new town, new decade, new hair

So the countdown is on for my move to Branson. I leave Sunday April 5th, preferably at a decent time. I already know that is not likely, but I will continue to think it might be. I also turn 30 tomorrow, which will be very fun. But right up there with both of these exciting events is my new hair. I have wanted to try long hair for a very long time. In fact, in another life, I'm actually a cosmetologist and esthetician. I could spend hoooours in the various beauty supply stores. Don't get me wrong, I don't on a regular basis or anything, *but* I could. So when my current stylist mentioned that she was going to do extensions for her upcoming wedding I was alllll over that. She filled me in on how it worked and said she could definitely do them in my hair. With that, I give you my fun new hair:

No more lady parts for Lola

Now I don't want to be one of those moms who only talks about their chil....I mean dog. But I'm still adjusting to the all consuming aspect of thinking about another being besides myself, so you'll have to bear with me for awhile. As we speak, Miss Lola is at the vet recovering from the removal of her lady parts. Knowing that I can't bathe or groom her for at least 2 weeks, it was bath time Sunday night. You'll notice she looks kinda mad at me below. While I was there dropping her off, I asked the vet tech if this would cut down on the amount she humps things, legs, other dogs, etc, and she said, "well it depends. If its a dominance thing, then probably no."

Well of course its a dominance thing. I somehow ended up with the dog who wants to control the world. Why else would girlie dogs do it? Its not anatomically correct, so it can't be instinct. We had a playdate with 2 other dog friends on Saturday (yes, my main goal in life now is to exhaust my dog) and most of our time was spent pulling Lola off of her friends.

hahahaha

Escape Artist

pretty self explanatory.

graduation from puppy kindergarten

I don't know how it happened, but despite my most firm determination to have the most well behaved puppy in the world, I somehow have quite possibly the naughtiest, sassiest dog in the world. I keep hearing these stories of people who love the challenge of a strong willed dog. Who are these people, and why do they feel this way?! Lola and I just finished the 8 week puppy class at Pet Smart. Lola knows every command. Every one. Smart as a whip and when she feels like it, obeys like she's supposed to. And she has been socialized almost daily with other dogs and people since she was 8 weeks 4 days (Oh yes, I know to the day). And yet why is it that every dog in the neighborhood is mild mannered and polite and I have the tornado of the townhouse complex?

Our trainer said to me, "Oh I love dogs with attitude. Lola is hilarious." Well I told Sarah she was welcome to come live here, because Lola worships the ground she walks on. Lola sits at Sarah's feet the entire class and gazes adoringly up at her while she talks. Sarah says she has that effect on all dogs because she's the fun treat lady, but no other dogs hang on her every word like Lola.

She is 5 months. 5 months. Just 5 months, Whitney. It will get better.

baby Lola

I didn't even have the motivation to go find a camera when when she first came home, so all her "baby pictures" are with my cell phone. woops. :o) No mother awards there, huh.

Introducing Lola

This is Lola. Lola is my new cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle) baby. She is now 5 months. I have actually had Lola for 3 months now, and probably should have introduced ages ago, but frankly, I was a little worried about my ability to handle a puppy. And actually, I was pretty much right. I'd also like to take a quick moment for a psa and say I do not recommend bringing home an 8 week puppy. Anything older than 8 weeks. ANYTHING.

But anyway, its time to show her off a little. This is after her 1st haircut, hee hee. Couldn't resist taking pics with BOWS in her hair.

with her octopus

not chewing on the toys, but on the box that *holds* the toys.

Our first private party

So on Monday March 31st, Roxi and I drove up to Jewell, Iowa, the lovely hometown of Megan and Taylor. We were going to play at the Jewell Country Club Saturday April 5th, and this was our first party where we had to bring in and set up all our equipment. Because of that, we decided to meet the Monday prior to do a test run. This first picture is from the front seat of my car towards the back. We managed to pack my beautiful little Yaris FULL of equipment. Go Yaris.

Here is Megan and Taylor's practice area. Its actually a garage, but they have it all set up with equipment and furniture, which makes it a cool little practice hangout.

And here is one of the pictures we took of the wires. It took so long to figure it out we needed clear documentation, ha.