Hugging Lessons

I got to experience mom-ish excitement for the first time this week! Every month Chelsea and I make sure we get together at least once just to do lunch and catch up on life. We usually meet up at Zupas and then go back to her place to play with Benton and chat until I have to go to work. While at Zupas, Benton came up to me and pressed his cheek against mine for a second and then went back to Chelsea. Chelsea explained that it was his version of a hug right now. Once I got him back over to me I wrapped his arms around my neck and gave him a real hug. He has been giving real hugs ever since, and I'm beaming because I was the one who taught him. By the way, Benton hugs are the best hugs! Now if I can just get him to say Aunt Brittney....

How could you not want to hug that?

 

 

He wasn't so sure about my camera at first, so

 

 

Discovering that he likes the camera

Get a good look at those baby blues

 

This is the Benton lunch, no Zupas for him yet

 

 

Valentine's Day

This is our 2nd Valentine's Day as a married couple and our 4th one together, so we didn't feel the need to have one of our over the top luxurious dates like we have had in the past. This year we did Valentine's Day on a budget so we can still save up for a house instead. I got Bob a book he has been searching everywhere for but couldn't find as well as a very lovey-dovey letter I worked very hard on writing, describing how much I love him and the many reasons why. He gave me some arrows, a target and some accessories for my bow so I can finally start using the thing as well as chocolate and flowers. We spent most of the day relaxing together and just enjoying the time off of work.

That night we went downtown to Wild Grape Bistro for our romantic Valentine's dinner and then made our way to the Galivan Center for some ice skating. Bob wasn't so sure about the ice skating, but he ended up being better than me! Unfortunately during our skating we got a parking ticket. I wanted to fight it since we were parked in a parking stall on the street next to a sign that said FREE parking after 6PM, but Bob said it was pointless, so I didn't. It did kind of put a damper on the evening, but we still have a great day overall.

My new set-up

Being the poser I am

Bob already digging into his new book

Bob and I at our romantic Valentine's Day dinner



Oh how I love him!

Ice skating at the Galivan Center,

Bob getting ready to show off his spinning moves



My flowers



RIP Hercules aka Snaky aka Big Snake

This week was a sad one for the entire Loose house. Last week we started to notice Hercules aka Big Snake aka Snaky was really sluggish and lethargic. On closer inspection we noticed a dull graying around his mouth, so we thought he might have mouth rot, a common and curable infection snakes can get. We made an appointment with the vet. The vet gave him a good look over and said that Snaky was very sick because he had some back-up or constipation in his bowels as well as the mouth rot. He told us to let him keep him for a couple days and he would work the bulge out and then we could treat the mouth rot. The next day he called us back and said that they had done some blood work and it had shown them that the bulge wasn't where they could get it out easily and it was making Snaky's body shut down. He gave us two options. Do a $1200 surgery that Snaky would likely never wake up from or put him down so he was no longer living in misery. As hard as it was, we had to do what was best for our snake. The surgery was expensive, risky and hard to recover from so we decided to put him down. Snaky touched so many lives, and helped so many people see what snakes are really like. So many people cared for him. It's always hard to lose a pet, but this one hit everyone in our house hard. Luckily, Jessica (my horrible boss) was actually wonderfully understanding. She has pets and understands the hurt that losing one can cause so she let me talk to her and cry on her shoulder before watching the front while I pulled myself together in the restroom. I have mad respect for the help she was today. Here are some of my favorite memories with Snaky. RIP Hercules, unknown - 2/6/14. Beloved pet and family member.

 

 



 My first time holding Snaky



 Savannah with Snaky



 Shelby loved him



 Shelby helping Tyson get over his fear of
snakes

Snaky on his last day

Superbowl Sunday

It's that time of year again, time for every Americans favorite holiday! Superbowl Sunday! I come from a family of girls, not just girls but girlie girls. That means we don't usually care much about football. However since we are growing up and moving out of the house, we wanted to create a tradition that gave our family an excuse to get together and Superbowl Sunday was it. This is year #2 of going all out with decorations and food. Last year we were all rooting for the same team, and it lost so it was a bummer. This year though, the family was split! Kelsey, Savannah and I were rooting for the Seattle Seahawks. My dad and Rachel were rooting for the Denver Broncos. My mom and Bob claimed no alliance. My team won, so I was happy with the game but to be brutally honest... The Broncos were so bad that they were making it hard to enjoy the game. We were even getting tired of our victory dances! I'm still glad they lost though!


Rachel's so pretty

Team colored desserts

Seattle Seahawks



Go Seahawks! I made the desserts



So much food...

 

Rachel couldn't decide what to eat,
so she decided to have a little of everything



Told my mom I would marry a chef



Bob's amazingly delicious chicken wings! From scratch!