Healing from within...

Just last friday I heard that one of our doc friends out here had a 2yr old vizsla. I was so psyched, I sent him an email that day. I don't believe I said one complete sentence, it was just a lot of excitement and random thoughts thrown down on the page. "I didn't know..." "We used to have..." "When can I watch him..." "Doug will pay you, to let me watch him!"

He responded back with, "I'm going out of town next week...and you can watch him." I almost cried as I screamed to Doug we were watching Louie (now this weekend!)

We went over to meet him on monday, and it was such an eerie similarity to being around Pons. Clearly, they were the same age and both bird dogs...but Louie was still different. He listened, and did tricks...just to name a few!

We've been thinking a lot about expanding the family...in more ways than one, but it's so hard to know when it's God's timeing and when it's your timing...and if your timing is for the right reasons.

Anyways, while looking into dogs and staying in the bird dog category we have discovered a new interest in the pointers.

German Shorthair

German Wirehair

English Shorthair.

They all look different and act a little different as well...but we are hearing that these guys, the english shorthairs might be the way to go! Only time will tell...but right now we have Louie!

He still requires the same amount of attention and physical activity as Pons did...but he lays down when you get back home, and he doesn't bite me all day?!!!

I'm sure their will be more pics later, and I think we will have him more often and for 10 days at a time, so we are now considering ourselves his "God Parents!"

Louie, Louie!!!! He actually listens and he's not as spastic as some other dogs in the past have been, but he's still a handfull! For some reason, we still love it!

Dec 1: Winter Wonderland

December 1 meant snow in Seattle! It was a breath taking site and the perfect amount of snow. We worried the city would start shutting down around us, but by 12noon, the snow was gone.

We had a big Christmas event in the office that morning for patients, so we took a little nap before our "big city" adventure in downtown Seattle that night. The snow started coming down again that afternoon, the flakes were huge and wet. We worried if we should still go, but reminded ourselves we were from Ohio and lived in Iowa!

Bundled up in our long pea coats and scarves and headed to the city. It was funny because we were pretty much the only ones dressed like that, and someone even commented on our attire that we looked like we were "way to prepared" for such weather! Anyways, downtown was beautiful...take a look.

Christmas in the West

Views from Mount Si

Saturdays are for ADVENTURES!

Mount Si: 4,167 ft high, lies on the western margin of the Cascade Range and this Saturday we "kicked it's butt!" (Too bad on Sunday it kicked ours!)

We wanted to hike a mountain, so we bundeled up like we were from Ohio, and had been living in Iowa :) and headed for the mountains! It was a perfect day, in the 40s and when we got there we realized by examining the locals (some wearing shorts) that we were "way to over dressed!"

It was a 4 mile hike to the top, and let's just say 2 miles into it while sitting on a log, eating our peanut butter sandwiches we weren't sure about the rest of the trip! However, the pb&j was all we needed to get to the top!

The views were amazing and by the time we got to the top it was snowing!

Happy Salmon Day!

In the West we call it, "Happy Tofukery Day" or "Happy Salmon Day!" Doug and I started our Thanksgiving with a 7.5 mile run, a lunch of salmon, stuffed mushrooms and squash...oh wait, wine! Doug worked on some homework and I read a book (that's right!). By mid evening we were ready to get out, but had no where to go so we just drove around!

Black Friday (today) we got up at 4:15am and joined the other couple hundred of frozen westerners standing outside of Best Buy. This was Doug's first Black Friday event, and I was proud to be the one dragging him out so early...only he was the reason we were going out! We set our site on a 32" flat screen the night before...and to our delight we came home with a new addition!

We worked a couple of hours in the early morning, raced back home and geared up for our next adventure! We road the "Metro" (bus) into Bellevue to shop some more! Bellevue is a nice little neighboring town, that reminds me of a mini downtown Seattle. Just a few people to shop for so we quickly found ourselves wondering around...but neither wanted to go home!

I think we are both ready for some "boy time" and some "girl time"...but he's been a trouper! Pray for friends to appear soon!

Anyways, hope everyone is well...see you all very soon!

Somebody sent us cookies......

Thanks for the Thanksgiving cookies Austin.... they went to tummy town!!!!

Mudding in Monroe!

When I picked Doug up at the airport on Tuesday, the first thing he said was "can we go into the mountains this weekend?" So; Mike, Molly, Doug and I went mudding in the "kind of mountains" today! We drove out 45 minutes or so and it was pouring rain the whole time...dirt bikes, four wheelers and jeeps every where. We starting climbing a hill instantly and had to reroute because a tree was down! The jeep we were in was designed to climb so it was pretty jerky...and because it was raining the windows were up...did I mention I was in the back seat?!!! Well after climbing a few hills and going through a few rivers...I almost lost it. I screamed "Doug roll down the windo, I'm going to puke!" Everyone started laughing at me...but I was sooooo serious! It was a lot of bouncing and shaking!

Two weeks ago Mike and Molly did this by themselves, and lets just say they almost rolled it! So...as we were bravely playing today I was half expecting some crazy action. Thirty minutes into the ride, we found our crazy action...the river! Well since it had been raining and was raining the current was really strong...Molly said she was getting out, I called her a chicken and together, the four of us crossed the river, check it out!

After this we were ready to eat...so we stopped at this dinner along side the road. It was one of those unique places that only the locals know about...grandma in the kitchen, backery in front...home-made breads, soups and sandwiches. It was amazing!

Got some Starbucks and called it a day.

...when the boy's away, sisters oh how they play!!

So, a week and a half after moving to this new city...Doug leaves me (not seriously people!) for Iowa!!! No worries right, I invited Rihana to come visit. We had so much fun! We shopped and ate...shopped and ate...shall I go on?!!!

We had the most fun on our 9 hour adventure in downtown Seattle. We did a lot of touching, dreaming and pretending as we tried on clothing from privatly owned botiques...but it was soooo fun! I even got her hooked on Starbucks! The Space Needle was $16 per person to visit, so we just took pictures. I mean seriously, that's a shirt!

View of downtown Seattle.

Katie Holmes and Posh Spice? Seriously!!!!!

Now Rihana's gone...and Doug doesn't come home until the 13th! I tried to be a Bad A** and pretend I would be fine, but 2 mini jugs of yogurt icecream later (don't judge me, it was yogurt!) I am ready for him to come home.

Miss you all...

Part 2 of the video, read previous blog first!

Part 2 of the video!

Sleepless in Seattle is right!!!

Well, we are finally here and finally unpacked! Yesterday we finished unloading the last of the boxes and got a couch. It looks and feels really nice...but home we have yet to call it. It feels more like we are guests at some really nice resort that we would love to call our home...I think after a couple parties and some evenings after a long day of work, it will soon feel like "home."

The weather has been amazing the whole week we have been here. I feel like we need to make the most of every day (outside some how) because we quickly got the impression that these days are few between!!!

The drive out West was beyond words. I thought that I would cramp up and die or that my severe ADD would cause Doug to kill me...but it didn't. We were to aw-struck to ever be board!

Below is part one of the video series of our journey , enjoy...and the drive is recommended to everyone!
Love you all and miss you tons! the endels

The Seattle Run Down

Tuesday (Sept 25) bright and early the journy began! We landed in Seattle, got our super fly Audi Q7 and drove to Dr. White's house in Kirkland. Went to lunch at the Belching Frog (that's what I said) and began our tour of the area!







We started in downtown Kirkland were Doug will be working. It is located on the Puget Sound which is a body of water lying east of Admiralty Inlet, through which ocean waters reach inland some 50 miles from the Pacific Coast to provide all-weather ports for ocean-going ships at Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia. Nice town, parks, shopping, icecream...what more could you want?!



Redmond is where we are living. Picture Easton Town Center! We reside in the Cleveland, on Cleveland Street (how appropriate!) with outdoor shopping in front of us, bike paths behind us and Whole Foods down the street. Everything is within walking distance and the road have lanes for bikes!!!!



Seattle is 20 minutes from us...if there is no traffic! Wednesday night we ate at the Columbia Tower Club, located at the top floor of the 'highest building West of the Mississippi River!' We are looking down on the 'Needle.'


The Weather was nice 3 out of the 5 days...and we even saw the sun!

The seminar was in downtown Seattle, so as Doug was learning...I was scouting out the area! (Shopping!!) Ok, looking!!!! Friday, we walked around Pikes Place Market and I meet this shinny pig too. I asked him if he was interested in living in Waynesfield, Oh...but he said he was a "city" hog and would like to stay.

Well, that's all for now. I am going to keep this site up so we can all stay in touch! Doug is done with his tests on Tuesday and I on Thursday...then we leave the Quad Cities for good on Oct. 18!

Love you all!

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