Charles Emerson Winchester IV

Right before moving, I saw some black lab puppies. Thankfully, it didn't work out to get one. I had decided to wait til Spring, when it would be easier to train a puppy. The other night, I was with the kids at Pepper Belly's to have dinner with my mom for her birthday. Laura saw an add for puppies. The price was very, very low and so I didn't think it would be worth calling. I wrote down the number at the kids urging. The next day I called, we stopped by and well....

The mom got pregnant on "accident" and so the family just wanted to find the puppies good homes. The mom is a Golden Retriever and the dad, a Black Lab. When we first picked up Charlie, I was going to name him Radar. I was pretty set on the name. However, it didn't really seem to fit. The next morning, as Brandon was kissing my on the forehead to leave, in a half sleep I asked him if he had checked on Charlie. And so it stuck. But for fun and to keep with my M*A*S*H theme, Brandon came up with Charles Emerson Winchester IV, Charlie for short.

He is a great little puppy. Little for now. He is very mellow. I used to always say that my dog Buzz was a once in a lifetime dog. That I would never have another dog like him. Charlie may be close. I love having a dog again. I have missed Buzz ever since I had to put him down. The kids love having a dog and a cat. Charlie loves Brandon and Jerry loves me. The dog loves the cat lover and the cat loves the dog lover. Go figure! Charlie and Jerry took about 24 hours to become fast friends. They play non-stop. Just the other week, I was thinking I had way too much going on....then we got a dog. Ha!

September, November....

I'm not really sure what happened to October!! What a crazy month! Moving, school, unpacking, organizing, etc. has made last month a blur!! We are really loving our new home in Plain City. I still go into culture shock at times, but mostly I miss being so close to all my friends, but am blessed to be closer to others.

The weekend before Halloween, the kids were with us. We went to our community Trunk-or-Treat. The kids threw together random costumes and we headed over to the church. That Saturday, the kids and I went up to Logan to the American West Heritage Center. We rode the train, a pony, went through a corn maze, down a huge slide and got to chuck pumpkins!! I busted out the stuff to make Halloween suckers...I'm a tad nervous to post pictures as I don't like my "domestic side" to show. However, it's proof for Pookie that I'm "where I belong", in the kitchen! I guess the month being so busy is just a sign of how good it was. We hope everyone had a good October and Halloween!! Here are a few pics from last month!

We still have the cat. Jerry. He's growing and sort of growing on me....I wish you could teach cats to not get on couches though. Grrrrr

A story worth reading....

Within our mission, Brandon and I get to meet some truly amazing people. There is a facilitator named Rich. He has quite a story. To see more into the Addiction Recovery Program and someone who is truly inspiring....check out his blog (www.stepintolight.net).
www.stepintolight.net

What on earth?

Laura and I were super amused by it....

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A weekend together

Brandon had Friday off with it being fall break. We went out to breakfast and after going out to his parents that morning, we spent the rest of the day together. We went and checked out a cool kitchen store in Ogden to get some supplies I need to make suckers and then decided to go for a drive up Logan Canyon to see the leaves, and go to the Logan LDS Temple.

After going home to change and grab our stuff we were off. The leaves up the canyon were so bright. I was so busy enjoying them that I didn't take one picture! Oh-well. We randomly picked a Chinese joint for dinner and then were off to the Logan Temple. Neither of us have ever attended that temple before, so we were pretty excited. What a beautiful temple! There is something about the older temples that I just love. The architecture, craftsmanship and feel is always inspiring. I love history and buildings rich in history. Cheesy, I know.

Afterwards, we went over to see Pookie. We visited with Brad and one of his team mates. Brad is my Non-biological brother. The red-headed step child if you will. He has been friends with Paul since shortly after moving here. He has been in my life for so long, that he is a brother. Paul, Brandon and I went out for ice cream. It was fun to sit and talk and laugh and see my brother.

Today, we got up and Brandon introduced me to Smith and Edwards. It's a large camping/cowboy/army surplus/all kinds of crap store. Ye haw! They have everything. It was a lot of fun to walk around a store as big as Walmart but filled with camping, army surplus, fishing and cowboy stuff. There was a large cut out of John Wayne and I fell in love. I almost bought it. I wish more men were like John Wayne! Then off for some cokes and back home. We spent the rest of our day organizing and cleaning the garage and working in the yard. Once we were done we went and explored Brigham City, just north of us. After our drive we stopped at a pizza place for dinner.

I love our low key weekends together. With Brandon done with school and me at home, we have had a lot of free time together to just goof around, go for drives and be together. We are so blessed. That darling husband of mine keeps me laughing all day.

moving, unpacking and the kittens

Well, we moved. I've been able to unpack quite a bit but still have a ways to go....we still have one of the cats. GASP! Jerry has stayed with us and moved to our new house with us. For some reason, he loves me. I don't get it. I bathe him, clip his nails and won't let him on the beds. You'd think he hates me. I even shut him in the fridge door last night (on accident) and he still loves me. Go figure.

We are really liking our new house in Plain City. The kids love that we are closer. Lilly and Laura really love having their own bedrooms. I love that there is now less driving but I miss living close to friends and family. Brandon and I won't be working in the Bountiful Temple for the next couple of months. We are both sad, as we loved working there. Brandon has clinicals every Saturday out in Salt Lake for about six more weeks and where we have gone down to one car for the time being, it doesn't work for me to be able to keep volunteering there. Many have wondered if we will be able to still do our mission. The Jones's went to bat for us, our Stake President doesn't want us to stop....so we will continue on in our mission. That has been such a special experience for Brandon and I.

Enjoy a few pictures of the kittens! Jerry is the brown cat. Also, I threw in a couple others, one of Liz helping me make cookies and one of B and Luke out back playing last Thursday. Liz has been a HUGE help to me lately. Last Saturday, in addition to chores, she helped me weed, plant, do laundry and cook dinner. Go Liz!! Last weekend, Laura and I went for late night slurpees. I love those moments. Nothing huge, but just a fun moment with my Laura getting a treat. Good Stuff.

So we are all doing well, I'm loving staying home. I thought I would struggle with it. I've always worked. But I love being at home, taking care of my home and family and even the stupid cat. School is good, I am anxious to get my degree done and get into graduate school. Brandon is loving his job. I've never seen him so happy. I'm always in awe of what a hilarious man I am married to. One minute he has me cracking up, the next he is dancing with me in the living room making me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. With him being done with school and his new schedule, we have had fun having so much free time together. Lilly has started riding horses and loves it, Laura is still dancing. Luke loves all the space in the new house and Liz is as fun as ever. Whew! Sorry it's so quick....hopefully I have more time later to write more.

I guess pigs do fly....

Are you sitting down? Not only have I left Davis County....we got a stinking cat. Remember the kittens born in our garage? I was out voted and we kept one. On the upside, we kept the one that tried to bite Brandon. He has been named Jerry...like Tom and Jerry or Jerry Garcia. I am allergic to cats but seem to be doing ok. I am 100% a dog person. Not a cat person. Cats are nowhere near as smart as dogs and they don't listen, plus I hate the pooping in a box in my house. However, I've agreed to give it a try. It is nice to have a pet. I just wish it was a lab.
Jerry is very sweet and playful and the kids love having him. For some reason, the cat really loves me. UGH.