How we love thee....

Instant Nonfat Dry Milk. Yes I know it sounds strange. But we have grown to love this inexpensive item in our house. We make it up and extend the life of our milk by adding it to the regular milk jug when it gets half used. We make it and use it in all baking recipes calling for milk. Sometimes we use it to give our puppies a treat. It truly is awesome. Thank you to those responsible for the making of Instant Nonfat Dry Milk.

Life Experiences

I saw this on a blog and thought it looked interesting. I decided to just copy the list and see which things Chad or I had done. It's fun to see what we have experienced so far. I keep thinking of things that aren't even on this list. It brings back a lot of memories!!

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on a train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Seen a bear up close in the wild
38. Been in a major car accident.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted / drawn.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Rescued an animal
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Slept in an airport
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Helped save someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Boys:

What happens when brothers take their lunch together on the day after a good snow storm?

This: (I love the building style)

That is one pretty awesome snowman.

Introducing...

Well its almost Gunner's (our Lab/Pointer cross) first birthday and Chad is pretty upset that I haven't posted about him yet. So here is his introduction into our family.

He was the sweetest little guy. He had giant paws and always wanted to cuddle up.He immediately bonded with this little guy and they were always together.

He just made himself at home laying all around the house.He met this cute girl and fell in love. She is his girlfriend and they play every day.They love to be together.They even lay out together.He always looks at you like a question. Especially when he's being silly.

Chad is his best friend, he loves to follow Chad around and do what he is doing.Which brings us to this little gal. The newest member of our family, Maggie.Gun loves to take care of her. He licks her, cuddles her up, and protects her from the neighbor dog that thinks she lives over here.He was even nice enough to share his Christmas bone, even though he usually drags the toys around to tease her. He is an awesome bird dog and had a really impressive first season. Some of our neighbors even want to take their 4 ande 5 yr old dogs out with Gunner so they can learn from him. He has an amazing nose and looks so cool when he is on point. He is super sweet and we love him tons.

(We really love Maggie too but have much less pictures of her so far)

Attack of the Moths

As I was looking through our pictures to write some new posts I saw this awesome picture from the fall I forgot to write about. We went to my parents house for dinner, and I guess the door wasn't shut tight, because when we got home all the dogs (even the neighbors dog) were laying on the couch and the door was wide open. I just sort of laughed. Until I looked around. The lights in the kitchen had been on. And literally 100 moths had made their way into our house. I spent the whole next day picking up moths and putting them back outside. I wasn't happy at the time but I got a kick out of looking at this today.

Island Park

Our super wonderful friends, the Daltons, took us up to their place in Island Park. Chad and I both love it there!! If you haven't been up there you should. It is so gorgeous. We really loved camping up there earlier this year. There is awesome fishing and it is only 15 minutes or so from Yellowstone Park. One thing I love about it is that it is small town. Just a few gas stations, town grocery, and a little restuarant or two. I have always loved small towns and wide open spaces. The cabin itself is amazing. It's decorated all around bears and I just LOVED the way it was all put together. It was so awesome to see all the incredible things Errin has worked on up there. He is incredibly talented!!! Chad just loves to talk about projects with him. It was such a fun way to relax. We had so a blast and it was so great to get closer with our friends. We are so lucky to have friends who take care of us!!

Ugh

We are really having a rough time. I feel anxious, sad and angry all at once and my chest feels like its being squished or I had the wind knocked out of me. This past week has been the worst time I can remember for a really long time. I miss Diesel every second of every day. I can barely go out and call Gunner in at night because I think about Diesel. I keep looking down the lane or out in the fields hoping to see him running home. I know some people won't understand, after all he's a dog. But for me, I guess, he was like a child. I took care of his every need, he in return loved me, we cuddled, I talked to him... even the little stuff like giving him baths and feeling his warm little body in bed at night. Every thing I think about him makes me want to cry. Oh, I have cried. We love him so much, and we wish more than anything right now, that he'd just show up. He went missing last Tuesday night. After much searching and then freaking out on my part (thanks to my father in law for letting me soak his sleeve) we had come to the horrible conclusion that coyotes had taken Diesel because they were fighting with some neighbor dogs that evening. I was really starting to feel like I could accept that, however sad, and just remember him lovingly. I had really starting to come to terms with the situation.

But today was really hard. A neighbor thought they had seen him last night. And so again we searched for hours, driving around, walking, calling, waiting. I tried so hard not to get my hopes up, I kept telling myself how unlikely it was. But after talking to all the nieghbors in this particular neighborhood it sounded more likely that he WAS around, and we started to get really excited. I sent pictures over and its turns out they don't think it was him after all. And if it was, well tonight is going to be cold and really windy, and I hope he makes it .... So, back to square one I guess. I have only seen Chad tear up twice, and once was today.

DEAL!!

I am just getting the hang of really stretching the use of my coupons, so I am pretty proud of this deal. I got all of this for a grand total of.... (-) 1.20

That is a NEGATIVE! Yes!! I got PAID to take these items home! I took advantage of a good rebate, sales, and coupons all at once. I could have made even more back but I splurged a little. It isn't a ton of food, but it sure helps to build food storage when you don't have to actually spend anything.