The Challenge is On!

Paul and I started a weight loss challenge January 6th to May 19th. As you all may know we have Megan's wedding May 28th and Dani's (my cousin) wedding in St. George June 5th. I am the Maid of Honor for both weddings & Paul is an groomsmen in both. We figured we better get our hineys in gear! For a little motivation, at the end of the 20 weeks, the person who lost the most percentage (to be fair) of weight gets to take $1,000 from our savings account and do what ever they want with it. This first week went great, we ate very good, didn't even cheat once :) I have been working out every morning for 40 min on the elliptical, every night for 50 min and with my weight trainer on friday nights. Paul has been working out when he can, but he has been very busy with work and working late hours. We had our first weigh in last night and my hard work paid off, I lost 5.6lbs, Paul lost 2 lbs which was great considering he only was able to work out one night. I am way above my goal! Wish me luck, I want that $1,000! :)

Samantha's Christmas Pics

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This was the first time that I had to cook for Thanksgiving. I was so nervous, even though I usually cook a turkey for Christmas Eve, it was very nerve racking with more people coming. It turned out delicious and Paul helped me so much! I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Update on Zeus

Email received from Russell Rescue-

Paul and Brittany - here are some more pictures of Zeus - they just ADORE this dog - thank you for allowing us to help you place him in a happy forever setting - kindly, Pauline, Russell Refuge, NY Here is what his new mom wrote about Zeus: Here are some photos of Zeus and Trout (and me). Zeus is on my lap as I write this. He and Trout are the greatest of friends and playmates. They run all over the house all day long. They have their dog training lesson together. By evening they are a little tired from wrestling with each other. It is the funniest thing to watch because Trout is twice as big as Zeus, but she treats him so carefully while still "roughing him up." Trout like to jog with us. We are going to see if Zeus wants to work up to this, too, once his feet heal. They already look much less inflamed. He got a cortisone shot on Saturday for the skin condition (along with the rest of the regular vaccinations he lacked) and is taking antibiotics for 10 days or so. At night he is in our bed. He is like a little wooly lamb. We love him SO MUCH!!! He is the ideal fit for our household. What a great dog. We are so incredibly lucky. Thank you so much!

Halloween 2008

Work

Zeus's New Home

For those of you that didn't hear already, we had to give our male Jack Russell Zeus to the Russell Refuge of NY. Ove the past 2 years it has become very hard to manage 2 dogs, Sami and work. We didn't have enough time for him and he started acting out by marking all over our couch and chair. Paul took him to the Russell Resuce last tuesday and wednesday he was adopted by a family that live in Manhattan. His new family sent this picture with his new sibling Trout. He has his own room with Trout and window overlooking 2nd Avenue. The new family also has a summer house in Connecticut. His new mom was the head of the Humane Society of Manhattan, so we feel he is in the perfect home. It was very hard on me and Sami. Sami told Paul that Zeus is her bestfriend. It was very heartbreaking, but it is the best thing we could do for him. Madison is a very calm Jack Russell, where Zeus was very wild. Madison is doing great she has gone back to her old behavior before Zeus. She doesn't seem sad at all. We are just so grateful that the Refuge could find an excellent home for Zeus.

Carving Pumpkins

Sunday we went to Hicksville Nursey. They have a small walk-thru called Otto the Ghost for kids, very cute. At the end of the walk-thru Otto was there to greet the kids, Sami was very nervous :) Outside they had animals you could feed, a hayride and pumpkins. It was too cold and windy to do the hayride and Sami wasn't too interested in the animals she was on a mission to get pumpkins. Later Sunday night Paul carved Snow White and the Witch and Sami colored her baby pumpkins. We baked the seeds...yum! It was a very fun day and it is so exciting that this year Sami is so involved in holidays! Can't wait for Christmas :)