Life lately ...

We had our pictures taken for our Christmas cards ...

and the pup even rocked it - as my mom says, "He's even smiling!"

We celebrated Thanksgiving up north ...

and had lots of cuddles ...

I spent some time with this little dude - didn't have a shark attack, but did have the flu attack - ekk!

the sock thief has been in action lately ...

the joys of a new bone ...

we survived the LONGEST week ever with anticipating Christmas break ...

I got up early to fit in my workouts BEFORE work - that alarm went off SO early!

we had a sick puppy - cuddles were just what he needed!

It SNOWED!!

And someone was in heaven {too bad it's pretty much all melted now!}

And we have been lazy, very very lazy ...

Because we are officially on Christmas break ... and couldn't be any happier! :)

Sunday snooze ...

My boys :)

Iceman ...

This was the hubs fourth time participating in the Iceman Cometh bike race.  Every year the weather has been gross - from frigid cold temperatures to rain to rain, hail, sleet, and snow all wrapped up together! 

So this year, when the sun was shinning at the beginning of the race - I thought it might just be too good to be true!  But none the less, we posed for our "before" picture and off the husband was for a couple hours of grueling bike riding ...   

All smiles at the start! 

About 12 miles in we caught up for onre more peek at him ...

After seeing the hubs on a little single track, I {along with my wonderful parents who were there to cheer on the hubs} head to the finish line.  And it started to rain {in true iceman fashion of course!} but thankfully by the time we were outside at the finish the rain had stopped.

 I usually have a general idea of when the hubs will finish ... so when he wasn't finishing I turned to my mom and said something was wrong.  

I saw a couple familiar faces pass by who were in his start wave ... and then friends finish who started after him a wave or two - so I knew something wasn't right ...

And low and behold, FINALLY he appeared! 

And gave it one last little push to get up one last little hill before the finish ...

Come to find out, the hubs got a flat tire about 5 miles before the finish.  That ate up some time, a lot of time! He didn't have his tool to pop off his tire, and after about 20 minutes a friend passed by, asked if he needed anything, and so graciously threw him his tool bag to fix his flat.

So he finished, in one piece -and that was really the most important thing after all :)

Happy Halloween ...

The week before Halloween seemed to DRAG on like none other!  The hubs and I were trying to decide if it was because we were eagerly awaiting our visitors for the weekend or because a full moon on Hallween week {along with inside recess multiple days in Kindergarten land} is not the best combination.  We asked around and everyone thought that Tuesday definitely should have been Friday so we were feeling better that we weren't the only ones :) 

But finally Friday arrived and our "Utah" friends arrived - who are no longer living in Utah but who I still introduce as our Utah friends :)  We are so lucky to have them now living an hour and half away - but with busy work schedules it's hard to carve out time to see eachother, so when we figured out we could spend an ENTIRE weekend together - I think we were all a little beyond excited! 

Of course - the guys had to start burning things shortly after they arrived, apparently that's just what men do :)

Otis was very excited to have his buddy Rufio around for the weekend too!  We are so very thankful that these two met when Otis was just a pup because they get along so well! {yes, Otis is a bit dominate and can be a jerk at times - but those moments are few and far between with Rufio!}

Saturday after a morning of the girls watching HGTV and the boys running to the bike shop {without purchasing any additional bikes!} we started to carve away ...

Apparently I picked an easy one since I was the first one done!  And, all the bike lights that the hubs has came in handy as they were PERFECT for lighting our pumpkins! 

Annie's "dot" pumpkin got lots of compliments from the trick-or-treaters.  Many asked if it was real ... I think Annie can vouch by the pain in her hands that it is definitely real. :) 

Otis loved cuddles with his Aunt Annie ;)

The boys tuned into some football and the girls began crafting.  I'm so excited to have some Annie original artwork to be part of our Christmas/Snow decorations!  I absolutely LOVE them, and I even created some of my own to add to the collection :)

The pups dressed up when it was time for handing out candy - a Michigan football player and a manly blue tutu ;)

Annie was in charge of the counter so on the window seat she sat with the pups.  Towards the end of the night, the pups were pretty tired out!  It was too cute seeing them both cuddled up and falling asleep!  

Apparently watching 202 trick-or-treaters coming to the door tired our pup out.  He didn't really move for the rest of the evening once we turned off our porch light.

A very low key, yet most enjoyable weekend with great friends.  Just what the hubs and I needed before gearing up for another week of work! 

Coach Otis ...

I'm currently doing my third round of the 21 Day Fix.  It's been a lot of hard work - daily workouts and HUGE changes to my eating habits {aka cutting out a lot of snacking and sweet treats} but it has been SO worth it!  Since Aug 14 - I've lost over 20 pounds! Hip hip hooray!!

Typically, I do my workouts as soon as I get home from work.  Sometimes the hubs takes Otis for a walk during this time, sometimes the hubs brings Otis upstairs during this time, and sometimes the hubs goes biking while I workout and Otis stays in his cage for just a little longer ...

But, I feel bad about him being cooped up more than he has too. So, tonight- I tried my workout with him out and about.  I figured it was pilates which doesn't include any jumping so hopefully I wouldn't draw attention to myself.  I should have known that I'm on the floor pretty much the ENTIRE workout - so of course the pup would want to be RIGHT by me ...

And yes, he was.  Staring me down during planks ...

Between my legs during the "C" series ....

Stretching it all back out with me ...

"Encouraging" me during the leg series ...

And pretty much barking at me whenever I wasn't touching him {During the superman series} ...

Lesson learned - the pup will not be helping out with workouts from now on! :)

Happy Birthday Otis!!

Happy 1st Birthday to this sweet Pup!! 

Yes we are crazy dog parents who spoiled our pup like crazy today! It seems like just yesterday he was a little fur ball who we were constantly tripping over.  Now, we still trip over him but he's put on about 25 pounds - and that fluff is gone {but hopefully will return once his hair grows out again!}.  We think we got pretty lucky in the pup department, and really can't imagine our life without him in it!

Of course we had to celebrate today in true crazy dog parent fashion.  We both felt bad that Otis was locked up all day in his cage while we worked, so when we got home we broke out his special birthday bone! {Free from the D.O.G. Barkery in TC!} 

Otis wasn't too sure what to do with the huge treat ...

But eventually he gobbled it up!  And yes, he keeps going back to that spot in the yard looking for crumbs. :)

After a bike ride for the hubs, a cardio workout for me, a yummy taco dinner & dog food for the pup, we took the pup on a walk to get a pup cup.  Your birthday only comes once a year and he deserved to be spoiled too!  

It's funny because he KNOWS what the ice cream store is now - and just sat inside there looking as everyone ahead of us was served their ice cream.  They all got quite the kick out of him!  And when it was finally his turn, well he had that ice cream down in two minutes flat! 

Happy Birthday to you, sweet boy!  Here's to many more fur ball years ahead! :)

Fall is here & maybe winter?!? ...

Truth be told ... the pup LOVES to be outside.  When we told people we were getting a puppy in the winter time, they told us we were crazy because a puppy would not want to go out in the cold to go to the bathroom.  We definitely lucked out because Otis LOVES to be outside regardless of the weather {unless of course it's raining, then we have to throw him outside to do his business}.

Otis has LOVED the leaves - running like crazy at every opportunity outside!

But the other night when it was snowing - someone didn't want to go outside! I think he forgot how much he loved the white stuff because the next morning, he was in heaven once again! 

And of course I must mention the big game this weekend.  Yes, I might have splurged and bought Otis his very own Michigan jersey while at the grocery store.  I must admit, he kept it on all afternoon and didn't seem to mind it at all.  Does this mean I'll be buying more clothes for him - probably not! :)

The boys enjoyed watching the game ...

And someone was a little depressed after the outcome ... we had to give him a reminder that it was just a game and life will go on :)