Happy Halloween!

The only way we were able to put this on Ella's head was because she was too exhausted to fight it from being at the dog park all morning.

Eric was a streaker! He won funniest costume at his school's partay and got a $25 gift certificate to Target.

Dog Park

Ella and I went to the dog park for the first time today...and loved it!

Ella is THE best "puppy gog." She ran so hard and played with all the other big dogs and most importantly, she came to me when I called her...even when she was playing with the other dogs.

The only naughty thing she did was jump up on me when we first got there, and because of all the recent snow (almost 2 feet in October) and then sunshine, it was pretty muddy. She somehow splashed mud on my coat and face. I thought I had wiped all the mud off of my face, but after about 1.5 hours at the dog park, I got back to the car and looked in the mirror...I still had a mud splotch on my face! And I had talked to a handful of people. Oh geez.

Ella and I are pooped now. After tromping around for miles in deep snow, we are tuckered!

Eric's BJJ

Eric is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guru.

The club he started at BYU, which has grown tremendously, flew him out for a conference this past weekend. He was there for a BJJ party on Friday night, and then a woman's self-defense workshop on Saturday. The club now has 40-50 people attending regularly! Everyone wanted to meet Eric and roll with him. He's so talented.

Eric also has started a BJJ club at his new school (Rocky Vista Univ). He has about 8 people who come regulary and also has bought a set of mats to roll on.

Good job Eric.

Livin' and Loving the Journey

Life is so good. Eric and I have each other, we have great family, great friends, the church and heck, even our glasses are in love (above picture). We have a new family member, Ella, and our lives feel so complete. Eric is in school, I have a job and prospects of pharmacy school. The holidays are coming up and time spent with family will be so wonderful. Life is good.

Eric eating his cereal out of the packet. Sometimes it's just too inconvenient to get a bowl...

Etudie avec le chien

Dr. Stevens and his patient

Strike

I work at a King Sooper's Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician.

Lately there has been talk of a strike/lock-out for all unionized workers at King Soopers, City Market and Safeway stores. That's 17,000 employees.

If we go on strike, which is proposed for the holidays, we suspect it will last 3-4months! I'm excited for a break, but not for 3-4 months. I would love a one month break for the holidays and a break from all the mean pharmacy customers. But I do feel so bad, if we do go on strike, for the employees who depend on their wages on a day to day basis, especially with the holidays coming up.

It just feels so Europe-like or blue collar to be going on strike. Come on people, can't we find a better way to deal with this??

Potty Trained!

Our puppy Ella is so potty trained!!!!

Eric had the genius idea to put a bell up next to the front door so that whenever she needs to go outside, she rings the bell and we take her out. Perfect, simple, empowering.

Ella rings the bell every time she needs to go to the bathroom and also when she wants to go out and play.

Yesterday morning we got up at 7am, the usual time, and let Ella out of her kennel. Eric went to the kitchen and I went to the bathroom, but Ella couldn't wait for us to do our stuff or put on clothes. She was ringing her bell like crazy because she had to go OUT! NOW! So I just opened the door and she ran out, down the stairs, and peed in her spot outside. She is so awesome. No more messes inside, she's so smart.

Ella

Ella's first time with a collar and leash