Reflections

I've learned quite a few things since starting 30 Before 30.  Some came from writing the posts, some came from hearing feedback from readers of the posts, and some just came for no reason other than to teach me a lesson.
So without further ado...
My lessons, realizations, reflections, and thoughts on turning 30

1. There is never a convenient time to have a messy house (you never know when your parents might just show up or your husband may decide that one tiny room that no one uses in your house is driving him bonkers and will freak out about it.)
2. I have a sick addiction to cookie dough (which leads into number 3)
3. There is never a convenient time to be...well..not fit.  When you have to crop out half your arm and three chins from a picture you know its time to lay off the cookie dough and hit the gym.
4.  When setting tables up for a group make sure the tables are level unless there are kids there to blame all the spilling on.
5. I love margaritas (I might have already known this but it was a good reminder)
6. My mom taught me some really good lessons growing up (like how to make donkey noises)
7. I can't hang with the big boys while playing dodgeball
8. I had a very long awkward stage while growing up
9.  Be happy in the moment and live in the moment...you never know what's in store for the future.
10.  Don't compare the past to the present...times change, people change, and fashion changes
11. My wedding really was beautiful (word of advice to those of you who are not yet married: have someone video record it...I was totally against having it recorded and now wish so badly that I had.  Oh and also spend the money for a good photographer...you don't want to end up with bulletin boards and garment bags in the background of pictures.)
12. I don't know what I would do without my puppies.  Not only do they save money on napkins, but they keep me warm when sleeping in the guest room.
13. I REALLY HAVE TO WORK ON NOT BEING SO DAMN LAZY.  I promise I am working on it.
14. I have an amazingly supportive and funny family and extended family and am so lucky to have married into Tom's family who is also amazingly supportive and funny.
15. My husband is the best thing that's ever happened to me.  He's made me a better person, he's taught me life lessons, he's by my side no matter what, and he makes me laugh daily.  I can't imagine life without him. (Side note: He doesn't read the blog because he says he lives it, so don't tell him about all the compliments and mushy crap ok???)

Thanks for taking this journey with me.  I still have a few stories that I didn't quite get to that will come out at some point.

Love to the cookie dough,
XO XO

I am Not Donald Trump (30 Before 30 # 89302)

Donald Trump and I probably only have one thing in common and really you can easily guess what it is.  Yeah, that's right we both have awesome hair.  Other than that I don't see many similarities.
Donald Trump sits across a desk from people all the time and says two words, "You're Fired."  He makes it seem easy.  So, when it was my turn to actually fire someone I thought, "Hey Donald does it all the time and we both have awesome hair so I'm sure I can handle it!"
Boy was I wrong.  Firing someone is actually really hard to do.  It makes you practically poop your pants, take a day off of work to prepare, practice on  your other employees, and eat an entire batch of cookie dough in one sitting (which does not correlate with the almost pooping in your pants).
When I was promoted to a managerial position at the gym I used to work at part of my responsibilities were hiring and firing a specific department of staff.  Unfortunately it was the department of staff I used to be on.  It was managing people who had trained me, who had become my friends, and who I had worked closely with.  I knew it would be a difficult transition, but when it became clear in the first few weeks of my transition that I needed to let an employee go it became even more difficult.
I sat down with the person (who by the way had been working the same position for almost 7 months) and gave her until the end of the month to become completely trained, not freak out if more than one person was waiting, and to just generally become comfortable with the job.  I told her I would do whatever it took to help.
By the end of the month it was obvious it was not going to work out.  I went to my boss and asked for advice.  I went to other managers and asked for advice.  I called my Dad and asked for advice.  Everyone came up with the same answer.  You need to let her go.
So my mind was made up, her next shift I was going to fire her.  I called someone to cover her shift, changed the entire schedule to take her off, and waited.  It was still 3 days until she worked again.  My stomach was in knots.  I felt bad, but knew it had to be done.  The day before I had to take a half day just to calm down and clear my mind.  The day of I practiced what I was going to say on my assistant, another manager, and one of my other employees (who was sworn to secrecy).  When she walked in for her shift I had to run to the bathroom because I almost pooped myself.  I had never been so nervous before.
Finally the time came.  I called her in to my office and was very calm and clear and in more words basically said, "You're Fired".  She sat there and stared at me with a blank look.  She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.  I asked her if she had any questions and she just blinked.  I almost started laughing because it was so awkward.  This literally went on for an hour and a half until finally I said, well you can go now.  She didn't move so I opened my office door and left her there.  At some point she left because when I went back to my office she was gone.
I felt bad and still do, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.  I am a stronger person for it, and now I have two things in common with Donald Trump.

P.S. I've now fired many more people and it got easier each time.  In fact I'm about to fire someone else real soon if they don't stop saying how old I am going to be on Monday :)

Poll

You'll notice a new addition to the right hand side of the blog, a poll!  It's your turn to tell me which 30 before 30 post you liked best!  I had to choose the answers so I picked the ones I have gotten the most feedback on.  If you would like to vote for a post that is not listed just leave me a comment and I will add it!
NOW GO VOTE!!!

Because many of you receive updated posts via e-mail here is the link to the actual blog.  YOU HAVE TO VISIT THE ACTUAL BLOG TO VOTE!

www.traditionalhappiness.blogspot.com

XO XO

Confession (30 Before 30 # Who cares we're almost done!)

Confession: I once painted my nails with white car touch up paint.
Why: I was bored waiting in the car for my Mom and found the touch up paint in the glovebox and there were no snacks.
Outcome: Car touch up paint does not come off with nail polish remover..or anything else for that matter.  I had white nails for a looong time, then when my nails started growing out I had half white nails.
Oh also during this time I was selected to play a piano solo in a highly competitive competition where the judge practically sits on the piano bench with you.  My mother was mortified.  I told her, "that's why you always keep snacks in the car!"
Lesson to be learned: always keep snacks in the car, and never paint your nails with car paint.

Dodgeball vs. Molly...Winner Dodgeball (30 Before 30 #??? I lost track and proabably skipped some days too)

Dodgeball and I are not really friends, but we've had some good times together.  See Dodgeball is a game where the point is to hit other people with balls.  For a girl who is scared of balls being thrown at her face this game does not bode well, but normally when playing (with a certified PE instructor) you use soft foam balls that don't really hurt when they hit you, so I was able to overcome my fear for 4th grade PE class.
In fact in 4th grade I was pretty good at dodgeball.  Considering I had an early growth spurt and was the tallest person in my class people were scared of the King Kong sized girl and pretty much ran the other way when I had a ball in my hand. 

 
Little did they know I could hardly throw or that I wouldn't grow anymore and quickly would become the shortest girl in the grade.  But I digress...back to dodgeball.
Before graduating from the University of Iowa I had to take a PE class.  My friend G and I decided to take an easy Stretch & Tone class expecting it to be like the up and coming fad yoga (yes I know this dates me).  On the first day of class we came dressed and ready for yoga as did many of the other people girls.  As more and more people guys football players arrived for the class we (the girls) starting quietly talking about how they were not dressed appropriately for yoga showing up in baggy basketball shorts and t-shirts.  We figured after the first class they would realize that baggy clothes wouldn't work well for yoga.
However, it was us girls that were in for the surprise.  As class began this big burly muscle guy stood up and introduced himself as our instructor for the class.  He looked like he belonged in the weight room not teaching a yoga class.

What we expected                                What we got

He explained that we didn't need to buy the book that was listed for this course (girls had already purchased, ripped off the cling wrap, and looked through the book, guys cheered at not having to buy another book) because we would be doing our "own thing".  Sam Hell does "own thing" mean you ask???  Well let me tell you...

It means running the track, doing spider crawls, lunges, jumping jacks, weight training, oh yeah and playing stupid dodgeball.
After the first class I told my Dad I was dropping the class and would be taking an actual yoga class instead some other semester.  My Dad told me I was overreacting and to stick with the class.  He said the instructor surely couldn't be as terrible as I had explained.
So I stuck with it.  G and I made a pact that we would get through this awfulness together.  So two times a week, week after week we went to the stupid stretch and tone class and did NO stretching or toning.  One day the instructor e-mailed the entire class and told us to meet in the big gym past the swimming pool instead of in our regular area.  He said he had a special surprise for us.
When we arrived to the Big gym past the swimming pool we saw the special surprise.  We were going to be playing dodgeball.  Of course the football players cheered and the girls moaned and complained.  We were broken into two teams and told the rules.  Football players were not to throw their hardest or use the hard foursquare balls and no one was to aim for heads.  As the game got started it was clear the boys were not following the rules.  The instructor warned them, but really it did no good.  They continued to throw their hardest, throw the hard foursquare balls, and well they tried not to aim for heads.  Most of the girls let themselves get hit right away so they could be out and didn't have to play.  Key word there = Most.  Stupid me thought I was still the Amazonian woman from 4th grade and actually tried to play against these guys.  Let's just say it ended with me on the floor with an imprint of a foursquare ball on my face and everyone rushing to make sure I wasn't knocked unconscious while I held back tears of pain / embarrassment. 
 Luckily the instructor felt bad for me and didn't make me play the rest of the day.  Oh yeah, and he was nice enough to e-mail me later on and make sure I was ok.  Which was pretty cool since I ended up marrying him :)  Yep, you read that right.  The instructor = Tom.  If it wasn't for dodgeball, a pretty crappy yoga class, and my Dad encouraging me to stick with the class,  I never would have met the man of my dreams :)
Oh and did I mention this all happened on my birthday???  Pretty great way to celebrate I would say.

Whoops! (30 Before 30 #22)

The first weekend of November is a standing reservation to go home and visit my parents.  Tom goes deer hunting with his Dad and brothers and that is just too much testosterone for me.  So the dogs and I head home for a weekend of good food, good TV, and relaxation. 

This weekend my goal was to interview my Mom and Dad about me turning 30 for the blog.  If you are a daily reader you know I got the interview done with my Mom, but my Dad?  Well his response was...what's a blog?  So yeah, that interview didn't get done.  Maybe I'll try again a different time over the phone or something.  Anyway, the interview with my Dad was supposed to be yesterday's post, and it didn't get done...sorry!

But, I did find some gems on their computer that I am willing to share to make up for missing a day.  Also I will try and do another post for today.

XO XO

Me with my Grandma & Grandpa Cornwell

Me passing out programs for my cousins wedding.

Glamor Shots for my birthday one year...Oh Lord!

An Interview with My Mom (30 Before 30 #21)

First off, how do you feel about Molly turning 30?
It's kind of unbelief.  I remember making cookies with her in the sling and playing for hours and hours when she was a baby and now I turn my back and she's already 30.  How can time go so fast?  Unbelievable.

What's your favorite story to tell about Molly when she was little?
Her caring and loving nature came through so early.  When her Dad was so sick she was about 15mo. and she drug her blanket all the way from her room down the stairs one step at a time all the way to her Dad to lay her little blanket on him.
Oh also, when she did flips and cart-wheels on the soccer field.  She wasn't too interested in playing soccer.

Picking her butt on the soccer field...not too interested that the ball is RIGHT there!

What's your favorite story to tell about Molly as an older gal?
When she was finally singing in a very prestigious high school choir with a guest conductor she finally got to be in the front row and was sharing music with her best friend Ann and all of a sudden they dropped the music.  A HUGE venue.  Then Molly in her beautiful choir uniform (a dress) bent over in front of everyone to try and pick up the music.  Ann & Molly were laughing so hard.  Needless to say they were never in the front row again.

What's your favorite picture of Molly?
When she wore a pink dress as a flower girl in Mary Cornwell Garza's wedding.  She was so sweet and knew she had to lead her cousin Chad down the aisle at 3 years old.
(I can't find it right now, but I'll try to update later).

Do you read the blog regularly?
Yes!  Now that I know how to get on it :)


Did Molly & Ben get along well growing up?  What about now?
LOL...well I think they loved each other a lot.  They got along well on Sunday's after church when they played the naked game and ran around the house crazy like.  They were at different stages and definitely a boy and a girl.  Molly was very intolerant and Ben was very impatient.
Now, I think it's at a more mature level and they see each other as young adults.  They want good things for each other.  They respect each other and are not judgemental.

What was your first impression of Tom?  How do you feel about him now?
Oh...um...massive good looking Minnesotan...and smart.  He was shy at first with me.
Now, LOLOLOLOL...I think he...how can I say it...I just think of him as another son that I can hug and love up on.  I see how hard he works for everything and how many achievements he's made because of his focus.  He works hard and plays hard.  Kind of like my husband.

Tell us about a time Molly was super naughty.
When she wouldn't do something...oh what was it???  Help me remember.  She was kind of stubborn as I remember.  Molly do you remember one that I don't recall???  Let's see when she was little and playing...I don't think she was ever very naughty.
Oh I remember a time she was super naughty...a time she wanted to wear something inappropriate to school.  She missed the bus and I told her she would have to knock down the door to get by me because she weren't wearing that.  Finally she went up and changed.  Molly was really mad at me. (Um p.s. I was wearing overalls with a short shirt that showed my sides a tiny little bit.  It wasn't that bad.)

Tell us about a time Molly did something to melt your heart.
She's always been so thoughtful in every regard.  When she surprised me for my birthday last year.  And always cheering me up with her sense of humor and teasing me.

Anything else we should know?
That Molly is a very talented young woman.  She's been able to use her talents in any way they've needed to be used whether a job, in your house, a real helper with Tom, and amazingly been able to learn how to rake and go outside and help Tom.  That's something we never thought she would do with her allergies.

Wawenock Spirit Never Dies (30 Before 30 #20)

I wrote this in 2004 for a nonfiction writing class.

***Dedication***

The following is dedicated to all the girls whose hearts

are filled with Wawenock love, whose minds are filled

with Wawenock memories, and whose bodies are filled with

Wawenock spirit.  May the fire live on forever.

Up in the attic looking through pictures of memories I thought I had lost. My mind starts to wander back to my camp days and all that I held so dear. Warm summer breezes, late night whispers with friends, crashing of waves on the beach, singing in the dining hall, I just close my eyes and I can be there, Camp Wawenock. My summer home for nine years, an all girls camp on Sebago Lake in Maine.

As an eight year old I began my journey through life as a Wawenock girl. I heaved my back pack and tennis racket onto my shoulders and jetted off the plane in nervous excitement. Summer after summer the anticipation of getting off the plane in Portland, Maine never changed. There was always someone there to greet me, and after a few years I began to recognize the faces, usually greeted by Ron and his big hugs.

Arriving summer after summer my nervous excitement turned to pure giddyness, and I could not wait to start making more memories with all of my camp friends. Friends who in the beginning taught me about cutting my own hair, friendship bracelets, and do-rags, and who as we got older taught me of nothing books, fashion, shaving my legs, boys, and music. These girls came from all over the world, each with different backgrounds, but when we arrived back at camp to start another summer, our lives in civilization were put to the side. It didn’t matter how much money our families had, or if we had the coolest new thing. All that mattered was that for the next seven weeks we had each other.

Camp Wawenock is a place like no other. It takes prima donnas from around the world and drops them in cabins with no electricity or bathrooms, wearing matching blue uniforms. Materialistic items no longer matter, as all campers turn in headphones, CD’s, Gameboy’s, and money until camp is over. A person looking from the outside might wonder why girls beg their parents year after year to go back to a place where the bathroom is called dewdrop, but that all lies in the wonderful secret of Wawenock, its spirit. Wawenock spirit never dies, it lasts with any girl that has ever been enthralled by it for a lifetime. There is a camp song we sing called “Wawenock Spirit” which embodies all of the camp Wawenock spirit.

“Wawenock spirit never dies, them girls gonna rise again. 

Hit ‘em in the head, knock ‘em in the eye, them girls gonna rise again. 

I know it know it, indeed I know it sister, I know it WHOA! Them girls gonna rise again. 

Wawenock born and Wawenock bred and when I die I’m Wawenock dead. 

So RAH! for Wawenock

RAH! for Wawenock

RAH! for Wawenock

RAH! RAH! RAH!”

The most powerful line in that song is, “Wawenock born and Wawenock bred and when I die I’m Wawenock dead.” After thinking about that particular line I realized, it is so true. Once a Wawenock girl, always a Wawenock girl. No one can ever take that special bond away, and no one can have that special bond without having experienced at least one summer of camp Wawenock fun. A person is changed whether they want to be or not after a summer at Camp Wawenock. Many girls come away being more open minded, more positive, and more confident in themselves. Camp Wawenock has helped in the process of raising many girls into the powerful women they are in today’s society, and continue to do so.

The best part of Camp Wawenock is its ability to create a camp family with 112 campers, and 50 staff members. It does this through the wide variety of activities offered, which help each girl strive to greater heights, including, ceramics, tennis, horse back riding, sailing, swimming, archery, and music and drama. Most of these activities are activities campers would not have the opportunity to learn in their everyday lives, and allow the campers to try new things successfully or unsuccessfully in a safe and comfortable atmosphere. There is also a friendly competitiveness thrown into it all, which keeps the campers on their toes. Sunday morning breakfasts are usually a very intense time as the two tribes search for a clue, to signify the upcoming tribal meet. During this time a Wawenock girl realizes how important the colors orange and blue can be. Even if your tribe does not win the clue, everyone is still supportive of each other. No one puts anyone else down, and everyone wants everyone else to succeed. Wednesday night campfires are a time for individual recognition. A camper may have jumped in the water off the stone pier for the first time, or received her 12th award in archery, and the whole camp will feel just as good for the individual as she feels for herself. All the campers are proud of everyone else’s accomplishments.

Waking up to reveille at 7:00am and going to bed at 9:00pm to taps is how every Wawenock day starts and ends. In the middle of those two bugles anything could happen. A camper could go on a scavenger hunt during outdoor living skills, sail in a regatta, play tennis against the boys camp, be in a play, shoot a rifle, go to the Super, or see June Gray one of the directors in her yellow rain coat. At Camp Wawenock each day is a surprise!

Camp Wawenock will always have a special place in my heart. From its hills I gathered courage, from its water pride, from its rocks inspiration, and from its glowing sunsets contentment. All of these attributes have helped to make me the person I am today. They are with me from day to day, and help to guide me in all of my decisions no matter where I may be. Camp Wawenock…Reveille, laughter and song, Sebago lying still and blue as the sky it reflects, the rhythmic dip of paddles, rest hour, letters home, the music of wind in the pines, a flaming sun dropping into a lake of fire, the whispered goodnight of a friend, taps, peace, contentment…

***Some lines come from Camp Wawenock Songs or www.campwawenock.com***

Ann Miller: Plain Name Not a Plain Person (30 Before 30 #19)

I always joke with my mom and tell her I don't have any friends.  I mean I've moved around a lot lately and I work with a bunch of old weirdo's so there aren't many opportunities to meet people my own age.  My mom's response is always, "It's the quality of friendships not the quantity of friendships that matter."  And I truly believe that.
My best friend Ann and I have been friends / enemies since 5th grade.  We were friends, but then we were both cast as the same part in the 5th grade musical and competition got fierce.  So then we were enemies for a while (probably like a month cuz it was 5th grade and you change who your friends are everyday practically).  Then we became friends again and have been friends ever since.  We really became besties in High School.
Ann's birthday is in August so she was one of the first people to be able to drive in our grade.  Lucky for me she worked at a day care near my house so I ALWAYS begged her for rides home (a highschooler riding the bus is just committing social suicide afterall).  That's when our friendship really blossomed.
We were in show choir and concert choir together.  I tried to sneak in to ELP (the smart kid's class, Ann is really smart) but they knew better, and we were even lucky enough to be in government class together.  I don't think the government teacher felt very lucky, but we sure did!
Now, if you know me, you know I am very shy and quiet very outgoing and loud.  Times that by like 100 and that's Ann.  So I don't even need to explain why our government teacher duct taped our mouths shut one day.
It seemed like whenever we thought we were excelling we just did something to show why we should never, ever, be partners or put in the front row of a very important regional music concert.
We bring out the best in each other, we make each other laugh (often), and we are always there for each other.  When my long-time boyfriend broke up with me I called Ann and she basically stole her RA's car and drove from Omaha to Storm Lake in the middle of the night to come comfort me.  She brought popcorn and M&M's and then stayed up all night studying for a test she had the next morning.
But you know what???  That's the kind of thing best friends do.  They drop everything for each other.  Because ultimately they are your family.  They go on family trips with you, they come over on thanksgiving and Christmas, you go to church together, they drive home from college to go to your Baptism, and even though they are raised Cyclone fans they become Hawkeye fans when you decide to go to college there.  They are the person you want by your side through thick and thin.  They are the person you call when you think you have no one else to call because no one else will understand.  They are the person who will not judge if you get in a fight with your husband or gain 20 pounds.  They love you for you and that's what I love about Ann (and her family).
Even though we live separate lives (Ann a BIG shot lawyer in Omaha and me an office manager in Minneapolis) and don't get to talk everyday we always pick right up where we left off.  And that's special.
Ann was there for me through break up's, moves, birthday's, and stood next to me on my wedding day as my maid of honor.  She is like a sister because we love each other but know if we lived together we would fight to the death.  She is the best friend a girl could have and I am the lucky one to call her my best friend.

Mr. Beeken (our choir director), Me, & Ann in Dallas, TX for a show choir competition.  The date at the bottom of the picture is obviously incorrect.  I am not 10 in this picture.

Ann, Me, & my mom in Phoenix, AZ where my mom told us about how she'd ridden a gondalier before!

Me & Ann getting ready for her Aunt's wedding.

Ann and Me at a concert.

Getting ready to leave for my bachelorette party

Ann doing my make-up for my wedding

Ann allowing me to eat french fries on my wedding day!

Helping me cool off when I thought I was going to be sick before the wedding

Telling me how everything is going to be perfect.

P.S. I told Ann that if she ever ran for office I got to be her slogan manager and the title of this blog post is my best slogan.  She told me I wasn't hired :(

Boo (30 Before 30 #18)

I hate Halloween.  Like seriously HATE everything about it.  Well, I guess I like seeing my nephews in their costumes and eating candy but other than that HATE.
I absolutely hate being scared, or getting scared.  I hate when people jump out at me.
I HATE haunted houses.  I've been to two.  The first time was at my first middle school sleep-over at my new school and I got so scared I cried the whole way through and my Dad had to come pick me up and take me home.  The second my friends dragged me to in high-school and I got so scared just standing in line I left and got in my one and only car accident.


So yeah I'm not participating tonight.

Laziness Confession (30 Before 30 #17)

I confess I am super lazy and a HUGE procrastinator.  Sleeping is probably my favorite thing to do, like ever.  My friend Kim says she wants to clip coupons with me on Sunday mornings, but that would mean I'd have to get up before 11am and that probably won't happen.
I've always liked to sleep.  I used to sleep more.  I remember being able to sleep til 2:30pm.  But now I am a married looser and don't go out on the weekends so 11:30am is about as late as I sleep these days. On week days I have to be to work at 9am and I literally set my alarm for 8am hit snooze as many times as I can and actually end up rolling out of bed between 8:30-8:40.  It's bad.
Moving on to my procrastination.  I am not a procrastinator at work, but in my personal life I am really bad.  Case in point: taking my drivers test.  I have been in MN for almost 3 years and just now took my test and only then did I take it because my Virginia license was expiring.
I need to do better about both of these things.  Maybe these are two things I can work on after 30 Before 30.  We'll see, I'll decide later, maybe...


XO XO

P.S. I've been procrastinating all day about writing this post...sorry it's so late!

Pets (30 Before 30 #16)

The Langwith family does not have a good track record with pets.  We had two birds (Bert & Ernie) but I was allergic and we had to get rid of them.  We've had multiple goldfish...DEAD.  A hamster named Turd...Got lost in Ben's car and was ultimately found dead.  And two dogs Lexus & Baxter.

Lexus was a dalmatian and had ADHD.  You couldn't even take her on a walk.  We tried taking her to obedience school but we got kicked out after the first lesson.  We had trainers come to our house, but ultimately we had to give her to my Uncle to live on the farm.  And no, my parents didn't secretly put her down and tell us they sent her to a farm, she really went to one in Illinois (although she did die there chasing after a big tractor but that's besides the point.

Baxter was a good dog, well Baxter was an ok dog, what I mean to say is that Baxter was a dog that was scared of most people and bit them.  He liked my mom, me, and ultimately Tom but only because Tom always had food in his hand.  It's unfortunate we can't count on our two hands how many people Baxter bit.  We'd need about 50 hands for that.  Really we should have put him down, but man to make that decision...are you kidding me?!?  No matter how bad a dog is I don't think I could ever be the one to make that kind of decision.  It's different if they are sick and dying anyway, but just because they are bad?  I don't know.  Good thing I was the kid and not the adult in those situations.

Baxter and me in one of my Senior High School pictures

Now Tom & I have two dogs, Rocky & Addie, and they are great dogs.  We adopted them from the Humane Society and I would never do it any other way.  It's like they know how lucky they are.  Rocky can be a little shit sometimes and Addie is the sweetest girl you'll ever meet.  I would say their worst quality is they are super excitable.  And really if that's the worst I can handle it.

The story behind getting Rocky is one I hold over Tom's head for sure.  See, I had just moved to Virginia and boughten (I don't think that's a word but oh well) a house.  Tom wasn't living there so he said I had two choices, "A dog or a security system."  I was in the process of starting a new job across town, going to school at night, and planning our wedding so I figured it wasn't the right time to get a dog and I would work on getting a security system.  I went home to Des Moines for 1 week to plan our wedding and when I returned to Virginia Tom picked me up from the airport with a dog in the backseat.  Initially I thought it was our friend Jenny's dog, Brady.  I asked Tom, "Whose dog is this?"  And he said, "Yours".  Literally my face turned red and my jaw dropped.  This was not any sort of dog I was expecting in my wildest dreams.  I was thinking cute little yorkie and got bit ole mutt! 

What I thought I would get                                                                                What I got

Needless to say I was a bit pissed at Tom, but literally by the time we got home I had a named picked out for him and was in love.  Rocky is my boy.  He is by my side constantly, sleeps by me at night (or with me when we're in the guest room), and lays on the bath mat when I am in the shower.  He is the most loyal dog and I am so glad Tom pulled the trigger and got him without my consent.  I can't imagine him not being a part of our lives.

Addie (technically Adrian) was adopted because Rocky was being naughty.  You might think to yourself, "why would you get another dog if the one you have is naughty?"  And I would answer, "Good question!"  But we felt bad because Rocky was alone most of the day and thought if we got a friend for him to play with he would be better.  Really what happened was he dug holes for both of them to escape out of.

When we decided to get another dog we went to multiple adoption fairs (with Rocky) to see if any dogs would fit with our family.  We liked a couple but when we brought Rocky out to play with them they didn't mesh well.  We were feeling defeated when we got a call about a dog that just showed up to another adoption fair we had previously been at.  We quickly drove over there to see "Foxy Lady" (as Addie was named from the humane society).  She was so cute and little.  We brought Rocky out to play and they got along perfectly.  I was scared to make the final decision and made Tom do it and we took Foxy Lady home.  While we were in the car on the way home (Tom driving, me in the backseat with both dogs in case any fights broke out) I noticed Addie had some black spots in her fur.  As I inspected closer I realized they were fleas!!!  Now, Addie had just been spayed/neutered the day before and we were given specific instructions not to bathe her for 7 days.  Tom and I both looked at each other as if to say, "What the hell are we supposed to do?"  Tom basically said F it and gave her a bath in the rain, along with Rocky (just in case).  Now remember we hadn't even had this dog for an hour and we are already trying to give her a bath.  When she started licking Tom's face we knew she was a keeper.  Even after waking up to the smell of diarrhea, going to Wal-Mart at 2 in the morning to buy a kennel and waking up in the morning to a kitchen full of explosive diarrhea we knew she was a keeper.  We love our Addie girl.  And wouldn't trade her for the world.

XO XO

December 29, 2007 (30 Before 30 #15)

December 29, 2007...a day I will never forget.  Notice how I didn't say the cliche line "the best day of my life"?  Because really, who can honestly say their wedding day was the best day of their lives???  My wedding day was the most stressful, hectic, crazy day of my life!  Yes, I did get to marry Tom and that was the best part of that day, but to be honest here is a picture from one of the best days of my life:

A day where the entire family stayed in bed all day napping, watching TV, and snuggling.  For me, that's the best day I can imagine :)
Going back to the day I will never forget.  December 29, 2007, our wedding day.  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day:

First Baptist Church in Johnston, IA: Location of the ceremony

They had a hard time getting me in my dress...too many clippy things :)

My mom, me, Tom's mom

Getting ready for Tom to see me for the first time.  My Dad walked me out to him, but we had to stop to wipe tears a lot!

The entire bridal party...the only pic we got of all of us!  The ring bearer was NOT in to taking pictures :)

My favorite picture of Tom and his mom

My favorite picture of me!

Love this one!

Right after the wedding ceremony got over...the photographer was up on the balcony and caught us!

Well those are just a few (out of 1,000's) that I love.

XO XO