The ceiling of our hotel in Florence. Awesome!!
Best things so far!?!
August 7, 2011 – 4:02 pm
Spending time together, the food, the friends, the vaporetto rides at sunset, the gelato and more! And not necessarily in that order! Hope all is well in Texas!
We made it to Zurich!!
July 31, 2011 – 10:13 pm
Just wanted you all to know that we made it here early Sunday and we’re having a great time with Jenny, Chauncey and Matthew!
Vacation
July 30, 2011 – 7:28 am
We are packed and ready. Evan will be driving us to the airport shortly. We hope the puppies enjoy their time with Uncle Evan over the next few weeks. Aunt Julie will be moving in to our place over the next few days too, so they should have plenty of love and attention from them both.
Meanwhile Sean and I will be enjoying the hospitality of Jenny, Chauncey and Matthew in Zurich! And then spending the rest of our joint vacation enjoying the delights of Italy. I’m sure when Sean is back around August 14th he will post a few pictures for you all and give you a quick update. I on the other hand am not back September 3rd, though soon after I’m sure I’ll inundate you all with photos and stories!
I wish you all a wonderful August, with back to school efforts and beating the heat. See you in the Fall!
End of an Era
July 27, 2011 – 7:01 pm
As some of you may already know, I’ve decided to give up all my current jobs. I currently do some estate management as well as nannying. I’ve nannied for over 12 years now professionally, and I have been doing estate management for almost 3 years now.
The estate management I have done has mostly been with recently widowed women to help them in the probate process or to start life again on their own. Most of them have been short term projects and I’ve enjoyed them all! The job that started all this was working with my dear friend Jenny’s mom. I started helping Karen back in 2009 and from the work with her found that I truly enjoyed helping women in these situations. It felt good to help them find a new normal in life. Helping Karen has been my longest project in estate management and I finish that today as well. I am very happy to walk away from this job having made some new friends. All these ladies know they can still call for a chat any time! I am very blessed to have met them all!
My nannying has been a source of pride, fun and learning, and while I am excited for the next chapter in my life it is a little bitter sweet to leave this profession. This morning I did my last job professionally for a local church. Over the years I have cared for newborns, infants, elementary and junior high aged children. I’ve done temp jobs, over night nanny jobs, permanent position jobs with families, and more. After talking with a fellow nanny the other day, we estimated that I’ve held over 1,000 babies and cared for even more children! I wish all the families and children who have been in my life well! I hope they keep in touch too!
What is next!?! I’m not sure. I am going to take some time for myself and think about it. Sean and I are looking forward to our upcoming trip and the home remodeling we have planned for the beginning of next year. Until then I plan to work on my ’30 before 30′ list and enjoying my family. For now check back, and I’ll keep you ‘posted.’ 
One Sick Puppy
July 15, 2011 – 8:47 am
Well this week has been crazy! Poor Duke got the same thing sister had but worse. He was feeling so poorly he wouldn’t even get up. Not even for treats. Poor little guy just laid there and had a hard time breathing. Granny and Grandpa de la Haye were here and gave lots of extra petting and cuddles. Sean even stayed home from work one day. I personally don’t think he was in any real danger, but these little pooches sure are loved! And spoiled! We’re glad Duke is starting to feel better now, and has that sparkle back in his eye. I knew things were back to normal when he ate his food in about five seconds. Now that’s my Duke!
Family Reunion, and a Birthday.
July 10, 2011 – 10:20 pm
Exhausted doesn’t begin! This past Tuesday Daisy started to cough quite a bit and by Wednesday morning we knew it was more than just allergies. So our quick trip to Kansas City for a family reunion turned into filling a car with puppy stuff and listening to coughing all the way there.
We loaded everyone up on Thursday morning and met up to caravan with my Aunt and Uncle in Waco at 4am. From there we were off! After six puppy breaks we arrived at 3pm. Sean and I unloaded everything and crashed! We met my immediate family (Mom, Dad, and Allie) for dinner and then we went back to bed.
On Friday Daisy seemed much better. No more phlegm! So we went to check out the city and see family! Kansas City felt very similar to Saint Louis, especially in architecture . We drove over the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, both of which were very much out of their banks. Crazy that they have so much water there and we have so little here. We also checked out the area near CJ and Heather in Platte City, hit up a distillery and went to Stroud’s for my birthday lunch. It was a bit early, but I didn’t mind. I would have to say that that was some finger licking chicken!! Thanks Mom and Dad.
Friday evening we met up with the rest of the family for dinner. We met at a Mexican restaurant. Yes, I know I was very disturbed by this thought as well. I appreciate that Mexicans and Texans leave and make roots other places and start business that are just fine, however the idea of eating TexMex or authentic Mexican in Missouri was not appealing. I personally passed on dinner. Instead I got baby duty. I got to meet our families newest addition Hannah, and spent the evening pacifying her need to walk. It was probably a good thing, as I had eaten a lot of friend chicken at lunch.
Saturday was the big day! We brought the puppies along and spent the day at CJ and Heather’s hanging out with family and catching up. It was really good to see everyone. There were some interesting moments, most caused by me not checking myself. If only God had given me a filter. Its a good thing they have to love me! It was so very good to see them all and meet the new additions to the family. We decided as a group that since Thomas and Vanessa missed this reunion that they’re hosting the next one, I guess someone should inform them of that.
As for Sunday, it was my official birthday. 29! Yep folks, I’m getting up there. It actually feels rather good. We spent the day with the puppies in the car and driving back home through four states. We, all four of us, are very excited to be home. You can check out the family reunion photos here if you’d like.
Brisket!!
July 4, 2011 – 11:17 am
Well on Saturday we decided to have some friends over. It was a small gathering, but filled with close friends and good eats! Sean made a rather delicious brisket (we’ll make him Texan yet!) and I made traditional chocolate mouse. I totally meant to take photos, but the food and conversation was just too good!
We wish you all a very happy 4th!!
Just some updates.
June 14, 2011 – 7:07 am
Well lets see, we’re now onto planning our trip to Europe. Its quite exciting to be going back after four years! However I have to admit that I do believe that I’ve become a bit of a homebody. Well more of a body that needs Sean and my puppies to be at home, but home is where I love to be lately. With all of them! Thus I’m thinking of shortening my trip. Originally I had planned to be gone all of August and all of September. Now I’m not so sure. Sean will be with me the first two weeks and Julie the rest of August for sure. We plan to be in Zurich to start (yea for getting to visit Chauncey, Jenny and Matthew!), then on to Italy for over a week of adventuring (Venice and Florence for sure), and then to meet Julie. I’m not sure what happens next, but I do know that Paris is somewhere in the mix. Quite exciting! If I do shorten the trip to just voyaging with Sean and Julie it will not only save me from being blue about not having my family with me, but it will save some moola too. Which we could use for… another trip!?! Or some house remodeling!?! We’ll see. Anyway, its good to know that the plans are underway.
We’re also currently working on our back yard. We decided to give up on the grass. The puppies just tear it up. So currently we’re trying to put crushed granite back there. We’ve also recently fenced in our vegetable garden. Once the puppies figured out that what was in there was edible, it was best to just make inaccessible to them. It turned out quite nice. Kind of looks like a little English garden fence. I’ll try to post photos soon.
What else… Friends, board games and dinner! Our friends Brandon and Melissa came over recently for boardgames and dinner. We had a really nice time! It had been so long since we had played board games. We also had Julie over recently for game playing too. So much fun! It’s a good past time. We always look forward to sharing games with new friends and family. It will be good times when we have kids someday too.
Other than that we’re just enjoying the summer. Annabelle just turned one. There are a few photos here if you’d like to check them out. Our friends Aaron and Monica are expecting their first in October. We also have several other family and friends with babies on the way. Its just the season in our lives for babies I guess. We are looking forward to it all though!
I should also mention that I put up some wedding photos from Allison’s bachelorette, bridal shower, wedding and photos from our trip to California if you’d like to check them out.
Happy Times!
May 28, 2011 – 11:38 pm
Today one of my dearest friends married her best friend. I am so very happy for you Allison, and we welcome Varoujan to our family of friends. We wish them all the best!
Here are a few photos for now. I’ll post more of our trip soon!
And here’s one of me and Sean. He’s so handsome when he dresses up!
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