The Daily Puppy

See over there ----> on my side bar, the daily puppy.  Miss Thira was chosen back on October 26th (Thanks for the heads up daily puppy?) You can see the post here.  My beautiful baby is now 15 weeks, 39 lbs and gaining. 

~ T

2010 Readers' Choice Photo Contest - Adoption Photos - Adoptive Families

2010 Readers' Choice Photo Contest - Adoption Photos - Adoptive Families

Go here and leave a comment! The girls might win!!!

Year 3

I am sorry for my long absence.  I have been very busy with work and my photography business, life in general really.  I need to post about Thira the new dog who is now bigger than Maddie.  Ava got glasses.  Donnie and I celebrated 10 years of marriage and I'm about to turn 29 again.

Miss Mari turned 3 years old on Tuesday.  Her personality is amazing.  She makes me laugh everyday.  She is 44 lbs of pure love.

It's (ANOTHER) Girl!!!

Some of you may know that I am a HUGE dog lover.  It's my mothers fault.  As a baby my best friend was a 140 lb Great Dane named Julio.  Ever since Julio died I have wanted another Great Dane.  When Donnie and I purchased our first house I expressed my desire for a Dane.  I got a Beagle.  Still not sure how that happened.  When moving to the new house again I said "I want a Dane".  Donnie was not feeling it.  To make matters worse there are 2 beautiful Great Danes that live across the street from us. Then my brother told me about a girl who had a dog who was going to have puppies.  GREAT DANE PUPPIES.  OMG.  Still Donnie was not feeling it, certainly not a puppy.  So I did what I do best and begged.  :-) He said yes.  I can not tell you how thrilled I am.  I know it will be loads of work but I have been doing research and planning for our new arrival and I think we are ready.  A few weeks ago we went to see the new puppies.  I had my heart set on a boy but mama dog had other plans for me.  2 boys in the whole litter!  So we picked the cutest one (I say we because Donnie suddenly took interest)  she looked just like a baby panda bear.  Shortly after we made our choice Donnie named her.  Thira, it's the original name for Santorini and now the name for the capital.  I still need a middle name so feel free to make a suggestion.  She will not come home until mid September but I'm doing my best to make sure we are all ready for her arrival. 

2 days old

9 days old

19 days old

Luha the mama dog

me and Julio napping 

A hiking we will go

Donnie took us on a quick morning trip up to Platte River State Park for some hiking and a picnic lunch. The girls enjoyed it with the exception of the daddy long legs.  I made it all the way up the tower and only had a small panic attack.  It was a lovely to spend a Saturday morning!

The photos say it all

We just spent 2 days at Mall of America.  The best part was our visit with friends Erika and Bradley Jensen in Algona IA.  Erika's store The Chocolate Season is awesome unlike the craptastic food we had on our drive home from MN.  I'll save that story for another day.  All in all it was a nice break and the girls had a blast!

Just Jack

Jackson Paul Love 04/01/95-06/28/10

Rest in peace Jack Jack we love you.

Images from Europe

A Friday night in Humphrey NE

These photos are from the blessing of Doug and Cindy's marriage last week.  Those Zach's really know how to party.    

Big dogs and big hair

The girls and Donnie the Dane

Just before the relaxer

                                            After the tears and two hours of combing her hair.

Here are some misc. pictures from this Saturday.  Daddy went golfing so I took the girls to Elmwood park for the Dog Day Afternoon.  Several rescues were at the park with dogs that were available for adoption.  We ran into Donnie the Dane again (I met him last year at the same event) he had several Dane friends with him that were available for adoption.  All very well behaved!  Amari really wanted to walk Donnie.

After the park Ava had a hair appointment.  We finally had her hair relaxed, this is something I have struggled with for years.  I'm still not certain I made the right decision.  It will be easier to fix but it's permanent, no more puffs.  She also looks older which I hate.  Maybe someday when she is older she will rock a large Afro and wear it with pride, when we aren't the ones fixing it.

~ Mama

She sang her heart out!

Ava had her first school concert on Thursday night.  She was super excited to preform for us.  She did a great job and Amari was very proud of her big sister.  She seems so grown up lately it's freaking me out.  I no like it!
~ Mama

Happy Earth Day?

Ever since Ava's birthday Mari likes to belt out the "Birthday song" she recently was able to sing it for our neighbor Jacob (also known as TylerJacob) when she is is done singing she has to "blow the candles off"

I think we are going to work on a new song.

Mama

Miles

Last week my brother Miles came home, well our home anyway.  The girls were thrilled! Mari has only seen him twice before.  Hopefully we won't have to wait another 15 months to see him.

300th post!

I know what you are thinking. This is the 300th post so I will write something really deep and profound. Have I ever? No. Instead I will show you the new fireplace. We build a new house I and I can't stop changing it. We didn't like the way the builder did the fireplace in our model so we decided to "create" our own. Greg was back, he did our kitchen in the old house. Not only did he custom build our fireplace and built-ins but he also did crown molding in our front room and dining room. That was huge for me. I love it. The next project? Well hopefully wood floors. Feel free to donate to that fund if you like :-)

Before

After

There are still a few things that need to be done.  There will be doors on the lower half of shelves and more brick in the fireplace.  Mari has already nearly burned the house down so Donnie turned it off for now.  I think I need a better photo?!

2 ½ is exhausting

My baby is 2 1/2 today!

I started this today

Another blog.  Because I don't have enough to do.  Hopefully it will take off.  Please take a look.  http://mallory-gallery.blogspot.com/

Miles has the honor of being first.

And here is a random kid photo for you.  The 2010 swim suits.  I'll post about the new fireplace soon!

Every morning

Every morning Mari wants her "Chockit milk" (Ovaltine) so I let her make it.  Some times we even get some in the cup.

Easter Fun

We usually don't do much for Easter because I ALWAYS have to work.  This year the neighbors invited us over for breakfast.  I put on my first Easter egg hunt for all of the kids. I hope they had fun.  They seemed to.  All in all it was a good day.  Friends, kids and bacon. What more could you ask for?

Ava and Gabbie's B-Day celebration.

Ava and Gabbie were born 1 year and four days apart.  Ani (Gab's mom) and I thought it would be fun to send them, along with their friend Mariah, to the Sweet and Sassy salon for Mani's and Pedi's.  They had a blast and I should have left Amari at home.  Live and learn.  Happy Birthday girls!!

Choosing a color

So relaxing

Mari walking the catwalk

TADA!

A warm day in April?

April 1st was a lovely day, the neighbors shared popsicles with us and the kids played in the yard.  I like having cute little boys right next door.  :-) I think the girls do too.

Mama