Just another Sunday....

Ahhhh yes, December in Florida. Right now John is outside grilling some burgers, and I'm making lemonade....THIS IS NOT NORMAL!!!! Man, I am going crazy here in the sunshine when everyone else is enjoying blizzards. My sister and her husband left to go back home yesterday morning, however, they had to stay overnight in Nashville as the planes were grounded going to Chicago. Seems there was too much snow. They are home now and probably couldn't get up their driveway due to the 10+ inches they received. Lucky....

I tried listening to Christmas music on the way to church this morning, but with the sun shining down on us it just didn't feel right. Luckily it was cold inside the church, and the stage is all decorated with Christmas trees and "snow", so it did feel festive. When we came out of church it was much colder outside, and it had clouded over....so I just pretended that I was in the north and a snowstorm was on the way. It is pretty cold out there right now. I think it's somewhere around 58....JB is grilling in his sweatshirt....and a red one at that. My own, personal Santa....ho-ho-ho baby....lol.

This week is the kids last week of school before Christmas vacation. I didn't realize this....I thought I had two more weeks of freedom....guess I better get shopping! I'm planning on making my cookies whilst the girls are home. I haven't decided on the full list of goodies yet....but Russian Teacakes have been the most requested so far.....our favorites!

Okay, the grill master is in and the onion rings are done....I better get moving!

Nothin' much....

Is it just me or does j-land seem like a ghost town? Aside from the few regulars that I read, it seems a great many have decided to give up their AOL journals and move on to another blogging provider. I was talking to a friend and told her I was going to sit back and see what happens before deciding what to do about the whole "ad fiasco". Actually, although I don't like the ads at the top, I can live with them. AOL is going through many changes, trying to "keep up with the Jonses'" if you will. I'm sure more changes are on the way. It's true that AOL isn't what it once was. However, it isn't the company that makes it "home" to me, but the friends I've made here. So, I will be staying....and hopefully I won't be alone....but it sure does seem quiet around here anymore.

Today I had to take wee one to the dentist. She had a small cavity and has to have a baby tooth pulled. Apparently it is hanging on for dear life, and the permanant tooth above it is beginning to grow in sideways....so in January she will have the little bugger pulled. She was not thrilled with that idea....as well as the suggestion that perhaps she needs braces. We will see about that though. He said her bite is off on one side of her mouth, but other than that, she has nice, straight, evenly spaced teeth. It was suggested that I get braces as a kid, due to a Madonna-esque space between my front teeth....however in high school it closed up and I was fine. I suppose I'll take her for the referral appointment....but you know what will happen....she will suddenly "need" them immediately! Sigh.

London is doing really well....she doesn't potty (or anything else!) in the house during the day or in her cage at night. However....in the evening when she plays with us, it seems she can't control herself! For the past two nights she has had two tinkle incidents per evening. I suppose it may be that she is just so excited to play with the girls....I take her out every time she wakes up from a nap (or every thirty minutes if she isn't sleeping), ten minutes after every drink of water or bit of food, and once in the middle of the night when she wakes up. I suppose she will grow out of it....but until then thank God for the "OUT" spray. I am not kidding when I say it takes every trace of odor out of the carpet. You can also add it to the steam cleaner for those "messy" accidents....but thank goodness that isn't an issue here!

She spends most of her day sleeping and playing on the porch. I hate to say this but....I'm glad the weather has been mild lately. I can keep the sliding door open and she can come in and out as she pleases. For the past two days she has been eyeing a certain ornament on my tree, and today whilst sewing, I thought I heard her in the family room. Well, I snuck quietly to the porch and what did I see? Yup, she had gotten that ornament and was proceeding to give it a good chew! When she saw me she kind of pushed it under her paw and looked at me like, "What? I'm not doing anything!" LOL....I put it waaaayyyy up high this time. Of course, I'll probably be picking up the tree tomorrow after she tries to climb up to retrieve it!

Okay, I'm off to wash my face, brush my teeth and read a magazine for a bit. Tomorrow morning London has her first vet appointment....here's hoping she likes needles!

Pictures to go with the previous entry....dang AOL!!!!

I'm exhausted....

I have come to the conclusion that having a 10 week old puppy requires a higher energy level than a 12 year old geriatric canine. I'm freaking exhausted! Last night I got to sleep at 11:00, only to be awakened at 12:00 by high pitched barking at the foot of the bed. Seems Lady London needed to go out. At first, I thought my darling husband was going to take her out, as he was getting up and turning on the light. However, his contribution to the nightly outing was to open the door for me and hook the leash on her collar. Yeah, don't worry about it....I'll take her out in the cold with my robe on and walk her for 15 minutes while she searches for just the right spot to potty in. Sheesh. Actually, I had just walked her at 10:30 before I got into bed, and I thought she just wanted out of the cage....good thing I took her out as she "christened" the yard twice.

This morning when JB's alarm went off at 4:30, I heard him say, "What are you doing out of your cage?" Seems we have a little houdini on our hands. There is no way that she can squeeze between the slats, they are only 3 inches apart. And anyway, the door to the cage was open. I know it was locked when I put her in....I'm going to have to set up surveillance to see how she is doing it. So far today she has spent her day on the porch, with the sliding glass doors open, chewing on her little toys and taking naps periodically. Right now she is sleeping on the bathroom floor, on a pile of laundry. Yes....I'm getting a little behind. 

Yesterday was our anniversary. We have been married 18 years. That means that for 1/2 of my life I've been married....weird. We went out to breakfast and then did what every couple dreams of doing on their special day....we went to Wal Mart and bought dog toys, shampoo and King of the Hill pajama bottoms. I know, I know....you are all wondering where I found this romantic gem of a man....well, keep your paws off ladies....he's mine! LOLOL....actually, we had a very nice day together. We went to the jewelry store and are having his father's and my father's wedding rings melted together so that he can have a new, sentimental wedding ring. I did peruse the diamonds whilst waiting....but I didn't see anything I really liked. (Lucky for him!) Anyhoo, it should be ready sometime after Christmas.

I bought Christmas cards yesterday. They are really pretty. I have to look and look until I see a design that just "jumps" out at me. I've been all over and finally found some at Hallmark. I used to buy funny ones every year, but lately I've been going for cards with meaning. I guess I'm growing up....lol.

Okay, I hear the pitter patter of little paws on my kitchen floor....so I'm going to go before it becomes the tinkle-winkle of, well, you know....

Pictures, products and a whole lot of bragging....

I have been getting so many comments about London....however, a close runner up are the requests for the name of the spot remover! LOL....so for all of you who would like to know....it is called "OUT!" Pet Stain and Odor Remover. I bought it at WalMart and it has a picture of a cartoon puppy and kitten on the front, holding their noses. This stuff kicks butt....she had an accident (and it wasn't wee wee!) her first night here on my beige colored carpeting, and you absolutely can NOT tell where it was. It took the smell out immediately as well.

Of course....I haven't had to use it since. Why? Well, because I have the smartest dog in the entire world, that's why! After that first night, she has not pottied in the house at all. I take her out on the leash and tell her "go potty" and when she does, I praise her like crazy. The funny thing is, now when I take her out  she immediately goes when I tell her to, and then runs right to me so I can say "gooood puppy, who's the smartest puppy in the world?" lol. I'm sure she will have mishaps, but like Percy, she is training beautifully. After she goes I take her leash off and let her run around and play. She just loves that.

I'm telling you, I was exhausted last night....so much so that I slept until 4:30 and didn't take her out for her 2 am potty break! Apparently she was tired too because she never woke up to remind me! LOL. I took her out at 4:30 and she did her thing, and whined just a bit when I put her back in her cage. However, after a few minutes I could hear her long sigh as if to say, "You know, I am still tired. I guess I'll go back to bed!"

We have a baby gate at the dining room opening and the family room opening, so that she can spend her time in the kitchen (hard floor, easier to clean up any mistakes....although there haven't been any) and our bedroom where her kennel is. After she went outside this morning, I told John to take down the family room gate. She is now allowed into the inner sanctum....and she loves it. She sniffed the tree, checked out the fire place, rolled around on the carpet for a while. It's so cute to see her exploring her new space.

Today wee one has a safety patrol outing to a local fun center. She is really looking forward to it. Of course she also has a unit test on Monday to study for, as well as a report on Laos that she left till the last minute. I have to take her to the library to find a book on it, as the teacher said they had to have at least three different resources. Dang it! We found all the info we needed online last night. Hmmmm, maybe I'll look up a book on the country and write down the title....awwww, I can't do that. That wouldn't be right.....but it sure would make it easier! LOL.

Betsy went to a play last night at the high school. It was a Broadway Review and the kids did songs from musicals. She said it was "awesome". She had a great time and I'm glad. She needs to get out and do things with her girlfriends and just enjoy these teen years. She will have plenty of time later on to go out into the real world and be involved in relationships and jobs. I want her to enjoy her teen years as much as possible right now. She looked so pretty too. It's amazing to think that my adorable little freckle faced girl is turning into such a beautiful young woman. Where does the time go?

Okay, I'm off to the shower and then to the library....

I'm as close to London as I've ever been!!!!

As you can see from the pictures....Christmas came early at the JBCoupe household. Last night John and I picked up our gift to the girls....a healthy, 13 lb. Golden Retriever puppy! She is so adorable....her full registered name is "Lady London Percy's Gift"....London for short. She is just the sweetest thing in the world.

Wee one was at my mom's while we picked her up, and Betsy was at work. I went and picked up wee one and when I brought her home, I sat her on the couch and told her that we had gotten a Christmas gift for her and Betsy and it had come early. I emphasised that she had to share it, and that we were going to let them have it that evening. I told her to cover her eyes and JB put the pup on her lap. Her reaction was something I was totally unprepared for....first the "OooooOOOOHHHHH!" and then she burst into tears. She kept saying, "Is this REAL? Am I ALIVE?" LOL....she was so excited. You couldn't have asked for a better reaction!

Later on after 11 when Betsy got home, I met her at the door and said, "Go to your room, your dad and I need to talk to you." The look on her face was priceless. JB went in and told her we had something for her and we made her close her eyes. I put the pup on the bed and told her she could look....she said, "OhmygoshsheissobeautifulIcantbelieveit!!!!" LOL....I do believe my girls were not only surprised but thrilled beyond belief!

She slept so well during the night, only getting up once for a potty run. We got her a cool kennel and she loves it. She went in it on her own this morning and played with her toys. It was so cute! She has had three "oopsies" on the floor....one of which was when John was watching her, so I won't count that one! LOL....she seems to understand what going outside is for, so we are off to a good start. Oh, and the pet spot/stain remover I bought is totally kick butt! You can't see or smell any remnants at all....I'm gonna buy a gallon of it!

Anyhoo....just wanted to share the joy this morning....oh yeah....I can already see that my cleaning routine is going to be thrown waayyyyy out of whack! LOL

What it all boils down to....

After reading the following comment, my stress level lifted....and I remembered to count my blessings!

Just so you know, I didn't roll my eyes, I felt tears in my eyes..I love you Mum..I had so much fun and I hope we can bond like this all the time now...even when we're not sick, even when we're pmsing, and even when we're at each other's throats.  You are absolutely awesome and no matter how old I am, you are always my Mommy!  ^_^

*Bets