Oktoberfest

We went to Oktoberfest at the Puyallup Fairgrounds on Saturday night. Jason had fun drinking beer, I was his driver. Jerry bought an AWESOME lion hat. They all had fun playing hammerschlagen. A polka band was playing most of the night. Eventually a different band took over and played some harder stuff. Who knew you could rock Back in Black on an accordian?

Redneck doggie back scratcher

My trip to High Point

I went to visit my girls and my college for Alumni Weekend and a Phi Mu reunion over the first weekend in October. It was fun but also bittersweet due to Dr. Warde's passing. I took a picture of my favorite meal ever - steak hoagie and a side of hash browns from Alex's House.
Picture of my letters on the building I lived in for 3 years.

A view of the campus from the University Center. A picture of a group of us on Saturday night. It's always so much fun to see everyone but so hard to come home.

Goodbye Dr. Warde

I'm very sad to report that Dr. Charlie Warde, seriously one of my most favorite people in the world, passed away very early this morning from complications of pneumonia. He had a stroke back on September 11th and was showing great improvement. I was shocked to learn this morning that he was gone. I was already leaving for High Point tomorrow morning for alumni weekend so I am hopeful that I will get to attend his funeral.

Dr. Warde (he always wanted me to call him Charlie but I never have been able to flip the switch to it) was an amazing man. He always had the ability to pull me out of whatever funk I was in for whatever reason and make me believe that I was the most brilliant, amazing person who ever walked the earth. I roped him into being my sorority's on campus advisor. All of us loved his irish accent and his fun spirit. I cannot believe that he's left us.

Taken at my sorority's 50th anniversary celebration
Snapped at my friend Rosie's wedding rehearsal, he did a reading during her ceremony

Happy birthday Duke!

I can still remember exactly how it came to be that we found our Dear Dukus. We had literally just moved into the house and decided, let's look for the lab puppy we wanted to get. We wanted him to get to grow up with Fonzie since our little hot dog was only 4 months old. We knew the little weiner dog would get too spoiled being the only dog in our house. It was early December 2001, everyone was waiting to get puppies for Christmas morning puppies. We took Fonzie to "meet" Duke and the rest is history. Duke was already 11 weeks old so we have no itty bitty puppy pictures of him (which I hate!). This is the first picture we ever took of Duke.
I remember throwing them together and they actually stayed so I could get a picture of them. You should have seen how they used to chase and play with each other when they were close to the same size. That didn't last long at all!

We had no idea just how much we would love this little black furry guy. Very early on and still today, he only has eyes for Dad.

I don't know if he will ever forgive us for bringing home Roscoe who we bought to be his playmate because we thought Duke was bored outside all day by himself. Can you see the disdain in this picture?

This my favorite picture of you - your first time duke hunting. So handsome in your camoflauge. I insisted that Dad had to buy you a life vest because you were going out on a boat and I had read a story about a hunter's dog drowning earlier that week. You're a mess - you even have mud in your whiskers! You had so much fun though. You slept for days after your first hunting adventure.

You love your kennel and are always going in there for no particular reason. If you hear us yell, you run in there even though you're not in trouble. I think it's your little cave, your safe place.

You are always so happy. Always panting, tail always wagging. I think you're actually smiling here....

And you always have something in your mouth...I don't get it. Duke, you are our perfect dog. You love everyone and everything. Happy 8th birthday, we love you more than words can ever express!

The latest addition to the Turner family

Addison Lorraine Turner was born last night at 8:32 PM. She weighed in at 6 lbs 11 oz and measured 19 inches. We went up to Overlake Hospital today to meet her. We were lucky enough to see big brother Bryce and big sister Alexa who came to visit mom, dad and new baby at this hospital. Everyone is doing great and will be going home tomorrow.

The Wiggins came to town...

Mandy, one of my sorority sisters, came to stay with us on Monday and Tuesday night along with her husband Norton and her daughter Allie. They have been living in Spokane for about 3 years (Norton is in the Air Force) and they just got order to Germany. They had to put the car on a boat for shipping before heading east to visit family before reporting for duty in Germany. The dogs were on exceptionally good behavior and had lots of fun playing with Allie.
Fonz appreciated someone his size throwing the hedgehog of course!

Jason and I both took the day off on Tuesday to "Do the Puyallup" with them. Allie had lots of fun checking out all of the animals.

This was Allie's first fair so we had to document it with a family picture.

Allie was exhausted, look at her putting her head down on Daddy's head. She was so tired that she wanted to climb into the doggie couch on the floor and cover up to go to bed. It was pretty cute! We had a great time with our guests. I get to see them again in a couple of weeks when I'm in North Carolina for a sorority reunion.