Meet Kaiser

Our new 'guard' dog. Pretty scary...

Marlie has had this concerned look on her face

since Kaiser moved in. When he isn't napping

she is parked on one of us a safety precaution.

They are already so bonded. Pretty sure Kai

could take or leave me but he follows Aaron

everywhere.

Dinner time.

Kaiser and one of the girls whizzing by...

And our family keeps growing... Last Wednesday Aaron and I brought home 'little' Kaiser. He is an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy. He is little for him but huge compared to Mia and Marlie. Marlie is 7 month old and 5lbs... Kai is already 16lbs!

When Aaron brought up the idea of getting another dog I must have looked at him like he had lost his mind but after a week of working on me and doing all of the chores around the house I finally caved. Aaron wanted a big dog that he could train and that would 'look after the house'. I am pretty sure he was feeling out numbered between Mia, Marlie and me. So far Kaiser has been nearly a perfect puppy. He is easy going and has been a breeze to train. As for Mia and Marlie's opinion of him, I am not sure they have warmed up to him just yet. Mia (queen bee) pays no attention to him and Marlie is terrified of him until dinner time and then she growls at him any time he gets near her food OR his. Marlie is in for a BIG surprise in the coming months :)

Bougainvillea

How cute are these lil guys?

Aaron's Grandad made this swing for our house.
It's so beautiful and means so much to us!

Planning our wedding has been tons of fun and one of the best parts has been spending so much time with mom. She took the day off today and we had a great time. We started out looking for invitations, then had a yummy lunch at Mijo's and ended at Greens and Lowes. I've never taken much interest in yard work beyond riding Dad's mower when I was a kid, I think pulling weeds topped the list of my least favorite chores. We shopped for flowers, garden tools, garden gloves, mulch ect (needed all the basics.) Today was likely the hottest day we've had in Texas this year but it was well worth the sweat. I think I saw the thermometer hit 96! I still have a ways to go but our yard is really starting to come to life and my tan isn't too shabby for May :)

Thanks Mom for all of your help and thanks Grandad Thomas for our new swing!

Hello Puerto Rico

Here are pictures of our vacation last week in Puerto Rico with Lee, Lana & Maya. We had a wonderful visit. Our trip was perfectly relaxing, and the first beach trip for Aaron and I. Aaron was loving being a beach bum and I fell in love with the Puerto Rican rice & beans, oh and the plantains too! YUMMY!

Thank you Lee and Lana for being such great hosts!


Lana's backyard & view from her balcony.

Maya's 1st birthday is right around the corner!

Maya and Lana.

Aaron adores this little love bug!

Such happy campers!

XOXO

Soon to be married :)

Lana & Keycole (Maya's name for me)

Sushi on our last night, Puerto Rican style.

Aaron and I at El San Juan Hotel. Beautiful hotel!

We played Roulette and cleaned up! Pretty good

for two non gamblers :)

Forever and Ever, Amen

You've all probably heard Randy Travis' song Forever and Ever, Amen (if not turn your volume up). I have always liked this song but it has special meaning to me lately. Shortly after Aaron & I said I love you for the first time he sent a text that read, "I love you... forever and ever, amen." Having a 'song' may be a little cheesey but what the heck! Everytime I hear it it puts me in a great mood. Now we say this to each other often and it is going to be sprinkled throughout our wedding. I have a feeling that the saying/song will stick with us for a long, long time. Hopefully forever :)

Who needs Happily Ever After when you have Forever and Ever, Amen?!

Thankful

Lately I have had an overwhelming feeling of thanfulness. I look around at all of the amazing and wonderful things going on in my life and lives of those I love and can't help but feel blessed beyond words. As our wedding gets closer I realize just how lucky I am to have met and fell in love with Aaron, he is more than I could have ever asked for and I am so grateful to soon be a part of his family. Pretty soon I will have the sisters I always wanted growing up. If you know Andrea and Ali you know I got pretty lucky in the sister-in-law department. Same goes for Aaron's parents and grandparents. Aaron has all 4 of his grandparents close by, he feels very fortunate for this and so do I. I miss all of my family in Washington very much, so being surrounded by new family sure is a blessing! I can't wait to have everyone altogether for our wedding!!

2010 has brought many new blessings to our closest friends as well... Tracy had great news after meeting her Oncologist and is heading off to Hawaii where her and Eric were married to celebrate their anniversary. Roy & Krystal found out that they are pregnant with their first little angel and are due the day after my birthday (October 12th). I am hoping she delivers one day early ;) Last but not least, Dustin and Kacey are pregnant! After 3 years of trying for a baby they conceived after their first round of IVF. It was a long journey but ultimately strengthened their faith and proved that nothing is too hard for God! Please pray for healthy pregnancys for both Krystal and Kacey. In the next few weeks we found out if they are having boys/girls and Kacey will find out if she is having one or two!

Marlie and Mia

The girls playing in the snow...I think they prefer summer!

Mean Marlie :)
Car ride - check out those ears!

First bath
Marlie is doing great and adusting really well to her new home... cute as can be too! Her first month home I was convinced she was Dachshund/Chiuaua mix because of her size (she is still teeney tiny) and her funny ears (they stick straight up in the air). The vet swears she is all Dachshund but said he has never seen one with ears like her's. Either way we love her the same! Aaron calls her his dog, carries her all over and kisses her non stop! (SHH! I am not supposed to tell anyone that) She has been a breeze to potty train and doesn't bark at all, keeping my fingers crossed! Marlie gets along great with Mia and Mia is happy to have a playmate. I just love my girls!

Let the Wedding Planning Begin!

http://www.piazzainthevillage.com/

Mark your calendars... our official date has been set for December 3, 2010. I suppose this is the unofficial 'save the date'. We chose to have our wedding at the Piazza in Colleyville. The venue is exactly what I was looking for. Simple, beautiful, neutral colors and all inclusive. I toured the Piazza this past summer and immediately fell in love with the chapel, it is gorgeous! Mom suggested I look around once we were engaged to make sure I wasn't missing anything and have regrets later. We checked out several other venues in January and none compared to the Piazza. This past Friday Aaron and I took our mom's to book our date... we are so excited! Sweet Aaron took all of us ladies to lunch afterward, it was a great day! I thought planning a wedding would be more stressful but in a month's time I have already found my dress and chosen the venue. I hope to get most of the planning done early so that I am not in wedding planning mode all year.