

And build "hides" (a.k.a. forts).

Give "horseback rides".

And even make up a few new songs to sing…Julie!

I love this place...and all the memories that we make there.

Doggie Friday: off the leash with success

Briggs is a very good dog.  He minds us (for the most part) very well.  He does not need to be leashed when we go anywhere.  He's that kind of dog.

Abbi is smart.  I think really smart (Gordon thinks otherwise).  She listens to me (not Gordon).  But she has to be leashed.  She acts like she doesn't know her own name if she isn't.  And doesn't listen to anyone.  She's very independent and does what she wants.  We're a lot of like.

We went hiking last weekend to enjoy the beautiful fall weather and colors that were all around us.  The dogs love to hike.  Don't let their smallness fool ya.  They can hike with the best of hiking dogs.  Just like any other hike we have gone on, Briggs was free and Abbi was bound.  She kept walking beyond her leash capacity and would look back at me like "hurry up slow poke".  Gordon kept saying "Just take her off her leash" and I kept refusing and keeping her pace much slower than she wanted.  Then after struggling to keep her by my side I decided to do it.  Set her free.

She loved it.  Kept looking back at me almost in disbelief that she was free.

She would run ahead, look back to make sure we were in sight, then continue on.  Listening when I told her to stay.  Coming when I asked her to.

It was like she was a different dog.  Nope.  She's smart.  And knew how to play the game.  Because next time I'll let her be leash free.  And if she continues to do well she'll get more privileges to be free.

I hope she doesn't prove me wrong and keeps up the good wrong.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

it is what gym partners are made for

Jodi (my sister-in-law & gym partner): "Sure wish I was cuddling up in my sweats and hot chocolate tonight during the storm but my slave driver sister in law won't let me"

Me: "Tell me about it.  My sister in law is the same way."

Jodi: "Damn so we're going..."

I wouldn't trade gym partner for the world.

I wouldn't be running as many miles as I do,

have 2 hour gym nights,

or wake up early for a Saturday morning workout without her.

and we wouldn't have gone last night if we both didn't make each other go...glad we did cause yoga was amazing!

swimsuits in October...say it aint so.

i can't.  it is so.  and i loved every moment of it.

so handsome...all dressed up for Priesthood session. 

don't mind my Uncle Larry (the one in the hat).  he was trying to be "cool" like my nephew. he did not actually wear that hat to the session.

our church's general conference should only be experienced enjoying the outdoors in beautiful weather.  you get more inspiration that way.

and oddly enough i listened more intently to the radio than i do when i watch it on tv.  we left bear lake feeling uplifted, blessed, and encouraged to continue on.

he's so deprived

Gordon snuck these in our grocery cart. Usually I catch these sorts of things. It’s usually beer (which is just a joke…he’s never had a sip of the stuff). Or something full of partially hydrogenated oils.


I have a rule for our grocery store trips: no foods that have high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils in them.


It just so happens that one of Gordon’s favorite foods (if you can even call them that) is fruit snacks. He loves them all. Especially the ones with the filling. Sadly, most of them are full of high fructose corn syrup. I’ve found alternatives for him. But he says they’re not the same.


And so he snuck in Mario Bros. fruit snacks. And like a little kid he said “but they’re Mario Bros.” and “they're made with real fruit”.

I’m such a mean wife.
really i am...apparently i made him feel so bad that he took the rest of the fruit snacks to his scouting activity for the boys to eat.  he only ate one package.  i do sort of feel bad.  but then i think about all the horrible things they are made of that he doesn't need in his body and i realize i'm really doing him a favor.