this pup doesnt bark anymore

its official: rosie is the perfect dog.

the "collar of death" - though hesitantly condoned by myself - has indeed done its duty. just in case you didnt hear, rose was visiting her puppy best friend lola at colby's parents' house when a grouchy anonymous neighbor called ANIMAL CONTROL like she was some rabid german shepherd or something. all that for a little excited barking.

oh well.
she has already forgiven the awful secret neighbor and myself for the ocaisional jolt she was given. oh and just so you can all see how soft im getting in my married old age, i bawled like a baby the first time it shocked her bad - she was outside and started rubbing her neck across the lawn to get it off - so sad! and we used to say all the time that she would be the best dog ever if we could just get her to bark a little less. and now it has come to pass!! i was so worried it would change her sweet little personality and that she might get depressed about it, but she seems pretty sturdy about the whole thing. i've been sure to reward her with extra tickles and plenty of play time, so im certain she is still the happy go lucky pup she has always been.

anybody need a dealer?

this does indeed mean what you think it means. the westerns are back in business! colby will most likely be stationed in bountiful, and im certain will look just adorable in coca cola red.

guess what!

there are apple buds on our tree!

brooklyn harbor, new york

ode to neil:
"TODAY! TODAY!"

can you see mini lady liberty over my shoulder? i felt slightly underwhelmed when we saw her because we were looking from a big A cruise ship so she looked not-so-special as you might think. brooke said she really is quite majestic so we shall take her word for it.

fogalicious.

me waiting patiently in my new fav tee for something to appear out of the fog. it was... oh i dunno... like five freaking thirty or something! longest day ever, but im glad we went out on deck to see the city.

the first thing we saw upon arrival - buildings gradually came into view once we got out of the foggy midst. so beautiful. this was a great trip, but im glad to be home (even though it was a few weeks ago) and im happy to be back to real life. i dont know when we will be able to do something like this again, but im glad we shared the opportunity with each other and good friends. and not to be cheesey, but everyday while we were gone exploring these beautiful sites, i felt my heart swell up with gratitude for what my Heavenly Father created for us. that He was mindful of our needs to see nature's grandeur with big flower-covered green hills and glass-clear seas. i wish i could have taken all of you with me. much love.

west end, bermuda

and day at sea.
colby schooling the dudes in a ping pong tourney.
and why praytell did no ladies show up to play?
i would have... but breakfast bagels and fresh pineapple were calling.

bermuda. part of UK and deathly expensive. poverty line is drawn at under $60k a year. most homes start at $950k. no guns allowed! self-sufficient economy so tourists are left alone to be tourists - no hasselling by the locals because they dont need your stinkin money.

oh i did mention part of the UK, right?

im pretty sure this is someone's house, but i loved the stone building so we trespassed for a quick photo.

on the glass bottom boat.

t and b.

colby loves tomas so much that he had to document his journey this trip well. we have so many good pics of him its ... well, it would be "ridiculous" if it was funny that my husband loved another man this much. but its not funny.

well, maybe a little funny.

but not very.

a shining example of prime real estate. love the caribbean colors - even though technically we're in the atlantic east of north carolina by this point.

back to the docks.

two years ago today