Tis the Season

As the Christmas holiday approaches, I find myself with a little bit of time on my hands and the realization that much has happened since I last wrote. This Christmas is our third one together and 2nd in our own house. Each year we do things a little bit differently and I love that traditions are being built in our tiny family. Growing up, Trey and I each had real trees full of color and chaos. We decided that we loved this and wanted to continue this tradition on our own, so we finally go our very first REAL tree! Take a peek...


Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree

Like I said earlier, we have had some changes to our families. Trey's brother, Brett, got a new kitten affectionately named Kit Tey. Heather, Trey's cousin, got engaged and married. Jessica, Trey's cousin, got engaged. And Travis and his girlfriend had a baby. I love that I have grown so close to his family and have been able to share in all of these special occasions with them. Trey's family is quite large and mine is quite small and very spread out so we don't get to see them much. When we get together with Trey's family it's like having my home away from home. I have grown very invested in their lives and they have become an integral part in our lives as well.

This is Kit Tey. She does not like Ruckus or Rwwar but comes to visit us often!

While Kit Tey does not get along with Ruckus or Rwwar, she does tolerate them, and they have both learned to leave her alone. She is much more friendly to new people than Rwwar is, which is nice, but she growls...frequently...at our pets. But note how she and Rwwar are very similar. Silly cats!

Kit Tey sitting on top of the king mattress.

Rwwar on top of the same king mattress.

It is really fun to watch them not only get up...but also get down from this!
As for Ruckus, she is the same as ever...

Plastic bag from Triscuits

Trying to get the bag off her head. She got it on their all by herself.

As for this holiday break, most of my time has been spent snuggling on the couch with my favorite puppy dog and fella.

She doesn't realize how big she is.

Until next time, Happy Holidays!

The Crunch and Rustle of Leaves

Too many times I have sat on this very same couch, sitting by the very same man, with the very same computer in my lap...and nothing to come. But alas, my dear readers, it is time!
Fall is on the brink of existence! I cannot begin to explain how much I, along with my favorite puppy Ruckus, LOVE the fall season. I failed to understand my father's love of this season as a child as it indicated the beginning of school and end of summer, the closing of the pool, and even cold weather. And now...I live for this beautiful season and the perfection that will arrive in the upcoming months.
My love of fall was a mere sidebar. Let me begin with some pictures to explain how ours lives have been over the last few months!

The summer ended with a visit from one of my most memorable teachers, Ms. Susan Baccoli. To say this woman made an impact on my life would be nothing short of a true statement. She is the only teacher that Trey recognizes by name. It was exactly what I expected out of a night out with her once again!

Several times over the past few months, Trey and I have made a trip up to the farm to take care of things. However, this time, we finally introduced Ruckus to farm life. To say she was made for that life is an understatement. I have never seen her more full of energy, life, and pure love for Trey and I. She loved exploring, playing in the river, running with the other dogs, and, of course, always came back to make sure that Trey and I were close by. These few trips really strengthened our bond with her and it's amazing to see the things she has learned  since then.

BIG NEWS! Trey and I got a new mattress! Now, in my life, I have never gotten a new mattress! I have always gotten one from someone (much cheaper right?) So this was REALLY exciting! I have been having quite some difficulty sleeping lately and it had been discussed as a possible "Christmas present to each other" option (which made me feel SO old.) Luckily, we found a place down the road that was going out of business!!! We were able to get an amazingly comfortable king size mattress with a pillow top for an incredibly reasonable price! We were both ecstatic to get it home and lay on it! Since then...it's been a dream come true! And while we decide what to do with our old mattress...Rwwar has LOVED using it to "get out of danger!"

Along with climbing on the mattress on a regular basis, Rwwar has shown off her tightrope walking skills...on the side of the plastic containers! Never fails to amaze me where we may find her!

Ruckus, too, is up to her usual tricks! She has destroyed more than 1 bed in her kennel and countless toys. Here was the latest piece of carnege. Trey brought this fun pumpkin home with him one evening, and within 3 hours she had the stem and leaves pulled off and all of the stuff you see here all around the room. Fantastic!

Finally, a fun closing note! To those of you who have gone on a long ride with me recently, I LOVE to see cows! It usually goes something like this "Trey, wanna play 'Hey Cow!' It's where you roll down the window and yell 'Hey Cow!' and see how many cows move. Whoever gets the most wins!" His reply: "You're dumb Sarah!"

Until next time, I hope you enjoy crunching leaves beneath your feet as much as I do!

Beginning of the birthday month...

So here I am...roughly halfway through the summer...with very little accomplished. And yet, what a wonderful feeling that is! However, I do plan to get some things done over the next several weeks as I enjoy the remainder of my summer and know that my time will fly by quite quickly...

Not too much to tell, so here are the few pictures I've collected! Still working on my "Summer Plan," turns out...I've got some things to do and little time to do them!

Until next time, I hope you are staying cool!

This summer...I have a plan...

As the summer is fast approaching...a mere 5 days!!! And I have a "To-Do" list. A few things that I would like to do to help me pass the time AND make the summer amazing, enjoyable, and ultimately relaxing!


-Read 3 books a month (End of summer total=6 AT LEAST!)
-Create a workout routine-not simply 'whatever I feel like whenever I feel it'
-Learn to cook more things from scratch (Food Network, counting on your website!)
-Have more wine tastings
-Go on a weekday getaway
-Take 1 day a week for just me
-Teach Ruckus to "shake" and the word "stick"
-Spend at least half the day outdoors doing something...unless it's raining
-Put up the curtains in the guest bedroom
-Find a shower curtain for the bathroom
-Spend more time doing fun FREE things around Atlanta and Alpharetta
-Meet up with friends close by for coffee!
-Teach Rwwar to clean her own litter box
-Grow some YUMMY tomatoes!


If you have other fun summer suggestions...let me know! Until next time, happy summer!

A walk in the (dog) park...

The weather has been beautiful....the trees and flowers are blooming...there is love in the air! Ok, perhaps not so much on the last one, as Ruckus sure doesn't "love" the dog park. I've been trying to socialize her a bit more. We have so many friends with dogs and she wimps out around all of them. Except...for Banjo. Banjo is my family's dog. He is about 2 inches taller than Ruckus, with a smaller head and shorter ears! They are quite a pair when put together for a lengthy amount of time. However, other than Banjo (and the 100 lb. lab in the neighborhood who Ruckus thinks she can beat up...) she has no interest in other canines! Does she bark at them fiercely from the porch? You betcha! But when confronted, she shys away like a kindergartner meeting their teacher for the first time. So...we're taking it day by day and pushing a little harder each time!

To best depict Ruckus' fear of other, dominating creatures....take a peek at this montage of Ruckus and Rwwar.

Until next time, happy spring!