Suggestions??

I bought this shelf to use over my couch. However, I came home & this shelf is too small for the scale of the wall the sofa is up against. Then I decided to mount it in our dining area. I don't know what to decorate with!!! I feel like I should have something on each side (where the additional wall space is) to anchor it, but I can't come up with anything I like. Plus, I don't know what to place/rest on top of the shelf either. So I'm asking you for your suggestions. What do you think will look really good?

Our apartment is sparsley decorated 1. Because it's an apt. & since it's not permanant I don't want to invest in alot of decor just yet (but wait, being a military spouse, anywhere i go isn't permanant....oh well) and 2. I'm kinda picky. I want to absolutely L-O-V-E something before I put it on my wall or out for everyone to see. I like original unique things. I also would like for our home to have a warm & cozy feeling. After all, "There's no place like home."

I'd like to Introduce....

MAX! A week ago, Aaron came home to surprise me & Elvis. He wanted to cheer us up since I lost my little shadow & Elvis didn't have a playmate anymore. Max is a Blue & Tan Dapple Miniature Dachshund. He looks like he's been splattered with paint. I love his markings, they make him so unique. Elvis has enjoyed having someone to wrestle with, and Max isn't afraid to back down either. I've tried to get a few cute shots, but he doesn't stay still for long unless he's asleep. It's fun getting to know his personality. He's so cute he'll bark at me when he needs my attention & likes to play his with teddy bear. Here's a cute video of Max using the couch as refuge as him & Elvis play together.

Christmas 2008

I can't believe another Christmas has passed. We had a nice one in Alabama visiting my family & seeing good friends. It was a long drive there & back, but fortunately it went quickly. The both of us received gifts, but the best part was spending time with those we don't see often. I think Aaron got quite the taste of my extended family. On one side we are loud & laugh alot. On the other side low key, but still just as much love to go around. I really appreciate them & their love for us. Here are a few pictures to enjoy. I can't believe how big my little sister & brothers are getting. Everyone is growing up so fast & it's these special moments that mean more to me the older I get.

Sadie Bug

Our Christmas was spent in Alabama this year with my side of the family. We had a nice Christmas & I will post about that later once I upload pictures. Unfortunately we had a sad ending. This past Sunday Aaron & I had to put Sadie down. She wasn't acting herself & we could tell something was terribly wrong. At first we thought she ate something to make her feel bad. Then we thought maybe she was car sick from traveling all day on Saturday. Sunday morning we saw no improvements & as the day went on she was in more pain. That afternoon Aaron was checking her again & he saw 3 big spots of blood underneath her skin on her belly. We took her to the ER vet. Aaron spent several hours there with our little girl & finally they got around to her. Bloodwork came back & it showed she had poison in her blood stream. We called my parents & there was rat poison behind their frig. We had no idea she had eaten some, but Aaron said he recalled her sniffing back there & eating something (which we assumed was crumbs) throughout our visit. When he took her to the vet deep down I knew she prob wouldn't return, but I was praying for the best. We couldn't afford all the medical care she would need & still there was no guarantee Sadie would live. We decided the best thing was to put her down so she wouldn't suffer anymore. The poison had eaten 3 holes thru her intestinal wall, causing the internal bleeding. Aaron came home late that night & my heart sank. He told me the nurses fell in love with my little Sadie Bug & asked him to read over some information. It was a waiver to sign all of our rights over Sadie to the hospital. If we were to do that, they would proceed with the blood transfusions & any surgery needed. If Sadie made it, they would find a family that would adopt her. I called the hospital once & they told us they couldn't give any information since we signed over rights. It broke my heart. I cried for 2 days & I still choke up talking about it. So we actually don't know if she lived, but our feeling is that she didn't make it. Sadie had been eating on it all week & she had to have had alot in her system. It seemed too severe & too late for her to survive. But then I struggle with "What if she did?" If she did, she didn't come home to us, her "pack" as we would say. I loved that little dog, she was my shadow. Sadie always had to be where I was & she would get so excited to see me. I know she'll make a good dog for someone else, but she'll always be mine. The hard part for me is to see her face & her sad eyes that last day. She was in alot of pain & those images are burned into my mind. I'm just trying to have faith that Heavenly Father did the best thing for her. Whether it was passing away or if another family needed her more. We miss her sweetness in our home. She made us laugh many times & was a great playmate for Elvis. I think the movie "All Dogs Go to Heaven" is true, I always have believed it since I was little. I love Sadie alot & she'll always have a soft spot in my heart. I'm so grateful for Aaron. He's been so senstive & understanding this week. We've been able to spend alot of time together & he's helped take my mind off it. He was sad too, but I always told him if anything happened to either of our dogs I'd be heartbroken. I'm really lucky to have this sweet guy.

Thanksgiving & Christmas Party

WOWZA! It has been a long time since the last post. I've thought about getting on here several times, but then realized I don't have any fun pictures to document with & was just plain lazy. Now I have oodles & oodles of pics for everyone to see! Lucky me...the hubby came home earlier than expected & we got to spend Thanksgiving together!! It only gets better, my younger sister & my crazy cousin (whom I love dearly) had already made plans to visit for the holiday! I was able to spend Thanksgiving with some of the people I love most! They stayed for a week. I took them to the Naval Base to see "Ships" by they seemed to be more interested in "BOYS". Then we galavanted to Colonial Williamsburg, drove on the boardwalk down at the Oceanfront for the holiday lights, played lots of MarioKart on Nintendo DS, and made a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner. It was the first for all of us...nothing burned & we all fell into food comas shortly thereafter. PURE BLISS!!! My family hasn't visited me up here, so it was such a blessing to have them. I loved seeing them, I loved spending the holiday with them & my sweet hubby. It was the best Thanksgiving I've ever had!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Our Second Wedding Anniversary

I cannot believe it has been 2 years since Aaron & I said "I do." I think most people know our story, but I'm going to recap. During the Summer of 2006 Aaron was at Naval Dive School in Panama City Florida. My Aunt & Uncle were living in PC, so I decided to visit them one weekend. It was out of the blue that I had gotten the urge to visit. Two weeks prior to my visit I had seen them at my grandparents house & they offered anyone to come stay with them. Anyways, the weekend came I planned to visit. I had no intentions of meeting someone, it was seriously the LAST thing on my mind. We had decided to go on out on the ocean with their boat with my aunt's brother & his wife. I'm not sure who, but someone got the idea to set me up, so that I didn't have to be the third wheel :) One phone call led to another and then Aaron Christensen showed up at the docks the next day ready for this blind day date!! Yes, we were set up on a blind date & we did not hit it off. I was very quiet and Aaron could hardly get a word out of me. But in my defense I was with my family on a date...I think that would cause anyone feel awkward! Later that night he came over to dinner. Again, kinda the same scenario as the boat date. Before giving up on me, he asked if I'd like to go for ice cream after dinner. To his surprise I agreed! We got into his jeep on our way to Cold Stone & I have chatted his little ear off ever since :) We FINALLY hit it off and by our second date (a week later) I had the distinct impression that I would marry this guy. I knew it was the spirit speaking to me & my life has been blessed ever since. That entire summer we both were making trips back & forth from AL to FL. On the phone 3-4 hrs every night we were apart. By August, Aaron asked me to marry him. In September he graduated dive school & moved to Virginia Beach. We planned to wed on November 4. A whirlwind romance, I do agree with everyone on that. Looking back I can't believe how quickly things went, but I knew the entire time this is who I am to marry. It's been a magic adventure ever since that warm summer night we went out for ice cream. I love Aaron & I am so sad he can't be here with me today to celebrate our 2nd Anniversary. My Heavenly Father has blessed me with a caring husband. Aaron is my best friend & I love being with him. I am also proud we decided to be sealed as husband & wife in the Manti temple. Happy Anniversary Aaron! I love you forever!

Make a Smilebox postcard

Washington DC & Pumpkin Carving

I know it has been quite some time since my last blog, but we have been busy with the Youth temple trip to DC, my new job (YAY!!), spending time together since the hubs had to leave again, spending time with great friends who are moving soon, finding a reliable vehicle for our family, and many discussions about a possible move.....whew! There seems to be alot more, but I don't want to go on too much. Earlier in October we went to DC for a temple trip, as well as some historic sightseeing!! Since both of our callings are with the Youth we were able to participate! The temple was a wonderful experience & it was unbelievable to me that I was there as a chaperone!!!! It wasn't too long ago I was the youth, my how time flies! I felt the trip was a success & it was exciting to be in DC to visit the monuments.

We also spent Family Home Evening with our dear friends the Andersons. The activity...carving pumpkins for Halloween!!! It was so much fun and they have the sweetest children. Unfortunately, they are moving in a couple of weeks. We are so sad to see them go!! Here are some fun pictures we took!!