Chip's Playdate

Hello--my name is Stephanie ("Hi Stephanie")--and I take my dog on playdates!

Yes--that was supposed to sound like an AA meeting! Chip IS our child and my wonderful friends keep me informed of their playdates and if I can, I go and take Chipper. Today he was VERY well behaved--probably due to the swimming this weekend and the 2 laps I made us do around Peckham Park before the playdate.

Here is Chip with Avery Limmer (2 1/2), her mom Nancy, and Carly Lawson (almost 1). He had no problems being sat on, petted, or anything --like I said...he was pooped! He would've chased every kid around if I'd have let him--and he had the energy!

This random child named Hunter thought Chip was his new best friend and hit on him, loved on him, etc. I'm so surprised, but Chipper didn't even bat an eyelash!

I wanted to pose with Chip too, but don't judge my looks. I swam laps this morning and then jogged around the park--I'm doing good to be mobile! The chlorine/sweat hairdo is just an added bonus to those of you who read this blog! Chip, obviously, could care less that I wanted a picture with him. Hgggghhhh.....kids these days! :)

July 4th--C & E's Dinner

Most of you know, but for those of you that don't, Courtney and Evan are moving to Italy at the end of this month. They are moving with the Air Force and will be there for 3 years. I'm pretty positive most of our family is visiting as much as time/money will allow! (I'm planning our 1 year anniversary there in Spring '10 since Jeff and I actually have matching spring breaks the next school year!)

We had a dinner for them on the 4th of July and had a great time! Here are the honorees with the cutest luggage cake ever:

Jeff broke out our new ice cream maker and made vanilla and peppermint ice cream and it was delicious!

I think we had the most fun in the pool out of everything we did all weekend. At one point we had 6 people (Me, Jeff, Court, Evan, Tory, and David) and 6 dogs (Chip, Cash, Bree, Kylie, Buck, and Tink) in and out of the pool! Cash was a pro at jumping off the diving board already, and Chip learned this weekend! Cash also had a lot of fun grabbing whatever he could (even his mom's bathing suit!!---hence the nickname "Marley")

July 4th--Baby Shower

The Porter cousins had a baby shower for Jae, who is due in November with Madeline Alisa. We had such a good time getting it all together (since we live in 4 different states) and it was great! Maddie has a lot of loot--and her organized momma already has most of it organized and ready!

We had guests write parenting advice for Jae and Brant (and later on with the leftover cards, we had our dads/husbands/boy cousins give their advice too---which was even funnier!) We filled our hostess baskets with all sorts of goodies to get Jae and Brant ready.

Porter Cousins--Minus Ashley and Alison

One of many monogrammed blankets--soooo soft and fuzzy!

Jae with the grandmothers--My aunt Alice and Jae's mom Michelle

Opening presents

The Gym

My favorite thing is not working out, but when I do finally haul my butt to the gym, I'm okay with it. I've even started going some mornings since my summer school classes don't start until 7:30, so I've got 20 more minutes to wake up! I just wanted to share a few of my favorite things at the gym since I know you're all missing my sarcasm!

1. The girl who works out with her hair down. Obviously we are not there for the same reasons. I go to sweat my ass (and a little chocolate) off, look like a tomato, and can squeeze water from my short hair after only 20 minutes of cardio. I am jealous of her longer, toned, tanner legs, but that's about it. After a day of work, are you really trying to look THAT good at the gym??
2. The guy who screams longer and louder than Monica Seles when he's on the squat machine or doing arms. He did it so many times today that I actually turned around and laughed. I needed a laugh though, so if I see him next time, I will have to go thank him!
3. The lady who looked like Jack McFarland's acting coach from Will and Grace--Zandra. Seriously--she looked JUST like her with a bad dye job (Think Frenchy's bad dye job from Grease 2).

Maybe I shouldn't people watch as much, but hey--it gets me through my workout. If you're really interested, I'd be more than happy to share my "Creepy Lap-Swimming-Stalker-Story"!

Next time you're at the gym--take a look around. I may help you get through your workout on a happier note!

I've Still Got It.....Well, Maybe

Picture this: Cuero; Saturday afternoon in June; hotter than hot; Location: Car Wash

I took my car to wash/vacuum it since it was filthy and a little "doggy". As I vacuum, I notice a teenager looking at me and I just figured that I looked weird while I was doing it. (I didn't clean anything out of the car, so I was vacuuming around it, moving it around, etc.) Then I go to wash my car and this kid comes over and I begin to ignore the fact that he's walking over trying to talk to me. (Living in Houston, you start forming responses automatically in your head as to why you can't share your pile of quarters by the coin slot, etc., so this is what I was doing). But alas, he simply walks up with a smile and asks, "Are you married?" When I respond yes, he says, "Oh, I just had to ask", which I answer with a squirt of the wax (I wasn't going to let this piddly conversation make me lose washing time!).

I tell you, I must've looked good! I usually don't get that kind of action when I'm working out--I was wearing my gym clothes--t-shirt and shorts. Maybe I need to come home to Cuero more often to get a little "pick-me-up"!!! Just kidding--I'm okay without it, but it sure was funny!

Sad to say, this just shows you how monotonous my life has been lately with school. I think everyone needs a good laugh like this at least once or twice a week, so I hope that happens for you soon! Happy summer to all!

Well???

So, I've finally decided to try and update the blog format and I lost a few things in the process.  The darn tutorial said to save my widgets (what the hey are those???  Don't answer 'cause now I've figured it out!!).  However, my so called widgets wouldn't transfer, so I've lost a few of my blogs that I follow and can't get the addresses back.  If you're one that I lost, please email me or leave it one here so I can transfer it!

Anyway....life is good.  Jeff's moved in and most things have a place.  Took a family vacation over Memorial Day weekend to Hilton Head--last one before Court and Evan leave for Italy for 3 years, and we had a great time!  I have lots of pics to upload, so I'll get right on that!!!  (If you didn't catch the hint of sarcasm there, read again, but with my voice in your head!).

Happy Wednesday--and I'll update later.  Sorry for the colors that aren't working--still working those out!

Have I Told You???

We found out 2 weeks ago that Jeff will be moving to Katy--PERMANENTLY (well as of December anyway)!!! We're so excited that we get to start living together, but it's also the final "reality check" since it's really coming. We've been waiting and waiting for this day to come--and it will be here as of Sunday, May 17th!

Please say a prayer for us as we learn the actual ins and outs of living together permanently. We know it will be an adjustment, but we're just not sure how much! :)

Jeff got an internship in Katy for the summer, and he'll be working 10 minutes from our house--how cool is that? All this time of living apart, driving forever....and this is what works out! His school schedule for the fall is classes Tuesday-Thursday, which is what helped make this move more permanent, but will be a commute for him on those days.

I can't wait to make him go work out with me--since I paid 3 years ago to add him to my gym membership, take Chip for park runs on weekdays, and cook more! I love cooking--I just don't do it for myself since I have leftovers for the week with one meal!

Chip will love having mom and dad together permanently too--even if it does mean giving up his bed spot with mom! Another plus??? We get to live in the house for one more year, in hopes that the market starts to improve and we can move on from there! Another plus, plus??? ONE set of bills!!! Whoo hooo!!!