Sweet Animals

After reviewing my blog, I realized I didn't have any pictures up of my sweet animals. So here are some pictures for your enjoyment! As you can tell, the chair is a favorite of both Copper and Punkin. Copper is a 3 year old Pomeranian and is not a very well balanced dog. He seems to obsess over things like his ball. As you can see from the picture he even sleeps with it!

Punkin weighs 21 pounds (the vet says he is "big boned" and carries the weight well. He is very sensitive about his weight, and does not like for you to look at his belly, or try and touch it. Punkin has been on a prescription diet for about a month now, and we are going back to the vet for the big weigh in next week. Stay tuned for the Feline Biggest Looser!

No evidence of any mice!

YEA!!!!! The bug man came this morning. I told him to look VERY closely to see if he saw any evidence of mice. He checked the attic, the garage and every little spot a little creature may want to hide, and guess what?!?!?!?!?.......... DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!................ There is no evidence of any mice anywhere in my home or surrounding my home. WAHOOOOO!!!! Praise GOD!

Fear of Mice...... continued

Ok, so one more mouse blog to catch you up to speed on my very real fear of the tiny creatures, and my current problem.
College: I woke up after an afternoon nap to my roommate asking if I was ok. I had been crying in my sleep because I had a dream about a mouse in the dorm room that was trying to get me. When I ran from the mouse it would change colors. How SPOOKY!

2007 - I was in my school, and had just given my class over to my student teacher for one of her first times teaching a lesson. I thought I would grab my Diet Dr. Pepper from the freezer at the back of the room and settle in to complete an evaluation. When I reached in I noticed something brown and fury. So I quickly retrieved my hand. I went back for a 2nd look, and sure enough my fear was confirmed a FROZEN rat in my freezer. Apparently, my face turned white as a ghost, I gasped and ran from the room. My poor student teacher (Lauren) was left to continue teaching not knowing why I had fled the room.
I ran down to the office and ran into the custodian, Maria. I quickly told her what happened and she was off to take care of the problem. I must have been talking loudly because here comes my principal to see what was going on. We walked back to my classroom and he pulled the freezer into the hall. Down the hall, Maria is approaching with the flat bed dolly to haul the freezer away. (She had checked it out, and she saw what I had described to her) As my principal slowly opened the door, to see that terrible thing I had described he reached in and.................handed me an exploded Diet Dr. Pepper can. OOPS! All that ruckus for nothing.

All of this to say that I have known that when I bought my house I would more than likely run into a mouse or two. My house is in a very new neighborhood, and they are building things all around. My backyard also backs up to a big tree farm. Well, my neighbor has been very good at telling me what things to get to take care of certain issues that arise when you own your home. He noticed evidence of mice in his garage so he put out poison and I did the same. He called the other night to let me know that he is changing his mouse poison to traps because he keeps finding dead mice that are stinking up his garage. EWWWWWWW!!!!!! I am soooo terrified of finding a mouse alive or dead. YUCK! I am scared of traps because EW it kills them, and a sticky trap, even grosser because it is still alive. EW EW EW!!!! Needless to say, I have called my pest control people to come and check out my side. So far I have not noticed any evidence of mice in my garage, but I will keep you posted. You know how people have invisible fences for their pets? Well, I am praying that God has one around my side of the house and they all go to his side to die. Wanna be my neighbor?

The Fear of Mice...... The Beginings

Ok, if you even half way know me, you know that I am absolutely, deathly afraid of mice. To understand this fear let me take you back many years ago to a time when I was about 12. I happened to be sitting on my bed doing some kind of homework when I looked up and noticed that there was a big, black pile on the carpet. I got up and made sure I scolded my sweet, blind dog named Panda. I got a tissue and went to clean up the mess. Well, as I reached down to pick it up, the poop came alive and ran into my room!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!! This alone is enough to scar a person FOREVER!!!! I continued screaming and ran to my mom's room only to have the little devil FOLLOW ME. So, then I ran screaming back to my bedroom only to have that monster follow me back!!!! That mouse was NOT normal and I believe was enjoying torturing me. So after all the screaming, yelling, dancing, and running I convinced my mom to take me to my Grandparents house to sleep. I am still grateful for her allowing us to give everything to the mouse and save ourselves.

Christmas Eve with the Shipley's

Christmas Eve has always been a very special day in my family. When I was young, we (My mom and I) would get up and open presents from each other. One of the presents would always hold a new outfit to wear to Christmas. After packages, we would then bake, and get ready to go to my Grandparents house on my dad's side.
This year was almost identical to the past years except I woke up in my own home, and traveled to Grandmomma's house. I was looking forward to this Christmas Eve because Grandmomma agreed to come with us to Mimi and Papa's house!
All the food is on the table, and there are not enough places for people to sit around the table, so we head off to the den. After good conversations and funny stories we head into the living room for presents. We draw names, so you only have to buy for one person. This year my cousin Shannon had my name. I got 2 deodorants, 4 air fresheners and 2 different razors. (hmmm.... I think I get the hint! :) )
My favorite part of Christmas is giving! I love seeing the expressions on the person's face when they open up the package.I also love the excitement of shopping for the person. Finding things they would love is challenging, but oh! so much fun!
This year my favorite gift from the Shipley side of the family is a picture of me with my 2 Grandmothers. I am 26, (almost 27) and I am so blessed to have 2 healthy grandmothers who live close to me!

Thankful for my Family!

It is at this time of year, that we stop to think about how many things we have to be grateful for. Family, friends, a job I love, a working car, a fabulous house! This week, I have been very thankful for the quality time I have been able to spend with my family.

Yesterday, we had our early family Christmas at my aunts house. I look forward to this day ALL year. I love the anticipation of the annual Chinese gift exchange. I begin thinking what I am going to put into the gift exchange on December 26th. That way I will have a full year to prepare and hopefully have the most desired gift in the exchange!
This year, in keeping with the tradition I started last year, I ended up with my own gift! I came home with my new Magic Bullet! It is supposed to chop, dice, and make smoothies all in 10 seconds! I can't wait to get it going and create hundreds of delicious 10 second recipies!

Today I am particularly thankful for my family. My mom and Grandmother came over after our favorite meal at Spring Creek to bake! We had so much fun making dressing, pecan pie, and my favorite; Cherry Pie! It is this quality time together that I love the most!