country roads

I have thoroughly enjoyed my summer break from work (you know, from the whole 3 weeks I've put in thus far!). As I went straight from school to working, it was much needed. It started on Monday night at my Mom's house, then she and I went on to my little brother's for the night, and then to my grandparents' house for the rest of the week. 

It was great to see my little brother and help him with a few things in his house (hanging 6 pictures in his dining room with screws and a screwdriver...) and have dinner on his awesome back porch. I also enjoyed an evening dip in his pool! 

The visit to my grandparents was equally wonderful. We ended up staying an extra night because I know it may be awhile before I get back to visit. They live almost 7 hours from Nashville so it's not a trip I am able to make very often! Our days were filled with relaxation and nights with movies. Perfect. 

(I did lots of tea-drinking!) 

Our drive home today took significantly longer then expected... Enter road construction on 75 N. Yuck!! Luckily the pups are the best behaved travelers ever and slept through the entire drive. 

So, while at my grandmother's we ventured out one day to a local nursery/antiques/gift shop. They had some adorable accessories and antiques! I picked this up for my future MIL & FIL as they have been looking for a chest similar to one I have of my grandparents'. If for some reason they decided they don't love it my mom and I are already fighting over it's ownership! 

I also picked this up for sweet P-puppy. I hate seeing/having dog dishes out for whatever reason but this makes it a bit more bearable, as I've been on the hunt for cuter (but big enough) dog bowls. 

Paisley also thoroughly enjoyed the trip to her great-Gaga's house. She and Sydney (little brother's dog) ran and played in the back yard and she was in heaven! She did get into a little trouble yesterday while unattended in the back yard. Thankfully she only decided to try to dig up a tree root (it was just a big stick to her- her favorite thing to chew!) and none of my grandmother's gorgeous flowers or plants. 

After her bath... She just got a haircut last week and I already had to trim the hair out of her eyes! 

She was so funny. I put the towel over her and then took a picture. For whatever reason she didn't think she was supposed to move and sat like this for a good 5 minutes (a long time to sit still in Paisley-world!). 

Mom and I are off to a wedding this evening! I know sweet MB will be a beautiful bride and I can't wait! CSB was planning to come, however, it just didn't make much sense for him to drive down for one night and us have to drive back sepearately together first thing in the morning. So, I am going stag with my momma (and probably in the same dress I wore to a wedding a few weeks ago, haha!). 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

9 days...

Eeek! It's been 9 days since my last post. What have I been up to, you ask? LOTS! It's been an interesting 9 days, for sure. Let's see... 

Last weekend I attended a wedding (of sorts). It's a long story. Needless to say it was a bit of a disastrous weekend. Saturday began with CSB and I in the Nashville airport at 4:30 a.m. and ended with me in Orlando and CSB and my luggage back in Nashville. 

Sunday and Monday were spent in Nashville with friends poolside. And were quite enjoyable! We ended the weekend with an impromptu cookout at the house on Sunday night. 

Tuesday marked my first official week of work! Wooo hooo! I officially started 3 weeks ago but trained for a week and then took last week off to study for boards (which I am still studying for and SO ready to take and be done!) Needless to say it was a far more eventful day than one would hope for their first... But the week turned out well. One week down, 45 years to go. (According to CSB at least.)

Tonight CSB and I went to the Vanderbilt Belmont baseball game. I usually cheer for Vandy but was rooting hard for my alumni tonight! Vanderbilt ended up winning big, 10-0, but it was still fun. 

Paisley seems to have adjusted well to her mommy working full time. Though she did  decide to chew "read"an entire chapter of a pediatric development notebook on Tuesday... No more incidents with the rug, thankfully. I'll leave you with a few pictures I snapped the other day while we were playing frisbee. I have more but though I've already rotated them in iPhoto they are uploading to blogger unrotated. Weird. It has not been my week with electronics/computers.

(Her poor "poodle" leg  from getting an IV during the spaying process is still in the process of growing back. She is getting another haircut this weekend which will hopefully help!)

Tired, thirsty pup!

Saturday Snapshots

Some"puppy" is getting big!

Like I mentioned yesterday, love my mom's house at Christmas! 

"What mom? It wasn't me!"

Two of my favorite individuals.

Thankful Friday (I missed Thursday...)

I am sitting at my mom's house sipping coffee and blogging and half listening to Regis and Kelly in the background. Ahhh, bliss.

[Side note: I was. Until my grandfather accidentally left the back door open and my mom's dogs sprinted out, followed by my 3 month old Paisley pup. I rallied the beau fiance quickly (who happened to already be wearing shoes) and he and I (barefooted) sprinted through the woods and across the street to corral the trio. Did I mention that it's quite chilly and spitting rain?]

Back to relaxing, as the kitchen is being swept and Paisley barks incessantly at the broom. I don't get it. She tolerates vacuum cleaners but goes nuts over brooms. The fiance is reading in the arm chair and tuning out the world. My grandmother is reading in the other arm chair chit chatting between pages. Why am I giving you a panoramic of my living room, you ask? 

Because these are the things I am thankful for. 

:A mother who still decorates to the hilt because we, her children, love it. It wouldn't be the holidays to me without fresh greenery in almost every room of the house, garlands on the mantles and stairway, a gorgeous Christmas tree in the living room, and Department 56 Christmas cottages lining every shelf and bookcase in the office. It's gorgeous, and feels like home. I get a little sentimental during the holidays, please excuse me. 

:A grandmother who is feisty and speaks her mind on any and everything. She taught me how to fend for myself when I was younger and how to punch (to this day I still have a pretty good swing). She was the baby of 12, Johnnie Sarah (Johnnie, because she was supposed to be a boy and even out the dozen) and she is now a mother of 1, grandmother of 2, and great-grand-puppy-mother of 2! She is incredible and I love her with all of my heart.

:A brother who is one of my best friends. Seriously, I would do anything for the (23 year old) kid. He's funny and witty and smart as hell. He's already working while I am still in school. I am very thankful for him and the friendship we had. Though it hasn't always been that way... As I mentioned, my grandmother taught me to hit, which didn't really help our relationship when we were younger and he wasn't allowed to hit me back. 

:A grandfather who is beyond generous with his family, friends, and even complete strangers. He tends to be a man of few words (unless you get him talking about UGA football) but has a heart of gold. 

:A fiance who loves me unconditionally, even when I am dancing around in my PJs shaking bells and singing Christmas carols off tune. Not that I've ever done that. He. is. incredible. And I have thoroughly enjoyed our first holiday together. I cannot imagine my life without him. 

:Friends who are there through thick and thin; friends that make me laugh and are there when I cry. Friends who help me decorate for suprise parties and friends that remember my birthday every single year without fail. Friends far and near, single, married, and mothers. Friends who will lay in bed and cry with me when my world falls apart and go to breakfast in their sweats with me after a long night of studying. 

I am one blessed girl, every single day of the year. This is definitely a more sappy post, but please forgive me. It's that time of year, I'm allowed. 

I hope that everyone is having/had a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving.