Growing like a weed...

Wicket turned 9 weeks old this past Wednesday; he's grown so much. This is him with his favorite toy.

All watch...as I bite my nails.

Scary! I got an interview for the University of Utah Speech Pathology graduate program... Why is that scary you ask?

Because, they don't do interviews! It isn't apart of the process- the fact that they are having me come in is likely because they are on the fence about me and need some additional information. Holy freakin' cow. I have thought quite a bit about what I might do if I don't get into this program... and I come up with one thing

* cry*

I am pretty certain that my self worth will blow away with the wind if I'm not accepted. Not only because I didn't get in- but because me not getting in will mean I'm working for my husband (not all that impressive) and I have a degree in Communication (again, not at all impressive) from Texas A&M (doesn't open a lot of doors in Utah) that I got for the soul purpose of getting a masters in speech pathology. I'm not ready to have kids (and rejection isn't the best reason to start a family) so that isn't really a viable option. I'll go on, managing properties... and aging.

So, the interview is next Thursday... March 5th.

Up on the hill...

Those guys up on the "hill" are nuts! I just don't see how they come up with some of these ideas...for those of you who aren't familiar with Utah politics the lovely Senator Valentine pushed through legislation a while back that requires restaurants to hide liquor bottels and have a partitian between the bar and the back bar -- that silly man wants to build and entire ten foot wall to cover the whole back bar so people cannot see drinks mixed or poured.... what?!? Sensor, much?

Also, this company Energy Solutions that wants to pay the state sooo much money to import nuclear waste into the Utah waste lands...Why is this such and issue- no one even goes over there... have you ever flown to Tahoe? Western Utah is disgusting! Nothing can live- why not make a buck off of it? Personally I wasn't oppose even before Energy Solutions offered to share profits with the state- but now? Now I'm choppin' at the bit.

Raising taxes to $1.30 on cigarettes? whatever... Raising taxes on food and gas? What- did you know we are in a recession? How about raising taxes on Seven Jeans? As a fellow designer jean wearer myself, I'm all about a good deal- but why raise taxes on things we have to have? Raise them on things we like to have... Hail to the Fair Tax!

There are my opinions... take them or leave them- and for goodness sakes, write your senators!

State Rep: Greg Hughes - 801-538-1029; greghughes@utah.gov
US Rep: Matheson - (801) 486-1236 ; jim.matheson@mail.house.gov
US Senator: Orrin Hatch- (202) 224-5251
US Senator: Bob Bennett- 801-524-5933
State Senator: Howard Stephenson- 801-538-1035; hstephenson@utahsenante.org

go get em'

Wishin' and hope-in'

Today is my sweet little niece Leia's birthday. I would post pictures of her because she really is beautiful, but I don't have any since my computer crashed a few months ago. She is 9- enjoy it little lady, the double digits aren't nearly as worry free as the singles!

Birthdays get me to thinking about all the things I would like to have- Doug and I have been on a pretty serious budget as of late (did I post that I found a gallon of milk for $.96 and a 5lb. bag of potatoes for $.99- I can't decide which is the better deal?) but there are some many things that I want right now... I made the mistake of going to DSW and I found a lovely pair of Ellen Tracy black patent leather shoes I love for $22 at 80% off... I wanted them so bad, but husband said, "I thought we just got you a dog that cost a lot of money, I didn't know you wanted everything" (well, he said something like that... I think in reality he just said "Buddy!" and that was all it took to put my credit card back in my pocket)

ANYWAY

Here are some things that I really like, for now:


Wouldn't this be fantastic for walking through and airport with the Wickster?

Our walls are barren, save it be some of Doug's very abstract art thats nice, but just not "warm and welcoming" and curtains I bought but now hate.

Two years ago, I talked Doug into painting the kitchen red, but I'm over it- I want something else... I'm not sure what color- but I love some of the options from Restoration Hardwear... I look forward to getting done with the red.

When I moved in, Doug already had a couch... and it's comfy if you're sleeping on it (I would know, this Wicket situation is making that a regular occurrence) but when you sit on it your head is constantly pushed forward..no likey. What I do like is this leather sectional from Pottery Barn...this would pretty much double the seating in our living room and would look really sharp with the next item on my list...

Hardwood floors.... we already have hardwood in our kitchen, but we really want to pull up the carpet in the living room and put down hard wood. One of my friends mentioned that lying on the floor and watching TV wouldn't be as nice if we had hardwood- but let's be honest... no one lays on our floor, we never have people over, and we have the basement for that...


And this is just lovely. It makes me feel...tired. Wait, I think that's just Wicket.

Tick-Tock....

I'm sitting at home with Wicket waiting for him to go to the bathroom so I can go to work. Apparently two month olds are only supposed to be able to hold their urine for 3 hours (2 months+1) but we learned he likes to hold it for 4!

(He can hold it a lot longer, when we picked him up at 9:30 in the morning, he held it until 3:00pm that's 6!- but I think it was because he was so scared)

We've been trying to take things easy on him while he becomes acclimated to his crate; that philsophy changed yesterday while Doug was pup-sitting during my nap (I nap now, it's part of motherhood), and he pottied 6 times within two hours!

Ok- so far, we had his crate inside a metal pen with a potty pad. When he was in the metal pen he whined, but he would use the potty pad. We didn't like to keep him locked up, so we would sometimes leave the metal pen open while we were in the room with him so he could come and go as he pleased. Somehow, he got in the habit of walking right past the pad and pottying on the carpet!

Yesterday, he was such a naughty little pup, he thought it was so fun to watch Doug scrammble to clean up- and Doug isn't the expert in puppy training, I've read books and books in preparation for this step but he hasn't- so he would let him play with his hand as he was scrubbing the carpet and play with him after he cleaned up(Big no. no.) .... Anyway- when I woke up I was so MAD at our little pup... he doesn't get to be the boss; what is he thinking?- sure he's cute as a button but he needs to potty on a schedule like the rest of us!

So I rocked his world last night when I locked him in his crate and only let him come out to potty. You know, the rules that everyone says you should follow but we didn't because we thought we could do it better... We had a looong night because I was trying to get him to go every 3 hours and he only needs to go every four hours. So this is what our night looked like:

9 pm- potty then play and back to crate
12am- attempted to potty, no success- back to crate
12:10am- attempted to potty, no success- back to crate
- repeated every 15 minutes until
1:30- potty then play and back to crate
4:40- attempted to potty, no success- back to crate
- repeated every 20 minutes until
5:30 -poop (yay) play then back to crate
7:30 - potty then play and back to crate
10:30- started the potty attempting process, no success at of 11:10 the pup is fast asleep.

*When I say potty- I mean I took him to the potty pad by the front door. I am not trying t take him outside...it would take too many trips and it's too cold for lil'Wicket out there. I tried to take him out and he almost froze.

Now that you know what my schedule has been like... Molly, would you still like a pup?

Puppy Love.

We went and picked up Wicket yesterday- and we love him to death. We woke up super duper early and drove to Pocatello to pick him up. I was so worried about waking up late that I slept so bad and was exhausted all day-
We got him and then went over to Doug's brother Jared house. His little girl Kalli and son Ryan had so much fun playing with him. Wicket was still a little bit scared so he wasn't very playful- but I think he enjoyed it.



This is Wicket attempting to hump Doug's face. Silly boy. It's hilarious; but we're trying to teach him some manners.
He's pretty sweet, but I didn't think so last night when he was crying his guts out and I had to sleep down stairs in the foyer next to his pen all night....oh joy. No sleep, just puppy love.

Valentine's Day with the Shumways

Doug and I decided that we aren't going to do anything for Valentines day... we are on a budget- and in preparation for Wicket, we're just trying to save up. So instead of Flemmings and Godiva we made Valentines Day cookies and decorated them, played volleyball and he helped me study for my Med Path test next week... ah, love.

This recipe was truely the best, Doug said it was as good as Granny B's...SUCCESS; a better than Granny B's review would be aiming too high.

We made so many cookies, that we decided to share the wealth around the community... so I hope they all like lots of frosting;)


Recipe:

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups sour cream
5 to 6 cups flour (until desired consistency for rolling)

Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, vanilla and sour cream. Mix in dry ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 425ºF.

Roll out dough to a 1/4 to 3/8 inch thickness using a generous amount of flour. Cut out shapes and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Frost and decorate as desired. Yield: a dang lot

PS. These may look like they're not quite done when you take them out- but that's ideal... the perfect done-ness is just slightly golden on the bottom.

Soooo close...

In one short week- we'll be the proud owner of this little guy;)

Valentines Day Cookies

Doug and I have made sugar cookies for several different occasions over the last couple years... Halloween, Christmas... just because...

We've used a different recipe everytime and Doug is never satisfied...ever. He thinks the perfect sugar cookie is Granny B's and nothing else will do.


I learned, through extensive research that the cake-like texture of Granny B's can only be achieved through sour cream.

So here goes the sour cream cookie- I'll let you know how it turns out.

Provo, UT...

Home of the freakin' bad drivers. We stopped in Provo on Saturday on our way back from Savannah's baptism... holy cow! Those people are out of control. Apparently that valley is only "happy" on Sunday.... I'll stick to Salt Lake, thanks.

I know we live on the mountain, but we do not associate much with Utah County--- and the drivers are just another good reason why.

Wicket, 6 weeks

We found out today that we can bring Wicket home anytime after February 19th. We were expecting the last week in Feb. or the first week in March- so we are soooo excited. Here a the 6 week picture;) Oh, and he weighed two lbs today.