Ahhhh Summer!

So summer is going so awesome!  The kids have been here for a week now and everything is down to a really nice schedule.  They have finally gotten used to the time zone and we are not falling asleep at 7 and waking up at 5!  :-)

The first weekend (well, it technically was only Sunday) we just hung around the house and had some much needed R&R.  The kids are still loving the pool and we are still having our nightly summer swim-offs.

The basketball hoop that Santa brought the kids is getting a lot of use.  Tyler is getting a little tall for the current height, but it is just right for Melissa, so I think we will leave it the way it is, at least for now.  We are getting pretty good at finding the best sunscreen for water too.  Thus far, Neutrogena Sunscreen - Beach Defense is the best...and we are using it for paddling now which pushes any sunscreen to the "stay-on" limits!

My running took a back seat just a little this week...I have only ran 6.2 thus far.  However, I do plan on getting to the gym tonight.  My goal will stay at 20 miles weekly until June 30th, and then it will go up to 25.  September is coming up on us quickly, and I need to start training now.  Goooooo feet!!  :-)

We SUP'ed 4 miles last week...definitely not enough for this girl.  We are heading out to Canyon Lake tomorrow so the kids can try it (they are going to love it!) and then I have a New Moon Paddle on Sunday night so there will be more paddling which makes me happy.  I love my new sport!

National Running Day

Don't forget that today is...

so get out there and RUN!!!

Setting Down into the "New Normal"

So, I am not going to bore everyone with lots and lots of words.  I just want to give some highlights of the last few months.  I have been very very busy with graduation and trying to get my life back in order since I finished school...

Graduation - It has been the highlight of my life thus far (next to marrying Matt).  I am so glad to have my undergrad completed because I can now move onto bigger and better things.  Masters??  Maybe, but give me a bit of time to have some fun first.  :-)

The family came out to see me, and we had such an amazing time in and around Phoenix.  Here is one pic at Goldfield Ghost Town...one of Melissa, Tyler and my favorites.

In front of the Superstition Mountains

I love my family with all my heart, and I am so SO glad that they were here to celebrate this very special milestone in my life.  It meant the world to me.

Running - I am back at it!!  My foot feels great and I am putting an average of 18 miles on my feet a week.  Usually longer runs because I enjoy them much more than the smaller runs.  I have a half in September and a half in October thus far.  I am still looking for that special marathon that I want to run, but haven't really found one that I want to give my heart and soul to training yet.  Disney was very special to me.  Maybe I will wait for 2015 to run it.  I guess we will see.  Right now, I just love getting out there and seeing what my body will let me do.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP'ing) - Yep, I have taken on a new passion...and have dragged Matt with me. :-)  We have met a really great group out here in AZ that we have been meeting up with on the water, and having a ball!  I have finally found something that gets me back to my love of the water out here in AZ...and it is one hell of a workout!

Me on Tempe Town Lake

Matt before he got his board on the Salt River

Our boards

Much much more to come soon!  I have started cooking us to a healthy lifestyle, of which I would love to share recipes, and things are just getting started for the summer.  Hope you will stay with me...

xoxo

Livvie

Supplements Ordered

I wanted to share with everyone the supplements that I will be taking during my detox.  These were all recommended in the book, but I did do research on my own to ensure my health and safety.  I ordered all online from:

Sonne's No. 7 Detoxification
This organic liquid supplement has the active absorbent ingredient of colloidal (liquid) bentonite.  Used along with psyllium, this mixture naturally cleanses the digestive system and detoxes the colon.  I have purchased the psyllium and will be taking that as well.  Reading through many reviews, there are some people that can not take the two together.  However, there are positive effects of doing so because the two react to each other when ingested.  I will try to take them together at first, and if it doesn't work, I will separate, taking one in the AM and taking the other in the PM.

Nature's Way Activated Charcoal
At first thought, you'd think, "How can charcoal be good for you because it is a carcinogen?"  Well, this form is not charcoal per say.  It is an activated charcoal USP, a pure wood charcoal carbon that has no carcinogenic properties.    Its unique make-up absorbs large amounts of chemicals and poisons in your body.  One teaspoon of it has a surface area of more than 10,000 square feet!  It can absorb almost 100 times its weight in toxins, bacteria, chemicals, and unwanted yuck that seep into your body each day.  I am sure you have heard of individuals that have been rushed to the hospital with alcohol poisoning that are given a charcoal treatment?  This is the same idea only in much smaller dosage.

Vitamin Shoppe Apple Pectin
This supplement is also effective at removing contaminants from the body such as metals through a process called chelation.

Garden of Life Raw Probiotic
With all the detoxing, I need to ensure I am keeping my good bacteria up.  Good bacteria help with digestion (the one thing I am having difficulty with) and with fighting harmful bacteria.  This specific product was recommended by Cherie Calbom herself, the author of the book.  I emailed her because I was unsure of what product to purchase.  She responded to me right away.  I was really really impressed.

Flaxseed
The last product I will be incorporating into my diet is flaxseed.  Flaxseed has gotten a good reputation because of the following ingredients:

Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids:  The "good" fats found to keep you heart healthy.

Lignans:  Plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities.

Fiber:  Both soluble and insoluble - you need both!

There is evidence linking the reduction in risks of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes by using flaxseed in your diet.  I'm gonna try it!

So, that is my list.  I know, it seems like a lot, but I am really ready and open to learn, grow, and get healthy!

Update on how I am feeling - So, I woke up with a MONSTER headache.  I know it is caused from the caffeine withdrawal, and I am completely going to stick this out.  Matt made me juice this morning and within an hour the headache was subsiding.  I am drinking a ton of herbal tea, and that seems to be helping.

The one thing I need to figure out, though, is my food intake.  I am pretty sure that I am not getting enough daily calories.  I am going to spend most of my evening tonight, when the kids go to bed, reading up on this.  I did really well last night going out.  I had an amazing spinach and kale salad with mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, green beans, and corn (maybe a few other vegetables too).  I used balsamic vinegar and olive oil as dressing.  It was delicious. Hillside was very easy-going on my meal choice too.  They served it exactly how I asked.  I had a Pelligrino with lemon slice to drink.  :-)

Enough for now...more later.

End of Day One / Day Two

End of Day 1
So...I tried the awesome green smoothie.  It made me gag.  I rewarded myself with a banana, orange and blueberry smoothie.  It was sooooo good!  LOL

I had tomatoes and coconut aminos for lunch.  It was a nice change from the liquid.  I had a huge spinach, mushrooms and olive oil salad for dinner with a hint of balsamic vinegar.  Matt made dessert...banana and strawberry ice cream.  That was the highlight of my evening!

The family spend the evening playing life.  My stomach was a little upset, but all-in-all, it was a good day.

Day 2
Eating about the same as I did yesterday.  I need to get to the store and get myself sprouts and butter lettuce.  That way, I can make "sandwiches."

Matt didn't surprise me with a juice this morning like he usually does.  I was a little bummed.  However, I don't even know when he had planned on waking me up.  I naturally woke up at 7:00 listening to him come and go from the bedroom, and had to run downstairs to start my work day.  He walked out the door right after that...not sure what his morning looked like either.  But he started his day early.

I have been drinking a lot of tea today, but only herbal because I can't have the caffeine.  I am trying to get the plain ol' water in me, but if you know anything about me, you know I don't like water.  I am trying.  Imperfect progress!

I am on the brink of a headache, I can feel it coming on, but it comes and goes.  I wonder if it is because I am drinking like a camel and that is subduing it; not sure.

Tonight I am headed out to have dinner with Amanda at Hillside Spot, a little cafe in the Tuke.  I have already looked over the menu and I am A-OK.  I am going to have to improvise a little, but seeing where this little cafe is, I am sure they get picky eaters in there all the time.

I have my doctor's appointment tomorrow...hopefully, he says I can start walking.  I will be crushed if he says no.  I am feeling pretty confident that he will tho.  It has been six weeks.

A "Fresh" New Start

Happy 2013 Everyone!!

Wow, I am just so excited for this new year.  So many things that I want to do now that school is done...more hiking, learning how to swim so that I can compete in a triathlon,  learn how to SUP board, kayak, training for my first marathon in October with my husband, cooking more...the list just goes on!

My first endeavor takes me to the end of the first month of the year...I will be juice fasting the whole month of January.  I know, it sounds absolutely crazy, but I have been having some problems, and I am hoping this can alleviate most of the issues.  I just finished reading "Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life" and think that my biggest problem is my colon.  Without getting into too many details, I think a colon detox is the route that I need to ensure getting my body off to the right start this year.  My journey will be documented throughout the month so that I can teach and share my experiences with anyone that may think this is what they might need to do...

Book Cover

DAY #1
So, Matt made me breakfast this morning (he is being super supportive)...it wasn't so bad.  On page 154 of the book, he prepared The Colon Cleanse Juice Cocktail.  It consisted of the following:

1 cucumber
1 handful of spinach
1 handful of parsley
1 stalk of celery
1/2 a lemon

Now, I know that this sounds just disgusting, but it wasn't all that bad.  Matt and I have been juicing for about a month now and believe me, there have been worst...much worse.

I am still trying to find the products and supplements I need to complete the detox completely, but I wanted to start the juicing as soon as possible.  This has been a total learning experience thus far, and I am looking forward to absorbing all this new information in order to make my body healthy and pure.

Side effects - I have cut out all caffeine from my diet so as to avoid any unnatural stimulants, and have felt slight withdrawal.  I haven't had any pop in about 3 months (because I won't support any of those big corporations anymore) and I haven't had any coffee or caffeinated tea in a few days.  I know this will be the hardest addiction for me to overcome because I love my coffee in the morning.  Thankfully, I can drink herbal tea (which is tea without any tea in it, LOL), so I can still have a hot beverage in the morning on my way to work since it is quite chilly here now, and I really like having that 'luxury' on my way to work.  

I will keep everyone updated on my progress.  My next "meal" comes in an hour.  :-)

May each of you have a WONDER and BLESSED new year.  I love each and every one of you!

Livvie

Taking a Time Out

So, as most of you know my left third metatarsal is fractured.  It has been officially a week since the cast went on, and I am dealing...just dealing.  It gets frustrating at times because I can't really do anything on my own, and I have to ask for help for nearly everything.  I tried pushing my tea cup across the floor from the kitchen to the den...yep, didn't work.  Matt has tried to help out as much as he can, but he can't be with me all the time.  And if this cast is going to be on for 6 weeks, I need to learn to deal by myself.   I do like the fact that giving myself a bath is a 45 minute ab workout; my abs are like steel now!  :-)  It isn't the end of the world, though, and we will get through this.  I say "we" because my poor Matt has to deal with my mood swings from wanting to run.  Soon enough...soon enough.  Isn't my cast adorable?  LOL!

It has been a humbling experience, to say the least.  On an encouraging note, Matt has decided to run my first marathon with me.  We are still looking for a good one...I will keep everyone posted.

In 24 days I will be with my family and friends back in Michigan.  I am very excited.  We have a lot of fun things planned (Henry Ford Museum, Frankenmuth, shopping).  I have been working around the clock on one of Sarah's presents.  I really hope I can get it done before I leave.  I don't want to work on it on the plane.  We shall see!

By the time I get on the plane, I will no longer be a student.  I will have graduated - in 22 days!  I just can't believe it.  Life will be so different...

Matt and I bought a juicer the other day...wow, has that been an adventure, haha.  I am learning how to put different fruits and veggies together to make us some great combinations of micro-nutrients.  We are both feeling great lately (except my bum leg) and enjoying our new joy of cooking and preparing new things and supporting our local growers.  I got my email today of what we are getting on Sunday...can't wait!

Isn't that the truth!

Yep...I Need This:

New PR and First Half with My Husband...and First Injury

So the last few weeks have been great with one small set-back.

Mom and Dad just left from being with us for almost 2 weeks.  It was so nice to have them here.  Fortunately, with my not-so-tight school schedule, I was able to spend a significant portion of their stay with them.  We didn't do a lot of sight-seeing; mostly hung out around the house, but we did go to Mesa's Flea Market (a must do when Mom is here) and ate at Rustler's Roost the one evening.  Our vacation split into their stay here, so we only got one weekend with them.  We made the most of it, and had a really good time.



On November 4th, I ran the Women's Half Marathon here in Phoenix.  It was a small race (approximately 2K from what I was told) and the course was decent; not a lot of hills.  It was a good race.  I would recommend it.  

I ended up PR'ing, cutting 5 minutes from my best time.  It felt really good to see all my hard work with my training paying off.  Matt was there for me, cheering for me at mile 12.  It always means a lot to me when he is there showing his support.



On November 11th, Matt and I ran the Walt Disney World Wine & Dine Half in Florida.  Way back when, when I planned to run this race, Matt was not running it with me.  I thought it was somewhat foolish because he had been running, long distances at that, and I thought it would be a good venue if he wanted to try one for the first time.  After I explained to him that people celebrating with the runners would have to pay an additional fee to get into Epcot after the race, and the entrance fee was included with your race registration, he was in (of course!).

Before the race on Saturday night, Matt and I had a mini vacation...as most of you know, Disney is my FAVORITE place on earth.  We spent time at Downtown Disney and the resort on Thursday and then Magic Kingdom and Epcot on Friday.  I was able to get us tickets to Mickey's Christmas Party on Friday night.  For those of you that love Christmas and love Disney, this is a MUST DO.  It is an exclusive event; you must buy a separate ticket from the ticket you use during the day, so the park is not crowded and you get on the rides quickly.  You get all the cookies and hot cocoa you can fit in your tummy (which it was cold, so the cocoa was needed).  The entire park is decorated for Christmas and they blow snow down Mainstreet.  They put on a beautiful light and fireworks display (my photo to the left).  And to top it off, you get a special Christmas parade.  

It was truly magical.  I cried...of course.  I always do!!

We ended up staying at the Disney Caribbean Beach Resort.  It was a nice resort, but there are a few things I learned this time that I didn't know from past experiences.  The biggest one is to stay closer to the parks.  We used to drive, so this wasn't a big deal.  Although you can get around by bus, it is sometimes a pain.  While we were there, we scoped out a few of the resorts that were right there next to Epcot and MK.  When we go next time, which we have decided to go in two years (YAY!), we will stay at The Swan or the Yacht Club if we want to be near Epcot; the Polynesian if we want to be closer to MK.  The reason is the small boat at Epcot and the monorail system is just so much easier than the buses.  Plus, you can always take the buses if needed, but the boat and the monorail is much easier and faster.  

Pre-Race :-)

The race on Saturday night was good.  I didn't like how they staged us - at ESPN's World Wide of Sports, in the fields - for almost two hours, but we made the best of it.  Hind sight being 20/20, we should have brought blankets and clothes that we could have just ripped off right before the race to keep us warm...because it was COLD!

Matt wasn't fond of the race route, but it was exactly what I expected from a Disney route - lots of turns and small areas for too many people.  If your goal is to PR at these races, you must bake in at least 5 minutes.  Matt missed his personal goal of 2 hours by 3 minutes.  I told him that it was his first race, so it was automatically a PR for him.  He is already planning his next race.  I am geeked!!  As many of you know, once school is done I plan on running a half in every state...looks like I have a running partner now!  :-)

I have ran 2 half marathons and got 3 medals in the past two weeks...and my body is now telling me it is not happy.  Wednesday during my 5-miler, something tore or fractured in my left foot.  I have been waiting to see a doc because I honestly thought it was just torn, and there is really nothing a doc can do for me except tell me to stay off of it (which I am already doing - on crutches right now) and hand me a huge bill.  I pushed myself a little too hard, and now my body is telling me it needs to rest.  So I will unhappily conform.  It does feel much better today than it did when it happened, so I am hopeful that if I baby it, it will work itself out.  I am praying.  I only have 9 weeks before my full marathon now .  I am not giving up..nope; never!

As many of you know, Matt and I have decided to change our diets.  We have moved to a completely organic food regimen and are not eating any processed food.  With the extra physical activities that we are doing, and the desire to put the best food in our bodies, both of us have agreed to only support our local growers that are cognizant of food quality and the purest of ingredients in their products.  We have started to buy from only grass-fed cow/pig/chicken farmers, and we are now signed up for Chow Locally at our local farmer's market.  I have also started to prepare all of our food now (even my dressings and mayonnaise) .  I was definitely out of my element at first, but I am really enjoying what I am learning and I am continually getting better at it.  

I have been making a lot of Paleo meals again which I had gotten away from when I started training, but honestly can say my body is happier without the "carb loading."  (Plus, I truly believe all that hype is MENTAL now).  Our dinners consist of spaghetti squash, stuffed jalapenos, eggplant, fresh salads with grass-fed steak or chicken, organic cheeses and milks, sauteed kale and swiss chard, and lots of other ingredients that I would have never thought of using before.  At this point, Besides my foot problem, which has nothing to do with my food intake, I feel awesome, and Matt feels the same way.  He is even making his own tonic water now! We really think seeing current conditions and how many of our friends are getting sick...really sick with debilitating diseases...we have made a very wise decision.  I highly recommend considering this for everyone.  If you love your body and love your family, you really need to think about what you are putting into it.  With the defeat of Prop 37 in California, I have absolutely no confidence that the food industry cares about us or our longevity.  I am not going to depend on them to put food on my table (in fact, we have boycotted most of them).  We are educated...we can read labels, talk to growers, and make good choices.  And I believe in us as a society to take care of one another as well.  HELP YOUR LOCAL GROWERS!!!  Everyone always makes such a big deal about buying American, well this is as grass roots as it comes!  ;-)

On another AMAZING note, I am almost done with school!!!  Only one more month now.  I am awaiting my confirmation for graduation (which is just a formality), my class ring has been bought, and I am now starting to plan the graduation party.  I am super duper excited for this journey to be complete and for everyone to be there with me to celebrate.  The whole family is planning a trip to AZ in the spring.  I can't wait!

Well, I must be going.  Love you all | Livvie

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Julie as Effie Trinket and me as Olivia the Pig :-)

I hope everyone had a really wonderful Halloween.  I spent my last Halloween as a student in class, but he did let us go early so it wasn't completely terrible.  We had a WONDERFUL Halloween party at work as well, so it made it bearable that I wasn't going to be able to celebrate at home with my neighbors.  Mom and Dad are here, so they were able to pass out candy to the kids with Matt, so he wasn't completely alone.  Matt and I finished out the night in the hot tub and chatting about the goings-on of the day.  I am excited for next year when I can partake in the festivities!  :-)  

This weekend is the first of two last half marathons I am going to do before my full in January.  I have taken it pretty easy this week, but not intentionally.  With Mom and Dad coming in on Tuesday, I was not very disciplined to get out the door, and then Halloween put me a little behind as well.  However, I know that I am going to have those weeks, as long as they are not a habit.

I found this the other day.  It speaks to me...

You can do ANYTHING you put your heart and mind into.  

My Cupcake Run & New Chili Recipe

So, tonight I ran my first Cupcake Classic Run.  I have done one other virtual run in the past; this one was by far the most fun.  I ended up running a total of 6.08 miles.  The weather is still a little warm (86 degrees), but I waited until the sun went down and enjoyed the sunset as I came around the back side of Desert Foothills.  We had a beautiful fall sky tonight.  I love running here.  We are so spoiled.  I don't miss the 40 degrees and rain in Michigan.  

I saw my first rattlesnake ever in the foothills tonight; it was a little scary.  He/she was crossing the sidewalk where I was finishing up my loop.  I stopped to let it cross.  I could definitely see the tail, so I know what it was.  There was a woman that I was passing after I saw it, and I stopped her to tell her to be careful.  She started laughing and said, "Time to turn around.  I didn't want to walk tonight anyway!"  It was just too nice of a night...I would have just been careful; I wouldn't have let it stop me.  :-)

Me right after my run

 Isn't my shirt cute?  :-)

I have to be honest though...I haven't had sweets like that in a long time and I didn't really enjoy it all that much.  I did get as healthy of a chocolate cupcake as I could get (didn't have time to make myself), with all natural ingredients, but it was just so super sweet.  Next time I will pick something more natural like carrot cake or banana...or I will be done with school and have the time to bake!  I had Mom's yellow cake and chocolate frosting last weekend and even that wasn't as sweet as this cupcake was.  I bought a four-pack.  I know Matt won't eat one, so it looks as though my friends at work will be getting them (LOL).

Click here for more information on the Cupcake Classic

I finally made Kristy's bean-less chili tonight.  Well, it isn't Kristy's recipe (it is an Everyday Paleo recipe), but I got it from her.  Oh, it is so delicious!!  I figured out how to use my food processor tonight as well, so it was much easier to prepare than if I would have had to cut up all those carrots, onions and celery.  Yep, you heard right...celery.  And Matt at it!!!  I have been really proud of him lately.  With our changes in diet to organic and grass fed, he has really been more open and positive about trying new things.  It has been good all around for both of us.  I look forward to continuing to broaden my experience in the kitchen, and trying new things.  :-)

Well, it is getting really late, and I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow.  I hope everyone that is reading this is well and feeling loved.  More to come soon...

All for Me...

Almost Done with September

Last week went really REALLY well!  I ran 13.1! (Well, actually 13.27, but who is counting? LOL)  I made it to my 24 miles total for the week.  It felt amazing to accomplish that.  I ran, showered and was drinking my tea before Matt even got out of bed!  Yep, I am a rockstar!  No, just kidding.  The last two miles of my distance on Sunday was really rough.  I miscalculated and at the very end had to come up with another mile...when my brain was already telling me my run was over.  It was a major hurdle to overcome.  I said a little prayer to God and pushed my way through it.  Then I cried.

The dogs had their follow-up appointment with Dr. Scott on Saturday.  Both are A-OK.  Lily got her stitches out and Baxter's jaw is healing nicely.  She still wants me to be extra careful with Baxter because the bone could still be exposed at this point.  We will baby him until he feels ready to be tough again.  But I will say Dr. Scott was right.  Baxter is a totally different dog now.  He plays with Lily and they wear each other out.  You can definitely tell the sore in his mouth was keeping him under the weather.  

This week has started out a little slow.  I am somewhat tired (I am sure from my 13 on Sunday), but I am trying to get through it...because this is only the start!  I ran my goal today which was 5.  Thursday will be 6 and then Sunday will be 11.  I just need to keep at it.  I CANNOT get to my goal if I don't work hard this time.  I am keeping this commitment to myself...because I deserve it.

Registered for Another Half

Right before Disney...

I will be working for this one:

Look at that bling!!  LOL, I have wanted this one for a while.  I am pretty excited.  Plus, a friend of mine, Bina, will be running in it too!  Should be a really great race, and a good warm up for Disney with Matt.  As I have been saying today, if I have to run 13+ miles each weekend, I should get something better than aches out of it!  :-)

You'll Always Have...

Had to share...made me laugh because it is so true

(and made me think of a few) :-)

Happy Friday everyone!!!!

Blessed...

Today I am feeling unbelievably blessed.  I am not sure where the feelings are resonating from...it could be that I am enjoying the reduction, almost elimination, of stress in my life or it could be that I am feeling just so fortunate to have the people that I have in my life...not sure, but I am basking in the warmth of this feeling.  In my stress management class right now we are supposed to document "what's good" throughout our day, and TODAY is what's good!  

Tonight I ran 5 in 50.  I was there in the moment, feeling the pull of my muscles, the air in my lungs and the sweat fall down my face.  It was ALL there tonight; it was amazing.  Tonight's run reminded me of why I do this and why I get so much enjoyment out of it.  I AM a runner.  This is what I was made to do.  This weekend is an easy 1 hour run; which equates to 6 miles...but next week will be the challenge - 13 miles on Saturday.  I can do it; I know I can.  I have done it 5 times before this! (they've just been a little more grand than what I have in mind.  :-)  )  I will map out my run during the week and get myself psyched up for it.  I have an idea of what I would like to do.  Of course, it has to be outdoors.  I couldn't bear the thought of being on a treadmill that long!  I am looking forward to this first milestone.

The puppies are doing so well.  Baxter seems like a new dog, which the vet said would probably happen, and Lily is mending nicely.  I will need to take both of them in to see Dr. Scott next week, and I am expecting a good report.  They are such great animals.  I am just so thankful that there was nothing terminal going on with Lily and her lumps.  Many prayers were answered throughout this week.  Thank God I don't have to be planning when I will lose her.  She is my little diva.  I want to keep her around for a while.

School is going great.  I really enjoy my two professors, especially Finance (Gallinger).  He is very knowledgeable and has taught us a lot in the small amount of time that we have been there.  So I am just chugging along right now; first paper due in a month.  I have already started my research.  Only 3 more months...just can't even express my excitement.

So, all is good right now!  :-)
   

Thoughts for the day...

Just keep going...don't give up!

My Schnauzers - A Look Back

Spending a lot of time being thankful for my two little ones today.  I am very happy that they are home recovering.  Looking back on all the amazing memories...

 Baxter as a newborn

The day we brought him home

Nanny Kak drove the 8 hours with me to get him :-)

Meeting Daddy for the first time

He was so small!

His first hair cut

He loved to play in the back yard

He was such a BEAUTIFUL little boy...still is

Celebrating my 30th birthday with me

He used to love to cuddle

After our move to AZ together :-)

Then we added #2...

She was just as tiny as Bax

The day we brought her home

We knew from day 1 she would be a handful!

She would steal Baxter's bones AS SOON as she was strong enough

But they were the best of friends right from the beginning!

And they love the other kids in the house too :-)

Her first hair cut

She is growing up so quickly

I love my dogs more than anything.  If you have ever contemplated having an animal, but decided not to, reconsider.  They bring the absolute most joy to your life.  I love my two babies more than words can adequately describe...

They are my life.