Beach Trip

Last weekend Mom, Dad, Scott, Rebecca, Hannah, Jackson, Rosie, and I all headed to the beach to relax and celebrate Scott's birthday. Jackson and I went back and forth on whether we should board sweet Rosie since crate training was going really well and I started school on Monday. We decided last minute that it would just be easier to take her and maybe she could get a little beach time too. They don't allow dogs on the beach in Ft Walton but we figured they might make an exception for this cute girl.

We successfully took her on the beach where she LOVED digging in the sand but was terrified of the waves. She got filthy so naturally she was a happy puppy!

It was early morning so we wouldn't get caught and fined. I love the way the beach looks in the morning before everything is disturbed.

Rosie also got to go on some long walks to the bay which she really enjoyed. At one point she got so close to a huge blue herron that we thought she would go nuts but she was having such a good time sniffing unfamiliar grass that she didn't even notice. This is a picture of steps down to the bay. Rosie was a little skeptical of this as well.

I loved getting to spend some time playing with Hannah. I was the only one wearing a swimsuit when we took her to the splash park so we had fun running through all the water. And there was a LOT of water. It wasn't so much a splash park as a pelt park but Hannah took it like a champ and actually enjoyed it. She's such a brave girl!

Sorry I've been so behind on updates this week. With school starting things have been busy, busy. More to come soon including some of my favorite wedding pictures from disc 2!

Doctor Visits

Today was Rosie's first trip to the vet since we've had her. Rosie and I were both so nervous! Here she is sitting under my chair in the waiting room scared to death.

She got her second booster shot, heartworm medicine, and had her cute spaniel ears cleaned and treated. She did such a good job! The shot didn't even phase her. Dr. Katie was so sweet and super impressed with our well behaved puppy. Boy, did Rosie fool her! Overall it was a good experience and Rosie is excited to see Dr. Katie again in 3 weeks.

Cookie Monster

My sister-in-law, Rebecca, and I have started a sort of tradition of getting together at her house to make and decorate sugar cookies for various occasions. We have made them at Christmas, Halloween, 4th of July, Spring, and basically any other time it would be mildly appropriate because they are just so good. We decided to make some this week in celebration of my last week before school starts back, Scott's birthday, and Hannah being old enough to join in and enjoy the process. Here are the finished results.

Hannah was ready to help in Mommy's apron.

She liked to shake, shake, shake the sprinkles!

And when they were done, Hannah decided she likes the cookies just as much as Rebecca and I do!

I have decided that she is going to be a clothes horse like her Mommy and Aunt Caroline. The whole time I'm there she chattered away about wanting to put her shoes on. She LOVES shoes! Then, upon seeing her reflection, she decides she needs a hairbow and starts patting her head and saying bow. What  a fancy little cookie monster!

Weekend Update

This weekend was one of the rare weekends that both Jackson and I were in Birmingham all weekend. On Saturday we went to see "The Dark Knight Rises" in iMax at the McWane Center with my brother and sister-in-law, Scott and Rebecca. The iMax screen took some adjusting to but overall was a cool experience. 

Then on Sunday, after an excellent church service at IPC, Jackson's brother, his girlfriend, and their two dogs came to play for the afternoon. Rosie got over the fear of bigger dogs pretty quickly and played until she could no longer stand. 

Here are Rosie, Ryder, and Maggi bonding over their mutual interest in a stick. 

Today, the birthday celebrations continue with Jackson's dad's birthday. Happy Birthday David Benefield!!

Birthday Celebrations

For whatever reason August and September are birthday months for people I know and love. This week Jackson's brother Brandon turned the big 31 and Miss Rosie turned a whole 2 months old! Definitely causes for celebration!

Here is Rosie on her 2 month birthday. She celebrated with a chipmunk-like toy. We are trying to teach her to catch the ones who would like to live in our backyard.

This is Brandon last year for his 30th. We celebrated in Ozark with Jackson's family.

Jackson and I brought a sweet 30 pinata.

Aidan and Ethan got a huge kick out of it but it turned out to be really difficult to break into! Any excuse to hit things with a sword works for little boys!

This year Brandon and his girlfriend Laura plan to visit us in Birmingham and celebrate over the weekend. Rosie is so excited to meet them! 

Oh Happy Day!

So, after a bit of mail confusion I received one disc of my wedding pictures. Now comes the daunting task of choosing 50 for our album. My other disc should arrive in the next few days and I'm sure won't make it any easier! Here are a few that I really like.

I love being able to relive the day through our pictures. Hannah and Shawn did such a great job!