Sushine AKA Sunny

Last week my parents had to put their dog Gabby down, because she became really sick. This past week, my mom found Skye crying because she missed her friend Gabby. So... my dad decided that it would be a good idea to get another dog...and it was my job to find it. Obviously I love dogs and was up for the challenge. We found this couple who had just had a litter in Buckeye (it was the longest drive ever). There were 5 girl puppies to choose from and my dad picked out the cutest one! We named her in the car Sunny. Her real name is going to be Sunshine. Sunshine Shipley!!! Here are some pictures.
Here are Gabby and Skye. So long Gabby girl. :)

Alexis, mom , and I with little Sunny.

mom and I with Sunshine.

Fishing and Flowers

Here is a recap of what we have been up to the past couple of days...
John and I took a day trip up to Roosevelt Lake to go fishing. The weather was gorgeous. We didn't catch any fish, but sure had a great time. :)

Here is John napping with the dogs. I'm petty sure that our dogs believe that that they are 80 pound lap dogs...ha

I planted a flower garden down our walkway in our front yard back in January after John's first surgery. I've never really planted a flower garden before, so I was curious to see if they would even grow. Our first flower bloomed today. It's going to look really nice when they all come up. :)

Scott is up here visiting with us this weekend. I forced him to take a picture with me and my one flower.

Ummm...looks like someone took off with the camera and was doing a mini photo shoot...

Waffles

My dad is pretty much the best waffle maker on the planet. I don't mean to brag...but it's true. This weekend my parents came up to visit with John and I and this morning...we were surprised with waffles. They are not just any waffles mind you...they are made with strawberries, chocolate shavings, whipped cream, and homemade maple syrup. They were absolutely delish!!!
Here is a picture of the final product...I know you are wishing you were at our house this morning...

Here is Chef Larry Shipley...we'll have to get him a chef's hat to wear next time!!!

Here are the parentals in the kitchen...

Alexis joined us as well. Here she is eating some strawberries by the bar...

Here I am with my plate of the wonderful waffles...

My mom and I went out for a walk this morning. I took her over to a state park over by our house for a nice stroll...and my mom ended up finding an deer head...she took it home because she felt sorry for it...she has named it Cooper and it is now sitting in our garage. Talk about random!!!

That's what has been going on with us this past weekend. Hope everyone has a nice week. :)

I Can't Believe It's March...

I can't believe that's it's March already. This past year seems to be flying for some reason. Here are some first week of March pictures...
This past week John had his second and last surgery...HOORAY!!! He is at home and is doing really well. John has had a two part surgery over the past three months to remove his large intestine due to having Ulcerative Colitis. It has been a long couple of months...but totally worth it in the long run.
Here is me waiting for John to get out of surgery...I promise I don't have that many wrinkles on my forehead... It was a long day for sure...lucky me to have my mom come up to Phoenix. It ended being a lot of fun. Alexis joined us for lunch at Texas Roadhouse for lunch.

Here is a picture of John waiting to go into surgery. He is such a trooper. I would be such a baby if the tables were turned...

Here is my work wife Jessica. We received slap bracelets from our manager (do you remember slap bracelets?...from like the early 90's)...and were trying to think of new ways to wear them...ha

Here I am with the dogs...we went on a hike to Coons Bluff by our house...Notice the new glasses...I'm in love with them!

Anyway...this is what has been going on in our life in Mesa. :)

New Camera=Random Pics

We have finally broke down and bought a new digital camera for me. My old digital camera was like 7 years old and was falling apart. Last weekend, my mom borrowed and ended up taking my old camera home with her to Tucson. Good Riddance. I was being a whiner this week because I all of a sudden had the "urge" to start taking pictures. Mind you...we have 2 really nice cameras that are used for like weddings and things...so I realize that I probably don't need a new camera...but we didn't have a camera we I could slip into my purse... Anyway, yesterday John surprised me with a new camera and I love it!!! It's a Canon Power Shot SD780. (I'm not really sure what all of that means...but I love the dang thing) Her are some pictures from the last 2 days...
Here is me last night when I discovered I had a new camera. I might have been thrilled!!!

Here is a picture of the valley from South Mountain...from the very top...

Here's me at the top of South Mountain. ( I went on the Climb for Cancer hike today...12 miles baby...)

We had Alexis over for lunch today...I made a pizza. Totally kidding...but we did order one from Domino's. I'm still not sold on their "new pizza"...it tastes too garlicly for me...

Here are the dogs. They are getting so big!!!

Here is a picture of John chillin on the couch. Notice the tan wall behind him... (this is a new color added to our living room)

Here is a picture I found of John from last week when we were painting the walls. He is hot!!! (if you look closely at the pic...the word hot is added to John's painting shirt)

Here are my random pictures...surely there will be more to post as I experiment with our new camera!!!

Weekend in Pictures

Here is my weekend in pictures...

Mom and I went to Hobby Lobby...this was her first time...

Had a nice visit from Johns brother and sister...(this is a picture of Jan his sister)

Mom and I behind the red wall...our faces look a little scary...

Dad decorating the laundry door room...


Mom waking up in the morning...

Dad painting a wall...

We went to the Olive Garden...where my pretty much offended the waitress...you should ask him about it sometime...

Then we went to an Arabian horse show Saturday night...

Up North

We're back!!! I took a vacation from blogging and now I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. Here is an update on our family: John has been doing much well since his surgery. Thanks for everyone's love and support. I'm doing well. Still doing a Masters program. I'll be done in a year from this week actually!!! That's about all there is to say with the update! Here are some pictures that we took last month when we were visiting John's family up North.