Runaway Dog!

Hello All!

We managed to capture our lovely canine for the second (third, really) time while being in Idaho. This brings our "runaway" total to about 6, I think. Yes. Buckley has run away twice while being here... Naughty dog. The first the guy who owns this house accidently left the gate door open (it's on the other side of the house, so you can't see it from the porch door). I let him out... Bye Bye Buckley. Luckily he LOVES other dogs and spent time visiting through the fences of each of them. So I finally found him running along side some a few courts over. The second and not so real time of running away, we took him to a field by our place and (against my will) Andy let him off his leash and so we spent time sprinting all over this massive field to catch him. The third time, we let him out because he comes with me when I drop Andy off in the hospital, USUALLY he runs straight to the car... This time he sprinted away. Andy took off after him, I grabbed the car parked close to wear he was and sprinted after him in my pajamas and slipper shoes! We finally boxed him in and caught him. Now for those of you who haven't seen him run... he's FAST like super fast. Like Andy took off right behind him and when he got to the end of the street had no idea which way he went, luckily kids were headed to the bus stop to tell him. He's unbelievable, so Buckley is officially a LEASH dog, unless in a fenced in yard that's high enough that he won't jump and has no spots he could wiggle through.

Anyways... not too much is new. This is Andy's last week with his original CI, so he will then have 2 new CI's this coming week. I have just been knitting, trying to do this baby blanket so I can begin making Buckley a sweater, which I'm really excited about. I also was able to fill out a couple of math teaching applications for back in Saint Louis, so be praying for that! We had a hole in our back tire so we got that fixed. Haha can you tell really nothing is new!

This past weekend we didn't do much. Watched the movie Salt on Friday night, which was pretty good. Saturday Andy went cross-country skiing for a while which he said was really beautiful and much better skiing conditions than the time we went. I unfortunatly got ANOTHER stomach bug, which comes to like what? 4 times in 8 months? Someday we'll figure out my problems... So I stayed back and ran some errands. We made a pie together, strawberry apple. MmM it was good.

So this weekend we might go cross-country skiing at Craters of the Moon which I guess is cool. Apparently it's dried lava? I don't know, I'll let you know about it. Then obviously we're going to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. Go Packers!!! Yea!

I write this in hopes that it might entertain you for a few minutes during this blizzard! I wish I was there! We have zero, single digit weather, but I would love to be in a blizzard...

Skiing

Hey Y'all!

So Andy and I have loved all the time we're getting to spend together now that he has normal hours and no need to study!

Last Thursday, Andy went down hill skiing for his first time and I think did pretty well. I've been skiing before a long time ago, but passed. Heights are getting to me more and more as I get older- hehe. He had a lot of fun though. I think we might try to go later on in our time here.

As you can see, here are some of my crafty projects. I made reusable coffee sleeves! Mine is the green one and then I made my mom the red and black and her friend Sandy the yellow one! I love them! And we're saving the environment one coffee sleeve at a time!!!! I'm also knitting a baby blanket and I plan on making baby head bands and other cutesy stuff!

Anyways back to stuff me and Andy do together... We went cross-country skiing on Saturday! First time ever for both of us! We really liked this and I think we're planning on going again and we're going to try to bring Buckley with us. Anyways we went to this place to cross country ski and it was going along a river so it was really pretty. Great work out without feeling like you're working out! After we were done skiing we got to soak in hot springs! Really cool. Apparently Idaho has the most natural hot springs in all of the US. That's just what I hear at least. Anyways that was a great day and very cool.

Yesterday (or Sunday) we watched the highly talked about Bears vs. Packers game! Whoo go Packers! (Sorry Mom) And the Steelers! Now we have to find good people with a large screen tv! Haha. Yeah so we stayed in yesterday to watch the games and eat PIZZA! Yes!

I have begun our training for our half marathon (Andy's knee still isn't healed completely). I am quite proud of myself if I do say so myself. I ran 4 miles without stopping on Sunday (haven't run that much since our 10k in October).

Andy's clinical took an unexpected turn this past week also. His CI (clinical instructor) is quitting and going to a different hospital (due to new changes in the hospital). So in about a week Andy will have a new CI. So unfortunate for such a short clinical to begin with, but good for the guy who wasn't happy with how things ended up in the hospital.

So I've been thinking a lot about working and teaching and I REALLY want to teach and it's been tearing me up that I haven't seen any postings and just that I never got a long term or full time position... So if you could just pray for that for this coming year, I'd appreciate it.

3 weeks down...5 weeks to go!

What's Been Going On

So it's been about a week and a half since my last post, here's what's been up in our lives...

Andy is still continuing to enjoy his clinical experience. The hospital is going through some changes, so all of the wound care he was supposed to be doing isn't really happening, but I think he's okay with that. Some days can be slow for him, but he is being added more responsibilities everyday.

I went to the substitute orientation meeting last week and we both decided it probably wouldn't be a good investment for me. I would have to get a phone with a local area code and I would have to get ANOTHER stupid background check (states really need to get together with their checks, because it's a ton of money to be flying about). Also I asked how busy it is for subs now and it doesn't really get busy until the end of February. So I have decided to fill my days with reading, crafts, and preparing for the job hiring season. And it's only 6 more weeks now.

Yeah so I have decided to fulfill my desire to be artsy so I've been making things and teaching myself how to do different things... I will show my creations on a later date, as some of my crafts have not gotten to the people that should be receiving them. Any way so I've been sewing, and cutting, and crocheting, knitting, and just creating. It's pretty fun and rewarding.

I have new hair. As does Andy. We both got our hair cuts and I got a new color and I'm really enjoying it again. (I had it this color my freshman year of collage and my junior year of H.S.)

This past weekend we had a great time watching the football games and we had GAME OLYMPICS! We decided to play the 5 games we have and have a little competition. I'm happy to announce that I CRUSHED Andy. Thank you! I am now a gold medalist!

We also began our training for our half marathon in April- well Andy's just been lifting because of his knee... We are also going to start doing some outside winter sports to fulfill our experience in Idaho. This Thursday we are going skiing and this weekend we're going cross country skiing and visiting some hot springs, which should be neat.

It has been nice now that Andy has a more regular schedule and doesn't need to study all the time. We are able to eat dinner together and just spend a lot of time together. It really has been great to have him home more. One of our dinners we cooked MOOSE burgers! The guy whose house we're living in gave us some moose meat. They were really good, a lot better than hamburgers.

The weather here has been quite interesting. It was cold the past two weeks and have had consistent snow on the ground, but this weekend it got into the forties and so all the snow is gone and it feels like spring. Today when I went out I didn't even wear a jacket. But I'm not complaining.

Here's a picture for Mama Schu- he still loves his bed!

Idaho- Idawho?

So I will tell you what's been up in the form of pictures and I guess some narrating...

We still have Buck, of course. He loves his mommy who likes to put him in "cute" situations. But sometimes he puts himself in cute positions without my help.

Oh and Andy and I taught him to sit in the window like a cat. He loves the view.

Andy finished his classes and passed all of them! So the middle of Decemeber we started to have some fun. We had Augie and Naomi visit. We had a cold weekend of snow and skating! Then Andy and I began to pack up for the holidays and Idaho... To make things brighter I dressed up Buck in one of my swimsuit tops. =) (No he's not gay) Then so began our holiday travels... We headed to Charleston to spend a few days with Andy's family and had an early Christmas. We then went and spent Christmas with my family and spent a few extra days with them. It was a great time spent with tons of family, games, and I got to see Megan who has been in Mexico since the summer (sad to say I fell asleep while hanging out with her, so Andy got to spend some time with her!). We then left Schaumburg and headed to our first stop, Omaha, Nebraska. We spent the night with a girl and her family from our community group. Then onto Fort Collins, Colorado. We didn't do too much, New Year's Eve day we went to Estes Park and into Rocky Mt State Park. And only saw one buck (not too exciting especially since we have a Buck at home...)
Then New Year's day we started our last driving expedition to Pocatello... However we encountered SUPER strong winds that created a white out from the snow that fell the day before and SUPER icy conditions. We had a spin out while I was driving and incredibly (thanks to my Chicago driving) I managed to keep out car straight as we slid for I don't know how long. REALLY scary especially since there was a semi and two cars behind us. So we drove a while longer after that and it got dark and the ice was hard to see and all over so we ended up at a dinky Hideaway Motel (yes). Buckley is modeling our wonderful blue jean bed spread.Andy is modeling our wall decor.Buckley peeking out with his lion from under our lovely bed and modeling our 60's carpet!The next day after getting some rest we were able to conquer the ice in day light, once we got out of Wyoming and into Idaho the roads were 100% better. Buckley and I road along while Andy drove. Buck just goofed off the entire time. In the picture above he was being a gangsta!

We got into Pocatello at about one and got settled into our house. We are "living" with a 44 year old guy who doesn't actually live there at all, just has his hunting gear in one of the bedrooms. So I'll give you a little tour...The living room.Buck is modeling the den.Complete with our "wood stove" to heat our house... Too much for a Schaumburg girl...Kitchen, behind the door is our washer and dryer.Bathroom.And bedroom (find Buckley...)

The best part of our house is the wall decor...

Antlers and a picture of a deer/caribou/elk?

Oh the head of a caribou!
And the fish!

Well Andy had his first day of clinicals today, he is in doing wound care at Portneuf Hospital. I'm trying to get set up to substitute teach, so hopefully that works out. Sorry for all my talk about Buckley (as you can see he's my best friend, next to Andy).

Thanks for reading!

December

It's been a while since I've written here's a list of what we've been up to...

• For Thanksgiving we went to Andy's parents and had a good time sharing a meal together





• I have been substituting when I can and have been preparing to apply for the up coming job rush by revamping my cover letter, resume, and portfolio, hopefully making myself look more appealing to school districts. I'm definitely ready and anxiously waiting to have my own classroom. I don't know how much more subbing I can do.





• Andy is almost at the end of his semester, only has until this Tuesday so right now he's in the midst of finals. So he's been studying up a storm and obviously can't wait to finish.
(Buckley sleeping on a bean bag at the McG's)




• The first weekend of December, so last weekend, Buckley and I ventured up to Schaumburg to visit with my parents. Buck had a blast squeeking toys, tearing them up, and "playing" with Maisy and Skippy. Maisy tolerated him after a while and Skip found him fascinating.





• We subleased our apartment for January and February (Yea!), but still have not found housing for all 3 of us for Idaho. So we are still working on that and hoping for the best. Otherwise Buck will have to spend two months at Gma and Gpa Schu's.

(Our attempt at a family photo)

That's about it though. Hasn't been too eventful, but still somewhat busy none the less. Buckley Jones has been keeping us busy. (As I write this he is sitting on my lap and crawling up onto the desk...)

You have to admit... He's pretty cute.

Sleeping on the bed, between the pillows.

Buckley has become my shadow. He's a great dog. Very smart. A hit at the dog park. Stubborn. Will do "tricks" without being told if you're holding a treat. (Was teaching him "sit" and "down", bring out a treat he'll sit and lie down without being told... ask him later without a treat, he's uninterested.) He's pretty cute.

Post bath picture. =)

Sleeping, but all ears.Playing with Rabbit.

Buckley and Halloween

Well the day has finally arrived! We have our new addition to our little family: Buckley. He is quite a joy too. (He is on my lap as I type) He really is a great dog so far, unless he is just buttering us up only to change into a horrible terror. Buckley is a beagle mix. We adopted him from Belleville Humane Society on Thursday the 28th. They predict he's either 2 or 3, but he totally plays like a puppy. He is so loveable and cuddly and very eagar to please. He is housetrained and will sometimes sit on comand, but most of the time I think its just a coincidence. But he really is a very well behaved dog, despite not knowing sit, down, stay, etc. He loves to sleep in bed with us and hates being put into his "home" (kennel) at night and when we're gone during the day. He did have a three hour "Out of his home" experience when Andy didn't shut it well enough. Surprisingly, all little Buckley did was jump up on our bed and take a nap! What a great dog!

Halloween Costumes

I was a Math-lete Championship Participant... my name tag belowAndy was a "tacks" collector. He has thumb tacks on his shirt in case you can't tell.