There have been a lot of exciting things happening around here. Finally I get to share them with you!

First of all, if you’ll take a minute to click through, you’ll notice my new design. There are still a few odds and ends to clean up here and there, but it’s basically done. I absolutely love it, and I hope you do too. Thanks to my brother for doing all the leg work, and so much faster than I expected!

Now on to the other stuff…

My husband is going to a conference in New York City in April, and for my birthday my in-laws got me a plane ticket to accompany him. My parents got me the guidebook plus some cash to spend while there, and my husband pooled together with my brothers to buy us house seating to Billy Elliott on Broadway. Those tickets aren’t available to the public, and we only got them because of my brother’s theatre connections. I am SO excited.

Meet Oliver, our new puppy. Yes, puppy. He is only about seven months old and is already a hundred pounds (& growing). He has a limp, but it doesn’t seem to slow him down much. We’ve already bid a fond farewell to two pairs of shoes, a dog bed, and cleaned up several smelly presents. Thank God for the crate. Oliver’s not yet neutered, a situation that we intend to rectify as soon as possible, so we can’t leave him around our other dogs for too long because he’s way too alpha.

Despite the difficulties of wrangling three dogs around the house, one of them an enormous puppy, we love it. Oliver is soft, sweet, and one day he’ll make an excellent cuddler – when he learns that people’s arms aren’t chew toys.

On Sunday after church I dragged my husband and my mom to three different dealerships all across town before we finally found one that was open. When I told the salesman I was interested in a Prius, he immediately had me test drive a new one. I admit that I was swayed by the bells and whistles it offered, but in the end it cost $11,000 more than a used car. I found this 2005 model with only 26,000 miles and we got an amazing interest rate, free warranty, AND they’re installing an mp3 connection for free – because I HAVE to be able to plug in my iPhone.

When I was driving it home from the dealership I was so excited and preoccupied that I turned the wrong way on the Interstate and didn’t notice for about thirty minutes. I was almost to Huntsville (which is about 1.5 hours away from my home) by the time I turned around. Good thing I get great gas mileage now! Seriously though, I love this car. It makes my life a million times easier.

I’m having a great week. How about you?