Weekend In Pictures

She insists on sitting in this drawer, and I had to take a moment to stop trying to keep her from getting in to take this picture. And I love how she shed her overly-big pants before crawling in!










Lunch with the Mcfaddens










Restaurant in my favorite town to visit in New Hampshire:













(this is a teaser for an upcoming post!)









Had very funny moments, but also had moments where I had to cover my eyes!













Her hair is long enough to do 'dog ears'!!!!











First ice cream joint we found open for the season!!!!










This thing was HUGE!

































Yes. A Darth Vader spatula, found here. Oh, it took everything I had not to get one for dad, or myself! (Mother's day is coming up, though!)













Brylee had to wave at the Easter bunny every time we passed by him in the mall...I love how she is (currently) so friendly to big costumed-creatures!

Project 52: 14/52 Envy

This was definitely the hardest one to photograph so far. How do you find the perfect picture of envy?

A child playing with a toy while another looks on, wishing they had that same toy? A great possibility, but we never had that issue this week.

Two trophies next to each other, different in size and standing? Haven't seen a trophy in quite a while, so that unfortunately fell through.

So here we have it: 2 smartphones next to each other. The larger, newer, purple one being mine and the smaller, unfortunately-not-working-so-well one Cary's.

I got my phone 2 weeks ago, and it has been great to have! Angry Birds works great on it, and we have played A.B. Rio, A.B. Valentine's, A.B. St. Patrick's, and are working our way through A.B. Halloween now.

It is also faster in many more ways than his, and I catch Cary pulling up things on it quite a bit.

Not that I want to rub this in his face, as his phone unfortunately is getting close to biting the big one...at only 1 year old, and I am ready to get him a new phone, one equivalent to mine, so that he can be a giddly little boy with his phone again!

The Latest On Chester

Poor Mutt. It just never seems to end for him.

We got the bloodwork back on his phenobarbital and potassium bromide levels, and nothing seems to go right for him.

His phenobarbital levels should be around 150, but it is 1800. Therefore, we need to try to get him off of his Phenobarbital ASAP. So, within 2-3 weeks, he should be off of phenobarbital, and hopefully without the side effect of more seizures.

And his potassium bromide levels are normal, however, we have very little room to play with.

For those who aren't 'seizure savvy', Phenobarbital can affect the liver...and Potassium Bromide can affect the kidneys. Both, obviously, are not a good thing to have affected.

I know that so many people are facing much worse in the world, such as poverty, family off to war, or perhaps even missing, but I love this dog. We adopted him and have found so much joy in him. Despite how much he has frustrated me in the last couple of weeks, I do love him, and he's very much a big part of our family.

Please think positive thoughts (or prayers) for him.

Yet More Randoms

Brylee has her 6th tooth breaking through her gums! She now has 4 on the top, and 2 on the bottom. She is also currently munching away on a 1/4 of Eggo that I share with her every morning. And her cereal. She is alternating between the two...on her own...messily...growing up too fast...

She loves crackers, especially Chicken In A Biscuit (her mommy's favorite) and asks for crackers multiple times a day. It has come to that I have to make sure she eats 'real food' first and then is treated to a cracker...or sometimes, an Oreo...

She also loves ice cream. Takes after her T-Ma and Opa. And momma...

I'm not intending for it to become a food post, so let's regroup.

Spring is here! I think I'm going to really enjoy the spring in Maine. While Dallas is already having high 80's, we are slowly warming up, we are just now reaching the 50's...Oh how I love the cooler weather!! The snow is melting very quickly here and the sky is very blue this morning. The trees are starting to look green, though the grass is not as green, it will be...by August perhaps. Just in time for more snow in September. I exaggerate...slightly.


I took Chester to the vet yesterday for follow-up bloodwork for the medication he is on. The entire appointment took 1 1/2 hours, which I didn't mind, of course, because I felt like I was in my element. And I also got a compliment along the way, being 'hired' after successfully catching some urine for further testing...Actually has me thinking about seeing if the vet is really hiring, just part time, so I can get out and have adult interactions during the week...but I'm also torn, because I adore my time with Brylee, and don't feel like the house gets cleaned enough during the week, especially this week since I haven't been feeling all that well. I know I won't get this time back with Brylee when she gets older.

Speaking of adult interaction, last Tuesday, Brylee and I went to a playgroup at the Community Center. It is a weekly thing, where the kids get together, play with (or take away) toys, and the parents get to sit around and talk. I really enjoyed it, and Brylee did, too. Unfortunately, we didn't go back this week because we've been a little under the weather, and didn't want to risk affecting anyone else. Here's to next week!





Not much longer until Cary and Brenda don't have to work on Saturday! I'm very excited about this, but I'm sure I'm not as excited as they are. They have been working 60+ hours a week learning their new jobs, and trying to get through tax season. There is even a Tax Relief Dance in the community after the deadline, which I may have to drag Cary to, just to shake out all of those numbers in his head!

I'm so excited because it is now 2 weeks before my mom and dad will be back up here to help celebrate Easter. The house is somewhat decorated (well, the dining area is at least) and I've been obsessively looking through the Martha Stewart Living magazine that Cary got me that is Easter-based...drooling over the crafts I can't do. But I'm plotting to see what I can do, and how I can de-Martha them just slightly and Jenn-ify them...Just wait for pictures!




More on travel--Cary, Brylee, and I will be going home (to visit) in May! Mom's birthday is then, as is our little niece Helen's...and Gary's...and Steven's...as well as several others...But the visit will be to see my parents and celebrate mom's and Helen's. Gary's we'll celebrate here, as it is easy, because he is here! I'm very excited, and mom is already potentially planning a Game day so that I can see everyone without driving all over the place. I'm sure I'm very much out of practice with the busy roads Dallas has...and we'll have only been gone 3 months!

And....Maine was voted to be the most peaceful state by someone or another. No wonder why I've taken so many naps here!

Anything else going on? I'm sure there's tons, but for now, it's time to clean out the refrigerator, do some laundry, and get just a little cleaning done!

Brylee Learning Karate From Her Daddy

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Caption Of The Week V

Project 52: 13/52 Shine

Out of all of the great pictures we took throughout the town last night, I decided to go for this as my shine. This is a star that hangs as decor in the dog specialty store on our Main Street. I love this lantern, and would love to eventually have this in Brylee's room.

And Now, Back By Popular Demand

TODDLER VS. SNOWMAN!

In the first corner, the nameless, faceless, characterless snowman! (Hearing the tiny, but wild, applause from all of his little snowflake friends around us)


And in this corner, Toddler!!!! (Insert own applause here...preferably wild and crazy...)


DING! DING! And the beginning of round one!

Toddler takes a running start, determined to give this not-very-well-formed snowman a big welcoming hug.


OH! But she instantly bounces off the frozen pile!


Oh! Looks like she got a mouthful! Spit it out little one, and try this again...

It's clear now that she is out for revenge. She gets up and runs at the snowman again!


But stops...is she calling a truce? Is this not her day???

Oh! She gives the snowman a big head chop!

Oh the snowman may have started out strong, but now it's losing its head!!!




Now she is going for what others would call the chest area...that is, if they spent enough time sculpting the snowman correctly...

Oh! If the snowman wasn't made of soft individual flakes, that might hurt!

She now moves to the other side (backside? Ehhh...who cares!)

And digs in to enjoy her spoils...

Congratulations, Toddler! A second victory for her...But this one was a close one!

Tune in next time to see who the Toddler will be facing. Will it be the thing that will bring her down?

You won't want to miss it!

Circus Day Becomes A Nor'easter Day

(Picture taken at 10:15 a.m.)

What was supposed to be a day that celebrated the circus at the library story time became a day of staying indoors and 'oohing' and 'ahhing' at the snow as it fell upon us.

I don't have snow tires on my car yet, because, let's face it...if I get snow tires, it would almost be a waste of putting them on because until today, there was fading evidence of snow around us, the majority of what is left in yards.

But today, good ol' April Fools Day, Mother Nature played the ultimate prank.

And I was looking forward to Circus day at the library to have Brylee wear her Ashes/Petunia/Radio shirt and circus hat to share her unique clown family experience!

But instead, we are going to take the opportunity to enjoy the day this way:

(image found here)



(image found here)
And yes, I loved the musical episode. I found the middle number with the cast with their spouse/lover a little far fetched...but I loved the rest! Besides Dr. Bailey, Callie is my favorite character, and I thought she rocked the entire thing (really enjoyed Bailey's and Lexie's singing as well!)

(image found here), but go here to see it live...the eggs may hatch today!!!

This will become this.

And here it is! First time made, and I think it was somewhat a success!

Happy Friday everyone!!!!