Life Changes

Hello!!! Long time no talk!!!!

I know I took a little hiatus from this blog.  I started realizing that I didn't have much to share and felt like I was repeating posts, mostly about the dogs.  I never intended for this blog to be forced and be "work" and that is what it started to turn into so I decided to take a break until I felt like the time was right to start again.

Well here we go.  Since my last post, Folly has grown up.  He turned 11 months old yesterday and is a BIG boy!!! He currently weighs about 58 pounds.  He isn't very tall but he is nice and thick all around.  He is a great addition to our little family.  He helps entertain (or bug) Cali.  He is my daredevil.  He LOVES water.  He is a chow hound.  He is loving.  He is a cuddler.  He craves my attention.  He is my buddy. He is demanding.  He is a typical Portuguese Water Dog.

A lot has changed in our lives recently.  Where do I even begin...

How about I start with where we are as a family.  We are still living in NC but not for much longer.  Q is currently gone again on the other side of the world.  He has been gone for roughly 3 months now.  It has been a little harder this time around just because communication has been more restricted.  Q does not get wifi very much and he has been traveling more.  We have communicated a lot through email with some text message because he has been buying data for his phone which has been a BIG help.  Q did receive his career designation with the Marine Corps so he is allowed to remain a Marine until he decides otherwise or stops picking up rank.  He has received orders to Beaufort, SC!  We are very excited to return back to SC.  SC has had our hearts since the beginning.  We met in Charleston and also got married there, so to say our love story started there would be accurate.  Ever since we moved away from there 3 years ago, we have talked about it probably on a weekly basis.  Our Saturday mornings would consist of house hunting for fun and having big dreams for life one day.  Well that one day has come.  Just because we received orders to SC does not mean that we will be staying there forever.  There is a possibility that after these next 3 years we could move again but any time we get to be in SC will be great.  We couldn't be more excited!!!

Now, that being said, I, myself have big news.  I have accepted a spot in the upcoming Medical University of South Carolina's Physicians Assistant program!! This opportunity is life changing.  I can't even describe the excitement I have!  I have dreamed of going there ever since I was at the College of Charleston.  I never thought it would actually become a reality.  I applied back in September just to apply and see what would happen, I never thought I would actually get in.  I was initially put on a wait-list for an interview and thought that was an accomplishment to get that far, then I got an interview.  Then again, I was put on the wait-list.  Around 500 people applied for the program and they only accept 60.  When I got the call a couple weeks ago offering me a spot, I couldn't believe it!!!  I was actually returning home from a week trip to Ohio visiting with family.  I was just entering Raleigh traffic when the call came through on my car.  I started shaking right away.  I was in disbelief.   My favorite part was being able to talk to Q and him not believing what I was telling him. I will forever remember those moments.

So now the fun begins! I am going to visit Q next week for 10 days.  When I return, I will be moving the following week to Charleston to start classes at the end of May!  We are moving into a townhouse outside of Charleston.  I will not be able to move in right away but it won't be long.  The dogs will be coming with me.  I am not sure they are aware of the life changes that are about to happen to them.  Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to give them as much attention as they may like but I will do my best until Q returns.  I am hoping that with his new job, he will be able to help out some more. We are determined to make this all work and it will be an adjustment for all of us but I think it will be great!!!  Q has decided to commute back and forth from Charleston to Beaufort at least a couple times a week.  Neither one of us really wants to live apart so we are going to have to figure it out.

I am thinking of keeping this blog going, we will see.  I hope to update it with school stuff and balancing life in the military with life in PA school.  What two extremes those are; most people think life in the military is crazy so why not add PA school to it as well.  We are crazy!!!! I would not want this crazy life with anyone else other than Q!

Stay tuned...

xoxo

Folly Shenanigans

Folly has fit into the family really well.  He loves to be outside and chew on EVERYTHING!  He loves our mulch and sticks.  He is a typical puppy when it comes to chewing on things. 

Unlike when we first got Cali, Folly is able to climb all the stairs.  He does go to fast at times and face plants which is so funny to watch.

He thinks the front stairs as his "safe zone" from Cali.  She just loves to tackle him when they are outside. 

He has also discovered the dishwasher (thanks to Cali).  Instead of just licking the silverware, he tries to take it out and chew on it.  Yes, he has climbed up onto the dishwasher lid already. 

Thanks to Aunt Leigh, he has his favorite toy, "Mr. Dino."  He loves it because it crinkles and squeaks.  Cali loves to steal it from him and they play tug-a-war with it (sorry Mr. Dino).

And his  favorite place to lay in the man cave.  He has made himself at home.  He will sleep here for hours. 

For some reason, Folly is obsessed with my hair.  Any chance he gets, he will get a big bite and pull.  It hurts so bad.  You think he is just giving you kisses one moment and then the next he just goes for the hair.  Not cool!

Summertime= Fishing

As summer is coming to an end, hopefully the beautiful days by the water will not end so soon!

We have had some wonderful and beautiful days on the water! I would not trade any of them for anything! 

One of the highlights was the day we caught the shark!!! This was my first shark and it was pretty fun (but scary when it came up to the boat)!

Cute little 3 ft bonnethead shark!!! 

The next weekend I caught the cutest (smallest) sting ray! I didn't even know he was on my hook! Sneaky little guy!

Q had mastered the total relaxation spot on the boat.  All you need is a beach chair and you are good to go!

Here is to more days on the water and to more beautiful days with my husband.  Doesn't get much better than this!

xoxo

Agility Classes

Cali has been taking agility classes or the past couple weeks and she loves it!!! She is becoming a natural one class at a time.  

She really loved the donut and the peanut.  She has such great balance!! 

I think we are going to have to stick with the agility classes.  They are both fun for her and fun for us!!! We have a natural on our hands!!

xoxo

Cali and Folly

I can't believe how fast time is flying.  I totally missed Folly's 3 month birthday on Monday!!! Next week marks 1 month of having him! How crazy!  We have been very busy around here with guests, work, and I started classes this week (4 days a week :( ).  Here is a little update on these two. 

Needless to say, they are now two peas in a pod!! They play all the time and can't leave each other alone.  That's what dogs do right??  

They are so funny to watch.  They are most rambunctious in the morning (while I'm still in bed and Q is up with them).  Q calls it their WWE time.  

Cali will slam him into the wall or ground but Folly has started to gain some guts as well.  He stalks her so he can pounce on her.  She has learned that if she just rolls on her back he will get on top of her and they just bite each other. 

Then they take naps, then back to rounds 2, 3, or 4. 

They fight over toys CONSTANTLY! Two bones are never good enough, it has to just be one!

But he learns from her so well.  You can see him watching her, trying to figure out what we are saying to what she is doing.  He does sit pretty well.  Q is working on lay down with him... it's going alright! ;) 

They love when Q lays on the floor and plays with them.  He can't control his nipping vs kissing... he struggles.  I love these two and am so glad that Cali has someone to play with full time now. 

xoxo

WELCOME HOME FOLLY

A lot has changed since my last post.  The last time I wrote, I talked about getting a labradoodle but things fell through with that and it couldn't have been at a better time.  We had been waiting before that to hear of a litter of Portuguese Water Dogs but it didn't seem that there were going to be any anytime soon so we looked elsewhere.  Well, within a week of the labradoodle falling through, we got word that there was a litter of PWD in Baltimore, but we were waiting to hear more about them.  So long story short, we got one!!! We picked Folly!!!

 

Folly is a brown, male PWD.  He was born 5/18/14 so he will be 12 weeks tomorrow.  He is very sweet!  He loves to give kisses and chew on his toys!

When we got him 2 weeks ago, he was probably about 11 pounds.  2 weeks later, he is weighing 15.4 pounds!!

He has learned a lot in his short 2 weeks with us.  He is doing well with potty training.  He has never gone potty in his kennel expect the first morning.  He sleeps through the night and does great during the day.

He is Cali's best friend.  She looks for him around the house if she doesn't seem him.  They play all the time.  He started trying to cuddle with her last night on the couch. Too cute! 

Folly is a great addition to our little family and we could not be happier that we got him!  We are excited for many adventures with this guy and can't wait to see him grow!  We love our babies!

xoxo

Another day on the water

After we recovered from Hurricane Arthur that decided to pay us a visit last Thursday night, the weather for the 4th of July holiday was perfect.  Knowing that it was going to be crowded, we decided not to go far in the boat and to just park and sit on a beach somewhere.  

This is one of the best things about summers on the NC coast, the water.  This time of year the water is perfect temp and (usually) clear.  Honestly if you don't have some sort of boat, kayak, paddle board, canoe, something then I can see why people don't enjoy being stationed here (especially people our age).

We love going out on the water.  Even if you just troll around and don't catch anything and don't get out of the boat, it is still fun.  Our favorite spots are around Beaufort, NC.  These photos were taken at Carrot Island.

I am so glad that we have a water dog.  She knows that when the boat is in the driveway, she better be coming with us.  She gets so excited the whole way to the ramp. Then she is non-stop moving the entire time in the boat and off.  But she has so much fun!  She is so entertaining to us as well.  We have been teaching her to jump off the boat to get her toy and she just loves it!

Love the summer time!  Enjoy your weekend!

xoxo