So..

Three years ago today, my baby Chloe was born:

I didn’t know then how much she would change my life. Going through these photos it makes me cry thinking about what a sweet dog she is, and how much I love her.

She still loves to eat.

She still loves her stuffies.

She still isn’t sure about cats.

But she doesn’t chew anymore (much).

She is still cute as can be, although the pink is almost all gone from her nose.

And when she looks at me with those eyes, I still melt.

I met her when she was 7 weeks, and I had already picked her out from the breeder but meeting her, I knew I’d picked the right one. We were a match.

Two years ago today, I met M. But, let’s just look at Chloe again:

One year ago today was the last time I saw my father. More to come in a separate post. But here’s some more pictures of Chloe.

Our life is simple, but we love it.

I wouldn’t be the same without my Chloe. Happy birthday to the best dog ever.

So.. I have tried to write this post four times, but each time it comes out just as one big long complaint.

I don’t want it to be that way.

Maybe I just need to try again later.

• What a difference thirty minutes made yesterday, after a hard day of struggling with work and spinning wheels and wanting to cry. <3
• I started work on my kitchen cabinets this weekend. Hoping to have some “after” pictures later this week.
• Chloe turned two on Sunday. I gave her a couple of new toys, I wonder how long they will last.
• My little brother Andrew left for his mission for the Mormon church yesterday. I don’t think I ever really said goodbye.
• It was 95 yesterday and again today. Hello, did we skip Spring?
• I feel better about a lot of things right now. I am holding on to that.

So.. I don’t really remember how I decided to start researching and looking into getting a Great Dane. I first started thinking about getting a dog when I still lived in my apartment. Because it was a small area, I was looking into Italian Greyhounds, which are basically miniature Greyhounds.

I found a breeder in the area and went to meet her dogs. I fell in love with a beautiful Blue and even put a deposit down on her. I didn’t have permission yet from the apartment manager, so I told the breeder I’d get back to her about that. Unfortunately the apartment didn’t allow me to have a dog. I got my deposit back and then wondered what to do. I knew I wanted a dog, I just didn’t know if I could get away with sneaking one into my apartment.

And that’s when I decided to start looking at houses. I wanted to buy, but I was new to all this, so I jumped in feet first and made pretty much every mistake a Property Virgin makes. I called mortgage brokers, believed things they told me (like that I could get a $500,000 loan no problem) and signed a purchase agreement on a $400,000 new home. Yeah..

And then I realized that the loans they were offering me would end up biting me in the end. Interest-only loans that “you can just refinance in 2 or 3 years.” Adjustable rates that “will be fine, it’s a great deal!” Thankfully my brain kicked in and realized that you can’t get something for nothing and “too good to be true” usually is.

But I still wanted a dog.

And I think it was somewhere at this point, looking at homes, that I thought that I could get ANY dog I wanted, no matter the size. I had wanted an Italian Greyhound when I was in a tiny apartment, why not go for a Great Dane if I’m in a home??? So I researched and read books, surfed the internet and learned a lot about this great breed. I looked up breeders in the area, and outside the area. I knew I wanted a harlequin, and I knew I wanted a female.

I ended up at the old house through a friend, it was a kind of “lease to own” type of unofficial deal. But, it was a house, with a yard, and they were putting a dog park in down the street. Once I knew I was moving, I looked into breeders who would have a new litter available just after my move date. And that’s how I found Chloe.

So.. I moved.

There were lots of road bumps along the way (the listing agent taking off the lock box and not bothering to tell us that she left the key, and where; then the lock not working and having to wait for a locksmith to open the door; the pouring rain off-and-on through the day, soaking us and my belongings as we moved them out of one house and into another; the broken garage door that luckily my brother-in-law figured out how to open, but still needs to be fixed) but, I am now in my new house, the one that I own (wow that’s weird) and I’m trying to settle in and feel like I’m “home.” It may take a while.

Chloe’s having a hard time adjusting, too. I let her sniff around for a bit when I brought her over the first night, but it was already 1:30 in the morning so I wanted to get to bed. I put her in her crate after 20 minutes or so and went upstairs. She cried, barked, howled, whined, etc.. for a couple of hours. I felt bad but I knew she would settle down. The last two nights she’s done much better, so I’m glad for that. I know moving is stressful for her too.

It’s been a crazy week. I’m tired! At least my body doesn’t feel so sore anymore. At least I started being able to eat again Wednesday (except yesterday when I took a Mucinex that made me sick all day. Never, ever, again!). At least I have incredible family who made the move so much easier. I don’t know what I would have done without them. Really.

And now I have tons of unpacking to do. Lots of cleaning. Figuring out of what needs to be fixed, if I can do it myself, or if I have to hire someone. And then figure out what I have money for and what has to wait.

Next week has some positive points, that hopefully will make everything easier. But, with being so busy, I may still be MIA for a little. I’ll try to make time to come back for a quick update.

So.. I’ve mentioned a few times moving, the delays, how I need to move like, 2 weeks ago, etc…

Here’s another reason:

I packed up most of the kitchen a few weeks ago in preparation. Pretty much all utensils are packed, the dishes, glasses, a lot of cookware. This leaves me with few options of making food, and less options of what to eat off of. So I stopped by Walmart and picked up some plastic dishes and silver plastic-ware. Enough to last a while.

Yeah except if you consider the Chloe factor.

About a week ago I think it was that she ate all my paper bowls. I wasn’t happy when I got home to the mess, or the knowledge that eating anything from a bowl was now not an option. (I’ve since started eating my cereal out of old Gladware containers that I kept out because they will not be making the move with me so they are getting their last use before getting tossed.)

Yesterday she got the plates. I only have a small stack left that she didn’t touch. If she ever gets the cups or silver plastic-ware, she may just get more than a stern look! (Ok, probably not.)

I know I could just hit the store and buy more, but I keep saying I’m moving soon and don’t need 100 plates. Let’s just hope 1) she doesn’t eat anything else and b) we can get this stuff over with and I can move already!!

So.. today we went to the snow. It was Chloe’s first trip, but it was also Esther’s* and Jared’s first times, too. We had the absolute best time!!

I wasn’t sure what Chloe would think, but she was bouncing all over the place, in and out of snow drifts, running around. She was so happy and it was amazing and fun to watch. I feel an overnight trip to Tahoe in our future…

This was my absolute favorite visit to the snow. The weather was great, the snow was soft and perfect. It wasn’t too cold and I was dressed really appropriately and didn’t even get cold! In the past I’d always get cold and want to go home, but not today!

I forget what the snowman was named, but Esther was adamant that we would build a snowman – and the snow was perfect for it! It was so cute watching the kids help out with the snowman.

Isn’t that just about the cutest snowman you have ever seen? Ruth did most of the work.

We even did some sledding, the kids down a small hill and then Ruth and I both gave it a try on the street. It was really fun because you didn’t really go too fast or bump too much, but you could spin around. It was the best sledding ever.

All-in-all it was a great day, however we stayed a little too long. We were enjoying the beautiful snow that started falling, and kept falling getting heavier and heavier. It was beautiful!

But, with that beauty.. came snow on the roads. And my car, well it’s not made for the snow. (Or, as I have been corrected, my car’s tires are not made for the snow.) On the hill trying to get to a main road, I got stuck. Tom was my hero, he laid the chains out over and over (yay for me for having chains!) so I could drive my car up and onto the road (it was difficult reaching in to get the chains on, and we only needed them for a few feet). I don’t know what I would have done with out him!! I was so nervous driving after that, I drove slow on the freeway long after the snow was gone.

Chloe and I are now exhausted and I’m probably going to bed pretty soon. Who knew the snow could wear you out so much! I hope your President’s Day was as fun as mine!

Only one thing could have made the trip better, if M was there to share it! Next time…

*Esther technically was in the snow when she was less than six months old, but that doesn’t count!