Happy 7 Month Birthday Hailey Bug

**and happy birthday to Auntie Tracey in Scotland too!!**

The Incredible Inflatable Duck

Who knew bath time could become even MORE fun! Today we got Hailey the Munchkin duck bath from Target and it has been a huge hit -- first we had to blow up then bath. . .

Then it was time for a dry run (it's a little dark because we had the lights off and big screen on)

And finally the ultimate test, bath time!! Also note the awesome cowduck we found at Target =)



I do believe this may have been the best $10 I have spent in a long time!!

What a difference 8 months can make . . .

Family Weekend Recap

I know, I know, I've been slacking on blogging about the Holiday Weekend with the family, but here is a little recap of our fun!
Black Friday was a blast as usual . . . Karl and I got up at 430am and headed over to Walmart to get our 46" Samsung TV. The place was INSANE, but thankfully no one was trampled to death (apparently someone in NY was, how scary!) We got our TV no problem and proceeded to stand in line for 45 minutes . . . I had the camera but forgot to take pictures, oops! Then we headed to Target to try and get a car DVD player, but we weren't at the front of the line and by the time we reached the electronics counter they were gone =(. We came home by 630 and then Wendy and I went out for round two, the mall. By noon I was exausted and called it quits! I am happy to report however than Nonni in Florida was successful in procuring a car DVD player from Target down in Tampa =)


A little later in the day we all headed out to a local "cut your own" tree farm -- I had my heart set on cutting our own tree, Griswold style!! =) Once there however it didn't take me long to decided that I prefered the Frasier Firs way more than the White Pines, and since the Fir doesn't grow in Tennessee they were precut from North Caroline. So we picked a nice Fir tree and took it home for decorating.


There was also much present opening this weekend . . . Grandma and Boompa brought lots of Christmas presents from home and we opened several of them so that they could watch the joy on Hailey's face (brought on by the fun wrapping paper and tissue paper more so than the actual presents! They could have saved a bundle by just wrapping empty boxes!!


Grandma bought the cutest little outfit that has a trap door on the bum . . . ADORABLE!

Today we ventured down to Nashville and visited the Opryland Hotel. It was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit, we walked around all the decorations, and had lunch at the Irish pub, where we learned Hailey LOVES lemons . . . she's her daddy's girl!


Finally it was time to say bye bye to Grandma and Boompa who have a long drive back to Virginia . . . we had the bestest time while their visit lasted and cannot until we see them again!

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Birthday, Oh Happy Day!

What an exciting day! Hailey, Jersey and Molly's first Thanksgiving, Mommy's first time making the turkey, and a big 27th birthday! Here are some moments from the big day, we're so happy that Grandma and Boompa were here to celebrate with us!

mmmm . . . Turkey Time

The Sondermann Girls, say CHEESE!!!


Cutting Mommy's ice cream cake, yum! (atleast one of us is looking at the right camera!)

GOTCHA!

FINALLY the toothers, captured on film . . . did I mention she has two now?

GET ME OUTTA HERE

So, yesterday me and Hailey had had just about enough of one another. We didn't leave the house all day Tuesday or Wednesday, so by Wednesday evening we were a little tired of each others company . . . I was offering a 3 for one special, one free baby comes with two free dogs -- luckily daddy came home before anyone took me up on my offer! We decided to get out for a little while and shop for flat screen TV's (Karl & I's birthday / christmas presents for ourselves). Hailey was happy to hang out with her daddy and get a break from me and I must say vis versa! But once in the mall we were both all smiles again and Hailey LOVED all the christmas decor! She also loved having her daddy to give her a birds eye view of it all --
After checking out TV's at Sears and Best Buy we made our way over the Ryan's for some dinner (that won't happen again, we were both unimpressed with the buffet there) But Miss Hailey had a ball playing with the silverware and eating cottage cheese, pudding and ice cream, she was in a bit of a sugar coma on the way home . . .










After our fun evening out it was time to come home for bif baff time (that's what we call bath time here!) Now that Hailey has graduated to the big bath in the guest bathroom (actually it's now Hailey's bathroom) she gets to have naked time in her own room, which she loves beacause there's way more stuff to check out than there was on mom and dad's bed! She even gets check out by Molly, who might I mention loves the baby!! And I love her again too . . . =) Mama just need a little break from time to time! Good thing Boompa and Nana are on their way for Thanksgiving, they can get their fill of Hailey Bug and I can get some me time!


*Funny story -- right after (or actually while) I was taking the last picture here, Hailey peed the carpet ... hahahaha, her daddy had a duck & I couldn't stop laughing**

Introducing Molly

I guess my family won't leave me alone until I post some Molly pictures -- so here she is, still living at our house on trial, although she'd have to screw up pretty bad to leave now =) She a sweet girl, calm with Hailey and gets along really well (usually) with Jersey ... they're still testing the waters with one another so there are occasional spats.

The first thing Karl did was put a Wake bandanna on "my" dog -- they ended up losing the game, serves him right =) Then he wanted to rename her Guinness ( I considered it, because Nessy would have been cute, but she has been Molly for a year and a half so I didn't want to confuse the poor girl)

Anyone want to PLAY?!

Hailey is so funny, she is always trying to get the cat or the dog to play with her, so I finally caught her in action . . .



On a side note, we now have a new "trial" member of the family, Molly. Pictures will come soon once we know for sure our home is a good fit for Molly, and Molly is a good fit for our home! Things are looking great so far =)

Graduation Day

Jersey's graduation picture from Obedience school taken by her teacher!

Hailey's first boo-boo

Hailey is learning that gravity wins everytime!



















This particular ouchie came from a run in with the toy basket, it was turned on it's side and she decided to try and use it to keep her balance while standing, the basket however had other ideas and in the end chin met basket head on. Funny thing was it happened when I was watching her, and when I mentioned the scratch to Karl he said "yeah I saw it, I'm sorry, I didn't even see when she did it . . . " Hahaha, silly daddy he thought it happened on his watch! I should have let him believe that, but my conscience got the better of me and I told him the real story of what happened.

**This post is for Nonni -- I can take a hint!!**

Silly Time

Here are some videos of Hailey having fun with her daddy! I have to say that everytime he runs around with her on his shoulders she totally reminds me of a muppet!! Just the way her little head bobs as she is taken from side to side, and that big gummy grin she gives!!

Life Goes On

Sorry for the blogging hiatus, I'm sure you all understand my needing a little break. I have decided to take Cali's passing as a wake up call -- life is short (dog's are obviously way shorter than humans, but still) and Cali lived hers with so much joy and contentment for the everyday activites, so I have spent the last few days just hanging out with Hailey and Jersey (and daddy when he is around), my house is a little out of sorts (no mom, it's not in shambles, just not pristine like normal) and it's actually been really relaxing. I have worn sweats, as has Hailey, and we have just been bumming it, enjoying one anothers company. I have not worried about what laundry needs done, I have started several loads and they all now wait for me to fold them when I feel up to it, I have not vacuumed (that will be done today though because the hair is beginning to take over) and the bed got made today for the first time since Thursday . . . and I am happy to report, it hasn't bothered me =) So what HAVE I done for the past two days you may ask? Well here are some pix from our new "fun, laid back, life is short enjoy it while you can" attitudes . . .

Hailey has taken a shining to books (that must come from Aunt Lisa). Atleast she has good taste, she went for my drama/romance books rather than daddy's war books . . .

"Auntie" Jada and "Uncle" Garrett came over for a visit yesterday . . . Garrett is home on R&R so he finally got to meet the little bug! They had a good time hanging out, getting to know one another, and it was nice to have the company of some really good friends! We cannot wait for January when Garrett will hopefully be home for good, not that Jada herself isn't great company but we all know she and therefore we are happier with Garrett around =)

That same afternoon (at the same time as our visitors) there was a bad accident on the main road behind my house. You can see the emergency vehicles, and even med flight came in and landed in the field behind our house . . . exciting to watch but our prayers were with whomever was being medivaced out. When we drove by the area today I noticed a deer laying off the road in the field where the accident occured, perhaps that is what caused the accident



Last night Karl decided to give my back a break from leaning over the tub and he offered to give Hailey her bath -- so with running shorts on he threw himself into the task, literally . . . it just so happened that Garrett and Jada stopped by unannounced with some yummy "better than sex" cake right when Karl jumped in the bath, the slightly akward greeting between Karl & Garrett was so funny! Guys are silly, Jada had no problem waltzing in and saying hi, seriously Garrett I swear, he had shorts on =)



This morning daddy again helped out and fed little Bug her monring yougart while mommy showered, yummy!!



Then following Jersey's graduation from puppy class Hailey and Jersey played a little ball together. Those two are the best of friends and good company for one another, even though Jersey misses Cali girl terribly!

And finally Hailey was up to her new tricks again . . .

STANDING! She pulls herself up totally unassisted and just stands. She needs support from whatever it is she uses to get herself up, but still, standing, really!? She's not even 7 months yet, she NEEDS to slow down a little for mommy's sake!!!

Hope you have enjoyed sharing our past few days with us! And I hope that Cali can inspire others to just enjoy the simple things in life . . . I know we do!

On a little side note, we are going to visit an animal shelter tomorrow . . . I have no intentions of ever replacing my beloved old girl, but I know that she would want another dog to have the opportunity at life and a wonderful family that she did, and being that it's coming up to the holidays I can't help but think that we have the room in our home and in our hearts to give another pup that chance. I may get there and decide that it is WAY too soon for me, or I may just fall in love with another pair of baby browns like I did the day I found my Cali at the pound. Either way we'll keep ya posted =)

Cali's Post

It's hard to even start this post, but I promised the big girl today that she would get her own blog, so here it is. I told myself I was done crying, for now atleast, and yet here I sit typing with tears just streaming down my face . . . my big, obnoxious, overbearing, cantankerous mutt who I have loved so dearly for the past 6 years went to play in the big doggie park in they sky today . . . it was her time, and the cancer may have taken her little doggie leg and body but her big spirit will forever be here. I could go on and on about how great Cali was, and perhaps even more so about how horrible she could be, but at the end of the day all that matters is that she was Cali, our Cali, and she was deeply loved. We kept our end of the bargin, when it got to be too much for her to fight, we let her go peacefully, now I'm certain she'll keep up hers and continue to be our big protector from heaven. Now that I'm sure most everyone reading is crying, especially those who knew big Hootie, Caliboots, Calimonster, Pooter, and all the other nicknames that she has earned over the years just take a second to think of all the badness -- the pinning of family memebers in corners, the snapping when things didn't go her way, the stubborn gaze and snarl that accompanied things being done any way other than Cali's way -- feel any better?! Didn't think so, me either. She was a great dog, a little rough around the edges, but she polished up nice in her latter years and made a great big sister to Hailey and Jersey. So just take a minute, sit back and remember Cali anyway you like, all of mine will be of her cancer free and running . . . in the ocean, through fields and checking out the moo cows, hee-haws and deer deer. I am sure those are all the things she is doing right now across the rainbow bridge where I know she has found peace and will wait for us as long as it takes. You have earned your wings my angel.