We're back and with a new pup

We made it back to Dallas Monday evening! New Jersey and Philly were awesome! I had my very first cheese steak! Most importantly, I got to meet my future family and I love them! I had so much fun with the Hassons and Campbells and I can't wait to go back this summer or next Thanksgiving!

When we went to pick up Sampson from the breeders, they were so impressed with his behavior that they offered us his sister for free! We couldn't say no and I'm so glad we got her! She was in a bad situation. Sampson and Maya's dog-dad was really abusive towards Maya (our new pup) and so the family was going to have to make her an indoor dog. They really didn't have the energy to do it, so they gave her to us!

Maya is so different from Sampson. She is calm and likes to snuggle lots. She doesn't chew everything in sight and she's a quick learner. Sampson is a great model too. He's showed her where to go do her business outside and she's caught on quickly. They love to play and Sampson even gave her his treat yesterday morning. So cute! So we are officially a two dog household now and I love it!

He's okay

Sampson is okay! Just a little diarrhea! Got him some meds and he is better already. I'm packing up his stuff. Tomorrow he goes to his old family's home and we're off the New Jersey on Wednesday for Thanksgiving with my future in-laws!

Awesome Photographer

So I'm up at 4:40am because my doggy is still sick! We're taking him to the vet Monday. Poor guy. He really tries to let us know when he's going to be sick, but he just can't always make it.

So Murad and I are getting an early start on our wedding by taking engagement pictures. One of my best friends, and bridesmaids, is starting her own photography business. She agreed to take our engagement photos for free. FREE!!! She took a ton of us this past weekend and I've received two of them already. If the others turn out as good as the first two, then she is in business.

We are the first couple that she's done. She usually does babies and senior pictures. She's awesome. My mom has already spread the word around her office about her. So, if you're in Kansas and looking for an awesome photographer you should check her out. If you look at my other friends on blogger, her name is Glittering Quicksilver. Some of her work is on her blog as well!

Zea and my doggy is sick

So last night my LAD girls and I went out to Thanksgiving dinner. We went to Zea Woodfire Grill in Plano. My friend's husband's uncle owns it and it is so good. It's like Southern food mixed with Thai food. Lots of good, yummy food. I had the Herb 'n Garlic Rotisserie chicken with Thai green beans. It was so good. I topped it off with a glass of wine and an apple crisp!! http://www.zeawoodfiregrill.com/

So today I woke up to doggy diarrhea. Yes, Sampson is sick. I spent my morning cleaning up doggy diarrhea and then I turn around and there was more doggy diarrhea. Murad came home to it too. Gross. He's spit up a few times today too. At first I thought it was because we changed his food to canned food, but then I remember yesterday he picked up what I thought was a stick. As I reached down to take it out of his mouth I realized it was a piece of petrified dog poop. Ooh gross! So that may be the cause of it. Who knows!

It was not how I wanted to start my day. After that we had a lock down at school. Very scary. There was a shooting outside of our school, so we all had to remain hidden in our classrooms. The gunman wasn't on school property and it wasn't a school related incidence, but it was nearby. I spent an hour huddled with seventeen thirteen year olds in the corner of my room. Not fun at all, but at least we're all safe. I have that for which to be thankful.

Still a good day though. I had an awesome tutoring session with some of my low students after school. They really seemed to get the material this time.

Retiring for tonight and preparing for another day!

Mi perro lobo sabe espanol!

My dog knows Spanish!!! I'm so excited. I totally did not put two and two together that the Peruvian family from which we adopted Sampson spoke Spanish and thus, would speak it to their dogs! So when Murad told me the Hispanic gardeners said, "vamos" to him and Sampson went, I got really excited. I looked up some other common Spanish phrases and he's responded so well. He understands "sit," "let's go," "get up" and "come here." I'm so proud of my little puppy or as his old owners call him "puppito."

My Wedding

Okay, so I was afraid of becoming a girl who is obsessed with her wedding, but I am. All my life I have dreamed of my wedding. I can't help it. I'm a girlie girl. I used to be so obsessed with every detail being perfect. I just knew that I would get married in my home church and have my wedding reception at the country club nearest to my church. That's what almost everyone does, and not that there is anything wrong with that, but it's not me. I used to want a very traditional dress and a huge sit-down dinner for 300 of my closest friends. I wanted everything to be top of the line and over the top.

Then I met Murad and my vision of a wedding changed. Instead of inviting 300 distant friends, we decided on a smaller number and are hoping to include more friends and family in the planning process as well as the wedding. My friends and family are all involved. One of my best friend's is taking my engagement photos, and another (hopefully) will help with invitations. My mom is sewing almost everything imaginable and making jewelry for the bridal party (whom I have not picked). Even though the wedding isn't until March '09, I'm still excited to start planning my dream wedding. I'm even more excited to bring our friends and family to Dallas. They will not only experience a wonderful city, but they will get a glimpse into the birthplace of our love!

I'm just so excited to be marrying Murad. He has pushed me outside of my boundaries and even now he's such a part of the planning process and has forced me to think outside the box. He does that with me everyday in life as well. I never thought I could feel this way about anyone. Now that we're engaged I feel our love growing stronger everyday. I'm so blessed!