The Faces of Bridget

A week away from school has left me with some time on my hands and I thought I'd compile a few of the thousands of photos of Bridget, everyone's favorite Corgidor.  She wrote the captions herself [duh] to allow you to better get to know her.

I am my grandma's favorite.

Everyone thinks I'm just a princess, but I'm straight gangsta.

Mmmm, flowers.  I love to smell flowers!

I remember to buy my mom cards for Mother's Day.  Then I use these puppy dog eyes to get whatever I want.

Zoolander ain't got nothin' on me.

The mess of moving makes me CRAZY. 

I guard our home all day.  It's exhausting. Thank goodness my parents bought me this pillow.

Santa, look into these eyes.  I've been good alllll year.  I promise.

so long summer

The end of Summer is always so bittersweet.  Okay, maybe it's a lot more bitter than sweet.  With such a wet June and July, the warm, sunny weather arrived just in time to tease us, and run away for another 8 months.  I hope she returns on time in 2014 and leaves the dreary rain south of the equator.  Luckily, we were finally able to get on the water in August and September before greeting Fall.

The lake is our happy place.

and Brigdet's, too.

Byron landed a new trick this summer -Wake to Wake 180.  Whoop!

I'm not hitting Wake to Wake yet. . . but I am a lot closer! :)

Our good friend, Ralph, doin' his thing.  We love spending our summer weekends with him!

How sweet is Ralph's pup, Georgia?

Bridget and Mookster are completely exhausted and need to rest-up for next Summer.

Byron & I both ended the summer in need of new sunglasses.

So long lake weekends filled with wakeboarding.  Until next year....

As we wave good-bye to Summer it's time to embrace all of the pumpkins, apples, mums, and cool, crisp air. Happy Fall, y'all!

St. George Island

what is all this sand-stuff and why is it on my face?!

By the last week of my summer break I had finally convinced Byron that we should take a weekend beach trip.  After looking at different places on the gulf and Atlantic, we decided on St. George Island -- an island with beaches {and pretty much everything else!} that are dog friendly.  We packed up the truck before there were any signs of the rising sun, and with Bridget and Mook we headed toward the sandy shores.

Upon our arrival we immediately walked to the beach.  The pups were more than entertaining to watch.  When I was in college I took Bridget to the beach, and I knew she wasn't wild about the water, but she loved digging in the sand.  Mook on the other hand, had never been before.  He was really confused about the waves, the salty water, and how to dig sand {seriously -- he used his nose!!}

For the entirety of our trip the pups went everywhere with us, even to dinner!  They loved being included, but exhausted is an understatement of how they looked by the time we began our trip home!

sunrise walk

taking a walk on the beach after dinner

Day 2 on the beach -- the pups were dragging.

beach super model 

I'm so hot but the water keeps trying to attack me.

dinner at Harry A's with the pups

crab legs & mahi-mahi tacos
pina coladas & margaritas

At dinner, we noticed there was a special on crab legs, so of course we ordered it.  I haven't eaten seafood until just recently, so when our waitress delivered our food to the table I expected Byron to take the lead and demonstrate how to eat the meat, but as she sat the food down, Byron slid it my way expecting for me to do the same!  Needless to say, neither of us knew what we were doing, but I think we managed along alright without any instruction.  Be warned: if you're the next people to eat crab with us, there is a great possibility we'll embarrass you!

one last morning walk on the beach, mimosas in hand, yum.

Although Byron and I spend many weekends at the lake and other places, this was the first weekend since last summer we've spent away 'just us.'  I can't believe it's been so long.  Having a few days alone, without the distractions of our everyday lives, chores, the internet, etc., we were able to really focus on each other.  We had some great conversations, shared lots of laughter, ate crab for the first time, and were able to relax completely.  I'm not any sort of a marriage expert by any means, but I would recommend taking time to get away with your other half [more often than once a year].  We will be taking another weekend getaway soon, I hope!

where did february go?!

Wasn't it just Valentine's Day?!  How is it already the second week of March? [Let me tell you...] The chaos of projects, parent conferences, and busy weeks & weekends greeted February, then quickly shoo-ed it away. I can't say I'm complaining as I'm itching for warmer weather, Spring flowers, afternoon walks, longer days, and sunny skies, but before we get swept up in all things March, here's a quick photo re-cap of the second-half of the second month of 2013:

tulips are my absolute favorite.

February race: Run for Orphans

puppy snuggles on cold winter days.

a little redecorating

[I reupholstered our chair - so long 1990s, Zack Morris fabric!]

[I found this PB pitcher at Goodwill for $2.00 {score!} and turned it into a vase with some hydrangeas]

more puppy snuggles

a nice weekend with Mr. & Mrs. Gordon.

So long, February. . .

Hellooooooooo, March!

1st week in our 2nd home

With all of the moving and unpacking occupying our time, the past week has been pretty crazy for Byron and me.  We've both expressed [many times] as we open our boxes, it's like we're opening our wedding gifts for the first time!  And, sadly, for some of the items, it is the first time they've been out of their box.  Incase we weren't excited enough when we unwrapped them in May, we are ecstatic about using the incredible gifts we received as wedding gifts in our new home!

Bridget and Mook and Byron and I are all becoming more and more comfortable in Peachtree Corners.

Byron and I prepared our first home-cooked meal together.  Let me just say, these were THE BEST mashed potatoes I have ever had.  A recipe will be posted soon.

Since we hadn't fully unpacked, we ate off the plates Lindsay and Karie painted for us.

We're lucky to live walking distance from two parks, the Chattahoochee, and minutes away from great restaurants and shopping!  Saturday morning we found a local coffee shop that we look forward to visiting often.  Our location is perfect for us -- between our jobs, close to family, and in a great community!

My brother, Stephen, celebrated his 25th birthday this weekend.  For the first time in years he was able to drive home for his birthday.  Even though he hasn't been in Knoxville long, it was wonderful to see him!  His birthday dessert of choice:

this recipe will be posted, too.

And, God answered our prayers in a huge way.  Byron's needed a new truck for a while [let's be honest, if you've seen it in the past months, you were surprised it even ran!], so this week we prayed and prayed while looking for a truck, doubting whether or not it was even an option.  After days of looking and calling dealerships, Byron just happened upon a dealership that had the truck he's been wanting at a price we've been wanting!  I absolutely love seeing Byron so happy and thankful.  It's a tremendous relief to have a reliable truck for him.

Words cannot express how thankful I feel to be living with Byron again -- it's such a great thing to end a long day of work with him and the pups.  My 'list of things to be thankful for' is growing at a rapid rate and I only have God to thank.  Through the moving and everything, we've really had to rely on His plan and trust that He is faithful.  God is so good.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

His mercies never cease.

Great is His faithfulness;

his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:21-23

married for a month!!

How crazy is it that Byron and I have been married for a month already!?!  Whoa.  The wedding and honeymoon seem so long ago, though.  It's been a crazy, but great, month: moving, lots of unpacking, Byron's promotion, weekends at the lake, a 10K, and camp.  Marriage is wonderful -- I absolutely love my husband.

We un-boxed our last wedding gift this week!

With the uncertainty of my job for next year, paying for new tires for my truck and repairs on Byron's, and the frustrations that accompany moving, as soon as we returned from our honeymoon, we were  slapped in the face with the reality that marriage doesn't make our problems disappear.  It does, however, promise that no matter what's going on in my life, I don't have to do it alone.  A shoulder to cry on, and friend to laugh with, and heck, someone who understands the ridiculous amount of dog hair in our apartment, Byron is always here for me.  What a blessing!

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:7 [ESV]

After only a month, it's hard to believe we spent a year in different cities, only seeing each other on the weekends.  I've become quite accustomed to Byron coming home to [the dogs and] me after work each night.  I couldn't ask for a better husband.

Bridget and Mook are even happier, too!
[as long as neither of them crosses the imaginary line that divides the couch in two.]

married in real life

Technically it was our second week as a married couple, but our first week as Mr. and Mrs. Livermore in real life.  Last Saturday we did a heck of a lotta moving: furniture, clothes, wedding gifts [THANK YOU], and more.  On Sunday we joined my brother, Brad, and some friends at the lake for some fun and fireworks.  [side note: Have a mentioned how great my brothers are and how thankful I am for them?!]  

Byron was off work on Monday for Labor Day, so we did some unpacking and relaxing before he returned to work on Tuesday.  After taking a week plus a few days for the wedding and honeymoon, Byron returned to work to find out he got a promotion!!!!!  I married a stud, what can I say!  I am so proud of him for all of his hard work.

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads to poverty.

Proverbs 14:23  

The rest of the week, while Byron worked I walked and played with the dogs, unpacked and organized our stuff, made a trip home to have lunch with my Mom and run some errands, and did some more unpacking and organizing.

In breaks from all of the unpacking, I did manage to cook our first home-cooked meal: flatbread pizza.

Mmmmm!  Pizza is always the right choice.

On Saturday morning I ran a 10K in Eatonton.  I went into the race incredibly nervous about whether or not I would even finish [My training program for this race included: drinking a glass of wine or two every night for the past two weeks water; eating a vacationer’s diet, and only running four times total in the past 3 weeks! yikes.], so I’m proud of myself for actually finishing the race and impressed with my time!  I wanted to finish in an hour and 15 minutes, but I timed myself at 1:05:59!!!

Ready to go!

FINISHED!!!!

Byron, Bridget, and Mook woke up early to cheer for me!

We spent the rest of the weekend at the lake watching movies, playing with the dogs and enjoying the weather [nothing says summertime like boiled peanuts and a cold beer on the dock!].

Lake days make for sleepy pups.

Byron, Bridget, Mook, and I are all settling in together.  Bridget and Mook have discovered the parts of the house they like best -- Mook’s is the bathroom or under your feet in the kitchen and Bridget’s is under the bed, even though she gets stuck, or the corner cushion of the couch.  As each box disappears and items are put into place, 821 begins to feel more and more like a home.  

Bridget in 'her spot' on the couch.