"Why, Miss Lady, you have a collar"

Yesterday Bailey got a new collar. We've been meaning to get her one, so I finally did yesterday. When Brandon took off the old one, she wasn't sure about it. She started jumping at it and wouldn't take her eyes off her collar. She's like that every time we take it off for a bath. And when he put the new one around her neck, she looked so content. I mean, it's hers, the only thing she wears every day of her life. It makes sense that she's proud of it and doesn't like Daddy taking it off! So I immediately thought of the part in Lady in the Tramp where the dogs congratulate Lady on her new collar. Brandon didn't know what I was talking about, so I found this clip from Lady and the Tramp . The first 3-4 minutes were what I was talking about. But I also love the part where Jim Darling gets home from work and Lady has to run home to greet him. It's like Bailey getting excited about Brandon coming home. I just love this movie, and it really takes me back. Hope you enjoy.

A Much Needed Break

Spring break was just what we needed. It felt so good to leave Dallas and all our worries behind. I was so tired of studying and ready to relax. We got to see my parents and my Granny for quick stop through Nashville.





We spent the rest of the week in Florence, Alabama at Brandon's Mema's house. Brandon's cousin Jake and his girlfriend Alicen also came. Bailey had a great time being outside and exploring Mema's back yard. The boys went striper and bass fishing with a guide on Thursday. And Brandon's parents came down for a few days at the end of the week. It was so good to relax and see family and eat such yummy food. I even read a book over the break (which for me is very very rare). We just wish we had another week of vacation!!! Here's some of the pictures from the trip...


Stripers are HUGE!


Brandon's 2 biggest Stripers (14 and 16 lbs!!!)


Jake and Brandon with the guide, Steve.


Admiring his smallmouth bass.


Brandon and Jake with their Mema.


Jakey


Brandon in action


Jake and Alicen



Brandon counted down the days until this trip, checking the weather a million times a day. He was so excited. Steve, the guide "who knows everything there is to know about fishing", was a good friend of Brandon's Papa. Brandon and Jake learned all they know about fishing from Papa. Everyone could tell how much Brandon had in common with his Papa- they were buddies. Both very calm, quiet, and sarcastic with a love for fishing and the Dallas Cowboys. After Papa passed away this past October, Mema began to plan a trip for Brandon and Jake to come down and fish with Steve. They'd both been with Papa in years past, so it meant so much to them. They told stories about Papa and had such a good time. Papa would have been proud of the great fish they caught. After all, he's the one who taught the boys to hold the fish up close to the camera to make the fish look bigger. Brandon and Jake had a good time looking through all of Papa's fishing stuff. It's amazing how many lures and worms he had. And I know Brandon will be the same way. I am so grateful for the amazing example Papa was to his grandkids. It was easy to see that he was a wonderful husband, dad, and grandfather, but his love for the Lord is what was most evident. I'll stop going on and on, but I just wanted to write a little about a really great man. We all miss him so much.


Papa on the fishing trip with Brandon last March.
Hope everyone had a good Spring Break. I know we did.

Yucky rainy test day

Today I woke up at 6 am for the dreaded COMPs. 6 hours later, I was finally done. But it was hard to be super happy because of the cold nasty rain. Oh and because I have another huge test tomorrow morning. (BUT after that, we're headed off for Spring Break and I can't WAIT!)

After our test, I got a pedicure with Cortney, Brianne, and Becca. Without them in Grad school with me, I don't know what I would have done. We had a fun time celebrating and pampering ourselves. They're the best. We have made it almost all the way through Grad school!!!

This afternoon Bailey and I had to bundle up because it was so shockingly cold! She loves her little jacket. I totally thought I'd never be the type to dress my dog, but I just think it's so hilarious! Brandon's gonna kill me for posting this. He hates for her to wear clothes. Especially ones that suggest any femininity. But isn't she the cutest! So this one's dedicated to her 3 BFFs: Baxter, Buddy, and Sadie.



I'm obviously feeling a little better now that I have one test down. Today, my sister Allie flew to Guatemala for a spring break mission trip. Jessi is going to Florida with friends. So of course I won't be seeing either of them over the break. But I'm really looking forward to seeing my parents. I'll just be so happy to have my tests over with. Hope everyone's staying warm and has had a good week!

Favorite Commercial

This commercial always makes my day. You've probably seen it. I just love it...click here to watch it. Maybe it'll make you smile. Enjoy!

10 things I'd rather be doing

In the midst of all this studying, all I can think about is how I could make better use of my time. Unfortunately though, it is pretty necessary that study encompass my entire life at the moment. So here's 10 things I keep thinking about that I'd rather be doing...

10. Facebooking and spending time doing other mindless things
9. Job searching (yes, even that will be a treat after all this...eek)
8. Playing with Bailey and teaching her some new super-awesome tricks
7. Painting or crafting something in my apartment
6. Hanging out with all the wonderful friends who I am not getting to see much
5. Doing anything outside (since it's been like 80 degrees and GORGEOUS)
4. Shopping for some cute spring clothes
3. Watching movies with Brandon (my list has been growing since I haven't gotten to watch many lately)
2. Catching up on some MUCH needed sleep
1. Going on SPRING BREAK!!!!! (only 7 more days...)

This coming week, I don't have practicum and I'll be skipping classes so I can study every second possible before the dreaded tests. I'm so ready to be done studying, thinking about studying, and complaining about studying. But it'll all be over in a week. 7 days from today. I can do it.

Weekend at the Farm

This past weekend, James and Holly invited us
to his family's Farm, so we had a really fun weekend
getting out of town with our pups. We had soo much fun.


Sorry this is such a long post, but I took a lot of
pictures this weekend! Here's some of them:


Bailey loved every minute.


Reunited and it feels so good...
Brandon and James with one of the enormous
catfish they caught.


Question: How big is this thing, anyways??
Answer: 8 freakin POUNDS!!!


Catfish. Gross.


Four-wheelin all over the place.


Our lovely tour guides, James and Holly.


I love him. I can't help it!!!!!!


He loves me too...he just doesn't always
know how to show it.


The boys setting up the targets for us.


Cute little Belts.


This is what happens when you live in Texas.


Don't mess with me.


Or my fine husband.




Holly showin off her mad skills. :)


James shootin...he's done this before.


11 week old Buddy. What a presh.


Oh Bailey. She never took her eyes off Buddy.


Well, except for when she needed to focus on that raw hide.


Cutie.


Bailey loves him.


"What? We weren't doing anything!!!"


Oh, wow.




Brandon's rubbing off on me.


Daddy's girl.


She loves fish.


Bailey thought this was a treat.


...so she tried to run so we couldn't take it away from her.


It was an EXHAUSTING weekend!