Crooked Angel

About three weeks ago I pulled out all the boxes labeled Christmas. I was so excited to decorate for the holidays because last year I didn't. I had the the next two hours planned....

Levi with his controller in hand played PS3 while I put up the tree - supervising me as he put it. I had no Christmas music to get my feet tapping, no Silent Night to sing along with (even though I cannot hit the high notes), just me, a tree and the call of war. : / I should have known this was not the end of it.

After setting up the tree, wrapping lights and decorating the tree I was done. Three weeks later, I have a crooked angel, a strand of lights has gone out in the middle (kind of middle), and the presents under the tree have been attacked by the silent and stealth ninja kitty. To top it off, we received handcrafted glass ornaments from Levi's parents two years ago and I refuse to take them out of the box because I don't want to them to break...so they are on my tree...still in the box...and Levi loves to make fun of me for it. Somehow it all seems fitting...as with life, just when you think everything is set in order you get another curve ball - or in this case a strand of lights going out. ;) No matter what, this will be a wonderful Christmas with an ill-lighted tree, a boxed ornament and a crooked angel.

Merry Christmas!

I'm in Love...and so is my Husband!

With eachother? Well sure if we want to get technical. Levi has found love with his new PS3 game Call of Duty: Black OPs and I am in love with my Kindle (gifts for our anniversary). I didn't think I could love something this much, but I absolutely love it. (And I kind of feel weird, like the Jetsons.) I figured it would be just like reading any other old book, well...it is. But it is super convenient. I know most of the adoration for this item is the novelty of a new toy. So next month, I'll just have to love my husband again. ;) But now you know, if you can't get ahold of the two of us it's because we are in love.

One...two...three...

...years of marriage! Happy Anniversary my love!

Puzzle Pieces Welcome

Sunday Levi and I helped move his grandparents into their new home. They made the move from New Mexico and this was the first time I had the pleasure to meet them. I loved seeing and learning about this part of my husband's life. We are all made up from the life experiences we have endured, and the people who have come into our lives. We each are a puzzle that can, from time to time, feel as though we are missing the pieces that make us up. Meeting Jim and Emily, having them close is like watching another piece of the puzzle that makes up Levi come into place. Sometimes those pieces are ragged from wear, from the long journey they had to manage to finally be combined so that the complete work of art can be revealed. Sometimes those pieces fall into place with ease and are immovable from the moment they find their home. Sometimes we have puzzle pieces that are small, reserved for those people and events that come and go from our lives quickly. Sometimes the pieces are large, taking up real estate and filling the holes of pieces long gone. And then there are pieces that have been in place since birth; too large to be replaced by anything else than the original.

It's wonderful to be close to family, to have another piece of my husband's life close, another line to his father available. For me it is a way to learn more about my husband by seeing him through two new (new to me) pairs of eyes and two new hearts that hold an abundance of love for him only adding to the incredible love that already surrounds his life, cultivating his puzzle into a priceless masterpiece.

For Tess

I can’t imagine the depth of sadness. I can’t sympathize with the ridged hole that forms from losing a parent. Words escape me and I find myself repeating the only thing I know and feel with your news, “I am so sorry.” I wish I could reach out and hug you over the miles we are apart. I wish I could help take the sadness and hurt you feel away, along with the many others who love you so dearly. I feel small in comparison to the sudden change your life’s path has found. So I send you my love and prayers…and my words.

Death is the ultimate finality, a fate no one escapes. The angel approaches, gently lies his hand on your shoulder before calmly whispering, “That’s enough, come with me,” just like that the restless soul finds peace. And we are left to deal with the loss, to process the pain, understand the anger, and fight the heartache. A parent is irreplaceable regardless of how you want to judge that parent. They offer a love that is unique to any other love you feel in your life. They are your champions. They are your guidance. They are the kids sometimes when we must stand up and be the adults. But in the end, they are still a part of you. They were the first to delve into the depths of your heart and carve out their own niche. The holes that echo in the caverns of our heart remain long after they are gone. They leave their mark quite literally on our hearts so that in the moments of stillness they can blow through the hollowed caves reminding you of the joy, the smiles, laughter, tears and love they brought into our lives.

I have posted this poem before, but I think it is fitting for anyone who has lost someone they loved. There is no replacement. I realize a few words are insignificant to the loss and sadness you feel, but with nothing better to offer, and no tangible hug to hold on to, I send you this my friend.

Death Finds Family (modified for a friend)
Something grand is awaiting
It’s time for me to go
Death comes to us all
When? No one knows

We’ll meet again
I know this much is true
This isn’t the end
Of the love I hold for you

He’s calling my name
I’m not sure that I’m ready
It’s time to make the journey, though
Unfinished work now seems petty

I’m scared and I’m frightened
There's no time for goodbyes to you
But He’s taking my hand
And guiding me through

My dear, please don’t cry
Remember the laughter
Know that my love for you
Will remain long after

I’ll be seeing you again
We’ll meet at the pearly gates
For now I must go
And follow my fate

I’ll always love you
And when death comes to your door
Know that I've been waiting
And I'll see you once more

Jimmy.

We were skyping with Arianna and Antonio yesterday, when Levi decided to get out of storage a "buddy" from when he was just a little boy. Jimmy. He showed the kids this toy - a kind of a creepy doll now that it had been worn down from years of play and then stored for such a long time - when he began making the doll attack me as if "Jimmy" was "Chucky". Tonio was laughing and Arianna was a little freaked out...I don't blame her.

I should have known that would not be the end of it...

Last night when I was getting ready for bed I walked into the bathroom only to turn around and find Jimmy hanging there. It scared the @#$% out of me and I gave a blood curdling scream.

Levi, of course, was laughing so hard he couldn't talk.

I thought I would share the pics of what I found in the bathroom last night.

I must admit, after the initial horror wore off, it was pretty funny. :)

Technology Bites

Stupid computer.
Crashed.
Thursday morning.
Ugh.
Luckily pretty much everything was backed up. Only lost my sister's 30th birthday video. :( (At least she has a copy.) And lost some programs my old boss loaded for me. :(
My company got me a new laptop. Plus.
It is previously used. Minus.
Stupid computer.

Reuniting the Class of 2000

Saturday night we had Levi's 10 year high school reunion. It was so much fun! I had such a good time meeting all these people that are part of my husband's past and being able to put a face with a name or a story from his childhood. It was so much fun to see Levi reconnect with all those lost or forgotten friends as well. When we first arrived we sat with some of Levi's friends with whom he he still keeps in touch. Levi kept looking around and saying to me, "Oh my gosh so and so is here," or he would say, "wow, that is so and so." It was funny to me that he seemed so surprised to see these people at the reunion. But it was so neat to see his excitement at seeing all these old faces and to see Levi through the eyes of people who knew him when he was younger.

It was a great night, unfortunately, cut short by food poisoning for me. Here I thought we were thinking ahead by having dinner and then munching on the heavy finger foods - but I definitely had food poisoning from...Chipotle. Bummer. At least up until that point where I got nauseous it was fun...and even then, after we had to leave, Levi and I found something to laugh about because if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?

Blue Clear Sky

I've had this George Strait song in my head for the past few days and it seems pretty fitting...

I woke up late one morning in a rush for work. I grabbed the first items I could get my hands on (aka I looked frumpy) and I didn't do my hair. I didn't really care though, I was at a point in life where I was over dating and really just wanted to make it through my internship. I walked in to work only to be told that my desk was being moved...next to my crush! UGH and double ugh! Now I cared. I was thanking God that "he" took the day off when "he" walked in late to find the fiasco in his cubicle AND we were moving my stuff in.

It was the start of something wonderful, though. I was walking, talking true love - out of the Blue Clear Sky. Here are some pictures of our kids and the amazing family we have.

Champ clobbers us all, Butch mostly though

Aspen is such a daddy's girl
Champ waits everyday for Levi to take him to work, this was when Levi left without him :(

We are rocking the side of our house and the "kids" were helping

Aspen wanted so bad for me to cuddle her, she climbed on my back and wouldn't get off

Levi just home from work saying hi to the boys

Champ and Aspen hanging out officially after we first got Champ - November 18, 2006

Super Champ - this is from when we first had Champ, September 2006

Champ and Butch keeping me company one night

Present

While I was putting together my blog on my vanity I heard our pups. I got up to make sure they were doing OK...they've been inside because of the 92 degree weather today at our house, so I let them out to stretch their legs. Oh hey, I see I should go ahead and top off their water bowl while I'm up and it would be faster to fill it up from the hose out back than go back inside and fill it up.

IF YOU ARE THE FAINT OF HEART OR IF THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THE ROOM NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TO STOP READING OR REMOVE SAID CHILDREN.

Aimee: "Wow what a nice day...isn't this a great day Champ and Butch?"

Champ and Butch do not reply, they just look at me with board expressions.

Aimee: "Let me just walk over here....hey, what is that?" I don't have my glasses on. I take a step closer. "Is that? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! ASPEN!"



Aspen decided to leave, her most cherished mom, a little present this morning after she was out for the day...I didn't get it until now. :

Yes, it is a mouse.

Yes, he is dead.

Yes, it is not that big...BUT IT IS STILL A MOUSE! - I guess better that Aspen got to it before it got in the house. :/ (The joys of having a backyard the size of a field.)

So, here are the options:

Option A: Leave it there until Levi comes home from work - that won't be until much later tonight and the dogs need to be outside too....hmmm

Option B: Put on rubber glove, wrap rubber glove with paper towels, place multiple plastic bags over pre-wrapped hand - go outside to pick up carcase and dispose

Guess which option I went with?

Hello Gorgeous!

Me, no. My new vanity, YES! Not quite new, but updated. ;) Over the long holiday weekend I decided it was high time that I stop looking at my vanity with angst and instead make the changes to it that I could see in my head. Now the only problem...how do I make what is going on in my head translate to the real world? (Levi always says my mind is cartoons.)

Step 1 - channel my inner crafty/decorator/refined stylish self : uh-hum, channel my fabulous friends that are way more crafty than me

Step 2 - buy supplies to give it a new finish

Step 3 - get my sister's old mirror out of storage @ mom and dad's and safely transport to new location

Step 4 - make it happen and happen it did!

I love my new vanity and as all you women out there well know having a place of your own to put on your makeup, store all your cosmetics, nail supplies and all the other items that us women need to stay looking fabulous for our men is simply bliss. (And I painted the chair to match...love my chair!)

Soo...

What do you think?

Cronies

Eclipse...
Once again my girlfriends and I immersed ourselves in the twi-hard, twi-mom, teen, tween and everything in between crowd so that we could be one of the first to see the new Twilight Saga: Eclipse movie at 12 AM on June 30. IT WAS AMAZING! I think this is the best of the three thus far. Don't get me wrong, I love my Twilight and New Moon movies but this one was...fan-freaken-tabulous! This time we did not get in trouble by a group of teens, in fact we were actually asking the teens in front of us to quiet down. Maybe in the past six months since the last movie we have grown more mature...or maybe we have aged enough not to act like fanatics. Probably neither. Before we went to the movie Sabrina had a Twilight movie marathon and hosted dinner which she and Mike made for us. It was fabulous. OM-Gosh, no...it was amazing! They are awesome chefs and I love going over to their house because they make the best food...I feel so classy. :) (Levi still raves about the truffles Sabrina made from scratch!) Mike made us dessert - crepes with berries - they were so good that I had to take a picture. Luckily I thought about the picture before I dug in...otherwise you would see an image of an empty plate to the right. : The movie was great and if you are a fan of the series you are going to love this new installment!

Tiffany...
Last weekend I was so lucky to be able to spend lunch with one of my oldest friends. Tiff lives in Arizona and so we don't get to see each other much, actually we only see each each other when she comes to town. (I need to make it out to AZ to visit her!) It was so good to catch up. She is such an amazing friend and it is always as though we just pick up from where we left off the last time we saw we saw each other. Tiffany is a constant. She never changes, only gets warmer with the years. She is an amazing mother to her two little girls and 10 month old boy. She is one of those friends that you realize how lucky you are when she is right there, but when she is gone it is like a hole in your heart for the void she leaves. I wish I could bottle up a little Tiffany for each one of you so that you would know how wonderful both she and her friendship are. Even though it would be just a little taste of the wonderful blessing I get to experience all the time, you would know what a blessing she is. I am thankful to God for the friends He brought into my life. Without those friends, past and present, and my sister I don't know where I would be. Ten years later, after graduating and going our separate ways (so to speak), Tiffany, Tess and I are still friends. (And by the way Tess you owe me a lunch :D) I love these girls because they are my past; they know me as the person I was and now the person I am. They understand me in ways others can't because they have seen the changes that come with growing up, moving on, and enduring life. They have whiddled their own niche in my soul that no one but that them can fill, and I wouldn't want it any other way. I love my Tiffany (and my Tess)!

Older but Wiser

Whew. That about sums it up. This past week was a subtle reminder that while my mind and body believe they are young...I am not. On Saturday, I subbed for a friend in her volleyball tournament. On Sunday, I had an all day tournament of my own and this was after playing two matches Wednesday night, and four matches on Thursday. My body is beat, literally. Although I am grateful for the ability to play and to be able to keep on performing at these high levels of competition, this past weekend was a reminder that, no, I am not 18, or 21 or even 25 any more. And while I do take care of my body, the realization that forever playing four nights a week or two long days over the weekend at division one or division two levels of competition is no longer a luxury I can accommodate. My knees ache, my hips and back tight. Even with stretching, training and pills the pain still pursues. Thus, it is my older and wiser mind that resurfaces to remind me I cannot go on forever. I must cut back. At this point in my life, training for the many years I expect to fulfill rather than the big game is more important. I will not be giving up the game, though, but I have realized that I should work to preserve my knees, and joints and body before the hard dives, constant jumping and countless twists cause me to find real injury.

Ah, enlightenment. I know I am a different person than I was ten years ago. At 18, when I dove for the ball and hit my head on the announcers table trying to get the ball back into play I was fine. I shook it off and got back to it. Now, after a day of reflection on the aches I endured last night and slightly today, I realize it is better to take care of my body before I break it. If that wasn't motivation enough...Levi keeps threatening to trade me in because as he put it, "I got a broken one." :)

What Inspires You?

There are many things in this life that I fall in love with over and over again. My husband goes without saying, but simple things like watching someone walk around a lake with no perception of time, studying Champ as he becomes engrossed while surveying the neighborhood at the front door, or even the fall of leaves in the autumn - the realization that they are at their end - put me in a state of wonder. I love these moments. I find myself curious and in awe of those simple treasures; treasures that when I'm not looking inspire me.

One place I always find inspiration is in art. I absolutely love art. There is something so amazing about a person who can have such skill as to present the realities of life with the swiftness of their hand regardless if it is abstract or figurative. With each painting I wonder what emotion captured the artist and pursued them until finally it was released onto the canvass. Bob Ross (insert cliche laugh here) was the first artist I loved. Everything about how he painted was joyful. The world he created through his work was always engineered with happiness. All the trees had friends and there was nothing you could do mess up "your world".

As I grew up my attraction to art evolved and I found another artist who continues to awe and inspire me, Jack Vettriano. Some of his work hangs in our home, other pieces I am dying to get - but not all are in production. :/ His work is soulful and loving, raw and edgy, glamorous and simple all at the same time. I wonder what emotion coursed through him when he felt the need to create the different pieces. What sights he must have seen...what mystery surrounded his life...what pain he must have endured...what love he must have experienced.

I think the greatest thing about art is that there is no right or wrong interpretation. It simply holds the hope you see, the pain you feel, the love that embodies you. And every one will see something different although we are all looking at the same thing.

There are numerous artist whose pieces of work capture me and leave me speechless. I am drawn to art and with each piece I experience, I am inspired.

Silence

The slumber party is over and our family is back to five. We managed to have only a few dramatic moments over the week. The most significant was with Butch; he became more edgey as the days went by and on the last day there was a scuffle. When Levi and I got into the back yard to break it up Butch had Champ locked down at the neck. Luckily Champ was fine and just shook it off. Butch was in trouble and separated from the group. It was meant to be punishment but I think he was actually relieved. : /

The puppy, Baker, was curious about everything. In fact she was so curious she chased after Aspen one night only to be met with a vicious hiss and claws. Baker never went near Aspen again. She tucked her tail and went back to the other dogs when every she saw Aspen after that.

Gracie was a sweet heart, only a spaz when you stopped petting her...but what dog isn't? And our Champers, well he was patient. Gracie would growl at him and get teritorrial, but he just looked at us like are we done yet? Baker would chase after him, jump on him and bite at his neck (sometimes actually hanging from him while he walked) but he just moved along as though it was nothing.

It was a definite adjustment getting used to taking care of four dogs, each with their special needs and different personalities. I have to be honest and say it is nice to have our home back to normal with the silence that ensues from only having our two dogs. With that said, I would do it again in a heart beat. I loved having our little pack of dogs. But silence is golden. :)

Slumber Party

For the next week, Levi and I have grown our household from a family of five to a family of seven! While Marilyn, Ron, Carolyn and Cliff are on vacation we have taken in their little buddies Baker and Gracie - both females. We now have four dogs and a cat under our roof.

Aspen is not happy about this at all. When the dogs are out doors she sniffs their beds, then rolls all over them so that her scent is left behind - how ornery is that! She hisses at Gracie and Baker when ever they are in her eye line...she is so high maintenance. Butch was curious for about ten minutes but now he is over it. He looks at me like, "OK mom, you can send my friends home." Thankfully they are all getting along and it is fun to have a house full of little buddies.

Here are a couple pics...Gracie is in front of Champ and Butch (the rotti) and Baker is the 9 -10 week old puppy. She is a red healer that Marilyn rescued when she was left at a reservoir.
(I tried to get all four in the same picture, but Baker wouldn't listen and pose with the rest of the dogs...she is still a puppy after all.)

Count Your Moments

There are moments in life where you need no affirmation that you are exactly where you are meant to be.  When the muddled what if's or should have, could have, would have's fade away.  Moments when future plans blurr, too distant to discern.  Moments when you wish you could freeze time.  Stand still.  Never change.  I often find myself watching our 'kids' and wishing with all my heart that I could make time stand still so that nothing would ever change.  Old age wouldn't consume our dogs.  Time wouldn't haunt our bodies and we could simply be exactly as we are at that moment. 

But what is life without adventure?  How could you know the happy times truly are happy without knowing the sad?  How can you touch lives if you never grow into the person you were meant to be?  Life is complex.  Filled with too many moments to freeze.  And if that invisible force pushing us forward, moving us to the next day, never gave us that gentle nudge to move on would we then never know the bliss that awaits us?

There are moments in this life that I will never forget.  My grandpa calling out, "here comes star."  Hiding from the neighborhood boogie man with girl friends in middle school (the pee man - LOL).  Showing up on my sister's doorstep crying and her enfolding me in a hug.  My family laughing so hard at a silly shrunken T shirt.  Seeing my husband for the first time.  Seeing my husband at the end of the aisle...

Too many moments to recount here. 

I pray that I never forget those moments.  That I can look back on life, unleash the treasured times and be filled the memory of a life well lived.  To everyone reading this, treasure your moments.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  Tally your blessings and let go of that which holds you back.  At end of my life you'll find me recounting my moments....date nights with grandma and drinking too much wine...giving my parents a 'cool' wave at my volleyball games...playing in the halls of the hospital with Levi the night Arianna was born...meeting Tonio for the first time...Marilyn's patience teaching me to ride the quad...the night we brought home our Champ...

The Happiest Place on Earth

Wednesday night I flew into Orlando to meet my parents, my sister and the kids for a vacation.  (My brother actually flew in today.)  It will be a quick trip, no doubt, but it will be so good.  It has been almost a year since I have been able to hug and kiss those kidos...way too long.  Plus it is good to have my sister's company.  She has always been a stability in my life and not having her around these past few years has been an adjustment.  Thank God for Levi.  While he can't replace my sister he is my best friend and takes care of me just as my sister always has. 

It is so amazing how fast the time goes.  Arianna has grown into such a little girl, with a fun personality and a little bit of diva attitude.  I just love her so much.  Antonio has gotten so big and in fact is almost as tall as Arianna even though he is two years younger.  He is such a little love bug and loves to play.  Here are a couple pics from the past few days.  I miss my husband like crazy, but having this time with my family truly does make this the happiest place on earth. ;)

The Price of Victory

Last night was the second night of a two-night tournament for my women's volleyball league.  (We won on the first night and advanced to the second round last night.)  Last night we won the first of our matches (VB is played in matches with the best 2 out 3 games) which advanced us to the championship match.  All the ladies on my team were awesome - diving, falling and just plain hustling around the court so that in the end we won!

This morning I woke up to an injury.  Somehow during one or both of the matches I did something to my knee.  It was a crazy pain I have never felt before...what a nice reminder that I am no longer 18 and invincible.  I can walk with a slight limp but bending my knee is not something that is getting done today.  What a bummer.  I am hoping that it is just a strained tendon :| Levi and I are both a little nervous that I could have torn something.  If that's the case this will put my VB days away, for a little while at least.  It was worth it! :D Those games were so much fun and the team we played in the championship match was a group of younglings.  They were easily 18-20 year olds that did not give up or quite.  It was a great win and my injury is simply the price of victory!  I'd do it again in a heartbeat. ;)


A quick update...
I know some of you have been wondering about our Champers and I am so sorry that I have neglected to update you.  He is doing so much better and in fact is back to his old self.  He jumps like crazy when he thinks that we are forgetting him, his tail goes a million miles a minute when he sees Levi and he is very quick to let us know when he is hungry - which is always.  The whole ordeal with him being sick was so hard because he is our "kid" and we could not imagine our family as complete without him.  Thank you all for your loving words and your prayers. 

Let's Get Physical

Oh My Goodness!  This is the best thing to start your week and it will tickle your funny bone. 

While Levi and I were at his parents' house this past weekend, Ron gave him an old Iron Man magazine that talks about fitness and the body building competitions of the time.  This is easily from the 1960's, maybe even earlier.  (I can't find a date.)  Anyway, the advertisements and articles are so funny because the information is outdated and we know now that this information is no longer relevant or better things/ideas have come along.  Thank God, could you imagine everyone walking around with these shoes?  "I'm just getting my workout in for the day."  LOL!  I thought I would post a picture of one of the ads...too funny!

1. These are weighted shoes.                                                  

2. These are exercises for those shoes. Check out the bottom two where he is actually holding the shoes and doing upper body with them as weights.  They're versatile shoes! 

I hope you are getting as big a kick out of this as I did. :D

1.

2.

Poor Champ...Again

What a rough couple of weeks. Champ really is a fitting name for our boy because he has been such a trooper. Monday night I came home from my volleyball game to find our Champers lethargic, unresponsive (compared to his normal giddiness), and down right sad. It was late, he was not interested in eating - which anyone who knows Champ knows that is highly suspicious - and to say the least I broke down. I have never seen our pup act this way. It scared me. To top it off, Levi went to workout - unbeknownst to me - and I was freaking out: something was terribly wrong with our dog and at 9:30 at night Levi could not be found.

Champ's behavior improved Tuesday only to take a dramatic and horrible turn for the worse yesterday. He wouldn't eat, was throwing up blood and let's just say that wasn't the only end blood was coming out of. Levi and I did not sleep last night. Every two hours we were up with Champ taking him outside so he could vacate what ever was left in him. We got up this morning and took him in to the vet right away...

Here's the current theory.
After checking a stool sample they said it is a bacterial infection. Champ was on antibiotics after his surgery earlier this month. The vet said that sometimes when you put them on these meds their natural bacteria - the good bacteria - is wiped out and thus allows the bad bacterial to set up shop. Needless to say Champ is back on medications. He is on a special food diet that should settle his tummy to allow him to eat.

Man, I cannot imagine the worry, the angst, the helplessness those of you out there that are parents feel when your little ones are sick. I know Champy is a dog and will not have the lifespan that humans do, but I cannot imagine our life without him. He is our little buddy, he is Aspen's foe (really they love to play with/tease one another) and Butch's best friend.

We are praying that these meds work for Champ and he can be back to his goofy, fun loving self soon.

Poor Champ

Last week we took Champ into the vet for surgery. He had a fatty tumor that was nothing serious but did continue to grow. The vet told us that we didn't have to get it removed but it was a good idea since it kept getting bigger...so we had it removed. The tumor was in his belly and if dogs had belly buttons they made an incision from his navel to pelvis with an incision that was a good five-inches long. :( Poor buddy. When we got him home he was still groggy from the meds and could barely move from what we could only assume was the pain. On top of that they had to pull two of his small incisors from the top of his mouth. (Champ grinds his teeth and had ground down those two teeth until they were cracked in the root with the chance of further cracking and infection.)

Ugh! What a stressful week. We have to continue to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't pull out the stitches and when we can't be with him to actually monitor this, yes he does have his lamp shade. Poor Champ has had to wear the lamp shade twice within a matter of a year and a half.

He has gotten pretty good about letting us put this on him. Although, Levi is the one who always has to put it on and I am the one always taking it off. I think it is fair to say I am Champs favorite right now. ;) Just kidding my love.

Good Practice

Two out of the last three nights, our Champers has been sick. He is fine all day but then at night he starts getting dry heaves before he ultimately throws up. He is such a trooper, though. Both of the nights he has been sick, he comes to get me up and then rushes to our back door to be let out knowing what is about to happen. The first night I thought he was antsy or someone was lurking around the house. Levi was out of town and it made me nervous that Champ was nervous. Finally, I realized he was sick and just needed out. Then last night, the same thing happened; he woke me up and made a run for the door. (Thankfully, we know that it is his treats that is causing this reaction and a quick fix at that - he doesn't get his treats anymore.)

It's funny. My sister and friends tell me that I should enjoy sleeping now because when Levi and I have kids there is no sleeping from the moment you get pregnant until the kids turn roughly 3 -5 years old. I would say with our kiddos we are getting good practice. Butch wakes me early every morning because he wants to go outside. Champ sleeps in later and if I acknowledge him before he is ready to get up he pretends he is still sleeping. (Seriously, he closes his eyes and won't turn his head toward me.) When I finally fall back to sleep, Champ decides he is ready to get up and wakes me to go outside. Aspen wakes me up if she is too cold, if she doesn't like the water in her bowl, if she needs the food in her bowl stirred, if her food level is below the appropriate level, and if she is feisty, there is no hope for sleep. On top of all that, with Champ being sick, as when any of the three are under the weather, I have been sleeping lighter. I think it is my maternal instinct kicking in listening in case he starts getting sick again. With all this activity I would say we will be in good shape once we start a family...or we will be worn out from these three, so much so, that we will need sleep instead of kids. :) Just kidding Marilyn. For now, there is no rest for us...although Levi always seems to wake up very well rested and chipper???

More to talk about

As if you couldn't get enough of me....

I have started a second blog called The Writer's Page. This blog will be dedicated to the evolution and refinement of my writing as a craft. Some of the entries that I have posted on this blog will be moved or copied to the new site, but you will also get a chance to read other pieces of my work. Those of you who have known me a long time will recognize some of these pieces as I will publish them publicly for the first time. Other pieces no one has ever seen and so they will be new to all of you. As I continue to hone my writing skills and create new stories or poems I will share those on my Writer's Page blog. Join me on my new blog and keep up to date with my career as an amature writer. ;)

The David Family Adventure blog will still be updated with the adventures of our family and the silly to serious events that make up the David's.

Blessings

I am blessed to be surrounded with the best of friends. These past two weeks have been crazy and stressful - I have even looked in the mirror and wondered how do I take that next step. While I have to take it alone, I know it is not without their support. Our circumstances do not define who we are, but how we react and what course we take when we face adversity does. I know many people are facing the cruelest of fates at this time and so with that in mind I remind myself that I only need to put one foot in front of the other, take one step at a time. My girl friends are amazing. A breath of fresh air in a frantic life. A distraction when your mind feels numb. A conversation when you feel stress suffocating your lungs...a laugh when all you really need is to smile. Sometimes you take them for granted because they simply are there, always. Friends are a special species. They are the people you get to choose to have in your life. They accept you, flaws and all, don't hold grudges, and empathize with your misguided adventures. Friends are a treasure.

Sabrina and Brie lured me to coffee today only to kidnap me for the afternoon. They took me to a movie where all I had to focus on was watching something funny. There was no pressure or added stress from myself to change my situation or find the solution. For three and a half hours I felt like myself. Not some crazed person on a mission - as I have been for the past two weeks. I am so lucky to have these girls in my life.

And to my best friend of all, my generous, amazing...indescribable husband who has been nothing but supportive, patient, loving........you will never know the depth of love that my heart holds for you. You are my number one champion and I don't always see it, you believe in me when I've lost faith in myself. You are my inspiration.


“I knew the first time I saw you, that I wanted to know you more. I knew the first time we touched that there was something rare between us, and I knew after I kissed you that I loved you; I was cast under your spell and I knew that I would never feel about anyone else the way I felt about you. I was the luckiest fool because you gave me a chance. My whole world is you, my love." - Aimee David

Twilight & Modern Warfare 2

Finally a place where my world and Levi's meet. This is AWESOME!

Xbox 360 Games - E3 2010 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Premonition

A foreboding settles in; there is no escaping what you know is to come. Your heart beats frantically, determined to outrun what it knows will come to pass...determined to ignore the knot twisting and tightening in your stomach that coincides with the anxiety building with every pulse. Your mind knows, even though you try to rationalize the red flags and push logic aside. A mind numbing search for the words that when given life solidify your fate.

There are moments in life where you know your own destiny. A destiny that is not of your own choosing. A fate that comes when you are busy planning for another day. Sometimes the best decisions in life are those that are taken out of your hands. Decisions that if you had it your way would be put off, or occur sooner, different, or are never even a glimmer of the road you planned to take. But what happens when a new road forms? When debris is cleared away revealing a journey you never expected. A life you didn't imagine, or at least a life you were not ready to change. You want to argue with destiny, question the sanity for your new life, and flaunt your temper at such an abrupt change to God. Why me? Why now? What about my plan...

Can you really be angry, though, when your gut forewarned you? Such glaring intuition, the premonition that change is upon you, doesn't happen everyday. Should you be angry with yourself for ignoring the voice of reason? Your voice of reason. Change is good. It allows us all to grow into the person we were meant to be. We should embrace the roads set out before us whether of our own making or destiny's. Put one foot in front of the other and make the journey; praying that sooner than later your heart stops beating frantically.