Henry and Ruthie's Scrapbook Page

My desktop got a weird virus, so I had to very quickly save all my photos before the whole system went down. Then I had to go through all my photos, mainly because I love looking at my pictures! And I found one of my favorites of Henry and Ruthie, take just a few months after Ruthie came to live with me:

(I used the "Moody Blues" kit from ShabbyPrincess.com)

We Passed Basic Obedience...Just Barely!

Today was our last class in Basic Obedience training at PetCo. And the girls passed! Well, not that they were actually tested or anything, but I'm pretty proud of them. They even posed quietly for their diplomas!

Izzy, still having some difficulty with "watch me!"

Emma, who has finally mastered the "down" command. Yay!

We learned a lot this time around, probably because Iz and Em were the only two students, and we lucked out and had two instructors! We learned how to walk on a loose leash, leave it, stay, down, respond to "come" with an appropriate finish (sitting at the person's side), and to "wait" as well!

I'm kind of sad that school is over, since it was fun going every week and learning new things. (Yes, I actually miss school, go ahead, make fun of me!) But it was really worth it...I think if we keep practicing, I will soon have two model canines. Now, if I can just keep them from chasing squirrels into the neighbor's yard...

Autumn Decor Is Up!!!!

The Mothership decided to come to town today because Walgreens was apparently having a killer sale, and she had a 50% coupon for ACMoore, so she decided while she was here to help me out putting up the rest of my fall decorations. I have to say, my house is absolutely gorgeous! Of course, I had to take pictures. (I really like to document my various achievements!)

I think, considering my awesome fall decorations, I am totally going to have a beautiful house come Christmas. That is, if I can convince poor Luke to get up on my roof to attach my new icicle lights. We'll see! (And post photos, too!)

Movie Night: Akeelah and the Bee

I've been wanting to see Akeelah and the Bee ever since I discovered it on a preview for another movie. So I was happy when it showed up with my Netflix movies!

Akeelah is a girl growing up in a bad part of Los Angeles, who is enrolled in a very underfunded public school. She has a talent for spelling, so her teachers and principal encourage her to take part in spelling bees, with the ultimate goal of being in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. It's a very sweet movie about friends and family and overcoming obstacles. It's actually very similar to a sports movie, which is probably part of the reason I loved it so much. All of the actors in it were amazing...it was almost like watching a documentary, they were so real.

Definitely worth watching. I think I'll suggest this one to the Mothership and the Grandmother, too!

Baby Izzy

I found an adorable picture of Izzy when she was just a bitty puppy, so naturally, I had to make a new scrapbook layout:

I used the "Harvest Spice" kit from Shabby Princess Designs. There are some beautiful kits on their site, so check it out!

Scrapbooking Fun!

I'm finally back in a scrapbooking mood, and since all my supplies were nicely put away, I decided to make a new digital layout using some freebies I found online! I know it's a little early for Halloween, but since I'm sitting here with the glow of my outdoor decorations shining in through the windows, I was in the mood for a little fall fun:

The flying bats are courtesy of Bubble's Babbles' Halloweenie elements, and everything else came from Becca Bonneville's Treats kit, which are both wonderful! The picture of Emma is, of course, my own AMAZING work! LOL...I keep telling my mother that my photos would be better if I had a better camera, but I'm pretty sure even the most expensive camera on Earth won't help my inablility to take great pictures!

The high cost of McDonalds (even when your meal is actually free because you have a gift card)

Tonight I decided that, having followed my diet faithfully for several days, I could spare a few points and use my birthday McDonalds gift card at the same time. Saving money and enjoying some tasty chicken McNuggets...what could go wrong?

Well, I pulled up to the drive-thru, and placed my order: a McNugget Mighty Kids Meal, with Diet Coke, and a hot fudge sundae. Oh, and I opted for the Girl toy. I figured this would be relatively low points, right? I mean, it's a kid's meal.

After getting home and consuming my meal, which did NOT come with the girl's toy...I'm sad to report that I got some weird Star Wars/Transformery toy...I headed to the computer to log my dinner. Things did not go so well.

First I searched for a six piece McNugget Points value. It turns out that each McNugget is worth a point. Holy Crap! Sweet N Sour sauce turned out to be one point per serving, but fortunately, I only used half! My small french fries cost me five points, which I've decided totally wasn't worth it. I don't even like french fries! And then my desert, a slightly melted hot fudge sundae, was seven points. I haven't decided if the spoonful of ice cream I gave Henry lessened that Points value, but regardless, that's a crapload of points for a crappy little sundae!

Grand total for my "evening out:" 18.5 points. I've decided that McDonalds is a little too rich for my taste. (But I think the McNuggets were totally worth the "cost.")

I'm such a slacker!

Not too much is happening here on Seward Ave. Izzy and Emma are still going to obedience classes. And Henry, Ruthie, and I all have colds. I'm feeling great, thanks to a combo of Aleve-D, Zyrtec, and Mucinex (gotta love polypharmacy!), but I feel so bad for little Henry and Rue. They're both trotting around with runny noses, and sneezing all the time. I hope they get better soon.

"I'm sick and you're taking pictures of me...what kind of a cat-mother ARE you?"

The girls have been spending lots of time with the Mothership out on the farm, running around the gardens and grape field. I drop them off at 8am every morning and spend the entire day at work being jealous that they're tearing around outside and I'm stuck indoors dealing drugs to people who constantly inform me that I will be voting for Obama. FYI - you make me want to be a conservative, and just for trying to force your political opinions down my throat, I'm going to go get some Sarah Palin bangs. So there!

Today it was so nice out that I let the girls spend most of the day out in the backyard while I did laundry. They're so sweet, everytime I come outside to visit them, they act like it's Christmas or something. They're better than Prozac!

"Ohmigosh...Mom just came outside...woohoo...this is the BEST DAY EVER!!!"

I have to say, having pets really does add some color to your life. For instance, I finally captured on camera (though not very well) what greets me every time I come up the back steps to my house:

Normally, he's not quite so sad looking, but remember, he's sick today, poor boy.

And last but not least, there's my little brown dog, Emma, who is providing us with "Crazy Dog Face of the Day:"

The dorkiest dog I ever met, but I totally love her!

And now I must be off to finish my laundry...I always save the red and khaki for last, even though it's what I need to wear to work tomorrow!