Crisis Averted

This is what a disaster looked like in our house...

Cooper decided to give Mr. Bear a Craniotomy...there was stuffing everywhere.

Thinking I was being a good mom, I threw the unsafe toy away. Cooper pouted the rest of the night. The next day, I told a friend of mine at work about getting rid of Mr. Bear and she gasped...."You threw away your puppy's best friend?!?" So much for being a good mom. I felt really guilty. When I got home, I immediately grabbed this.....



Meet Charlie. My older brother gave this bear to me when I was a sophomore in high school after I had my first knee surgery. I gave him to Cooper and held my breath....



Luckily, Cooper loved his new toy! He never has his new best friend, Charlie, too far away from him. Mr. Bear who? Crisis averted.

State Fair 2010

Jeff and I went to the fair Friday night. Here is what we ate (most of it was shared):

*Ear of corn

*Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Sticks

*Walking Taco

*Orange Shake Up

*Grilled Cheese Sandwich (cheddar on rye)

*Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream

*Chocolate/Strawberry Milkshake

*Deep Fried Cookie Dough

*Dill Pickle Flavor Popcorn (brought this home)

Don't judge me.

The Journey Continues Where It All Began...

We found ourselves in Bloomington on August 8th for our good friends Will and Kristen's wedding. The couple met when in college at IU, so it was fitting for them to exchange their vows at such a memorable place.

The ceremony and reception were at the IU Auditorium...it was absolutely beautiful! The bride looked gorgeous, like something off the cover of a bridal magazine! For me, the tears began while I watched her and her dad walking down the isle. The amount of pure joy that beamed from her face brought back so many of the emotions I felt at our wedding.

The reception was a lot of fun! We had delicious food, dancing, and a good time with great friends. The bride and groom seemed to have a blast from start to finish. These two are absolutely perfect together! And so their journey continues...

Jeff and I at the reception

Best Friends

This is no joke. He does this on his own...I couldn't stage something this cute!!

The Best 4th of July Ever!

JOSEPHINE LOUISE SHIRRELL

BORN: JULY 4th, 2010

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY JOSIE!

LOVE, AUNT HEATHER & UNCLE JEFF

Puppy Kindergarten

Yep, you read it right. We enrolled Cooper in Puppy Kindergarten, a 6 week program designed to help your puppy learn "the basics." We attended class every Wednesday night from 8-9pm. It was us and usually 5 other dogs/puppies and their owners. Jeff and I switched off every other week to do the training in the class, while the other one watched. We really liked the trainer and the class. In 6 short weeks, Cooper mastered various basic commands, but most importantly, he learned how to stay (when sitting and while laying down) and how to walk on a leash without pulling like a wild animal. It was also good for him to socialize and be around a wide variety of dogs. We got a cute little diploma/certificate on the last night after his "big test." Up next, Canine Good Citizen Class and one step closer to getting Cooper certified to work with me in the hospital!

Cooper and I on his first day of "class."

**First day of class was May 19, needless to say, Cooper has changed quite a bit since then. Updated pictures coming soon....

DMB 2010

We take Dave Matthews concerts seriously. When I say seriously, I mean, we take off work on Friday, setup a huge campsite at Closeby Campground (has to be before the bridge, next to the pond, behind the old barn, and in close vicinity of the "clean" porta-potties), and then spend the next two nights singing and dancing to all our favorite DMB songs.

Friday during the day was filled with flippy cup, beer bongs, and catching up with old friends. Jeff and I had pit tickets for the show that night, so the start of the concert couldn't come fast enough. We left the campground early and ended up standing in the 5th ROW!!! Right before the start of the concert, a monster storm rolled in and delayed the start of the show by 2 hours. I can't complain too much since we were dry and safe in the pavilion. But, just so I can complain a little....after the rain, the humidity was ridiculous and it felt like we were cooking in the pit as we stood shoulder to shoulder with strangers....sweaty, drunk, strangers. But, it was totally worth it! I can't begin to describe how amazing it was to be that close to the Dave Matthews Band.

Jeff and I in the pit....I kept our tickets in the top of my dress. I'm so classy!

Unfortunately, once we made it back to the campground, the entire place was torn apart from the storm....including our tent which had broken and completely flooded. We went home, exhausted from the long day, and then returned as soon as possible on Saturday.

The second day was filled with the same kind of pre-show preparation as Friday. We were in the lawn for the concert and had a great time singing and dancing to all the old school DMB songs that were played. I would have to say, the show on Saturday was better then Friday.

Pictures from the campground

This year's concert was a little bitter sweet for all of us involved. Right before this year's tour, DMB announced they would not be touring next year. This is a pretty big deal to me. I have spent the past 6 summers at Dave concerts....what am I going to do next year? It is pretty sad for me to say, but this concert kind of defines my summer. Maybe as a big "Welcome Back" to the DMB concert tour of 2012, there could be some kind of westward road trip involved......Red Rocks or The Gorge maybe?!?!?! (I need someone to help me convince Jeff this really is a good idea!)

Hog Roast, Indy 500, and White Trash

My friends are a wonderful group of people. We are all ready to have a good time at a moments notice, but will also stick up for anyone in need at anytime, no questions asked. Each year, we all come together and celebrate the Indy 500 weekend with 3 days of non-stop activities.

Friday night is a pre-race party at our friend's Will and Kristen's house in Broad Ripple. Saturday night is the Annual Frey Hogroast. We all gather again in Broad Ripple in anticipation of the big Sunday ahead. What is so great about the Hogroast is that it has become one of the most anticipated parties of the summer. Many of our friends come in from out of town, so there is usually a lot of catching up and reminiscing of old times. However, the night typically winds down somewhat early because those of us with race day experience know, you have to be on your A-game to survive the next day.

The girls and I at the Hogroast

Sunday is the Indy 500 and basically just a mess from start to finish. Approximately 50 of us met at our friend's house in Broad Ripple, ate a quick, but nutritious breakfast that consisted of mimosas and bloody mary's, loaded up on a huge charter bus, and headed to the track. We always set up shop in Turn 3 of the infield and then don't look back until we are told we have to leave. To be quite honest, most of us would have no idea that there was a major sporting event going on right behind us, except for the constant loud buzz of the cars as they flew around turn 3. We are all pretty much focused on everything else going on around us...except for the race. As always, we had a blast! Just didn't take many pictures because I was afraid I would end of losing my camera, even though I did have that handy fanny pack.....

Jimmy Buffett!

Concerts are a way of life for Jeff and I over the summer. Let me rephrase that, Jimmy Buffett and Dave Matthews concerts are a way of life for Jeff and I over the summer. May 15 was the big day for our summer concert kick-off. Jeff and I, along with 4 of our friends, got all dressed up, grabbed the necessary amount of tequila, and began the typical pre-Buffett partying. This year, we first went to a friend of a friend's house for a little gathering. After a short time there, we headed to the big show in a pimped out old school bus complete with a functioning toilet! We spent a little time tailgating and then ended up with a prime spot in the lawn at Verizon Wireless Music Center. It was a great show! And as always, it was an amazing party!

And We're Back.....

Wow! It has been quite a long time since my last post! So much has happened since we went to San Fransisco, it is going to take a couple of entries to cover everything! The month of May seemed to simply "fly by" and got away from me. Then, in June, we went to the Dave Matthews concert and ever since then my camera battery decided to crap out and die. July started out with a bang and we had the best 4th of July ever! (More on that later.) Luckily, I was able to get a memory card adapter from my in-laws and now have all the pictures I need...so, let the posting resume!

San Fransisco

Jeff and I left the comforts of "small town" Indianapolis early Wednesday morning and arrived in the "big city" of San Fransisco by noon. (The time change was a killer!) We originally planned this trip after we received an wedding invitation from our friends Jo and Joel. Many of our friends were also planning on making the trip, so we decided to arrive a couple of days early and make a vacation out of our friend's wedding weekend.

We spent Wednesday, Thursday, and 1/2 of Friday doing the tourist thing. We took a tour of Alcatraz, visited Fisherman's Wharf, experienced Haight-Ashbury, wandered around Ghirardelli Square, and shopped at all the wonderful stores that do not exist in Indy. I was able to experience my first meal at In and Out Burger (amazing!!) and discovered that the iPhone application "Yelp" was extremely reliable when it came to finding local breakfast and seafood restaurants.

Jeff and I on Alcatraz Island

The view of San Fransisco from Alcatraz

Pier 34

Ghirardelli Square

We were invited to the rehearsal dinner on Friday night at a place called Great China. It was located on the Berkley campus. Since our hotel was downtown and approx 1 hour away from the restaurant, the bride and groom arranged for a bus to pick us up. We learned that night that this particular restaurant is very special to the bride and her family. It was even the place where Joel met Jo's family for the first time! The food was very interesting and different than anything I had ever tried before. Very authentic Chinese cuisine!


Saturday was the wedding and what a memorable event this was! Another bus picked us up at our hotel and drove us 2 hours to a beautiful place in a private estate in Los Gatos, CA called Nestldown. It is tucked away in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The ceremony took place in the most amazing location on the property! We were all surrounded by beautiful redwood trees that just seemed to tower over us. To say the bride was beautiful would be an understatement! The love that Jo and Joel have for each other was so obvious...it was hard not to tear up as they recited their vows to each other.

Nestldown...absolutely gorgeous!

Jeff and I with our friends Aaron and Amber

After the ceremony was over, the reception began. The number of surprises that occurred during this reception was too numerous to count. Jo and Joel performed a choreographed dance number about 1/2 way through their first dance. Then, we received dance numbers by Jo's friends from college as well as Jo and Joel's friends from India. (Jo was a member of the Stanford dance team when she was in college, so it was only fitting that her friends put together a little number for her.) Towards the end of their dance, Joel jumped up and finished the dance routine with them to surprise his bride. He did a great job....Joel is a great dancer! Then, the biggest surprise of the night was when the entire (and when I say entire, I mean ENTIRE) Stanford band showed up and performed for us! I have a feeling that Joel may have known this was going to happen, but Jo was completely shocked....and so were all of us! The reception was a blast! What a perfect way to celebrate such a great couple!

The Bride and Groom at the reception


Jeff and I with his parents

So, we are finally back home and recovering from our vacation. What an amazing couple of days! San Fransisco is an absolutely amazing city and I hope to return again someday. There is still so much we didn't get to see! Despite all the fun we had, it still feels really good to be back home!

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

Victory is a clean crate (and puppy) when you arrive home from a long day at work!

The Cure, Birthday Party, and Major Progress

Saturday was the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Indianapolis. My family is always involved in this walk since we have been affected first hand by Breast Cancer. Fortunately, our story has an incredibly happy ending! We are so blessed! Myself and my family enjoy participating in this event to help raise money in the hopes that one day, there will be a cure for this, and all cancers.




My mom, my two brothers, and I walked the 3.1 miles together through the downtown streets of Indianapolis. (My favorite part is passing the Zoo....I love that elephant with the pink ribbons in his ears!) It is always emotional to see just how many people participate in this event. It's so eye-opening to see just how many people are affected by breast cancer. According to the local news station, there were over 41,000 people involved in the race resulting in $2.5 million dollars raised!!!! Unbelievable.

After the race, we returned to my house where Jeff, my dad, and my grandpa were waiting for us. We celebrated my mom's birthday while eating sandwiches from Jimmy John's and then a delicious M&M blizzard cake from Dairy Queen. Then, to add to the excitement of the day, my Aunt and 2 cousins from Chicago stopped by as a birthday surprise for my mom. She had no idea and was totally shocked when they walked in the door!



Unfortunately, my family isn't able to get together all that often because of work schedules and distance, but when we do, we have a great time! What a great way to spend a Saturday!

UPDATE: Progress has been made with the Cooper vs The Crate Battle of 2010. I have had people give me dog training books and have sent me links that deal with "How to Crate Train Your Puppy" over the past week. After reading all of the literature, we decided to make a few changes to our approach. First, we moved the crate from our bedroom to the living room downstairs. We hang out all the time on the main level, so the crate is constantly in Cooper's line of sight. Second, we are continuing to feed him his meals in the crate, but are keeping the door open, allowing him to exit at his own will. Third, we are giving him little pieces of hot dog when he enters the crate so he associates "yummy" with the crate instead of anxiety and dread.

Last night, Cooper and I were upstairs. I turned around and realized he was no longer following me around. I looked everywhere and he was nowhere to be found. Finally, I happened to glace over to the crate and I saw this....



Oh. My. God! Are you kidding me?!? Then, today, Cooper and I were working on him entering the crate by command (with a little hot dog enticement) and 3 times in a row, when I said, "Crate," he walked his little self right into that crate and sat down. Progress! Progress!! Progress!!! Now, let's see just how much progress we have made when Jeff and I return to work tomorrow and Cooper spends the day in the crate. So far, it looks like Jeff and I are winning....

The Hardest Lesson

Jeff and I tend to believe that Cooper may be the smartest dog alive (kind of bias, I know). He learned how to sit on day 2, how to "lay" (lay down) on day 3, and today, on day 5, he is able to independently walk up and down the stairs. Needless to say, he is a quick learner. That is, except for one little task....the dreaded crate training.

People told me how much work a puppy was, how much time and effort was going to be needed, and how to keep a puppy safe. I read 2 books and numerous internet articles about Golden Retrievers (lame, I know!) and they all made crate training seem like a breeze. "Puppies love their crates. It gives them a sense of security...they look at their crate as if it is their den." Really? Really? Well, not our dog.

I will say one thing, he does pretty well at night in the crate. There is a little whining initially, but as long as Jeff or I are there, he will quickly fall back to sleep. He wakes up after 1.5-2 hours, but just to check if we are still there. Once he realizes we are, he falls right back to sleep. He wakes up again a little later to go outside. Repeat the "check in" one more time, and then sleeps until about 7am. Not too bad. But, God forbid you even think about putting him in that crate during the day! That is when the real action happens!

He will gladly walk into the crate when being enticed by a treat, he will lay down and fall asleep if you are in the room with him, but the moment you walk out of the room and he notices you are no longer there, that is where the howling, and the growling, and the barking, and the digging, and the whining, and the strangest noises I have ever heard begins. I've tried talking to him, I've tried ignoring him, I tried tough love. Each time, the same result. A puppy who completely melts down and only calms when it's time to get out. I left the house for 15 minutes (15 MINUTES!!!) today and when I came back the crate was covered in poo and God knows what else. Seriously Cooper?!?!?

One thing I know for sure, is we WILL NOT give in and let him sleep with us. He needs to learn that he is a dog and he can survive in a crate alone for an extended period of time. We will keep trying. We will get our dog crate trained. We will succeed.

Welcome Home Cooper!

The big day finally happened! Cooper is officially home and learning what it is like to be an "only child" instead of one of 10. We have had a very fun, yet interesting couple of days.....

It started with Jeff and I both taking a 1/2 day from work on Thursday. He picked me up at the hospital where I work and we were off to make the long 2 1/2 drive up to Columbia City, IN. (Sidenote: I had many people ask me if I brought clothes to change into after working my half day. Those of you who really know me, already know the answer to that question....Of course I brought an extra change of clothes!! Do you really think I would go work with a bunch of sick patients and then have my brand new puppy cuddle into my God-knows-what-is-all-over-me scrubs? No way, not even a chance!) Once we got to the breeder's house, she gave us all his paperwork, provided us with some last minute advice, gave us a toy with his siblings scent on it, and then sent us on our way.

The ride home was tough on poor little Cooper. It was his first car ride and he was riding with 2 people he barely knew. There was lots of whining and lots of treats given to convince him that we were pretty OK people. By the end of the drive, he settled on Jeff's lap as he drove...kind of....



Once we got home, we introduced him to our yard, to our house, and to all his new toys. He picked up were the backdoor was really quickly. So quickly, that with each new toy we gave him, he would carry them to the back door while whimpering like he was hoping his siblings were all out there so he could show them his new found treasures! He whimpered the entire night...it wasn't like he was sad, just like he was talking. I should clarify...the whimpering lasted until it was bedtime. Once it was officially lights out, that is when the real crying began!





Overall, he is doing remarkably well! He has learned how to sit on command and he is beginning to recognize his name. He has that wonderful personality that is true to the Golden Retriever breed. And oh, that puppy breath...if I could only bottle it up!

Spring is in the Air!

We have been totally spoiled this week. It is the beginning of April and we had not 1, but 2, 80 degree days in a row! How can sunshine, warm weather, open sunroofs, and sunglasses not make you think of spring?!?!

We have begun our "spring thinking" by beginning to plan, purchase, and plant our first garden. I wouldn't say I have much of a green thumb. I was able to grow herbs (legal ones like basil and cilantro) in my old apartment for a short time, but then I would leave for an extended weekend, not water them, keep the blinds closed, and they would quickly die off. But not this time! Not this garden! And not with my husband in charge! He is pretty serious about this and it inspires me to take it seriously as well. So far, Jeff has the starts of 2 regular tomatoes, 2 cherry tomatoes, 2 jalapeno peppers, and 4 red/green peppers. Today, he bought the starts of red raspberries and blueberries.



The backyard garden is going to be filled with all kinds of delicious veggies....too many to name them all. We both love to cook, so having that type of variety right outside our backdoor will be perfect!



I will also be starting another herb garden (I promise I won't neglect this one) as well as planting Tulips, Morning Glories, the Orchid Jeff gave me for Valentine's day, and Zinnias in the front of the house. I have never really planted or taken care of flowers, but it can't be all that hard.....right?!?!

Puppies Puppies Everywhere!

Well, the big day finally happened! Jeff and I took a 2.5 hour drive to Columbia City, IN to pick our our little Golden Retriever puppy! We pulled up to a small house with more Golden Retrievers running around then I have ever seen at one time before. It was like I had died and gone to heaven.

There were two small pens filled with yappy little puppies greeting us as we got out of the car. The breeder lead us over to the pen with "our litter" and that's when the selection process began.


Since we had the 4th pick, they brought us to another area of the yard, away from the others with 5 adorable little pups. We were told to play with them all and do whatever "tests" we needed to do to ensure we were getting the right puppy for us. Jeff and I were both attracted to the same two...the one with the blue string and the one with the yellow string tied around their necks.




It was a hard decision, but at the end of the day, the decision was unanimous....we selected the yellow puppy....now officially known as Cooper!


Now the puppy preparation really begins. We are awaiting the arrival of the crate we purchased on Ebay and are now in the process of selecting a Vet, finding the right food (and treats of course!), and buying all the right accessories like food/water bowls, collars, a leash, and toys.

I am so excited I can't stand it, only 10 more days! The countdown is on.....