birthday candles and pain meds

miss shirley bird turned 12 months old on thursday, and retrospectively thinking, we realized that the week she was born was the same week we moved alissa out to nc. two new beginnings in a new year, destined to be spent together - shirley was surely meant for us! cheers to the birthday girl:


wolfing down her cake (peanut butter-carrot with cottage cheese topping), birthday crown and all (which also got devoured later on)

squeaky fox, the newest addition to shirley's toy collection. she's obsessed with this one.

sitting on the couch gazing out the window, since it's pretty much the only thing she can do other than a good chew on her beef bone...yep, she's currently a gimp: several weeks ago she tore a ligament in her hindleg, rendering it immobile. despite the strict cage rest per vet orders, NO WALKING, and alissa carrying her up the stairs after every time she needs to go potty, shirley's morale has somehow managed to stay relatively sane. we think she daydreams about being able to go for walks again, as that is her absolute fav pasttime. hopefully soon she can resume!!

flannel and coal

okay, so maybe this atypical coastal snowfall the other day ended up being a tad more than a 1/2 inch...at least the humidity made for some great snowman building!

or, snow-gimps, rather, since shirley kept gnawing on its arms...

and, alissa finally was able to finish shirley's winter coat, which she was able to wear exactly once before the snow melted, hah. that's okay, because it desperately needs to be widened around the girth anyways :)

"mini black stallion" sporting her horse blanket

snow day on the island

yesterday base anticipated this snow so they issued a 2-hour delay...this morning they officially closed base...all us minnesotans can do is roll our eyes!!





a whopping 1/2" of snow...

december delight

the last month in 2010 marked a monumental one and we made sure to celebrate it with no regrets, knowing that our year ahead will be the most taxing challenge yet encountered with mike's deployment.

reuniting after mike's predeployment training in the mojave desert (ps, this is post-airport reunion...mike specifically wants to note that he was indeed clean-shaven like a good little marine :) );

upgrading to a new car;

engaging in annual holiday gluttony;

concocting new sweet goodies;

introducing shirley to chuggs (mike's sister's kitten);

visiting and laughing with family;

sledding;

snowshoeing;

reminiscing our childhood toys;

walking (LOTS);

playing in the snow;

celebrating our one-year wedding anniversary;

being greeted with the coast's version of christmas lights upon returning to north carolina