Off to New Jersey!

Tomorrow, Dave and I are flying to New Jersey to visit my grandparents. We're both looking forward to seeing them and my uncle and other family out there. There are two boys here though that I'm going to miss. I'm posting a couple of photos of them from today and Monday.

Cooper was so wore out after his first day at camp, he fell asleep on the couch snuggling with his Dad's blanket.

This is what what happens every morning. The boys take my spot as soon as I get out of bed.

Aren't those two cute dogs?!

Pay it backwards...

I've been making great strides at breaking my expensive Caribou habit. In fact, I've only been there once this whole year (I used to go nearly every day). Anyway, yesterday it was so cold and there was a Caribou with a drive-thru on my way to work. I gave in to the temptation by ordering something a little healthier -- a skim chai tea latte.

I pull up to pay, and the worker tells me that the person in front of me paid for my drink. I said, "You're kidding. Is this a joke?"

I've seen this "pay it backwards" concept on the news, when the lines goes on for hours with the customers buying the guy behind him's drink. The cashier said some radio station was doing this promotion.

I said, "Ok, I guess I'll get the drink for the person behind me."

The cashier takes my card, pays the tab for the next customer and hands me back my card.

So I ask, "By the way, how much was it?"

The cashier laughs at me and said, "Twelve dollars."

LOL. My $3 drink just cost me $12.

I think some higher power is telling me I better break my Caribou habit.

First day at camp...

Otis and Cooper are busy at their first day at Camp Bow Wow today. Camp Bow Wow is the kennel that the boys are staying at when we go to New Jersey later this week. At camp, all the dogs get to play with each other all day long. Before your first overnight stay at camp, you're required to get an "interview," so the kennel can make sure your dog isn't aggressive towards the other dogs. It's also good for the dogs, so that they can get used to the place before you leave them there overnight.

Dave dropped them off this morning. He said Cooper was scared until he found out he can go outside anytime he wants. He loves playing in the snow! Otis loves playing with other dogs, so I'm sure he loves camp. I'll pick them up on my way home.

I think the boys are having fun. One of the cool things about this place is that they have webcams, and you can check up on your dogs. I found Otis and Cooper in Indoor Play Area 1, and you can find them too!

Feb. 10

Not much new today...just getting in my daily blog post. It's super, super cold outside, so I haven't gone anywhere. In fact, I'm still in my pajamas. It's been fairly productive. I've done some cleaning -- dusting, laundry, dishes, organizing. I'm putting together one of the presents Dave gave me -- a photo frame collage set that has ten frames. I got all the photos in, and I'm just waiting for him to come home to help me hang it. Maybe I'll post of photo of the collage after it's all hung up. The boys are lazy today too, they're sleeping next to me. Otis is on the floor by my feet, and Cooper is laying on the couch behind me. They're so cute!

That's all for now!

A day with my boys...

Today Otis, Cooper and I went to visit my sister and her family in Minneapolis. Becky, Rachel and I went to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant that I've been craving for months and months, Quang's. It was so good! Emily and Amanda babysat Otis and Cooper while me and my sisters ate lunch. They said the boys did good. LOL.

After lunch, Emily, Amanda, Becky, Steven, the dogs and I went ice skating at the park right by their house. I can't find my ice skates, but I walked around on the ice. Otis and Cooper walked around on the ice too. Otis was acting kind of crazy, he kept barking, but we still had fun. I have teaching the girls how to ice skate on my list of things to do, but they were doing pretty well. Although I can teach them how to go backwards and stop and other skating skills. I think Emily had fun, even though she didn't want to go and try skating. I'm glad the girls had fun, because I want to go again once I find my ice skates.

Then Otis had to go to the vet to get an update on one of his vaccines, so he can go to the kennel this week. (Dave and I are going to visit my grandparents in NJ). He was a brave boy. Cooper was happy that finally he wasn't the one getting shots. All the people at the vet thought the boys were so cute. Actually, our vet was looking at getting one of the adult dogs that is available through our breeder, so that was cool he was familiar with the farm my boys came from.

Since the boys were good today, I had to get them Otis' favorite treat -- Busy Bones. I think it was the first time Cooper got to eat his without Otis steeling it. It was so cute -- for the first twenty minutes, Cooper just held the bone in his mouth, keeping it safe. Finally he hid in the corner and ate it. Otis of course just snarfed his down.


Unfortunately, I forgot the camera when we went skating, but I took some pics tonight of the boys eating their treats.

What would you do with $1,200?

The economic stimilus package was passed. Woo woo. That means up to $1,200 is coming our way this spring. Note key words: up to.

Anyway, Dave and I were talking about what we'll want to do with our money. He claims that we have to spend it, because that's the whole point of the government passing out free money -- so people spend it and stimulate the economy. And as good citizens, we must do our part and spend the money the gov't gives us to spend.

And you have to spend it too. What are you thinking of spending your money on? Post comments with your ideas!

It's fun to think of some ideas. I thought of my 101 in 1,001 days list to come up with some ideas for me and Dave. Renovating our master bathroom is our first choice. Not only would we do our part in stimulating the economy, we'd also be increasing the value of our home. Here's my wish list:

• Renovate master bathroom
• new blinds for the loft
• eat dinner at one of those fancy restaurants on my list
• go on a vacation, visit family
• take a class of sorts -- either photography, pottery or dance
• some combination of the above

Mr. Rude and Stinkbomb

Those are our nicknames for our boys. Every morning, after I get out of bed, they always jump in to my spot and lay down next to their Dad. I think their mocking the fact that I have to get up to go to work. Actually this morning, I don't have to go to work. I have the day off for the funeral, and the boys are pretty hyper, so they're definitely not sleeping in my spot right now. Here's the boys in bed!