A moment of crazy...

A year ago today Jon and I were married. And not to sound too clichéd but it's been marital bliss ever since. I think one of the things that has made it work so well is that I have moments of crazy. I admit I'm crazy. Jon lovingly accepts my crazy and either embraces me through it, or hides in the other room. Both are usually equally affective.

Then there are those times we both have a moment of crazy. We had talked about getting a puppy this coming summer. We both really wanted a dog but agreed that we'd like at least a year of just the two of us before we add another living thing into the mix. We hadn't even bought fish for the fish tank yet. So many big changes already... single to married, living alone or with roommates to living with a spouse, once driving 5 minutes between home and work, now it's 30 minutes... Yea, definitely gonna wait on that whole dog idea till we get more settled. Or at least until we have a back yard.

And then June 23rd came along and Jon and I executed our moment of crazy. With a postage stamp 2nd story condo for a home, no backyard, (or front yard), no extra time in our lives to devote to one more thing, and only 8 months into our marriage we gleefully (and maybe just a little apprehensively) drove home with our brand new adorable puppy... who was actually three and a half years old, but we still refer to her as a puppy. Moment of crazy? Oh yea! But as I sit here as our anniversary day comes to a close, and think back over the last year of adventure, change and excitement and welcoming Chanel into our lives with open arms definitely sticks out as one of the highlights. Don't get me wrong, marrying my best friend certainly makes the cut as well!

Some may say that marrying someone you've known less than a year is crazy. Buying a condo in this economy is crazy. Beginning the process of remodeling when you know you won't have the money to complete the process for years is crazy. Adopting a dog and taking on all the responsibilities, (financial, emotional and practical) that go along with that while still newlyweds is crazy... And maybe it is. But maybe that's why Jon and I fit so well together - we both have moments of crazy, but usually at different times and in different areas and because of that we can balance each other out. We don't demand the other to stop being crazy, but rather step into the craziness and either join the fun, or lovingly invite reality into the mix.

It's been a great year and we're looking forward to many more and having Chanel as part of our family has been a moment of crazy that we wouldn't trade for the world!

 

Happy Birthday Chanel!!!

Oh my goodness... has it really been 67 days since we last posted anything...? So much has happened since then! We left Chanel home by herself for the first time and she helped us redecorate the binds in one of the windows... The three of us experienced 4th of July together for the first time and we discovered that she could fall asleep to the loud pounding of the fireworks exploding over the lake across the street, but the little fluffy dog walking by puts her in a tizzy... she went to her first day of school and didn't steel anybody’s lunch money (and by school I mean training)... she went to her first day of school and made all sorts of new friends (and by school I mean Concordia University in Irvine)... she has fallen in love with a stuffed moose... she had a long weekend sleepover at the trainers when Jon and I attended a wedding down in Escondido... and she continually keeps us entertained on a daily basis!!!

Today we celebrate 4 years! This birthday is especially exciting as it's the first one we get to share with her! We got little cookies that she'll take with her on Friday to share with Taicho and Suki. They almost look like people cookies with frosting, but I promise, they came from PetsMart and said they were specifically for dogs. Enjoy them now Chanel, 'cause you're only gettin' 'em on your birthday!

And she got a new stuffed dragon that has been a really big hit most of the night. Which is especially great, because the squeaker doesn't really squeak as much as honk... can't wait for the night she discovers it at 2a in the morning...

 

And tomorrow she'll get to play with a brand new stuffed octopus! The other one has slowly been destroyed by both her, Taicho and Suki. It's de-stuffed and limp-less back at Gothic Moon.

We also got her some pretty special treats just for her birthday...

...but the birthday girl was a little pooped out so we'll have to wait till tomorrow for those.

When I first walked into the bedroom she was crashed out and twitching - clearly in the middle of a dream. I even turned on the light and she didn't move. I thought, "maybe I stand a chance to grab my camera and capture this fairly hysterical shot..." However, by the time I went to get the camera she had rolled over and was posing... alright fine birthday girl... but next time I may not brush it off just because you're so cute and adorable... (though chances are I will... even when it's not your birthday...)

Chanel has been a real treat these last few months and we feel continually blessed to have her. We're excited to see what the next year of her life has in store for both her and us! Keep the adventures coming!