The big 3-6!!!

This big congratulations is a week overdue but I still want to acknowledge the 36 years of marriage of Don and Jane Hanes!!!! It was officially a week ago on November 22nd. Unfortunately I don't think it was a wonderful celebration due to Don's root canal, but it doesn't make the date any less significant. And we hope to see them soon!!!




Speaking of anniversaries, today is mine and Jon's 4-month anniversary as a married couple! I realize we have all sorts of silly dates we recognize as "anniversaries" but 4 months ago today we said our "I do"s and committed our lives to each other forever and ever. We look forward to celebrating 36 years together like Don and Jane... minus the root canal, hopefully.

Birthday Boys

Today is Thanksgiving and we have SO MUCH to be thankful for. We had a wonderful day full of all the usual eating, laughing and football. Camden is at an age where he is so hilarious and says the funniest things. It's such a fun time.

Last night we celebrated both Jon and Camden's birthdays a little early while we were all together. Jon got a birthday pie (pecan) with candles, and Camden got a very delicious chocolate cake. Though when told to "blow", he blew his nose instead of his mouth. Easy mistake when you're 2.

Both boys had fun opening their presents, though there was a little more screaming and jumping up and down on Camden's part. Poor Jon is faced with sharing his birthday with our favorite little boy, but he proved himself very selfless and gracious and willing to share the spotlight. Plus he got pecan pie!

Fun time had by all! Though we wanted Camden to wait until the morning to open one of his games that was going to take quite some time to set up, so we snuck it away when he was distracted by something else. It brought a few of us to laugh to the point of tears when he kept turning around looking for that other box, seemingly saying to himself "but I know there was another one!! It was right there a minute ago...!" His little 2 year old memory is pretty good, we had to admit.

And it's not until right now as I'm posting pictures that I realize we didn't even take one of the birthday boys together. Heck, we didn't even take one of Jon.... At least I have his actual birthday to make up for it in a couple weeks.

Our Boys

Since we don't have kids, our worlds revolve around the dogs. Seems they've been extra-entertaining lately. Which could also translate to higher maintenance. Sarge still has the occasional accident in the house and the times he does prove to have no logic, so we've almost stopped trying to figure it out. We endured a bit of drama this week with trying to find Wylee a new bed. With new couches arriving on Saturday, sleeping on the couch is no longer an option for the boys - even if it was never an option to begin with, it's out of the question now. Wylee's second favorite spot is UNDER Sarge's bed, which leaves Sarge no other logical option (according to him) but the couch... and round and round we go... Never did I think buying a dog a bed would be such an ordeal. The only thing I can compare it to is the story my stepdad tells of taking his son to go buy a new "wubby" (blanket), where they had to "test" each and every blanket based on how it felt and fit in his tiny hand. The same goes for Wylee and how he determines comfort and fit. We've tried 3 and failed miserably each time. Though we have gotten some good laughs with each attempt watching him try to squeeze himself into a bed we thought was plenty big as we stood in the aisle discussing the pros and cons. For full disclosure, I must say that we might have found a few beds Wylee would have found completely suitable, but they did not pass the Jon and Holly test of ugliness. The saga continues.... Included in the slideshow below are a couple of shots of Wylee trying to act comfortable in a bed we chose. Luckily for Wylee, we've saved the receipt and it is being returned.... We've also snapped a few of Sarge's alternative choices for sleeping spots. And, just because, we had a little fun with the pups today and got a good snapshot of Cooper's ears flipped over. It was hilarious at the time, and the picture still makes me laugh. If I could get Wylee to sit still enough for me to get a good shot of him, I'd post one of his ears, too. One day...

Our Boys' Slideshow

Ornamental

I have an ornament party I'm going to on Sunday night. Everyone must make 15 ornaments and they must be handmade. I am very proud of myself that I used no kit or pre-made anything. And that the idea came completely from my mostly uncreative brain. And I think they're pretty cute!!

Bingo Was His Name-o

I played bingo for the first time last weekend. I didn't win anything, but we had fun with the dobber and the dogs.

Midweek madness

This week has been a rough one for us all. I've been filling in for someone who's on unexpected medical leave indefinitely, working lots of overtime (yay, extra cash - boo, super tired). I'm spent and super stressed trying to get through each day with little direction on what to do for her job. Next Friday in my department is known as "Golden Friday" with the biggest shopping day of the year for Retail. Lots of activities and craziness going on, so no rest in my future.

Jon's work has slowed down a little and he was granted his 3-month raise. He's doing well there still, yet looking ahead to what's next. We have my Holiday Gala to look forward to next weekend at Red Rock. We always love going there and I got my dress on sale last weekend (gotta love 75% off!) so that is something fun to look forward to.

We thought Sarge was making progress, but he regressed one day this week, leaving me TWO surprises mid-day. Still trying to figure out what it is that's making him use the living room as his personal toilet but haven't gotten very far. Just lavishing cookies on the both of them when they go outside. Frustrating, to say the least.

Next week is Thanksgiving and we both have to work every day but Thursday. But Kevin, Wendy and Camden are coming in on Tuesday (yay!). I wish I could be off at least one day so I could spend more time... we'll see! Not planning on baking too much this year (yet!), but we'll be celebrating Jon and Camden's birthday Wednesday night so that will be nice. We may try to squeeze in the Switchfoot show after Camden goes to bed but I think we'll have to play that by ear. It would be nice to see Drew again, so I'm sure we'll make it down there at some point.

Life seems crazy these days and will only get crazier with the holidays, I think. I'm considering pulling out the decorations this weekend but I'm not sure I can stand them for 5+ weeks. Last year I was ready to put everything away the day after Christmas. I looooooove Christmas. But I love having my house put back together, too.

'til next time!

Cars, Jars, and National Parks



I'm a little behind in updating this blog, so I'm going to give a quick recap. I had every intention of updating last weekend after our couple of days of fun. But life has kind of gotten in the way this week.

Last Friday night I raced home from work, took care of the pups, then raced down to meet Jon at work so we could zoom over to Mandalay Bay to catch Jars of Clay at the House of Blues. I had purchased the tix a few months ago because they were cheap and they're a band we really like. It was a good show and great music. And overall a great time just to get out and do something different.

Saturday morning we woke up early, loaded up the pups and some roadtrip snacks, and began the drive up to Zion National Park. It was a beautiful drive and we enjoyed making our way up there. It's an incredible place, and we are looking forward to going back. We took a few wrong turns and ended up taking "the long way" there, but now we know for next time and hopefully we'll get to spend a little bit more time. I became a little "car crazy" by the end of the day. The dogs had a blast taking a dip in the river, sticking their noses in gopher holes, and getting stickers in their feet-- (okay, so maybe that last part wasn't so fun) and were completely exhausted for the drive home.







As for "cars", Jon and I went to the SEMA show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It's a HUGE trade show of car stuff. Everything you could ever want. Jon and I both took the morning off work and went downt here and walked around for a couple hours. I mostly followed and watched Jon look around and drool over all the fun stuff. I did enjoy seeing the new Civic Jon has told me about. It's pretty cute.




All in all, a great couple of days. It was a sad ending with the news of Lucy, but each day gets easier. It's been a week now and we still miss her like crazy.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds....


Little Lucy has finally been relieved of her pain. She has been suffering quietly for who knows how long, and today she finally feels pain-free for the first time in a long time. She has always been "the good dog" and wants nothing more than a warm lap and all the affection you can spare. She's a very brave little pup and has aged twice her years the last two weeks. To say it was a hard goodbye this morning is an understatement. She will be missed for a very long time and it will be a hard adjustment without her around. Sweet, sweet girl.