Meet Bruiser

Alyssa's new puppy.

Check out Tiffany's blog to see the new hair style that she gave Miley.

Doggie Makeover

Today when we took Miley in to the groomers, we requested that they cut off her pony tail. All the groomers gasped, but said that they would. They all love Miley there. She is one of their favorites. As you can see in the before shots, it always falls forward in her eyes and the pony holders get stuck in there so we decided that it had to go. At least for now.

Before.....


and after.

Well, what do you think?

Looking Up!

No Christmas parties, not a single Christmas carol was sung, minimal Christmas decorations were up in the house, the "poor me" attitude, all this to say, this was not a good Christmas for me. After going through some depression over the holidays, things are looking up! I am just sorry that I missed out on celebrating our Savior's birth. However, during this last month, I was reminded that OUR plans are not always HIS plans. For me, a planner and some would say an organized freak, it's hard not to worry about where and when we will be moving, but I do have comfort in knowing that God will take care of us. During these hard times, I remember these words that I have heard over and over again from my friends, family and co-workers. "Trust God", "Have Faith", "HE will provide" and the message from the Palmcroft Christmas Eve service, (especially for us) "It's going to be okay". All of which I already know, but just needed to be reminded.

We have decided just to stay in this house as long as we can, so over the weekend we unpacked all the window treatments and re-hung pictures on the walls.


Look what I unpacked as is up in the dining room.


























Not just decorations, words to live by.














We had sold our table and chairs since we wouldn't need them at the new house and were eating off of a card table and chairs. Chris and Bill are sharing this set with us.

Our house looks like a home again!

Happy Birthday........

to my wonderful Mom.

Christmas with Kyle & Ashley

Sunday night we celebrated with Kyle & Ashley @ Kyle's apartment before they headed off to the airport to go to South Carolina for the holidays.

No, it's not toilet paper that Kyle is excited about. It's what is in the box.

Still "Golden"...

after all these years. Today is my brother's birthday. Oh my goodness, I just realized that my little brother is 40 years old. Wow!

Happy Birthday, Rod!

Then & Now

1979

2009

Last week Bobby's buddy from high school was in town with his family. We met up with them for lunch. Yes, we went to Cabella's. Where else can you eat, shop, see the animals and fish all at the same place? Not my first choice for lunch, but a great place for old friends to catch up and remember old times. I enjoyed the time we spent with Blair, Kate and little Sophia.

Black Friday Success

Got up at 3:30 this morning in order to get to Wal-mart to do some shopping. I used to get up and do this every black Friday, but hadn't done it for a while. When I arrived at 4:15, the parking lot was full and everyone was inside. What? It was crazy! Back in the electronics there were lines everywhere. Lines for TV's, lines for DS's, lines for cameras, etc. They had shrink wrapped and guarded pallets everywhere but you couldn't get to the product until 5:00, when the sale started. When 5:00 came, wow, the shrink wrap was cut and people started grabbing. I came away with what I went for and was back home by 5:40. Not bad! I went out again about 11:30. Petsmart, Kohl's and Joanne's and again left with everything on my shopping list. I can now say that I have started my Christmas shopping. Good day!

Thanksgiving Day

I am thankful for my family.

Too often I hear from others about how their families don't get along. Not our case, we even vacation together! Here are some shots from the day.


Kids at play.


I am looking forward to seeing more of these two when we move.

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving with friends and family.

Happy Birthday

to my sister who was born on Thanksgiving Day.

Results...

We finally received the results from Tiff's CAT scan and MRI. I was a little worried when the doctors said that he had never seen this before and had the other doctor take a look at her ear because it was so unusual. Anyway, the mass behind her ear drum is her carotid artery. He said it took an abnormal course during development, traveling along the medial wall of the middle ear cavity which is the reason she has hearing loss. It's not dangerous for her but we need to make sure all doctors know that she can never have any ear surgery. We are thankful it wasn't anything more. Thanks for your prayers!

Bummer!

I hadn't planned on it, but I had my portrait taken while I was on my way to the vet this morning. I was only going 5 over the speed limit and saw the flash go off. Darn it! I am hoping it was the motorcyclist that was passing me by. If it was me, this will be my first ever, in my life, traffic ticket. Yes, in all my years of driving I have never been pulled over or gotten any kind of a ticket. Life goes on.

Tartesso Marketplace is Coming!

This is what I have been working on for months and it's going to finally take place! If you don't have any plans for Saturday, come and check it out!

Tis’ the Season for holiday shopping! Breeze your way through your holiday shopping list by attending the Tartesso Marketplace on November 14^th . The Tartesso PTO will be holding a craft/trade show and rummage sale from 9:00-2:00. With 40 vendors all in one convenient place, you are sure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list! Representatives from the following have reserved spaces.

Uppercase Living, Scentsy, Cookie Lee Jewelry, Gold Canyon Candles, Giulianan’s Booty-que, Stampin’ Up, KRS Construction, Avon, “Bling, Bling” Shirts, Italian Charmers, Financial planning, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Tartesso Christian Preschool, To the Limit Business Solutions, Creative Memories, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, Photography by April, Tupperware, Bath and Body, Longaberger Baskets, Desert Tunes, and the American Legion.

We also have vendors selling hair bows, ribbons, Christmas crafts, glass art, TVHS spirit items and some reserved for the rummage sale. You will be able to find all kinds of items with a wide variety of prices. For those of you who are not interested in shopping, but like to eat, we will have food vendors for you to enjoy. We will have popcorn, pretzels, pickles, cotton candy, indian fry bread and nachos for sale and if that’s not enough, Oz Dogs, Tito’s Taco’s and Chartwell’s will all be on site to satisfy your hunger with breakfast burritos, cinnamon rolls, hot dogs, tacos, burritos and pizza.

The Desert Tunes Organization will be collecting toiletry items for our veterans if you would like to bring any items to donate.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Tartesso Marketplace!!

Tartesso Elementary School

29677 W. Indianola

Buckeye, AZ

I-10 to Sun Valley Parkway, head north 4 miles to the main entrance

Phoenix Children's Hospital

We took Tiffany in for her CAT scan and MRI today. She did really good, even fell asleep during the MRI. It was a long afternoon but it's done. Now we just have to wait for the results.