Hello, Fall! (goodbye Fall...)

This weekend was jam-packed with AWESOME! I am so unbelievably lucky to be doing what I'm doing, and to have the people who I have in my life.

Friday I went to my brother's Senior Night and the last home game of the Football season. I have to say, the farther we get into the school year - the more it sinks in, and the more I become an emotional wreck. If I never have kids, I will at least know what THIS feels like. Though, it might be better experiencing this because it's already so intense. I'm not sure I can even begin to fathom when this happens to me with my own kids.

Saturday was my husband and I's 6 year anniversary! Next month we will be together for a total of 10 years. God that makes me feel so old! I'm so lucky to have had the opportunity to have this amazing man in my life. He is there, through thick and thin - no matter what. I'm so happy I get to share this life with him, because there is no one else I would rather share it with. Saturday morning we had a little photo shoot.

This one happens to be my favorite picture!

We spent the afternoon with Eric's Mom. Had pizza (YUM!) and watched movies. She kept Cooper for the night so, we use that night to stop by the Club during bowling to see some friends we haven't seen in what feels like forever. I loved catching up and I wish we could see everyone more often. But with hectic schedules and a dog with some real separation anxiety issues - this becomes damn near impossible!

Sunday I had training. I ended up hurting my knee during the photo shoot after Cooper decided to take a walk in the woods. So, I skipped the morning practice and a lot of the poses I merely watched.

My favorite and least favorite time has become when we go over the Yamas & Niyamas book and homework. It's intense now. Like, sit for an hour and cry - intense. That's hard for me. But I'm facing some deep emotions that I'm bottling up inside. Oh yoga teacher training...

I LOVE these girls! They and this whole program are changing me!

Though one of us was out sick; we managed to still keep her there in spirit. Somehow, a chair was left out for her. Hopefully she is feeling better now. But know how much you were missed Linda! :-)

I found myself really inspired during some of the poses. I caught myself frantically trying to write things as Mindy or Jane said them. Quotes, modifications, more quotes... It's beautiful when the hardest poses that aren't for you inspire you as much as they do!!

October is almost over and it's going by so fast!!! I'm trying to savor every moment I can. But it's getting hard!

BONUS!

Here is another one of my favorites from our photo shoot :-)

After what was THE MOST insanely A M A Z I N G weekend, I've been down for the count.
Friday morning a friend called me with last minute tickets to Zac Brown Band at Wrigley. OF COURSE I rearranged my entire schedule to go. It was the MOST amazing experience EVER! Seriously! We got SO close to the stage!

And que my new Zac Brown Band obsession! lol

Sunday was my 3rd weekend of training. That's the day my sickness first started. So, I didn't even have a solid plan as to recap the weekend here like I normally do. We had a late start - so that was awesome!

I was so overly tired that I completely fell asleep in Yoga Nidra. Like, more than once. I know I jolted like 3 or 4 times. I'm not sure how many times I snored, but at least once I was told LOL I was so tired! and I knew I was getting sick. I just felt off. So I'm not surprised. It was SO relaxing. Sometimes those are the best "naps".

After Yoga Nidra was lunch. It took me forever to get up though. Once I did, the room looked like a total "morning after the sleepover".

We also taught our 5-Pose sequences. Wasn't my best work! By that time I was exhausted, and feeling more miserable. I know I should have practiced more. But I didn't I'll definitely have to work on that for the next one. We teach a 10 Pose Sequence. I need to find my voice.... And I need to be better with things coming off the top of my head. I'm not good with that in real life - so it doesn't surprise me that this may be my biggest challenge!

Meet My Dogs

For those of you who know me;  you already know the majority of my heart belongs to my dogs. But for those who don't, I thought I'd take the time to introduce you to them.

First there is Bennett. Up until April he was our only "child". We got Bennett when he was about 9 weeks old. Funny story;

My husband had been begging for a dog. I wanted one, but not the responsibility. So my response would always be something like "yeah, okay." or "Sure, whatever." Fast forward to us being in our own home for about 4 months. We were on our way to a concert and stopped in Hinckley to pick up my Aunt. Before we went to the house, we stopped at the gas station. We ran in to grab some drinks and there on the door were Black Labs for sale. Eric ripped one of the strips off and said "Here Mishelle. We're going to check this out." My response after seeing the $500 price tag - "YEAH okay Eric, no problem." as I folded it and put it in my back pocket to die in the washing machine. 2 weeks later a friend, also from Hinckley had posted her neighbors were selling Black Lab puppies for $250. Now, Hinckley isn't very big. Pretty much you blink and you miss it. So, it HAD to be those same dogs. This time they were discounted half off.

It was then I went to Eric and said, "Well maybe we should give it a shot and go see them." So, I let my friend know when we would be coming. We met the puppies. They were all so cute!

Puppy number 1 - now Bennett followed Eric around non-stop. So. He was ours! We picked him up 2 weeks later and well, the rest is history.

Never have I ever imagine how much love I would have for an animal. He is the sweetest thing ever! I really think he was human in a past life! (Maybe even cat in another lol) He is so special to us! I love him just as though he were my own child (I mean he is... but, well you get it).

Bennett

Now, 4 years later we became the proud Foster parents of Cooper. We had that "let's get another dog" itch going. It would come and go and at times be worse than other times. Then I saw Cooper on Midwest Lab's Facebook Page. Cooper was left on the side of the road in Missouri with his brother and sister. The sister contracted Parvo and gave it to both boys. She ended up dying and the brother recovered. Cooper managed to get ring worm and had to be kept in isolation. After that, he developed Demodex Mange due to a low immune system. He literally spent the first 5-6 months of his life in a kennel. My heart sank when I heard his story and I knew we had to be a part of his life. SO, we tried fostering.

I should have known... NO- I should had admitted to myself earlier that we would end up keeping him. I get too attached. I knew this. I expected this. So, we ended up keeping him. He was just 15lbs when we got him and now 4 months later he is around 31lbs. He is starting to be more trustworthy and playful.

Cooper

This is the newest picture of them together. You can clearly tell Cooper has finally put on a little weight! :-)

HE LOVES BENNETT! It's so cute to watch them together. I think one of my favorite things is when I let them out in the mornings. If Bennett comes back first, I'll ask "Bennett, where's brother?" to which he will look in one direction, and whichever direction that is, is where Cooper is.

Cuddling in the big bed!

Waiting patiently for a treat. This was within the first couple weeks we had Cooper. He was so tiny!