Chloe's Annual Check Up

This girl was a little bummed about the timing of her doctor appointment.  It meant she had to miss the Boosterthon Fun Run going on at the same time at school.  We had to promise to do something special later to make up for this.  And a milkshake was promised if she had to get shots.  I can't believe this girl weighs 46 pounds!

She had a normal temperature.

Her blood pressure checked out.

None of the tests indicated how bizarre she can be.

Yep, this is one of her most favorite faces to show us. 

Then she pretended to be asleep.

Do you like her colors?  Can you tell she dresses herself and has her own ideas about what matches?

Dr. Bowman heard a goat heart beating in there.

No scoliosis.

She still has her tonsils.

Everything checked out and the bonus was there were no shots!  Chloe and I each got the flu mist vaccine sprayed up our noses, so we should be set for this winter cold/flu season.

Ruby Update

Ruby is two years old and does a good job of acting like it.  She doesn't realize that she weighs 58 pounds now and isn't the ideal candidate for being a lap dog.  She also doesn't realize that she looks pretty silly squeezing herself into the kids' car seats when we go for rides.  Ruby is very smart and learning quickly that lack of manners do not pay in this household, so she is pulling less on her leash when we go on walks, doing better at staying off the sofa and beds with fewer reminders to get down and sitting to say please before eating meals or getting attention.  Last night when she emptied the water bowl in the kitchen, she picked it up and brought it into the family room to let me know it was empty.  And she mastered the pet door to go out to the backyard in no time.

Little Horse is feeling out the position of alpha dog and has growled at her a few times, which has been interesting.  He was always the dutifully submissive hound when Maggie was with us.  I think these two dogs will become fast friends.  They attempted to play together this morning and that was funny.  They both looked awkward as they tried to jump and bounce and then backed off from each other.

I am taking Ruby into the vet in a little bit.  Her left eye is red and swollen and I'm not sure why.  Want to get that taken care of before we have two one-eyed girls in this family!

Enjoying Friends and Family

An hour into Mom's and my drive home, we stopped to visit with my friend LeAnn and her husband Peter at a Starbucks.  An hour and a half of conversation passed way too quickly.  Although this was the first time meeting in person, it felt like we had known LeAnn and Peter for decades.  Made me wish that we lived so much closer than a six hour drive away.

The rest of the drive home was uneventful, but passed quickly as Mom looked up Top Ten lists of extremely surprising facts on South Carolina, scariest films ever and best comedies.  When we made it home, Mom took off for her house to see Grandma Eloise.  There was no food in our house, so we took off for our favorite Mexican restaurant where the kids made a Daddy and iPhone samich.

Roadtrips are fun, but there's no place like home.  :)

A Road Trip and Another Wedding

Saturday morning, Kelley got up bright and early to drive to Raleigh with her Mom.  Mom's long-time boss and friend John Michael was getting married late in the afternoon.  This was such a beautiful location for a wedding.

I loved the music they chose to play for their first dance and the dances afterwards.  Much of it was country or folk music and all songs that they have burned on CD's for each other when one of them was traveling while they were engaged.

 I think this was the first time Mom had seen John in over a year.  The hug was long overdue.  As was this marriage and John's happiness. 

Big hugs were due for her friend Rhonda, too.

I don't think cutting the cake was as easy as they had expected it to be.  :)

The DJ's lights made the dance floor look pretty cool.

Their chariot in waiting.

Complete with spikes on the Just Hitched sign.  Awesomeness.

Photographing a Wedding

Kelley was asked to photograph Aunt Kiki's soon-to-be step-daughter's wedding.  Here are a few photos from the day.  It was such a great experience and Kelley is looking forward to photographing more weddings in the future!

The weather cooperated after a short cold spell with much rain and gave us sunny skies and warm temps.  I was honored to be asked to capture Bethany's wedding day as she got ready before exchanging vows with the love of her life.  So much time and attention was put into the little details that came together to make this day extra special. 

Here is Mr. Thomas walking his daughter Bethany down to give her away to her fiance.

Owen's Annual Check Up

It was time for Owen's annual check up this morning and there was a lot of anxiety about whether or not there would be shots.

Owen weighs 52 pounds.  Holy cow!

His blood pressure was normal.

Once nurse Jeff walked out, Owen was all about being silly as the possibility of getting shots was temporarily put at bay.

Dr. Bowman came in and listened to his heart.

And lungs.

She said he's growing great and is in perfect shape.  Then we got the news that there would be no shots.  Just the flu vaccine and that could be given in a nose spray.  Yay!  Try to contain your excitement, guys.  No needles!