Before I Forget

Ok, so here are the links to the videos we have taken recently, most are about the puppy. (you know, shiny new toy!) but the other few are about our new house and our adventures so far in Virginia.

First up the walking tours of our new place

part one

Part two

Here are some fun family videos

Ok, here are the puppy video's to date. Enjoy!!
at 10 weeks

First time at the beach



He's really excitable at dinner time

Snow time at 13 weeks old

Chilling with daddy at 14 weeks

As promised

I know I promised to update you to what we did while in Germany, and I did find those pictures. (thank you Jim!!) But as our life goes on, right? I still promise to give you a peek into german life, promise... but onto new fun stuff.
As you all know I have wanted a dog for ages, and after years of research, debate and thought we got a bundle of fluff at the beginning of Jan. Now, I can hear you all gasping in disbelief, "You just moved into a house at the beginning of January!" Why, yes your right. Actually it worked out that we signed for the new house at 1pm and at 6pm we were picking up our little boy. We were setting up air mattresses while trying to acclimated the puppy to us. Good times.
Now to the fun stuff, our puppy is a Great Pyrenees. Never heard of them? I know, I stumbled upon the breed myself and have fallen head over heals for them. Fully grown they are big BIG bundles of white fluff. Our little love came to us through our breeders, breeder. Its a long story, but I fully believe that he was meant for us, he fits in perfectly personality wise. Now before I start getting phone calls from you guys about going with a breeder, there were a few reasons for this decision. Mostly because the rescues kept turning us down, it seems that military families with young children are not good places for this breed. (I think our little man would disagree, as he is sleeping on my feet right now) We knew we would get emotionally attached to our dog and wanted him/her to be around for years so having a health certificate was a nice reassurance too.
Ok, back to the fun stuff.

INTRODUCING THORN HILL STIG MAROON LAWSON!!!

Isn't he cute??? Stupid name, I know.. honest most all of it wasn't my choice. Lets break it down. "Thorn Hill" is the breeders name he came from, since his is registered with AKC we had to keep it for official reasons. "Stig" is to give him at least one manly, boy-like name. And "Maroon" is the name he goes by, well there is a story behind that piece. When he was born he was given a maroon ribbon to tell him apart from his siblings. So they called him "Maroon boy" which was shortened to "Maroonie" and eventually shortened further to "Roonie". He knew his name before we got him and so decided to keep it for simplicity reasons.

Now, Roonie is an active part of our lives. He is taking puppy kindergarten and learning new things everyday. He loves the girls, all kids for that matter, but has a special connection with Carmen. Most mornings he can be found sleeping with her in her bed. He is incredibly funny and goofy. He fits in perfectly!!

When we got him, at 9 weeks he weighed 20 pounds and could be held (as you can see by the picture above. It was taken the day before we got to take him home with us). At 14 weeks he weighed 36.6 pounds. He is hard to hold now, well most impossible for me. Its not just the weight but also the size. As you can see by the below picture he has grown a ton already!

I have video of him playing around the house but I need to find the links. I will post them soon to add to your puppy enjoyment!

Puppies Rock!

Changes are the way of our lives..

Well, since its been a while I will give you a quick update to our lives and what has happened since I wrote last. First off, Jim made it safely back home from deployment and we tried to get back to life as "usual". After talking to our neurologist, our primary care giver and lots of thought and prayer we decided to try to get what the military calls a "compassionate reassignment". Which essentially means that we were asking to be sent back to the US because we felt that the appropriate medical facilities for Carmens health needs were not available to us. We started the process in June I believe, we didnt know if it was going to be approved till the beginning of December. At that time they said yes, you can go to the states (Fort Eustis VA) annnnnddd your leaving in two weeks. Fun times let me tell you.
But lets step back a few steps. While the request for compassionate reassignment was going through, my mom came and visited, my dad came and visited and we saw a bunch of Germany. Where are the pictures and video you ask? Good questions, I dont know.. I just looked on my computer and they are missing. So give me some time to try to find back up files, I know I backed them up.. its just a matter of finding them.
We didnt know if we would move at all, so we decided to live our lives like nothing was going to change. We visited very cool places, castles and monuments. Again, pictures to come soon. We visited Christmas Markets, each special and unique in its own ways. Magical times, each and everyone of them.
So, back to our timeline. We decided to go home to the NW to see family instead of sitting in a hotel room over Christmas as we were flying out of the country on the 19th. It, in itself, was a challenge because we got snowed in, in Germany and got stuck at the airport overnight. We did eventually make it home to see family and friends for a much needed break. Then headed back to VA to start setting up shop.
We, as you can see by the video we got a townhouse style home. We got what the managing company called "older". I think they were being generous. Its ANCIENT!!! some of the outlet plugs are not even polarized.. sigh... the things the military puts us through. The manger said "well, think of it this way, its temporary. We will be moving you out in 6 months to renovate these homes and will be moving you to a newer home." Oh yippee.. move again? how lucky can we be??
So our household goods were delivered the other day, making the house "cozy". We are now shuffling through boxes trying to figure out what we are going to need for the next few months, because in 4.5 months we will be doing it all over again. Can you hear the joy and excitement in my voice??? strain a little more and you just might hear it.

I think that gets you mostly up to date. I will add pictures and stories of Germany as I find the pictures and videos. As we explore what Virginia has to offer I will add those too, so we might be jumping back and forth. Ready for the ride???

(This is the only family picture from Germany I could find. It was taken at Eagles Nest, you can just see the roof between us all. We went there Oct. 2010)

Dag-nabit!!!

Ok, please look past the background, it would seem that things have been moved and changed since I was on last... I will fix that too, promise number two!!! Toodles ~J

Your not gonna believe it!!

Ok, so quick note to let everyone know that I promise... really honest promise, to start updating this thing. Lets not fixate on the fact its been over a year since I blogged last, but focus on the present and future! :0) I was inspired by my fabulously amazing dog trainer to get back to blogging and let all of you know what adventures we are up to these days.
So that being said, I hope to catch moments more often to let you in on the goings-on in the Lawson household. Of course, that wont be today. I have to get the girls dressed because Carmen, poor thing, has a pretty nasty cold and we are headed to the doctor here in a bit. BUT it does mean that hopefully during naptime I do get a few minutes to fill you in.
The suspense is killing you I know!! But dont hold your breath, I dont want anyone passing out on me. Hopefully this will tide you over till I get back...