Clicker Training

At 15 weeks, we started clicker training Gunyr. He has really taken to it and we have made some good progress in his obedience. He now knows how to sit, lay down, back to sit from lay down, shake (his paw), come, stay until recalled, and fetch! We got one of the Chuck It fetch toys that make the ball go farther and he just loves it. We are now working on standing on command, catch (a treat), and of course, heel. There is a you-tuber that I follow that teaches how to do cool dog tricks like fetching a drink from the fridge, that Gunyr will be working on soon. The page is called tab289. Check him out. I will soon post a video of Gunyr's progress on our you tube, maybe around his 20 weeks so he has some time to practice more for the camera.

14 weeks (with his baby teeth still in)

15 weeks

16 weeks

big boy teeth coming in (16 weeks here)

A bit has happened since I blogged last. Tubbles had her yearly vet check up and vaccinations. I am worried about her weight gain. She is now 9 1/2 lbs. Her vet said she has had some significant weight gain since her last check up and gave me a recommendation for feedings. I still haven't started it because I am so scared of her being hungry. She has always been on free feedings; there's always food in the bowl. Now Bunker is getting a belly and I know I need to do something.


my sleepy boy. He is nine months old this month!

..and sleepy girl. She turns seven years old this month!

Got the carrier out for Bub to go to the vet and since Bunker has not yet had a yearly vet visit, he doesn't know he will soon hate carriers. Haha.

sun bathing

Play time! I love the look in Bub's face.

working while hanging with my wonderful husband.

Todays is actually a big day for my husband! He applied for a position in the company he works for about a month ago and has done about four interviews for it within that time. It would be a wonderful promotion for him and would almost double his salary. Today is that last interviews he has with the company righter-ups (without a better term for them). Hopefully he learns if he gets the promotion today but there are other candidates so who knows when we find out. If he doesn't get selected, he has decided to leave the company to join me in working from home but he will be doing it full time. Its near the same pay as the promotion he is working towards so either way, he will be moving on from what he is doing now. We prayed together before he left for work this morning and what happens next is all in God's hands.

Later that day: My husband called and he nailed his interviews! He got his promotion and is going to be the "Boss Man"! After a few weeks of training in Pennsylvania, he will be the boss! Wow, words go beyond how proud of him I am. He has only worked there a year and is going to be above those who trained him. He is such a hard working man, there is no better hands for this sort of responsibility to be in. I am just so proud of him, I am beaming!

Who tooted?

Crystal: [Talking to Bunker and Gunyr] Woah! I know one of you tooted, I can smell it.. whew!

Steve: [jokingly] Breath deep, babe. Figure out who did it.

Yep, that is a conversation that happened this morning. HA! Both Bunker and Gunyr toot when they get excited and sadly enough, we know who did it by the way it smells.. So thats why this conversation was so funny to us.

In three days, I started and finished the book Raising a dog named Scout.. I absolutely loved it and recommend it for all those who are starting this adventure of raising a pup because it makes all those happenings that make you want to rip your hair out and take him back to where you got him into something that is funny and its good to know that what your pup is doing and how he is acting is normal.
Another good book, that I have mentioned before, is A Dogs Purpose. Now that book is probably the best book I have read in years. It now has a second and last book called A Dogs Journey. Equally good.

At the very beginning of Raising a Dog Named Scout, it mentions how getting a new puppy makes you miss your old one. That is so true. Ever since Gunyr came in to our lives, I have been reminiscing with my husband about how Lucky would do this and Snobell used to do that.
Lucky and Snobell were my childhood dogs. They helped me learn patience and kindness towards animals. I learned how to train dogs with Lucky when I did 4H and got to work with a professional trainer. Such good memories. I missed them terribly when I left home at age 16 and got a little trailer with Steve. Steve can tell you how I cried myself to sleep with their picture in my hand. Thankfully, when my Dad and I got on better terms, I was able to see them often and was able to say goodbye to Lucky before my Dad had to put him down when he got sick and the vet said that was the only option. I don't have a digital photo of them and taking a photo of a photo would be tacky but hopefully soon I will remember to dig a photo of them out and scan it up on to here.



Meet Gunyr

Meet our sweet sweet little boy Gunyr, pronounced Gunner with awesome spelling. He is a Labrador and Bernese mix. We rescued/adopted him yesterday from the Delaware Humane Association. He was born on January 17 2013. His birth mom was in foster care and up for adoption. The litter of pups came in to the shelter for adoption themselves the day before we decided to come look at the dogs available. We were in love as soon as we took him for a walk at the shelter and applied for adoption that day.

Before we picked him up, we went to Pet-smart and got his halter and leash along with his food bowls, some healthy organic shampoo, training treats and a few other essentials. As soon as we were able to pick him up, which was the day after we applied,we drove to Petco and he got to pick out all his toys and treats. We initially named him Bloodsworth and Blood for short. Steve always wanted a dog named Blood so we did... until everyone that asked his name at Petco and outside on walks would give us a shocked look. We decided that its best to choose something else... So Gunyr he is!

Today we went for a morning stroll around the complex since it was so warm and beautiful. He loves his walks but his legs are so little, he can only go so fast but he sure tries. He has to jog to keep up. He is so fun to watch. Later we went to the dog park at the Brandywine Park. Its off-leash and he loved playing fetch. We train with positive reinforcement and barely punish unless he wines at his feline brother or sister then its a stern "Bad Dog"!. We don't believe in hitting or physical  punishment AT ALL! All it does is make him afraid of you. His legs are still too short to comfortably climb the stairs to the apartment but sometimes he will try to climb them himself and other times Steve has to carry him. And as for housebreaking him, he is doing extraordinary. We put out puppy pads and he always went on those except once. Then today, literately one day later, he will wine and let me know when he has to potty. But if I wait too long, he will go inside on the pads... so its a race against time.

We are so blessed that the Lord brought him in to our lives. He is a true blessing. We have a dog park right here in the apartment complex so there is no excuse for him to have any pent up energy. Bunker and Gunyr have been doing great and are getting along. Tubbles on the other hand is in the bedroom and will not come out. We had to move the litter box and dishes in there because she is having the same reaction as when Bunker came in to our lives but not so extreme. She is actually doing much better with this transition then the last. We are just giving her lots of extra love and attention.


Time for a walk




He is such a beautiful little man




Walking by the water




Run Gunyr, Run!



A quick drink

More running

I love Him!

Momma holding him during his first car ride

Cuddles for Daddy

His big new comfy bed

Loved watching the birds (Brandywine Zoo)

"But Mom, I dont want to shop anymore!"

"..well, okay.. as long as I get more samples"

First bath time.

A snoring Gunyr.

My little mouth breather

"I was rescued"

Look at those huge paws! He is going to be a big dog!

Growing boy and our apartment garden

Seven months and he is already taller than Tubbles (look at those long legs of his!). He is so fun and is such a baby. He still suckles my shirts and loves to vocalize his opinion about everything. You should check out a few of our home videos we have taken of him. He is so fast in play and he sure keeps Tubbles on her toes. I think she has lost a bit of weight since she has him to play with all day now. They sure sleep good at night.

We recently planted some flowers and a few vegetables (apartment gardening is a little experiment we are doing) and since they need to stay indoors for the first six weeks, the kittens love to smell the dirt and hang around the kitchen where I keep the pots. We also got some balcony furniture so it should be nice this Summer to sit outside with my family and smell our blooming flowers and yummy veggies. So excited for the warm season coming up.

Life of a Housewife

I was reading some old posts from my blog and boy, my life has changed from when I was in college, and in Germany, and well, when I had a normal life outside the home. I had FRG meeting to attend and fun wives get-togethers. Its hard not having any friends here.
I can't wait to settle in one place and make long lasting relationships. But anyways.. I know I have done a daily life post before so here is an updated one for all those who care, Ha! But its fun to record how much life changes over the years.

This is a rough estimate of my daily life now, it varies since I have different cleaning tasks for different days. This was pretty much my day today-

6:00am Wake Up! Feed my kittens and make sure they are loved on.
6:20 Scoop litter box.
6:30 Meals planned out and prepared.
6:35 Start breakfast for husband and I.
7:00 Counters cleaned, floor swept, and dishes done after breakfast.
8:00 Make husband's lunch for work.
9:00 Wake Husband up.
9:30 Keep telling husband he will be late if he keeps dragging!
9:45  Kissed my husband goodbye for work and made sure he didn't forget anything.
10:00 Tended to my home business while clipping coupons from Sundays paper.
11:00 Listen to my church's Sundays service on the Sermon.net app since I can't be there in person. (While I am still working and couponing! Love to multitask. Time goes by much faster)
12:00pm Make lunch for myself.
1:00 Let my kittens play outside on the balcony.
1:30 Throw laundry in the wash and hand wash delicate clothes in sink.
2:00 Started scrubbing bathroom shower walls, tub, counter, mirror, sink, toilet and floor.
4:00 Straightened up living room, vacuumed, and dusted.
4:30 Let the kittens back out on the balcony for one last hoo-rah of the day.
5:00 Start prepping dinner (Once I read Proverbs 31 in the Bible, it really open my eyes to what Gods wants wives to be like and do and now I cook wholesome meals for every meal for my family, including my kittens.. I will only feed them Halo brand foods) ..Ive even lost weight with this new healthy eating!
6:00 Start cooking dinner while catching up on my shows in the back ground (unless its Teen Mom, SOA, The Walking Dead, or Army Wives, then it needs my full attention (Ha :P))
7:00 Hubby is home. Sit down, pray, talk, eat, be merry!
7:45 Wash dishes, wipe down table, clean counter, sweep, and then go relax with the love of my life and my kittens.

Days for deep cleaning, like today was for the bathroom, alternates everyday of the week. I try my best for my husband to come home to a clean home at the end of a long day of school and work. Its Sunday so he only had work but some days, he is not home at all until late at night and I am cooking his lunch and dinner while cooking his breakfast in the mornings since I won't see him. I am looking forward to him graduating as much as he is. I wish we could eat together like this every night but that will come in time.
I try my best to fit sewing practice in there because I am slowing learning, which was a 2013 resolution for me. I love it. I know I have said I am trying to write a book as well but it has sort of gone to the back burner for now. I hope to finish this year but we will have to see.

I also do the shopping so I try to shop once a week to get the most of out my coupons and weekly deals but most of the time, shopping happens twice a month.

Hope you found my day oh so interesting. 

Skype

When Steve was Deployed, I would leave my laptop open and Skype on with the volume all the way up to hear incoming Skype calls if Steve was able to get on. I didn't really think I would ever use Skype again unless he deployed again but I realized we can use it to communicate with family back in Washington and Idaho as well. We actually got to watch Steve's little brothers school wrestling match on my phone via Skype. It was awesome.

We are so proud of you, Curtis!

We were outside the Regal movie theater when we watched it because we are on our date night (to see Les Miserables) during his match. It was cold out but it was so fun to see Curtis whoop some behind.

Harness training

Bunker is almost seven months old now and still young enough to have learning new things be fairly simple for him so I started harness training him. Its been a few days of keeping it on him for a few hours at a time and he is doing so well. Once he is comfortable enough in it, we can go outside and he can explore the world outside these walls like I did with Tubbles in Germany. Remember how she got to explore the BBQ area and the grass in the back of our building? She loved it and I know Bunker will to. Tubbles will not go for a harness so I think I will just stick with a leash for her. I can't wait for Spring to start doing more things outside with my babies. They love the sun and the harness will keep Bunker safe and close when we are ready to go outside.
*Read about Tubbles' outdoor adventurers here.*

First shopping trip with Coupons!

I have been walking across the street to Wawa, a gas station that I have never heard of until I moved to the East Coast, to pick up a Sunday paper every week. By the second week, I was hooked and as soon as I get up, I am over there. Can you believe they are $3.00? Back in Washington state, it was $1.50 for a Sunday paper, at least they were before I moved to Germany. I decided to get a subscription to the paper so now its only $8.50 or something a month for Sunday delivery so that is awesome.
 I have been collecting coupons and having a ton of fun with this. My little accordion file will not hold any more coupons so I ordered some baseball card protectors to start my coupon binder. But since it wont be in the mail for a few more days, I had to bring my overly stuffed file with me for my first shopping trip using coupons. Thankfully Steve had the day off of work and school so he got to come with me because I needed some back up. Being a "coupon virgin", I really had no idea what I was doing and the thought was intimidating.

Once I got the ads for the week and knew what was on sale, I immediately started doing match-ups for what was on sale and what I had a coupon for to make the price even lower.  I had a envelope for each store we were going to with its coupons I was going to use inside. I emailed all the stores requesting its coupon policy, emailed companies of products we bought the most requesting coupons, and then created a spreadsheet and had a tab for each store with the item, sale price, coupon amount off, qty, and what I was expecting to pay. I wanted to be 110% prepared.

All that work paid off. Those gals on TLC's Extreme Couponing are not joking when they say that couponing is a part time job. Its just something that I make time for in my week now. Steve and I started the day off with some fast food so we wouldn't be hungry while we shopped and started our day. Steve was a bit skeptical with it all and I didn't want him thinking I wasted all that time clipping coupons, going through ads, and being as organized as possible for this one trip to not save any money at all. I loved having my list right on my tablet in front of me while we went aisle to aisle matching coupons to sales that weren't even in the ad, its like a treasure hunt. It was so nervous that the cashier at the first store, which was Pathmark by the way, wasn't going to accept any of our coupons. I was having a lot of self doubt when we got to the register. I thought there was no way I did this right and there is no way he will accept all these. But he did, and we only paid twenty something for a sixty something order. I couldn't believe it. Steve actually said he felt like we robbed them.

We went to 6 or 7 stores total in that one day, every single one I had an Adrenalin rush at the register. It was exhilarating to see the prices drop dramatically from retail prices because of coupons, sales, membership club cards, and in store coupons. We have never ever filled up our car with groceries. We never spend enough or get enough at the store to do so. Our car was FULL! Trunk was full and back seat.. Full! Wanna know how much we paid for all our groceries? ...(drum roll, please)... about $200.   How much would it be if we just walked it and bought it without coupons or any thing else? Over $400.   Steve and I were so happy and giddy the whole way home. We were having a hard time trying to fit it all in our cupboards. fridge, and freezer.

 He is encouraging me now more then ever to keep couponing and I never want to stop. Steve is a see it to believe it sort of man and he says he is now a believer in couponing, Hah!

Want to know some of my favorite deals we got?

Tidy Cats 20lb bag cat litter
On sale for 3 for $10.00 (thats 60lbs of litter for 10 bucks, that's a deal on its own)
1.00 off coupon (from calling them saying how much I love their product)
Total: $3.00 per 20lb bag (Reg Price:20lb Tidy Cats can get up to $12.00+ each)

Palmolive Dish Soap
On sale for $0.88 each
$0.25 off Mfr coupon that doubles to $0.50 off
Total: $0.38 ea (I had a few coupons for this so I stocked up, we will have clean dishes for some time!)

KY Lubricant
Retail $5.99 each
Walgreen's Register rewards gives you $6.00 towards your next purchase.
Buy KY in first transaction, gets $6.00 Register Rewards to pay for other items you have
Final price: FREE!

International Delight Iced Coffee
Retail $3.99 each (not on sale)
$1.00 off Mfr coupon
$1.00 off in-store coupon loaded to saving card
Total: $1.99 (what I had to pay at the register)
Ibotta (app) paid me $1.00 to buy product
Final price: $0.99 ea (had to get a few of these too, they are delish)

Check out Iboota here! I get paid for every "recruit" so please sign up through that link. pretty please.

I could go on but you see how I shop! It is thrilling to see the savings and now we have more food in our home then we know what to do with. Couponing gives us affordable food and we get to try all these new foods that we never could before because to us, they were over priced, with coupons when they are on sale, they are cheaper then generics. Its wonderful.

I just wanted to share with you my first couponing experience. It was pretty great, went better then I expected and I did not have one coupon rejected which was a fear. I am looking forward to Sunday to see  next weeks deals and start the process over again.

Once I realize that I have coupons that will expire soon and will not be on sale anywhere around me, I put them aside to be shipped off to Military families stationed over seas. They can use them at Commissaries over there for six months past the expiration date. I remember going to ACS (Army Community Service) and getting coupons that people sent from the states. Although I wasn't as in to couponing as I am now, it was pretty neat to use them at our Commissary after they were expired. Military member really don't make that much and coupons were a big help for us and many of our friends.
  Another thing I learned and encourage you to do as well is that I don't throw away any newspaper, ads or anything that the newspaper comes with every Sunday. I set those aside as well and let my stacks of newspapers keep piling up and then donate them to animal shelters because they use newspaper to line cat cages. At the end of the day, the only thing that enters the trash from my couponing is the insert scraps that I cut the coupons out of because their isn't much to speak of after they are all cut out. Its great that we are able to help two things we care about; other Military families, and animals that are less fortunate then ours.

Crazy couponing cat lady

That is what my husband calls me, and its completely true. Everyone that knows me knows that my cats are my life and with the economy being the way it is and with the financial place that we are in, I asked God what I could do to contribute to my family's income outside of my home business. He answered with my new love for Couponing. I watched an episode of TLC's Extreme Couponing and knew that is what I had to do. I watched all the episodes they have out now and just took notes and then I found some neat sites online that taught me exactly how to make it work. Its wonderful. Its surprisingly simple, you just need to make sure you know the store's coupon policy because every store is different and it can get confusing.
As a wife, I am always looking for ways to save a buck but couponing has brought it to a new whole level for me. I love it and its both a hobby and a way for us to save money.

Homemade Cat Treats

I have a whole fun day of free time before I start my new job. So I am going to spend it getting some housework and laundry done, and make some treats. This is the first time I have ever made any so it will be fun. I am excited for them to try it. I got my Dunkin Donuts coffee and about to head to Path Mark for my ingredients. Oh, and I just wanted to mention something I noticed. In Washington and Idaho, where we grew up, there are Starbucks on every corner. Here, you have to go out of your way for Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts is on every corner. We noticed that and thought it was funny.

 Tuna Tidbits

6 ounce can of tuna

1/4 cup water drained from tuna

3 T cooked egg white, chopped

1/4 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine tuna, egg white and water. Add cornmeal and flour and blend to form a dough. Knead into a ball and roll to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into one-inch sized pieces. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.

Bunker could not get enough of them but Tubbles wasn't too much of a fan of Mommas home cookin'. Next time I will add some Chicken Broth. I like to think Bunker eats them because he likes them but there is also the possibility that he eats them because he is a bottomless pit. He eats everything, french fries, cream cheese, coffee, soda, bread, etc. Of course I don't give him these things, he steals from my plate and cup when I am not looking.

 Steve also had a sample and said they were sort of bland so I am for sure going to add some other stuff in there in the next batch.

Christmas time fun

The kids are starting to get along so well now, FINALLY! I was having such a hard time with Tubbles not adjusting well to Bunker. But now they are playing and cuddling all day long. Its great to see. Sorry for the overload of photos.

Notice there is no snow? So nice, we are having beautiful warm sunny cloudless days here in Delaware! Stay in Germany, Snow! We are liking this.

Exploring the balcony for the first time.

Bunker loved the balcony so much he tried everything to get back out there.



Our tree and stockings

Christmas cards in colorful envelops. We sent one to Faithful Friends (the shelter) so Bunker could say thanks for taking care of him and also one to our Vet so Tubbles could also say thanks for helping her mouth.



The cool cat!




Helping Momma put dishes in the dishwasher



Tubbles relaxing her bed with her blanket I made her

Sweet Boy!

He loves carrying stuff around in his mouth just like his new big sister.

Steve woke me up at 4 in the morning to show me this photo. They were cuddling for the first time! Melted my heart.

I think he is really enjoying his forever home. No more cages or tons of stranger animals. He has a family, finally. We love him and Tubbles is enjoying her new little brother.

The Dream Job

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  "  Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)

Thank you, Lord! I prayed and prayed and asked for this job and lifestyle. It is my dream to work from home so I can help my little family out financially while still being a home maker. It has come true. My credit and background check came back and I have been approved to work as an independent contractor. I almost started crying when I got that email confirming it. I pretty much danced in to the bedroom to show my husband the email on my iphone since he was still in bed. We are both just so happy and I can not wait to start. I am going to finish deep cleaning the house and so I can get started on my new job right with no distractions as I learn the ropes.
No commuting to work, no wearing uncomfortable suits, lunch meetings will involve lunch with my family, no bosses looking over my shoulder, will be considered a business owner, making my own hours and yet, I will work in the business world and put my Business Technology (Office Admin) Cert to use. Thank you, God. This truly is a dream come true.

via

My new toy

Yesterday was my last day at school and I got my certificate of completion and my check. Whats neat about Job Corps that they pay YOU to go to school. I got paid every two weeks and then you get a pretty big chunk of money when you graduate. I am planning on saving most of it but I had to buy myself a little something for a job well done. I finally got a new awesome camera! FINALLY! You know I have always wanted one of those cool professional cameras that makes wonderful photos. I am one happy clown right now. WOO HOO! I just wish I had it for when we were in Germany but I had a decent one then too but I am so excited for my new one.

Certification of Completion

We are planning on traveling the East Coast while we still live here so I am very excited to get to use my new camera for those awesome memories.

Having fun with my new Camera: 

No wonder why its so cold at night, our insulation is being stolen! But you can't be mad at that sweet little face.

I just love the crystal clear picture it gives you.

My husband thought he was being cute by taking this. My cheeks full of Taco Bell's Baja Blast.

On other exciting news,  Hurricane Sandy is coming our way. I had no idea until we were at Costco yesterday (getting my camera) and it was completely packed with people with carts full of bottled water and toilet paper, then my husband told me about the Hurricane. That's what I get for never watching the News. Then we got home to a notice on the door for how to prepare our apartment to prevent as much damage as possible. We are from Idaho so we are not afraid of weather, I am actually excited to see what its like in a Hurricane, its my first. But the people here are buying crazy amounts and the line at Costco was backed up to like 20 in each.. it was insane... but its true you can never be to prepared.
We went back to Costco today and stocked up on water, canned food, batteries for flashlights, and everything we might need just in case. We also went to Walmart and they were completely out of water (thank goodness for Costco).  Anything could happen and the news is saying that its most likely going to knock out our power for a week starting by Sunday night or Monday. Bring it on Sandy,  we are ready!

Costco is never this low on carts

No water at walmart