HERCULES!!!

Well, we did end up getting a dog. BUT, we did not get either of the ones I posted. Sadly, they were both heartworm positive and I was NOT about to bring home a sick dog.

We met Ashley first because we saw on Fudge's papers on the wall that he had heartworms. When I aksed them about treatment, they said it could be anywhere from $235-$335...um NO! So, I asked if Ashley was because her paperwork was sketchy and they said she was not. We met her, KJ fell in love with her and when I came out to talk to them, the broke the news that there were two Ashley's and this one indeed have heartworms....GREAT. Talk about a devestated 7 year old. You could see the pain in her eyes. I told them no way and they then offered to split the cost of treatment with me...still I would have to pay $117 in addition to the $60 adoption fee. Not a chance, not for a sick dog. So, I finally got her to look around a little more and she saw Pop. He was a 2yo chihuahua, but he was not very cute and I was not thrilled to be meeting him.

We were in the meeting room for all of about a minute when I decided Pop was NOT for us. He was yappy and bouncy and a crack head. But, while we were waiting for Pop, we went to go look at what we were told was the puppy area. We went in and there were dogs in there ranging from 2 months to 5 years. They failed to mention it was puppies and SMALL dogs...we looked around and we saw this 1 1/2 year old boy who was so small and his name was Hercules. After we decided (quickly) that Pop was not a good match, we aksed to meet Hercules. She said OK and then proceeded to tell us that this was the last dog we could see because you are only allowed to meet 3 dogs a day?!?! WHAT?!?! More on that in a moment. ANYWAY, we met Hercules and instantly fell in love. He is cute and shy and tiny and the perfect lap dog! We confirmed he was NOT sick and he was ready to go home with us right then! YAY! We did all the paperwork and paid for him and we got him this col lime green collar and then took him next door to the clinic for his dewormer, heartworm preventative, and to get his shot records and rabies tags.

I knew right away that his name was perfect when through the window this itty bitty thing was growling at a German Shepherd! The whole clinic laughed at him. He has no idea he is FOUR POUNDS!! Yep, I weighed him!! LOVE!

So, here are some pics of my new son! I am head over heels in love with this baby!!!

He loves KJ so much. THey were snuggling on the couch together and she got up to go to the bathroom and he jumped down to go find her. She had to call him on the potty so he could find her. It was so precious! He is SO GOOF and very snuggly. He has slept a lot, but that may be because he probably didn't get a ton of sleep in the shelter. He has an appointment tonight at our vet for a free check up as a back up to the shelters.

NOW, on to my rant about seeing only 3 dogs a day. HOW FREAKING STUPID IS THAT?!?!? There are at LEAST 120 dogs there. How in the world do you know that the dog for you is going to be the right fit in three tries. In our case, we knew what we wanted when we got there, but can you imagine if on meeting #3 we still weren't sure and I would have had to tell a little girl that she couldn't take a dog home because we had used up al ourt meets. PLUS, with that many dogs there, I just don't see why you would put a max on meetings. Wouldn't you want people to find the right dog?? I had to drive clear across town to get there. If we didn't find a good match, I can't say that I would have been back the next day or even at all. So, that is just my 2 cents. Not like it matters, I just was really rubbed the wrong way with that "rule".

Another weekend update is to follow, I just wanted to introduce my boy to the world!!!

My best days are ahead of me :) Niki

YIKES!

KJ and I are headed to look for a puppy in the morning.....

I am super excited and nervous. We are not getting a puppy, we are getting a young adult. She saw three on the Humane Society website that she likes so far. We are going to check them all out, but she likes Mia, Fudge, and Ashley...Well, I just went to download their pics and could only find Ashley and Fudge. I think Mia might have been adopted today...Here are are two choices so far :) I will let you know soon who we end up with!!!!!

FUDGE

ASHLEY

HAPPY FRIDAY!

It has been a lazy week with nothing really important to write home about. I have plans with friends tonight to go to the Astros game and we have a bday party tomorrow, but that is ALL we HAVE to do. We have plans to go to the movies, go to Toys R Us to spend a gift card that bug got for her bday, and have some major pool time! Mostly snugle and RELAX!!! I have been extra tired this week so I need some down time! Here is a pic of my ladybug to help you keep a smile on your face today and through the weekend!!!!!!

Fun Times

I had a super fun weekend that culminated on an AWESOME Monday!!! My weekend was fun and my baby same home yesterday (more on that to come).

Friday was my friend Brittani's bday. We went to Big Texas to celebrate. Scooter Brown and Josh Ward were both playing. I was excited! I have seen Josh Ward before, but never the other. It was a blast. I danced and laughed and we celebrated my friend and I fell in love with a fiddle player. Not actual love, but he was so cute and we were definitely flirting with each other the whole night. I was right on the stage most of the night! BLAST! We had sooo much fun!!!

my fiddle player

Josh Ward



me :)

Scott Brown from Scooter Brown



Saturday I got up and ready and waited for Larissa to come over so we could head to the Woodlands for A Day in the Country. It was raining a little when we got on our way but cleared up by the time we got there! We had a blast. My FAVORITE was Chris Cagle!! We also got to see The Wade Bowen Band, Jana Kramer, Ronnie Dunn (WHO WE MET) and Dierks Bentley! It was a great day and I didn't even burn! We snagged some meet and greet passes and got to go meet Ronnie Dunn from Brooks & Dunn. We couldn't use our own cameras, so I am still waiting for them to be uploaded to the radio station's website!

Larissa and I in the beginning of the day - I was NOT this cute later LOL

some cute boy with cool hair we took a pic with



waiting to meet Ronnie Dunn

Sunday was Father's Day. I believe that I havseone of the best dads on the planet! He is an amazing man. He loves us all unconditionally and is a great husband and Grandpa. I am one blessed girl to have had this guy for a dad! Here we are on Sunday celebrating Father's day! We went to see The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and to eat at a hibachi restaurant called Osaka. Later I hung out with him for a bit and taught him to use his new Kindle touch that he got. AMAZING DAY!

The culmination of it all was yesterday. My baby girl got to come home for my week. I am always excited on my Monday's, but for some reason I missed her extra this week. She must have too because she RAN to me and jumped in my arms and hugged me so tight when I picked her up. We went to the grocery store and bought all kinds of yummy stuff and got The Smurfs on redbox. We snuggled and cuddled the whole night. It was an amazing evening. I love that little ladybug more than life itself!
 





ONE YEAR!!!!!!

One year ago today I moved into my own apartment! I had never lived alone before in my life. I went from my parent's house then got married so I lived with my husband. Then when I moved out of my house, I lived with my mom for about 6 weeks. I won't lie, I was scared to death. I was also kind of excited. Not many 35 (at the time) year old women have never lived on their own before. It was a new fresh start for me.

It has been a VERY interesting year. I was a little scared at first, but now, to be honest, I can't imagine living with anyone but Kendall HAHA!! I like my space. I like that I can decorate however I want. I like leaving a mess if I want to. I am not a messy person, but from time to time when I am either super lazy or super busy, the place will be a mess. Earlier this week, it was CODE RED!!! So bad that when Kendall came home from her dad's last night the first words out of her mouth were "WHOA, this is clean" HAHAHAHAH...the sad part is that it wasn't really all that clean......

I have run the gamete of emotions this year. I have loved, lost, cried, hurt, laughed, danced, sang, smiled, and now, on this one year anniversary, I can truly say that I am unbelievably happy! I am the happiest I have been in months!!! For a little bit, I was worried, but I am SO GREAT! It is just me and Kendall and I realized besides friends and family, that is all I really need!!! I don't want to be alone forever, but I know that I am NOT ready to share my life with anyone else! I did it. It was an amazing time. I am still at a complete loss of what happened, but I am glad I had the time that I did. It was fun and I learned to love again. BUT, I am pretty happy just with myself and my ladybug! We do what we want when we want and I am not willing to compromise that (note: I never sacrificed this once since I separated from my husband). I gave up too much of myself when I was married and I am never going to do that again. I want my daughter to be a strong and independent woman and for her to be able to do that, I need to set an example.

Don't get me wrong, I am not some crazy feminist HAHA! I will lean on people when I need them (my friends can attest to this), BUT, I also want her to know how important it is to be able to support herself and not have to depend on ANYONE to make her happy. You have to find happiness within yourself and if someone is making you unhappy, then you need to move on!! Don't let anyone steal who you are. One of my favorite quotes is "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." I believe that! If someone doesn't love you for who you are, then you don't need them! It took me a LOOONNGGGG time to really figure this process out, but now, that is how I choose to live my life. I miss relationships that I had in the past, but I am no longer willing to compromise who I am for anyone!

I can't believe I made it an entire year! It has been the fastest and longest of my life. I would not trade one single day. I am in the best shape I probably have ever been in life and honestly, the best place I have ever been emotionally! Evidently June is MY month. For the past several years, June has proved to be a time of change in my life and I think I have made it out OK!

I have great plans for the weekend with friends and family and my baby girl comes back home on Monday!! Who could ask for more?? Someday my prince will come, but I am in no hurry!! and to close with a quote from one of my favorite songs...

My best days are ahead of me!!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend y'all!!!!!

Wednesday update!!

Happy Wednesday y'all!! I had a great week and weekend last week and so far this one is shaping up nicely as well. Not too much to report.

The knee is doing much better. I wrapped it for several days and rested and iced it. I finally was brave enough to work out on it last night. I was going to do spin class, but I was still afraid so I did cardio kickboxing instead. I LOVED IT. I looked hilarious doing it since it was my first time and I was trying to get down all the moves, but it was so fun and I can totally tell that it really gave me a great workout all over! I will def be doing it again!

KJ was sick since Friday. It was pretty sad. She was running fever on and off all weekend and even into yesterday. She came to work with me on Monday and went with her Dad yesterday. She had a dr.s appt. yesterday afternoon and he gave her a zpac and told us since her cough was so bad she could take adult cough medicine. He also said that her couch was not affecting her asthma yet. That was the best news. The cough may linger for a while so he said not to be alarmed.

Saturday night KJ wanted to spend the night at Granny's soooo bad. I let her go and I went to the Crosby rodeo. I went with a good friend who I had not seen in ages!  It was SO SO good to see her! We saw Stoney LaRue and had a BLAST!!

Earlier in the week (Thursday) I went to a vendor casino party. I won a kid size tent and two sleeping bags. I had a blast! A few of us went out after and I met a girl who is crazy silly like me! They had a huge horse in the bar and I was SO glad she wanted to get on it because I didn't want to do it alone LOL! I had on a dress and heels so please note my ladylike side saddle HAHA!!

Friday night I set up the tent in the living room and KJ and I "camped" out and watched Jack and Jill and We bought a Zoo. We made popcorn and snuggled! It was great!!!!

I have a BUSY weekend coming up with lots of friends and family! I can't wait! Happy Father's Day to all my daddy friends out there and especially to my wonderful and amazing daddy!!!!!!!!



:) My best days are ahead of me!

My poor knee

So I have this knee. Well, everyone has them. Two actually. But, my right on in particular is kind of pesky. It has been a good knee for the most part, but it has had its share of problems. In high school I fell down a flight of stairs and cracked it on one of them on the way down. It hurt. A LOT. For a long time. I went to the dr. waaaaay back then and he said I had torn cartilage but it was a tiny tear and didn't need to worry about it at the time. Just had to use crutches until the sprain healed and keep it wrapped.

So, that healed (or so I thought) and I went on my way. I would notice here and there at different times over the years, mostly when I was playing sports or working out, that it would ache or have some pain. I got a knee brace, but I only wore it every so often. It wasn't constant pain so I didn't worry about it.

About two years ago I decided to start running. I ran the first time without the brace...mistake. So the next time I ran with it and it did better. A few months ago I was in a zumba class and near the end it started having some major pain inside the knew where (in what I believe) where the two bones meet. Every time I put weight on it near the end of the workout it would hurt. Then a few weeks after that, I was doing Girl Scout cookie stuff (loading/unloading) and having to go up and down the stairs (I live on the 2nd floor) multiple times. When I was almost done, and after going up and down AT LEAST 20 times, the same pain came back. I asked my mom if that was normal and she assured me that it was not (I already knew, but it never hurts to have a second opinion HAHA).

Well, FINALLY I found an exercise that was kick ass and burned TONS of calories. The best part was that my knee didn't hurt during the WHOLE hour workout! YAY ME! I took up spinning and I love it. I like biking and it is to music and I burn 600 to 700 calories a class...and my knee doesn't hurt! YAY! Until Monday....I am not sure how it happened, but I got a bad injury. I was in class, about 30 mins in, and we were climbing a hill so I was standing. I had a bunch of resistance on and was going double time. I was going FAST and pushing hard. I must have lost focus somehow, but my knee SLAMMED into the steel handlebar of the bike. I hit full speed ahead. I looked down a couple seconds later and I had a HUGE red mark. I tried for a few minutes to push through, but I couldn't do it. I got off the bike and went home and elevated it and iced it it felt a bit better. yesterday it hurt sooo bad. I couldn't straighten it all the way or bend it too far. It felt best at about a 30 degree angle. I iced it and elevated and today I can straighten but not bend. It hurts still and is swollen but I have it wrapped with an ace bandage so we will see.

It is not fun. I am no longer a friend to this knee.

Weekend!!!

I had an amazing weekend! I spent time with GREAT friends!!! I am so blessed to have these people in my life!!!

Friday night I went to Pearland to go hang out with my friend Mike who was supposed to be moving but now is probably not. We had a going away party for him anyway! It was a GREAT night. I saw some people that I hadn't seen in 20 years and met some great new friends as well. It was a BLAST! Stayed the night with my friend Larissa and jumped up early on Saturday morning to go get my hair done. It was in desperate need of a root touch up LOL!

I ran by and saw my ladybug and her report card! She is a ROCKSTAR! She had all 3's and 4's again (in Humble they don't give grades until 3rd grade - i VERY much dislike this). We hung out for a few minutes then I needed to go home and take a nap!! Well, I didn't. I got caught up in stinking DVR'd shows and then a movie. I finally got up and took a shower to go out again. I was going out with Liana and Meridith to see a band that they have seen before. It sounded like a weird deal (it was at someones house...). It ended up being AMAZING! The band is called Quiet Company. They played acoustic in someones living room, but you know what, it was different, and and adventure and a FREAKING BLAST!!!! I love my friends and Liana and I have a blast no matter what we do!

This morning we slept in (all our girls were at their dad's houses) and then babysat her niece, Aylin. She is SO CUTE! She was a preemie and is sooo little for an 8 month old, but SUCH a great baby! It was super fun to take care of a baby!! I miss those days. After she went home we went and had wings. We had both been craving them for a while so we took care of that problem! We came back and I helped her pack for her trip to Destin this week. We relaxed a but and then I headed home and she went to pick her babies. It was a great weekend.

Another amazing thing that happened to me this weekend on Saturday, was that I went to church. I have not been to church in a bazillion years. I pray all the time, but I have been going through a lot of emotional crap lately. I was hurt and I can't seem to get past it. I decided this past week that I needed to be closer to God and to find a church home. I figured this was one of the things I needed to help me past this crappy way I have been feeling. So, Saturday, Liana took me to her church in Pearland. It is called New Hope and I know a lot of people from back home that go there. I know this sounds cliche, but I felt like Pastor Tim was speaking to me. It was a great message and I really took stock in what he shared. I am definitely going to take his suggestions and see if this helps me get past this time in my life. I so wish this church was closer to me because I really would like to go there, but I am going to be trying to find one around here as well.

Last Day of FIRST GRADE!!!

Today was the LAST day of 1st grade for my ladybug! I can't believe it! This year FLEW by. I feel like we were just celebrating the last day of Kindergarten...ugh! Why is she growing so fast??? The last three months I think went the fastest...I don't know where they went, but mqan, they are GONE!!!

Here are a few pics from this morning!