A Puppy Story

Because we were now (sort of) homeowners, Michael and I decided we couldn’t wait another day to get a new puppy.

Literally.

We closed on Friday, October 9th, and Saturday morning, we went to pick up our new puppy. Michael had found a woman who had rescued a litter of puppies, and Michael and I went to meet her to see if we would take one home with us. While we hadn’t made up our minds to bring one home with us, when we met Penelope, we knew she was the one for us.

Penelope is a Black Lab/Border Collie mix. Born August 12th, she and her littermates had ear infections and were covered in fleas when they were rescued. She was the smallest of her litter (which was one reason why we chose her), but she was also the sweetest. When we held her for the first time, she was so calm and affectionate, we just knew we had to add her to our little family. So we adopted her, bought her a crate and some food, and headed to our new home. Of course, having a new puppy has made settling in a bit difficult, but are so glad we got her.

Penelope (Penelope to me and Michael, Penny to her other family, and Sweet Pea when she is being unbelievable cute) quickly made herself at home with us. Everyone told us we were “in for it” because she would be smarter than we are. Luckily, she hasn’t formed any destructive habits, but she really is SO smart: she figured out how to open the screen door in about 30 seconds, and has already learned Sit, Down, Come, Go Potty, and Off. (I just wish babies were as easy to potty train. I mean, if a 3-month puppy can learn to hold it, why not a 3-month baby?)

Our Sweet Pea LOVES other dogs. Her best doggie friend is Marley, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever/Poodle mix. Despite being about 10 times as big as she is, they love to play chase and wrestle with each other. It is pretty hilarious. And seeing an 8-lb. puppy “dominate” a 70-lb. Goldendoodle is pretty side-splitting as well. Not to mention a wee bit inappropriate.

Some of Penelope’s favorite activities are chewing on her favorite toys:

playing fetch:

and learning new skills:

What she loves most, though, is to be snuggled and to have her tummy rubbed. And of course, she never chews on things she is not supposed to, like dirty socks, shoes, throw pillows, the carpet, or our “new” couch (to be fair, throwing a squeaky her way quickly redirects her taste for chewing into more appropriate channels). And while she is a delightful lap dog now, I’m afraid what is going to happen when she is 60 lbs. and still wanting to be carried around.

In the mean time, we are loving every minute of puppy parenthood. It has been teaching us important parenting skills, which we understand will transfer to people-parenting: getting up in the middle of the night (largely Michael’s duty, for which I am eternally grateful); having eyes in the back of our head; consistency; keeping our house puppy-proof (plastic bags and small objects are No-Nos for both puppies and babies, I understand); and, of course, bragging about her to complete strangers and showing pictures to anyone who will look.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Bragonje for the delightful package. Penelope has LOVED her toys (especially the Almond Joy!). And thanks also to Andrea, for all the great toys and treats, and for letting us descend on you every weekend for doggie play dates!

Oh, the Burdens and Benefits of Homeownership

When Michael and I graduated at the end of April, we moved out to California, where I was starting my new job. My parents were, of course, thrilled and begged us to come grace their home with our presence. We agreed, of course; my parents have done so much for us, so how could I deny them this one favor?

After a few months of this domestic bliss, we found out that Michael would have to wait longer than expected to begin the CHP academy. My mom tactfully suggested that we begin looking for a place of our own (I guess the prospect of an interminable, er, indefinite stay was too much of a good thing…?). We began looking in earnest for homes in the area in August, with the help of Pat “The Pitbull” Gallagher.

Toward the end of August, the perfect home came on the market. It was on a quarter-acre, 4 bed/2 bath, and it was right in the town of Loomis. Oh heaven!

Alas, the realtor presenting the home on behalf of the bank kept postponing when it would be shown, and *poof* it was suddenly pending. What treachery was this?

We regretfully turned our sights in other areas (Roseville and Rocklin, of all the unholy places), fearing that a home in Loomis was beyond our immediate reach.

Well, after another month of looking, offers, and disappointment, Our Home came back on the market! It came on the market on a Friday (September 18th), we went to (finally) see it that evening, and put in an offer right away.

Because it was a bank-owned, we only had one shot. We couldn’t do the typical back-and-forth, and we knew there was a ton of interest. After much consideration, we put in our offer, and the bank came back the following Wednesday with a counter: $10 less that they would pay toward the home warranty. Seriously. The bank’s counter amounted to a lousy ten bucks.

We, of course, accepted, and we closed Friday, October 9, 2009.

And just like that, we were homeowners. Or at least saddled with an enormous debt for the next 30 years.

We figure that, with our 20 percent down payment, we own the master bedroom and bathroom free and clear. But we do have a few guestrooms mortgaged, if anyone is so inclined to visit!

{Pictures will follow soon, I promise…}

Happy B-Day Melly-Sue!

Yesterday was Melinda Sue Brinton Taylor's birthday. This belated post (our Internet is spotty and unreliable) is devoted to her.

For a more wonderfully-written post, please go here. I promise I will not be too repetitive.

I first remember meeting Melinda before she was even dating Stephen (and they are perfectly matched, let me tell you). My best firend Janice actually gave her a ride home from a big MESA (Middle Eastern Studies-Arabic) dinner that she had attended because she was interested in the Middle East (Janice and I was graduates of the program). It was a fairly uneventful trip, apart from the little mishap involving a rental car and too tight of a squeeze. I'll just say that was the first, and only, time Janice ever opted not to get rental insurance.

I next met her in a Turkish class we were both in. She is a fan of languages, and apart from her fluency in Armenian, has studied a bit of Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Spanish, and French. I then recall sitting in front of her in Sunday school, little thinking that she was making eyes at my brother. I sure am glad she was interested, however, because they really are so well-suited for each other! And wasn't she a beautiful bride?

Melinda is certainly very accomplished. She served a mission in Armenia, taught English in Ecuador, and is a wonderful little seamtress. She also recently finished her Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). However, her most recent accomplishment is this little guy:

Isn't she a beautiful mommy?

So happy birthday Melinda! I am so glad you are part of our family!

Happy Birthday Megan!

Megan is married to my oldest brother Karl, and is the beautiful mommy of Camryn (Karl married up, for sure. Megan has this delicate, fairy-like face, and the most gorgeous long, slender arms, legs and fingers).Her virtues are not merely superficial. She is amazingly funny and witty, especially when she writes. She certainly has a rare gift (peruse her blog here to get a taste of her talent. Becky is trying to convince Megan to submit her writings to a magazine, and I wholeheartedly agree). She is an avid reader and lover of the Arts, making her Humanities major a perfect fit for her.

Megan is from beautiful Portland, OR, and has a twin sister, Katie {Happy Birthday to you, too, Katie}. She has a major crush on Paris and all things French and spent a semester abroad there.

Another of her talents involves the ability to clean and organize. She is the best housekeeper and keeps things spotlessly clean (an example to us all, I'm sure).

Perhaps her most remarkable talent, however, is her ability to tolerate us Taylors. She certainly has civilizing effect on us. Regardless of our other virtues and flaws, Taylors are best taken in small doses. Yet she just spent an entire week with us here in California and did beautifully. I loved our visit, Megan, and only wish they were more frequent!

Happy Birthday Megan! I am thrilled to wish you another happy year, filled with all things delightful.

Fun in the Sun

Grandma took Preston out and got him some fun summer things. Here are some pics of him breakin' in his new duds.

He's obsessed with drinking running water. He would cast aside his sippie cup with disdain in favor of the hose.

Fun summer days!

Shamed

I am sorry that I have not been keeping up with this blog. Truth be told, my life is boring and I don't feel like I have any updates, but I suppose there have been a few updates.

First, we packed up and moved back to Loomis, CA this month. I am pleased to announce that, despite many doubts, I was able to fit almost everything Michael and I own into one bedroom, saving us from having to get a storage unit. True, we did sell off our kitchen table and chairs (Which I loved) because there was no room, but I am pretty proud of myself.

I don't start my job with the state auditor until June 1st, so until then, I've been lazing about the house. I have been reading (for pleasure! A thing I didn't think I would do until much much later) a LOT, and enjoying time with the fam. My world right now pretty much revolves around this guy lately:

It is so much fun playing with him whenever I get the chance.

I haven't been completely idle, though. A couple days ago I assisted Becky with making freezer jam. It tastes amazing. Like summer in a jar.

And yesterday, my mom and I finished making this:
It's a burial gown for a baby that was lost just six weeks before she was due. A fellow Freecycler made a post on behalf of her cousin, and so I readily volunteered my mom's skills (she was more than willing, of course). Just thinking about what this poor mother was going through broke my heart, and so I was glad to be able to do anything for them.

Due to my lack of experience, I was in charge of the ironing, the handstitching that needed to be done, and sewing on the little button in the back. I think the final product turned out pretty nice.

After doing this, my mom and I decided that we wanted to make more premie outfits for the local hospitals. Losses like this occur all-too frequently, and being able to have a beautiful outfit for your baby--and not have to worry aobut getting one--will hopefully make a difficult time a little easier. We looked online to see what was available, and not only was it prohibitively expensive (for not a lot to be honest), but shipping charges were outrageous. It made me mad to know that people were profiting off parents' grief, and I'm glad to be able to do something about it.

So, if you are talented with a sewing machine and have some time on your hands, I suggest making a few outfits yourself. I know your efforts will be most appreciated.

Seriously, so blessed!

Okay, so sorry it's been a while. Today was my last day of class (Blessing #1). Ever. I mean, I'm sure I'll take classes again (MAYBE...), but probably never as a degree-seeking student. It was weird to finish up everything and realize that was it. Huh.

Anyway, that just explains why I've been away. School work was crazy, and nothing very exciting happens to me anyway. Well, except for about a week and a half ago.

A week ago last Saturday, Michael and I were coming home from the grocery store when our car just started slowing down. And died. THANKFULLY, we were turning onto our street when this happened, and so we weren't stranded on a busy street (Blessing #2). Our car still showed about an eighth of a tank, but I figured the gauge was off (it's a "new to us" car and we hadn't driven it that long) and that we were just out of gas. But after Michael made several trips to the gas station to bring back a few gallons, it STILL wouldn't start. After talking to a few people, the general consensus was that the fuel pump had failed, which would be an expensive repair. Yikes! We were pretty bummed, but were swamped with final projects at the same time and were just going worry about it later. Well, that's where my awesome brother Nathan steps in (Blessing #3).

So, Nathan and his wife own a car of the same make and model as ours, and so Nathan (being the genius he is) knows a lot about it. Even though they are almost 700 miles away, and I am in no way, shape, or form his responsibility, he has called me so many times since our car died with things to try to see if the problem is something else. I mean, how great is he that he has been thinking about his little sis's problems and wanting to help. Well, folks, he did it. He called this evening to tell us to try something else, and (drum roll please)...IT WORKED! He had us switch the AC compressor relay with the fuel pump relay (because they are the same part) to see if that was the problem with the fuel pump, and it was! And it's only a $15 part to replace! I am so, so, SO glad that Nathan A) knows what's he doing and B) was concerned enough to try and figure out the problem. He is so awesome!

So Blessing #4 is that our car is no longer a very expensive lawn ornament. It's alive...IT'S ALIVE!
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P.S.
I took the title of this post from a funny little satirical blog: seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com.

P.P.S.
I love my family. And I am seriously so blessed to have four amazing brothers. I was lucky enough to get to live near my three older brothers while we were all out here in Provo, and they saved my tushie so many times. So here are some long overdue thank yous:

• Karl (and Megan): When I was living in the dorms, and after, they helped me move so many times with their truck. Way last minute. And they took me to the airport at way WAY last minute notice when I was an irresponsible Freshman and forgot to arrange transportation. THANK YOU!!! Oh, and during my undergrad whenever I would freak out over school (one time, in particular, I was stressin' about an Arabic final), I could call him and he would come over and give me a blessing. He was always there for me.
• Nathan (and Becky): He will do anything for anyone. I mean, he is not the most chatty person in the world, but this car example is so him. He will stop for anyone on the road with car troubles, for example, and is really just a big softie.
  
• Stephen (and Melinda): I could call Stephen to do ANYTHING, and he would do it. He is a great brother. He has given me countless rides to everywhere and just wants to be a good person, which is an unfortunately too-rare quality.

And lest we forget...

• Colin: My only little brother! He's just great. I'm so glad to be able to see more of him once we move back to California. I can hang out with him in way I can't with my other brothers, and I even like playing video games with him. The first time I ever saw him I thought he was an angel and I have loved being his big sister ever since.