I have a problem.

My problem is this:

I don't want series to end. Whenever I read a book series, I just want it to keep going and going. I get so absorbed in the characters and the plot that I don't want to finish.

My latest obsession: The Hunger Games Trilogy

I have read them before, but rest assured that they are just as addictive round two. I didn't ever really want to put the books down. I read all three in a very short amount of time. However; just like I always do, I stretch out the last one as long as I can. I resist my urge to drop everything and read so that the story can continue just a little bit longer. Alas, I finished Mockingjay today. I can take solace in the fact that the series is over so I am not left hanging for an unknown amount of time waiting for the next book to come out.

I can also take solace in the fact that the movie comes out in less than a month! This was my reason for re-reading the books, not that I needed extra motivation, the story line speaks for itself.

We Have a Bad Dog.

Something happened in Ameya when she got spayed. Maybe in her anger over us taking her ovaries she is lashing out. Or, maybe because of her lack of ability to have offspring she has thrown caution to the wind. Or maybe she is still recovering from the fact that she went 3 days in a row without a walk (over 2 weeks ago now...).

Whatever it is I hope she gets over it soon.

Today she decided to jump out of my moving car window. No, I'm not kidding. Luckily she came out unscathed.

Every once in a while when we are in the car (whenever it is warm enough) I roll down the window so that Ameya can stick her head out. She loves it so much. She will glue her little ears to her head and close her eyes and get lost in the wonderfulness that is the wind against her face.

We were on our way to a big field pretty close to our house that we like to let her run in. I had just turned into the parking lot (and was going fairly slow) when she decided to jump out the window. It all happened so fast that I wasn't sure what was going on until I saw her tumbling along on the road beside my car. Needless to say, I was TERRIFIED that I was going to run her over.

I have flashes of her getting run over almost every time we cross the street. I am sure that this little incident will only make that worse. Also, I'm pretty sure I am forever scarred and my flashes will now change to me being the one running her over like I came so close to doing today.

She has a pretty low pain tolerance, which we have always known. Even at the possibility of pain being inflicted she gives a nice little shiba scream for us. She made no noise at all today. Maybe the surprise of the impact distracted her from the initial roll on the ground or maybe it really didn't hurt her, but there was no noise involved at all. When I was able to make sure I wasn't going to run over her, stop my car and get out she came happily prancing right over like nothing had happened. She also ran around the park as usual.

Needless to say, she won't be getting the window rolled down ever again. At least not for a very loooong time and the window will definitely never be rolled down all the way again. Ever.

The Invalids

Okay, maybe that title is a little harsh. They aren't quite invalids as much as in pain or healing. 

It has been an interesting week here with the Paddocks. Last Saturday, Hunter fractured his fibula and ruptured his PCL playing Ultimate Frisbee. 

However, this is infinitely better than the initially suspected ACL tear. With some physical therapy it should only take 6-8 weeks to heal (as opposed to the 6-8 months an ACT would take, not to mention surgery). Even though Hunter will be out for the next few months frisbee wise, but he will be back by the summer! While not ideal, it is the best we could have hoped for. In the mean time, he is learning just how it feels to only have one functional leg. 

Being the wife of a limping husband, I have noticed a couple interesting things this last week. First thing: the Orthopedic Surgeons office was on the 4th floor at the end of the hallway. Wouldn't it make sense to have it closer to the elevator and not make all those limping patients walk all that ways? That almost seems a no brainer to me. Second, the braces seem to be hidden at the back of all the sports stores. This requires all those brace seekers, who are undoubtedly in pain, to walk all the way to the back to find something to help them walk. Again, this seems counter intuitive. 

The second invalid in our house is our little Ameya - she spent the day yesterday at the vet getting spayed. 

From everything the people at the vet told us, she made sure everyone was giving her love all day. She sure does have a way of making sure that everyone knows just how cute she is. The good news is that she made it through with flying colors.

When we picked her up, she was so confused from the anesthesia. Her eyes were even glossed over, like a true druggie. She kept putting one ear against her head and keeping one up and alert, then she would switch them every so often. Being the vocal dog and drama queen that she is, she would squeak over every bump on the way home. When we got home she slept the rest of the day away. She didn't want anything to do with walking either, even when we took her out to go to the bathroom she wouldn't walk any more than she absolutely had to. She does seem to be much more alert today, however; she is definitely still in pain, poor thing. 

So, I am the only healthy one in the Paddock household this week. Thankfully, Hunter didn't have to go through surgery as well because I can't even imagine how much more interesting that would have made things. haha. Our little home is full of healing and anti-inflammatory drugs. Hopefully both of them keep making positive improvements.

Happy healing everyone!

Surprise!

Wow, this is my first post in January? I am slacking. I just feel like not a lot has been happening so there isn't much to say.

This last weekend we went to Denver! There were a couple reasons behind this impromptu trip, one of which being a surprise party for one of our friends. In the long run, it ended up being a weekend full of surprises.

It started out by surprising Hunter's dad by showing up at their house without any warning. It was so much fun to see his excited reaction. We spent the rest of the evening chatting, eating, and watching our dog go crazy around all the other Paddock dogs.

The next day we headed out to have lunch at the Cherry Cricket with the Maricans for Rendy's birthday. He had no idea that we were coming out and was very surprised to see us sitting at the table. Just like the last time we ate there, it was incredible food and even better company. The even better part this time was that I kept it all down...no food poisoning! haha. Food was followed by ice cream cake (it doesn't get much better than that!) and games. Dinner that night was a tribute to Chinese New Year including Hot Pots (crab, sirloin, shrimp, and greens) and a round of Phase 10.

Unfortunately, Hunter's mom was supposed to fly in that night but her flight got cancelled so she didn't come in until the next morning. We were still able to surprise her at the airport where she had no idea we were there. In fact, she looked right past us in her hunt for her husband. Her excitement was fun to witness as well. We then surprised both of his parents before we left by feeding them Chocolate Souffle. Yum.

Random fact that I realized this weekend: I have yet to see snow in Denver. There was snow on Vail pass both directions of travel, but every time I have been to Denver it is almost warm. Supposedly it is a cold and snowy place? Right, haha.

Random fact #2: Ameya has finally remembered how to travel without having an anxiety attack. She has learned to burrow and be content just like she used to.

Cheers to family and good friends!

Updates

Since I was a disaster in the kitchen today (I'm not exaggerating. I have a burn on my face, I cooked dinner completely wrong - lucky for me it still tastes good haha -  and my new Christmas sweater was saved from butter/grease stains by dish soap.), I decided it would be best to stay away from my food blog for now.

How about a Christmas update? Sounds good to me.

We were able to spend Christmas with my family and lucky for us we were able to be down with them for almost 5 whole days. It was so good to see them all again and spend time with them. It was especially fun because the whole family was there this year.

Ameya loved hanging out with my families cat, Oreo. He wasn't very fond of her though. About once an hour he would hiss and spit at her and she would stick her butt in the air and wag her tail like it was the best thing ever. It was pretty hilarious to watch.

We had a girls day out and got Starbuck's (Peppermint Hot Chocolate....best thing ever) and got pedicures. All of our toes match with little snowflakes :)

I was definitely spoiled this year - not only by my husband but my family and Hunter's family as well. Here are a couple pictures of the spoils:

Hopefully, cooking is going to get a lot better around here and there won't be many more days like today. haha. 

Other things included sweatshirts for both of us, a pair of nice camping backpacks, and some wardrobe revamping. 

We definitely enjoyed spending time with my family this year, as we did Hunter's last year. We are grateful for both of our families and everything they do for us. We are a lucky couple, that's for sure. 

Temple Square at Night

Tiffany + Hunter + yummy dinner + touring the lights at Temple Square = perfect date night

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Here are some various reasons why:

1. When I left for work this morning it was snowing - big, pretty snowflakes. My favorite kind.

2.  Our Christmas tree is up! Just look how pretty it is :) We seriously scoured the whole lot looking for the perfect tree. Lucky for us, we found it!

3.  We have lights! The icicles were Hunter's idea. Genius.

4.  Ameya...oh wait, she's here all the time. She's just cute though so I had to share the love.

5.  Yes, we put our extra ornaments on our plants. We didn't want them to feel left out. 

6. Yes, we bought our dog a stocking. Yes, we loved the idea. And yes, she will thoroughly enjoy all that rawhide.

7.  We have wrapped presents! Not that they are under our tree out of fear of them being shredded, but they are wrapped nonetheless. haha.

8. We recently became the owners of a shmancy new vacuum cleaner. It was inspired by all the fallen pine needles. And it picks up a looooot more than just pine needles. 

9. We also have stockings hung over the fireplace with care. I just couldn't get a good picture of them. 

10. We get to go hang out with my family in a week!