Brock(Lee) and Carrot Soup

This weekend we decided to start hand preparing Brock's meals again.  Our last hand preparing adventure included ground lamb, white rice, and a dicalcium phosphate supplement.  We tried feeding him this food for 6 weeks, and the results/benefits were not meeting the costs so we decided to go back to the gluten free dog food that we had been feeding him before.  The lamb and rice food wasn't making him better, but it wasn't making him worse either.  We were spending over $50 a week, and he was practically eating better than we were.  Enough said.

While researching online for anything I could find related to boxer food allergies, or dog allergies in general, I came across a "Cookbook for Your Boxer."  I figured shelling out $5 was worth seeing what sort of ideas and recipes (particularly the allergy specific menu) this cookbook could provide us.  This cookbook has so many recipes, but unfortunately, the allergy recipe is exactly the one we had tried before.  I tried to pick the most basic recipe to keep costs and my time spent in the kitchen to a minimum.  Rover's Raw Chow is what I chose.

So Sunday afternoon I cut up and boiled 7+ pounds of chicken, giving my thumb a huge blister in the process.  I also pureed a can of carrots, apple cider vinegar, plain yogurt and three eggs (including the shells) for each day of the week.  You can imagine what the puree product looked like - semi clumpy carrot soup.  Yum.  I started to panic and think, "There is no way Brock is going to eat this."  The recipe said I could puree everything together (including the chicken) depending on my dog's preference.  I put it to the test when I let the sweet boy lick the blender.  Ha.  What in the world was I worried about?  He went nuts jumping around the kitchen and crying for more of the orange goop.  Brock always went bananas in the mornings and evenings when he knew it was dinner time.

But now...           

Hey Brocky...

 ...You hungry?...

 ...You want some...?

 ... Some chicken?...

Here's to hoping this new food will reverse the hair loss, itching and redness on the poor boy.

Take Luck (and keep your fingers crossed),

LP

Sonny Saturdays

Yesterday after Ryan got off work, we sat outside and enjoyed the sunshine.  Yes, you heard me right.  Sunshine.  Brock and Sonny love their little kiddy pool that we fill up with water.  We (I mean, Brock and Sonny) live and die by this pool when the weather gets hot.  Brock is one of those types who is not afraid to jump in, lay down, blow bubbles and generally lounge about.  Sonny on the other hand is a little more apprehensive and likes to take her time getting in the pool, and usually hops back out pretty quick.  Apparently she likes to swim, though!  We took this video yesterday and had to share.  You can't hear it but at the very end, before Ryan pulls her back, she starts growling at him.  What a feisty little wiener!

     

Take Luck,

LP

Ma

Wendy at Totally Desperate Mom started a virtual Mother's Day card, of sorts.  So, I figure - why not join in on the fun.  I like answering questions and I think my Mom will love it.  I hope.

1.  What is your best childhood memory with your Mom?

I certainly can't pick just one, and these memories seem to all include my Mom.  I somehow remember always watching her drive away after she dropped me off at daycare, letting me pick out my own clothes and look ridiculous (thanks, Mom), putting soap in my mouth when I dropped an f-bomb, and driving somewhere (usually Grammy's house) only to drive past the street until I reminded her, "Didn't you want to turn there, Mom?" 

2. Was she constant with her discipline?

I don't recall getting disciplined all that much, but I would have to say, yes.  We knew not to make her (or Dad for that matter) mad.  She might throw a remote control at us.

3.  Did you ever make your Mother cry because you were unruly or disobedient?

Certainly.  I don't remember, but she has told me about a time when I was being seriously naughty at the grocery store, and she had finally had enough.  I wouldn't be surprised if some of my bad jokes made her cry with embarrassment a time or too.  I have been told I was quite the precocious child and could be obnoxious at times.  

Me?  Never.

Ryan doesn't tell me I looked like a devil-child for nothing!

4. Do you remember any of the special things your Mother did for you?

 The most special thing my Mom did for me, was support me.  She had my back no matter what I wanted to do.  I  didn't appreciate it then, but both of my parents sacrificed a lot for my siblings and me.  She raised me to be my own person.  Mom also makes the meanest beef strogenoff and made it for me and my roommates every time she came to Carbondale. 

5.  Did she teach you something significant?

As I just mentioned, she taught me to be my own person, and to accept other people for who they are.  She taught me to have patience, kindness and to consider others - especially their feelings.  She showed me how wonderful a mother-daughter relationship can be through her relationship with Grammy.  She showed me how to make a commitment to something, and stick with it - regardless of how hard or impossible it may seem.

I love you, Ma!

Take Luck,

LP

Mama's Day

Happy (belated) Mother's Day weekend!

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, Ryan and I spent the weekend in St. Louis with his family and our friends.  When we bought the tickets to come into town for Clare's wedding, we knew we wanted to try to surprise and grace his parents with our presence.  What we didn't realize (until about a week before we left), was that Sunday was Mother's Day and we would get to spend it with Ryan's Mom.  

So began our scheming for pulling off a great surprise.  With the help and sneaky planning of Ryan's sister Cara, we decided that Cara would pick us up from the airport and bring us along to a dinner outing that Cara and Webb (Ryan's brother-in-law, Ryan - he is called Webb to avoid confusion) would be attending with the parentals.  Ryan told Cara he really wanted to eat at Bully's, a local barbeque place in Columbia  As it worked out, Webb was sworn into the Missouri State BAR Association on Friday morning and Cara had planned a "congratulatory celebration dinner" with their extended family at Bully's.  

Our initial plan had been to keep this a surprise from Ryan's entire family (Cara and Webb excluded), but Cara felt (and I think she made the right call) that she needed to give their Dad a little warning, so their house could be ready for company.  She spilled the news on Thursday night, and from what we hear, it was a torturous 24-hours for Danny (Ry's Dad) to keep this secret from Chris (Ry's Mom). 

Friday comes and we land in St. Louis.  Cara picks us up as planned and we make our way to Columbia.  Dinner was at 6:00, and we were running about 20 minutes late.  Cara had told Chris that she was stuck late at work and that she would be there as soon as possible.  When we were about 10 minutes away from the restaurant, Cara got a text from Webb saying "Where are you?  The suspense is insufferable!"  Classic, Webb.  Classic.  That text was followed up with directions to "Park on the east side of the restaurant..." to make sure nobody saw us through the windows. Thanks, Webb.    

We parked the car and Ryan called Chris's cell phone.  So they chit-chatted while we walked into Bully's.  Everyone else at the table saw us, had big dopey grins on their faces and Chris just kept chattering away on the cell phone, until Ryan told her to turn around.  The look on her face was priceless and wonderful.  I think she hugged us each three times before we sat down.  Danny was crying, but its debatable if he was crying tears of joy for seeing us, or tears of joy for not having to keep a secret anymore. 

Fast forward to Sunday, and Mama's Day!!  We started the morning with breakfast at a local restaurant.  Apparently I do not know how to read menu descriptions clearly and was unaware that the Southwestern Breakfast Burrito had scrambled eggs inside.  After a few attempts to choke it down in hopes of not disgracing my in-laws at my picky eating, I just had to give up.  I gave it a valiant effort, though.  I think when my eyes started watering they got the picture that eggs and I are not friends.  After breakfast we headed to Ryan's parent's house to play some Washers and Dangle Ball, and just spend time as a family.  

I am so happy that this weekend happened to be Mother's Day.  I felt bad that we couldn't be with my dearest Mama, but she gets to see us whenever she wants to and I know she understood.  We left her the best Mother's Day gift though - an entire weekend with Brock and Sonny.  Who wouldn't want that?

 Ryan's Mom, Chris and Grandma, Carol

 Ryan with his Dad, Danny

 Ry with his cousin, Jeremy

 Ranger in the pool

 Miss. Lola

 Ryan with his Mom

 Detangling the Dangle Balls

 Grandpa Bob and Chris playing washers

 Webb and Ryan

 Family time

 The lovebirds by the creek

 Chris with her kids on Mama's Day

We had such a great weekend.  I wish we lived closer to each other so we could have these visits more often, but maybe someday!  Only 16 days until Cara and Webb head up here for their Memorial Day Weekend visit, and 44 days until Danny and Chris come for a week!  Like I said yesterday, we have a lot to look forward to this Spring and Summer.  Woohoo!

Take Luck,

LP 

Clare Bear's Wedding

This past weekend, Ryan and I decided to hop on a little 747 and head to St. Louis for Clare Bear's wedding.  Just kidding.  This certainly wasn't a spontaneous decision.  Back in March I had a post titled Countdowns that was counting down (imagine that!) to some really exciting things that we had (and still have) coming up this spring and summer.  One of those exciting things was my college teammate Clare's wedding.  What I failed to mention was that we would be attending said wedding.  I have no idea whether Ryan's Mom reads this blog, and we were scheming to surprise his parents with a visit so I had to be a little vague with the details.  Anyway, so away we flew on Friday morning to St. Louis.  I will do a separate post on "the plan" and the sneakiness that was pulled off by Ryan and I, and his sister Cara.

Saturday morning came and I headed south to Carbondale, where I went to college at Southern Illinois University.  Even though it was a two-hour drive, I was looking forward to seeing the faces of some of my favorite gals - Tiff, Becky and Chelsea.  We met at the best pizza place in town, and a staple in my college diet, Quatros.  Next up, Saluki Softball  - where I spent practically every moment I was not in class.  It was Senior Weekend and the girls were facing Drake.  Three players that were little baby freshman when Tiff, Beck, Chels and I were seniors, are now seniors themselves.  Did that make me feel old, or what?  It was great to see those three girls move into leadership roles and get to move onto the next part of their lives.  The outcome wasn't what the doggies wanted, but it was great to be back to where I spent so much of my time and support those three seniors for a game.

 (Apparently it was Brown Dog's birthday??)

 Senior banner

You can't really see but I am smack-dab in the middle!  Whoop whoop! 

Next up, Clare Bear's wedding.  I headed back down south to Murphysboro with the ladies to Lake Murphysboro State Park.  With all the rain and flooding in Southern Illinois, it was almost unbelievable that the wedding site wasn't under water.  The ground was semi-mooshy so ladies that wore pointed heels were in a lot of trouble.

       

 Me and Beck before the wedding

The wedding party waiting for Clare

(I'm semi-slow and had my camera on the wrong setting so the rest of the pictures I took at the wedding are terrible.)

The reception was a lot of fun, and I got to talk to several other girls that I played college ball with.  One is a Mommy to the cutest little girl, Carleigh (who is by far the tallest 1+ year old I have ever seen), and the other just found out she is pregnant.  Yahoo for Saluki babies!!!  

Me and Tiffer

 Beck, Tiff and me

 The softball ladies and Carleigh (minus the bride)

 The softball gals again, with Skip.  Does Skip look like the luckiest guy in the world right now, or what?

 Jayme and Carleigh

 Beck and Brian

 Tiffer and Ryan (who come to Washington in 100 days!)

 Me and Chels

 Finally get some picture time with the B-E-A-UUUTIFUL bride!

She looked so gorgeous!!

My bestie Tiff wrote a post on her blog reflecting on our time in Carbondale, and how it isn't the same going back there now that we are three years out.  I would have to agree.  It isn't the same, and I like it that way.  We aren't poor college students living in crappy apartments, devoting every waking moment to softball.  Don't get me wrong, I certainly miss having my biggest stress be studying for an Econ test, my job being softball, Thursday being Grey's Anatomy nights at Tiff and Chelsea's apartment, and long Cavello bus rides through the Midwest.  But I am happy to say we own a home, have promising careers, get to drive my Forrester to work, am still studying, and still watch Grey's on Thursday nights.  I love that I can be away from my best friends for months (Beck) or even years (Tiff and Chels) and when we come back together its like nothing has changed and no time has passed.  Obviously we are a little older, a little wiser (hopefully), and now married with jobs/careers, but we still love and care about each other like we did before.  I wouldn't trade my college experience for anything.  Without it I wouldn't have met these girls and created these bonds of friendship, and if I think about it - I wouldn't have met Ryan either.   

Looking forward to sharing more about our sneaky surprise and pictures from Mother's Day with Ryan's family!!

Take Luck,

LP