Busy Bees!

We've been a couple of busy bees these last few weeks ... and thus haven't been able to post in a while. Here's a little update on what we've been up to:

Work has been keeping Cam VERY busy between different training courses, prepping ranges, making inventories, and all the usual paperwork that comes with being a platoon leader. After work, he's been diligently prepping and finishing painting our master bedroom and bath. Here's an "in-process" shot:
We'll post some "after" shots once all the clean-up and proper "pretty" staging is done!

While I don't have a job to keep me busy, I find my days filled with dog walking/entertaining, household chores, errands and various activities on Post that I'm involved in. Plus, I always have time to spare for a coffee get-together with girlfriends! I've also been working away at diminishing my fabric stash before Baby Billy Bob arrives. I know once he/she is here, I won't have time to do as much quilting, so in order to build up my Project Linus stash (so that I have things do donate after his/her entrance) AND clean out the craft closet, I'm sewing my fingers to the bone. I've managed to finish 3 quilts (the Mystery Quilt was started waaaay back in March) in the last 2 weeks and have another on the sewing machine awaiting binding.

A mystery quilt done with the Ft. Bliss Blissful Stitchers. It's a little "scrappy" for my taste, but hopefully some lil' kid will love it!

A panel that I just added the black and blue borders and a backing to. I also tried my hand at a little more free-motion quilting on this one.

A panel of four Suzy Zoo prints that I just added the red and yellow borders and a backing to. I quilted the inner and outer square of the red border and did a little more free-motion quilting over the Suzy design.

Athena's also been a busy little dog, trying to be underfoot no matter what we are doing. She's tolerating her mange treatment and the spot seems to be improving. We have to take her back to the vet in a week to get another skin scraping to test for mite production. Keep your fingers crossed that she gets a clean bill of health!

Sleeping in

Darn Mangy Mutt!

We noticed a few weeks ago that Athena had a spot of missing fur right under her left eye. Thinking it was from all the horseplay between her and our friends' dog, Rembrandt, we decided to take a Watch-and-See approach. The spot didn't seem to bother her when we touched it and she wasn't scratching at it. When the spot appeared to be growing larger instead of getting better, we took her to the vet.

Two and a half hours later, which included a shaving and skin scraping, we discovered that she was afflicted with Demodectic Mange. It's a form of non-contagious mange that is caused by naturally-occurring mites in young dogs whose immune system isn't fully developed. At least we now know what it is and are treating it before it gets any worse.

In order to make the process of bathing the spot and treating it with ointment every day a little easier, our poor little pup gets a mini cheese & peanut butter sandwich (i.e. peanut butter between a small slice of cheese ... and a pill!) twice a day. So far, she's a big fan of Cam's new concoction!

The spot is right under her left eye

The mange spot and the OVER-shaved area

Memorial Day Weekend, Part Dos

As I mentioned below, Cam and I made a hurried 4-day trek up to Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA for a much needed trip to visit a few friends and a whole lot of family! We also learned a few interesting things along the way...

Driving to the El Paso airport on Friday morning before the sun came out, we noted the temperature gauge in the truck read: 65 deg F. Upon landing in Portland, our pilot cheerfully announced that we arrived into overcast skies with scatter showers and a high of 55 deg F. Welcome home!

We spent the day on Friday with Cam's dad, which included a "quick" trip south (Thanks, Portland traffic!) to the Shane Company for a few ring cleanings and inspections, before finally heading home to Vancouver (with a quick pit stop at the original Burgerville! YUM!) In all our driving around that afternoon, all I could do was marvel at how green and lush everything was. I had forgotten how I missed seeing an actual river every day or looking out a window at a hillside covered in green trees or how beautifully colorful spring flowers can be!

After a short nap for all of us, we rendezvoused at the FABULOUS Dragon King Chinese Restaurant in Hazel Dell with some great friends from high school: Kevin, Wes and Ben. Dinner was as deliciously greasy as we remembered it and it was great to catch up with old friends!

Despite the fact that Wes attended Eastern Washington University (located approximately 70 miles north of WSU), he was kind enough to bring us a baby present - a little stuffed HUSKY! Wes decided the dog was the cutest one in Toys R' Us and therefore, we couldn't live without it. (ATTN All Coug Friends: We need a little stuffed COUG to teach our kid the difference between GOOD and EVIL...)

On Saturday, we spent the entire day with Cam's brother, Jason, and his family. We did a little shopping with the girls (Kristy, Angie-the-S-I-L, and Alyssa-the-niece) headed to JoAnn Fabrics, while the boys (Cam, Jason, and Andrew-the-nephew) dinked around Sportsman's Warehouse; we played a few games, including chess, 4-player chess and Life!

Before long, it was time to pack up and head to Cam's grandparents' house for a "surprise" Baby Shower/Family Gathering. There was, as usual, WAAAAY too much food, great company, and a wonderful slew of games to play. Angie did an amazing job as Baby Shower hostess, entertaining us with the "Candy-Bar/Dirty Diaper Game" (FYI - Bruce, the stepfather-in-law and Angie's dad can gut a fish with the best of them, but couldn't stomach being in the same room with "dirty" diapers. Wussies!!!), a super cute "Match Game" and "The Price is Right". Thanks, Angie for all your hard work! We had sooooo much fun!!!

Enjoying our Baby Shower

Angie, the beautiful hostess of The Match Game
Doesn't she look like Vanna White?

Very Studious Participants in The Price is Right
(L to R) Karen (Angie's mom), Andrew (nephew), Sarah (sis), Dave (dad), Tish (Dave's girlfriend)

On Sunday, my parents graciously drove the 3 1/2 hours west from West Richland to visit with us in Vancouver. The four of us had an early breakfast at a favorite greasy spoon before making the rounds to see old Leber family friends. We stopped by our old neighborhood to visit the Barkers (our "upstairs" neighbors) to catch up ... and spy on our old house. We trekked out to Battle Ground for a BBQ in our honor at our "Aunt" Jan and "Uncle" Ron's house, where we were joined by our other GREAT family friends, Dave and Helen Alt and their son, David and his family. It was wonderful to spend some time with people who watched my brothers and me grow up.

I'm so glad that my parents were able to drive over to see us. I talk to one of them at least 3 times a week, but I had forgotten how much I missed seeing my parents in the flesh ... especially since moving to El Paso and not being able to make quick trips to and fro across Washington.

Parents- and Grandparents-To-Be

With "Uncle" Ronnie (AKA The Sugar Booger Man) and Jan

More old family friends, the Alts

Sunday night found us back in Oregon at Cam's mom's house for another BBQ. We were joined by Cam's sister, Sarah, her boyfriend, and Jason, Angie and the kids. We had such fun eating MORE, playing cut-throat Team Sequence and spending more time with family.

The Smith Siblings

Nuttiness runs in the family?
(with our niece and nephew)

Unfortunately, our trip was a short one and as always, there is never enough time to see everyone we hoped we could. Thankfully, we're planning another trip north for the Great Baby Tour of 2010. Look for our tour dates around the end of November, early December.

Until then: Thanks a million to all the family members that made our trip a success!

Memorial Day Weekend, Part Uno

Cam and I made a hurried 4-day trek up to Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA to see some family before it gets too late for me to fly. While we were away, Athena the Wonder Pup stayed with our good friends, Charla and Jason, and their new puppy, Rembrandt. Remy is about 3 months younger than Athena, but the two of them were bosom buddies (and both EXHAUSTED) by the time the weekend was over. Charla and Jason said that they just played and played and played all weekend - to the point where they couldn't even go to sleep and had to be separated for anyone in the household to get some rest.

Charla managed to capture some of their playtime! (FYI - Athena is the bigger of the two dogs)


More stories and pictures will follow in a couple days ... so hold your horses! :D