Damien and ribs...a perfect celebration of a wonderful year!!

Well, we are leaving for our anniversary trip in a couple of hours. Our bags are packed and Sophies toys are gathered into one small carrier. She is ready for "camp".

I am just so excited! Damien Rice is tonight at 8:00. He is going to be just so amazing. This is only his second tour in America. (Trey will be quick to tell you that he saw him in Atlanta the first time he was here!) We are planning on checking into our hotel and then heading out to Rendevous to chow down on some finger-licking good ribs, then off to the Orpheum for the show.

This is will only be Trey's third time to venture down Beale. The other two times were for one of Amanda's wedding showers in September and her wedding in December. We had the BEST time before, so we are looking forward to another great weekend.

Now for the reason we are going: Our ONE YEAR anniversary. I can not believe it has been a year. (well, will be on June 3rd) It has flown. We have had a lot of excitement, and even some heartache, in our first year of marriage.

1) Both changed jobs

2) Passing away of my Dada

3) Birth of our first nephew (Henry Thomas, of course!!)

4) bought our first house

5) adopted little Sophie

and so much more.

All this to say, this has truly been the best year of my life.

I am not really a "cheesy" or "mushy" person, but I want all my faithful readers (all 5) to know exactly how wonderful Trey is!

I made a list of a few reasons why he is absolutely the best:

1) He puts his family before anything

2) He pays the bills AND does the laundry

3) He adores Sophie

4) He puts up with me, and that is saying a lot

5) He is my best friend

6) He is so much fun and funny , too. Plus, he laughs at my jokes.
7) He will do anything to make me smile if I am having a bad day

8) He is the hardest worker and loves his job

9) He doesn't question me when I insist on Sophie staying in a doggie hotel

10) He is oh so cute. :)

Our first year of marriage was the best and I look forward to many, many more!

JUNE 3, 2006

Sophie's hotel get-away update

Well, I am feeling a little more confident about leaving Sophie this weekend. I called the nice ladies at the resort (yes, it is called a resort) yesterday and confirmed her reservations. I asked that we drop her off on our way out of town, around 12:30. She said that check-in time was between 9-11 am or 4-6 pm and that noon would not work because that is "quiet time" for the dogs.

No really.

So I said that was fine, that we will have her there around 11, but if papers were needed to be filled out that she either email or fax them to me since we will be running short on time tomorrow. (concert tomorrow night in memphis, for those who may have forgotten) She said of course.

I received all the paper work today via email.

Let me give you a run down of Sophie's daily activites:

They wake up and are immediately taken outside to run around/go to the bathroom in a fenced yard. Then they have breakfast. Since Sophie is staying at the indoor retreat, she will then have the option of playing in the playroom, watching TV in the living room, or, of course, take a nap. After lunch they have "quiet time", thus the no dropping off period. Then it is outside to play some more. During the day I can sign Sophie up for various "ME TIME" activites, including pool time, walking, massage and brushing, lap and TV time, etc... for $5.00 each session. I am thinking the massage will be fine since she already has a TV in her access. Anyway, each afternoon all dogs get "cuddle time" which is great, but only if Sophie is in the mood. Then they have dinner, another outside bathroom trip, little more "quiet play", bedtime snack then lights out at 10 pm.

HAHA! Sounds like camp.

Memorial Day weekend fun

Now that the family crisis has been solved (thanks, Trey's boss) and my work has been completed, I can concentrate on the important things, like blogging.

We had a wonderful LONG weekend. Our dear friend Russell and his precious girlfriend, Callie, came to visit us Friday. It was fabulous. Long overdue, but fabulous. We went to Matt and Jenni's wedding on the coast on Sat. It was beautiful. She was a gorgeous bride!

On Sunday after our company left, Trey and I went to Sunday School adn church and then back home to work in the yard. It was my idea of a PERFECT sunday. That night we grilled out with some friends.

Monday was just as fabulous. We slept in, I watched the WHOLE Today show. Unusally this gets interupted by 7:40 to leave for work. But not yesterday! I watched the whole thing in my PJs while drinking fabulous coffee. It was perfect. We worked more in the yard, cleaned the house, went out for lunch, came back to watch oprah. (OPRAH! i haven't watched Oprah since this whole 8-5 thing entered my life!) then we went to Hudson's where they had Banana Republic clothing for 40-50% off! I got two shirts, which made the perfect ending to the perfect weekend!

Olivia and I at Keg and Barrell

Callie and Trey

Toby Barker for State Rep!

Nice face, Russell

Me and Russell

Hope you had a good one as well!

problem solved

Trey's boss keeps her dogs at this hotel here in Hattiesburg located on the Okatoma River and Resort. Don't worry, I called the owners with a list of questions/concerns. They were very sweet. There is a seperate house only for small dogs, which is great because Sophie tends to think that large dogs (i.e. the pointer and lab next door) are in fact, her size, and likes to bark at them.

Also, Sophie is allowed to bring an overnight bag with her favorite toys, treats, blankets, even her bed, if she wishes. Although they provide these things for thier guest, I think I will pack her a bag to make her feel like she is at home.

I made her reservations for the indoor retreat. (too much outdoor time makes Sophie feel like a dog). The indoor retreat consist of fully airconditioned living room, bedroom, and play room. In the living room, she can lie on sofas and watch television. She will like that. She can even get a spa bath for only $12 more.

Perfect.

The life of a mother

Trey and I are traveling this weekend. We are leaving on Thursday afternoon and heading back to the 'burg on sat. afternoon. As you know, we have a daughter. The most adorable little malti-malti-poo-poo around. (both her mother and father are maltipoos, thus giving her the title malti-malti-poo-poo)

Anyway, we have a problem...finding a suitable babysitter. we are short on time, thus unable to drive Sophie to stay with her Memaw and Pawpaw (Trey's mom and dad) on the coast and Starkville is just too out of the way to stay with her T-mac and Mama Lita (my mom and dad). As you can imagine, we are a little concerned. I have come to the conclusion that we might have to, take a deep breath, BOARD my little Soph.

~gasp~

After much internal debate and heartache, I have come to the realization that boarding our beloved may just be the best option for the weekend.

So I have begun my research. I have interviewed (aka: googled) various boarding options in Hattiesburg and the surrounding areas. I found the Canine Country Club, but the owners seem a little off. We could always take her to our normal vet, but I have visions of her sleeping alone in one of the kennels out back. She can not do that. I am sorry. This challenge is prooving to be more difficult that first imagine.

BUT WAIT...

I found PetHotel, by PetSmart in Memphis (where are are going, the PetSmart in Hattiesburg does not offer this. I plan on calling the manager here this afternoon about this matter). Now we are talking. They have Doggie Day Camp, Day Care, televisions in the room (on animal planet, of course) and indoor park where they can walk, use the bathroom, even play in water!!! PLUS, they have "Social Time" where the Sophie can play with other dogs her size in a playroom filled with balls, chew toys, and yes, treats. She may not want to come home!!

But it doesn't end there! Trey and I can call the lobby of the hotel during lobby hours and check on Sophie. They will even bring Sophie to the phone to talk to us! Now that I can handle.

There is also a live video so if I am around an internet, I can see her playing.

I haven't checked on the price, nor have I even confronted my husband with this amazing find. The only downside is that we are staying at the DoubleTree on Union Ave. and this PetHotel is located on the other side of Memphis. BUT, I know where it is and I am conviced that it will be well worth the trouble! We will just have to leave a little bit earlier to make it in time to check her in the hotel and then make it back to downtown to the Orphium by the time the concert starts. BRILLIANT!

I will let you know how it goes.

Click HERE to view the video of the hotel, if you would like.

In the meantime....any suggestions of another doggie hotel in south mississippi? Desperate times call for desperate measures. I was hoping for a Beth Bath and Bones like Amanda found in Tyler, TX.
Let me know.

So I decided to see who my hubby looks like

HAHAHAHA! I am married to a Travis Tritt look alike! And a woman! And some mexican....(should probably know him, i don't though and I am not ashamed to admit it)

http://www.myheritage.com

Haha

OK...this is too funny. You upload a picture of yourself and the website generates the top celebrities that you look like.
The picture I used was from my wedding day. If I used a more recent picture I am sure celebrities like Rosie and Roseanne would show up.

Hmmmm....Hayden? I think not. The only I have ever gotten is Renee Z. And are two of these celebs foriegn??? Just wondering.

However, my favorite is that I look like Beyonce. riiiiiiiiiiggggggggghhhhhhhhttttt.

http://www.myheritage.com

Global Warming's got nothing on me.

(not me)

I walked to work this morning. Just me. Trey wouldn't do it. He said that walking to work EVERYDAY is a statement, walking to work one day and meeting a bunch of women for Starbuck's is "cute". Whatev.

I realize that if we were in a city, say NY, walkin would happen all the time, but it is a little trickier when you live in a city that is not very pedestrian friendly. But no fear, I managed. I put on my running shoes (the new ones, still training, you know) and walked my way down Hardy Street. It was fun. I bet Trey is sad he missed it.

Anyway, so I made the long hike to campus and found my way to Starbucks eager to meet my fellow walking/biking eco-friendly friends, as well as enjoy a nice cup of coffee. (Who am I kidding, I would have had a Chai latte or cafe latte) I arrive at the entrance only to find that it doesn't open until 8! SAD! I bet our coordinator of "Bike to Work Day" did not know that the Starbucks on campus has different hours in the summer. I walk around the building in hopes of finding my walking buddies, only to find NOTHING. I was alone, in work clothes and sneakers with frizy hair.
~sigh~

(not my boss)

We will try this again next week, I suppose.

I'm such a sucker for crap like this

Create your own Friend Quiz here

The sweetest sound

Make sure you scroll down and pause my music to listen to my sweet nephew, Henry Thomas!