Happy Valentine's Day, doggone it

Brian's parents gave us this Valentine's Day card early since we'll be headed west after work today:


It inspired us to purchase Smash Mouth's "I'm a Believer" to add to our road trip playlist, which also includes Goo Goo Dolls' "Slide," Barenaked Ladies' "One Week" and Greenday's "When I Come Around." Yes. We're just that nerdy that we built a playlist just for our upcoming 10-hour drive.

Look's like we've got a stowaway

Brian & I pulled out our suitcases so we're ready to work on packing for our ski trip tonight after work. Meow Meow climbed right into our smallest suitcase and made herself at home. I think that she wants to go, too.

My funny valentines

Today was a long, but fun, day. Nicole and I sang a duet together ("You Led Me" by BarlowGirl) at Aldersgate's three morning services. I love that song. And strangely, as long as Nicole and I have been friends, we've never sang together. At an indulgent Granite City brunch after church, we decided that we must do it again.

This afternoon, Brian and I ran errands for ski trip necessities. We're headed to Angel Fire, N.M., later this week for a family ski trip with my parents, Jen & Ryan and Amanda & Kurtis. Yay! I haven't skied since my family went to Breckenridge during Spring Break of my senior year of college (seven years ago), so I'm really excited.

I ended the day at youth group, where we talked about love and made valentines:

One dog-eared book

I still need to track down a copy of my book club's February read, "The United States of Arugula" by David Kamp. In the meantime, I've read a couple other books of my own choosing, including one I received as a Christmas gift: "Good Dog. Stay." by Anna Quindlen.

Here's an excerpt that I loved:

But the life of a dog is not much of a mystery, really. With few exceptions, he will be who he has always been. His routine will be unvarying and his pleasures will be predictable -- a pond, a squirrel, a bone, a nap in the sun. It sounds so boring, and yet it is one of the things that make dogs so important to people. In a world that seems so uncertain, in lives that seem sometimes to ricochet from challenge to upheaval and back again, a dog can be counted on in a way that's true of little else.

I think they think they're Huskies

It was a snow day for Dakota & Lilly today. Lucky dogs.

Can you spot Meow Meow?

I couldn't find Meow Meow earlier and had wondered where she was hiding. The answer sounds a little like a Dr. Seuss riddle:

On the chair,
In the bag,
Tucked in a quilt.
Look at the snuggely nap spot my kitty built.

(And, yes, that's the quilt I just picked up from the quilter. Meowsers definitely should not be curled up with it until it's a completed project, but how could I ever be mad at such an adorable sight?)

Day of dresses

After a weeklong flu-induced blogging break, I'm back.

Amanda was in Ta-town for a whirlwind wedding weekend. We tasted and looked at cakes ...










looked at dozens of dresses ...


























and helped Amanda pick The One. (I've promised not to post the photo of her wearing the gorgeous gown, but I can promise it wasn't this pink lacy number.)


Amanda promised not to turn into this between now and August:


And appropriately, we included a trip to the theaters to see this flick: