Moogie's Here, Exciting News, Taylor's Birthday, Harry Potter and more!!!

Last night Moogie (my mom) came into town. It was the very first time she got to meet Tyson. I think it is pretty safe to say she was pretty smitten with the boy almost immediately (but how can she feel any other way? He is pretty awesome!). Tyson really enjoyed playing with Bouie (my parent's dog) and Zeus and was in a deep sleep by the time we got home. Moogie snapped this shot of me, V and all our pups: Pippi on the back of the couch, Zeus and Tyson. She took the picture with her phone--hence the not so great quality of the picture.

We got some exciting news. Tim's cousin, Amanda, emailed us a couple of weeks ago with some really big news---her and her husband, Scott, are expecting!! They're due in March. We're so excited for them. Amanda and the gang are planning a Rafferty familiy vacation next summer. That will be so much fun with Maddie girl and baby Henderson to entertain us!

Today is our friend Taylor's birthday (Happy Birthday Taylor!!)...we're going to go eat dinner with him and his wife and a couple of friends tonight at the Cock of the Walk. I don't think I have eaten dinner at the Cock of the Walk in at least 15 years--but I'm excited. They have the BEST fried pickles EVER! Well, anyway--back to Taylor's birthday--I got an email from Taylor's wife (Sarah) this morning. Apparently Taylor works with a bunch of pranksters over there in the Merrill world. Check out his birthday cake:




Yes, it is a cake. Here's the description: The cake is German chocolate and the topping is crumbled vanilla sandwiched cookies with some food coloring. The cat terds are tootsie rolls. The cake is actually sitting in a NEW kitty litter box and real kitty litter box lining also NEW. I've seen an email or two before that gives this recipe. I can't believe someone actually took the time to try it!! It actually sounds real yummy, doesn't it?





I've really gotten into the show Greatest American Dog. I'm a huge fan of Presley the boxer and my Tyson boy wants to grow up and be JUST LIKE HIM one day. Presley is one of Tyson and Pippi's friend on dogster.com. (we love that site, too!!) Anywho--we (that would be me and my sister--but I bet the dogs felt this way, too!) were really sad last night because one of our other favorites, Tillman the Bulldog, got kicked off. My friend Sarah and I were talking about this via email this morning and I just got the biggest kick out of an email she sent me...the subject line read, "The Poot." I literally laughed out loud. And the body of the email was just about how she blogged about Tillman. It was funny, though. As Tillman was doing his farewell walk he pooted!! Funny stuff!! I am really slow sometimes when it comes to the computer and can't get the clip to show in my blog...but if you want to check the click out you can go to Sarah's blog page (her link is over to the right in the "My Blogs List").

Here's the link to the video:


Greatest American Dog Video: Putting Smiles On Faces - CBS.com
on CBS



Finally there is a Harry Potter trailer out there...my Lauren girl emailed it to me this morning. SOOOOO excited. We're going to go watch it at the IMAX on November 21, 2008. Yes, we WILL be those girls that order our tickets weeks in advance and that will be at the theater hours before the movie's start time--to get that perfect seat!! Once again, I must be computer illiterate and can't get the video to post on my blog. I'll have to make sure to get Sarah to show me how to do that, but here is a link to the video. Looks awesome. I'm going to have to reread The Half Blood Prince before November 21st!

Too Hot!

The heat index is 110 degrees today. Needless to say, we're not spending much time outside. Well, the pups and I aren't. Tim is insane and is playing golf. In this heat. Miserable. Wanted to share some more pics of the pups...that's about all I do these days is play with the pups and take their pictures!! Tyson will only be a baby man for just a little bit longer, so I am trying to take advantage of it!


Tyson doesn't hesitate getting comfy in bed. (yes, he's spoiled rotten).



He's a big ol' snuggle bunny!


The kids are starting to play a lot more--here they're both working on their chews.


Tyson is trying to get Pip to play....


She obliges.

What is that?!?

When Tim called to say hello the other day (he's been out of town since Saturday, 7/19) I put him on speakerphone. Ty boy couldn't for the life of him figure out where Tim's voice was coming from. I managed to sneak some pictures of his reaction to Tim talking to him. So cute!!

Pippi and Tyson

With a lot of coercing...I got some shots of Pippi and Tyson. This will help you see how much Ty is growing (see previous posts--where he is about Pip's size and NOW...he's not.)

Picture #1: Pippi REALLY didn't want to be in the picture!

Picture #2: I pleaded with her...she still wasn't having it!

Picture #3: Finally--a shot that you can see how much he's grown!

Spending Time INSIDE--another HOT July

It is HOT, HOT, HOT! Tempuratures are surpassing 100 now--the humidity is unreal--and on top of that we have some kind of ozone warning...so, it's definitely NOT pleasant outside. With that said--we're not getting the outside excercise that I usually take advantage of, so Tyson is bouncing around the house and getting into everything. Thank goodness for some amazing toys I have stumbled across. If anyone is planning on getting a puppy anytime soon, I highly recommend these: The Buster Cube. You put food/treats in the cube and put it on the floor. The puppy has to push it around to get food out and this entertains the puppy for 30 minutes to an hour (which is AMAZING). Next--the jolly ball. It is a large plastic ball with a small rubber ball inside. The puppy pushes the ball around trying to get to that rubber ball--but ah! It won't happen. Another 30 minutes entertainment right there! Finally is the Hide-A-Squirrel. You put a squeaky squirrel inside a tree stump and puppy has TONS of fun getting the squirrel out. Tyson is getting so big! He'll be 12 weeks tomorrow. We're getting his final set of shots on Monday and then we should get the go ahead to take Tyson to public places (dog parks, the lake, etc.) That will be nice! He has learned the sit and down commands, is getting pretty good with "come" and "stay" and definitely KNOWS the "crate up" command, though he hates it and runs far away from his crate! He's a smart boy. Tim and I spend a lot of quality time with him because we both want him to be the very best dog he can be. He's got a lot more "puppy time" but hopefully, this training will wear off on him and he'll know to follow our commands!!

Tim left this morning to go to Houston for a wedding...from Houston, he'll then hop on a plane headed for New York. He'll be in New York for a week for an annual training deal he does with work. Tyson, Pippi and I are just hanging out at the house--but we sure are missing him already! Tyson is into everything. In fact--as I write this, Tyson keeps pulling things off the side table (he is really thinking his leash is a toy!)...only 6 more days...



Tyson is waving at the camera...hi everyone!




Tyson LOVES to play with Pippi...and most of the time, Pippi will oblige...but, she also tries to ignore him. This is what she is doing below...if there was audio--you'd hear Tyson barking at Pippi. Notice, she even turns her head to make her point: "Leave me alone."




Tyson is modeling his leash (Geaux Saints!)...well, he wanted to PLAY with his leash while we were trying to take this picture, but Tim and I didn't want him to. So, that's why he looks sad. Poor puppy.




Our big boy--I took this today. He's getting so big!

Camping

Every year my sister schedules a camping trip the weekend after the 4th of July to celebrate her birthday (which is July 7). Well, since Tyson joined the family, Tim and I originally declined on the camping experience (especially since we had to sleep through a torrential storm last year in a TENT) and were just going to head to Lake Ouachita for the day. Well, Tim woke up not feeling well, so I decided last minute I'd go out there and stay. I didn't take a lot of pics--it was HOT. And I was tired (as was everyone else)...so here are the pics I did get. Hopefully, next year, we'll have a family lakehouse to go to in mid-July.

The Gabriels...

Steve, Veronica and Nick--great action shot, eh?

Will's tuckered out...it was a LONG day for an 8 year old!

July 4th

We had so much fun on the 4th!! Tim and I went to our friends', Sarah and Taylor Adams'--4th party they hosted w/ Sarah's sister and brother-in-law. Dogs, watermelon, dips and desserts...who could ask for more? After eating and watching fireworks we went back to Sarah and Taylor's (who live right down the road from us...kind of nice!) for a little dance party action and game playing. Good times! I didn't get a lot of pics...but here are the ones I did manage to snag (that no one will MURDER me for posting...hee hee hee...that dance party got pretty entertainining!!)...All in all, I'd say we celebrated America's Independence pretty well!

Me and Sarah. I love her. Can't you tell?
I don't think I told Tim I was taking this picture...

Me and Lauren...w/ Bobby's firework collection

Later in the evening...

2008 Race for the Cure

Well...that time of year has rolled back around...preparations for the

2008 Race for the Cure!

We're so excited. Team Janoel has been formed once again and we're looking for everything to be bigger and better!! If you're interested in helping out--or joining our team, please check us out (I'll include a link to my personal fundraising page at the bottom of this blog)! Any contributions would be greatly appreciated! This year's theme is "This One's For the Girls..." Here's what my personal page reads to explain that one:

In memory of Janoel, the mother that saved my mother's sanity--in honor of all the survivors that have touched my life throughout the years--and for my niece, Lizzy--and Maddie girl--so that they and their friends NEVER have to worry about breast cancer!!

SAVE A LIFE!! Help me raise money to pay for mammograms for underserved and uninsured women of Arkansas. One in eight women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime. During the 2007 grant cycle, The Komen Arkansas Affiliate received grant requests that couldn't be funded. In addition, there are 25 counties in Arkansas that do not have mammogram facitilites. The money you help me raise for the Because I Care Program will help fund additional grants to raise breast cancer awareness and will even pay for mammograms, a single one of which can save a life.

The Komen Race for the Cure® Series is the largest series of 5K run/ walks in the world. Since its origination in Dallas in 1983, the Komen Race for the Cure® Series has grown from one local race with 800 participants to an international series of 115 races with more than 1.3 million participants.

SAVE A LIFE!! Please Support Me In The Race

THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS!! Please join me in the fight against breast cancer. I am participating in the Komen Arkansas Race for the Cure with the hopes of raising as much money as possible to provide for education, screening, treatment and research. I want us to win this fight against breast cancer.Help me with my fundraising and don't forget to register for the race which will be held on October 11.

Here's a link to my page:

http://race.komenarkansas.org/site/TR/Race/General?px=1132893&pg=personal&fr_id=1030&et=V7MavmRFDC5EZIwYDB7aHA..&s_tafId=3780