Summer 2015, you are my favorite.

I'm going to state this for the record: Summer 2015 is the best summer I have enjoyed in quite some time.

Summer vacation and I have a spotty history. While I have many happy memories of summers past, I also have quite a few sad or unpleasant ones...like the summer Darryl's dad passed away after fighting cancer, or the summer my mom battled a lingering, scary bout of meningitis. There was also the summer our house sale fell through and we had to unpack our stuff and put it back where it was. Or the summer that I had my wisdom teeth removed and had a stubborn "pocket" that refused to heal correctly. Or there was last summer, where I was trying to fight "the funk" every single day after leaving our life in Baton Rouge. Granted, a couple of those things are obviously more significant than others, and no one is at fault for any of those things...but I--pessimistically, I suppose--tend to remember those summers by those events.

But Summer 2015 was nothing short of amazing.

I enjoyed time with my family both at their home and at mine.

We had a great trip to San Francisco, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe, where we were able to visit with Darryl's extended family.

I read a lot of books, particularly in the first half of the summer.

I watched three seasons of The Good Wife. (So good!)

I went to movies, including a few that weren't animated!

I spent a good bit of time in the kitchen, my happy place.

I was able to take a girls' trip to San Diego / Temecula with my good friend Rebecca. (Who can argue with two trips to California in one summer?)

We welcomed our new (hyper but sweet) dachshund puppy, Billy!

I took some good naps.

We didn't have to move anywhere!

I was able to finish up a few house tasks, like organizing the pantry and kitchen, cleaning out "that room" that was full of boxes, and fixing up Amelia's room.

I spent lots of time at the pool with Amelia.

Basically, this summer was everything I wanted it to be -- fun, relaxing, and spent with the people I love. And you know what? I also feel more ready for school than I have in some time, and I think it has something to do with the fact that this summer was so satisfying. Often times, I have thoughts like, "I wish I had one more week so I could do such and such," but not this year.

So thank you, Summer 2015. You were awesome.

"Having a dog is hard work."

That was what Amelia said last night right before she went to bed.

Amen, sister.

Here's a little update on life with Billy...

First, I am excited (although I know from parenting a human child not to get TOO excited) that Billy slept until 6 a.m. this morning, which was a nice change from his typical 4:00 wake-up call.

(Those extra two hours of sleep made me ridiculously productive already, as I took advantage of some Nordstrom and Children's Place sales and purchased some needed school clothes for both me and Amelia before 7 a.m. Boom.)

(And now I'm writing a blog post. I'm every woman!!)

Back to Billy...

Let's just say that Billy has gotten quite comfortable in his new home, and his more demure personality of week one with us is a thing of the past. He pretty much runs on two speeds: wide open and fast asleep.

He now sleeps comfortably in his crate at night with little to no whining. (Apparently our egregious mistake of letting him sleep with us the first night did not set him on the wayward path for life, contrary to what the Internet had to say on that topic.)

Housebreaking him has had its ups and downs. Two days ago, I'm pretty sure I cleaned up four accidents in the house; yesterday, he had only one.  When we take him outside to go to the bathroom, he likes to do this:

Obviously, he cares nothing about the fact it is 90 degrees outside. What's the rush?

But he is cute. And sweet. And snuggly.

He is also a bit spoiled. Yesterday, my friend Blayne came over for breakfast and to see Billy, and Billy kept following me around, whining. You know what he wanted? He wanted me to pick him up and put him on the couch so he could take a nap.

He pretty much has us wrapped around his tiny paw. :-)

A Girls' Trip to Temecula

I've been a bit quiet on the blog front the past week or so because A) PUPPY, and B) I have been out of town.

(I might possibly have to compose a post about how having a puppy is not unlike having a newborn.)

ANYWAY, last week, I went on a girls' trip to Temecula, California, with my friend Rebecca.

Why Temecula? Well, why not Temecula?

(If you have never heard of Temecula...it is considered the "wine country" of Southern California, about 45 minutes from San Diego.)

First, I think you need to know a little bit of background. About a year and a half ago, the Seminoles were going to the Rose Bowl, and Darryl, being the diehard Seminole fan that he is, really wanted to go. He went back and forth on whether or not he should go, thinking how expensive of a trip that would be. Not really caring that much about the game itself, I told Darryl that to cut down on cost, he could invite a friend or a family member to go with him because I really had no desire to go.

So Darryl invited his good friend Damian, but in the weeks leading up to the game, they started planning a side excursion to Temecula. And just like that, their trip turned into a BROmantic weekend that Rebecca (Damian's wife) and I would have been interested in.

Well, this past Spring Break, we stayed with Damian and Rebecca in Baton Rouge, and the guys' trip somehow came up in one of our conversations. (Obviously, Rebecca and I had completely let it go -- ha!) Anyway, Rebecca said something like, "Well, Amy and I might take our own trip to Temecula!" and get this--the guys pretty much said, "Go ahead!"

Twist our arms, why don't ya?

So last Monday, Rebecca and I met up at the San Diego airport. Rebecca's flight got there before mine, so she had our Jetta rental car waiting at the curb when I walked out with my luggage. And we were off!

Our first stop was Rebecca's great aunt and uncle's condo in San Diego because we were spending the night with them. Over the years, I've gotten to meet quite a few of Rebecca's extended family, and they are quick to welcome anyone with open arms.  Rebecca's Uncle Butch and Aunt Kay were awesome hosts. They took us for a picnic on a hill (a vista?) overlooking the ocean.

And while we were there, we saw a marriage proposal take place. (Forgive the terrible photo, but I didn't want to get all up in their business.)

Tuesday morning, we set off for Temecula, taking the longer scenic coastal route. We stopped at a really cool coffee shop in Solana Beach because PRIORITIES.

Once we arrived in Temecula, our first stop was to pick up a brie bowl that Rebecca had tried before that she claimed was amazing, and let me tell you, it was amazing-plus.

Essentially, that is a bowl of sourdough bread that has been buttered and seasoned with a wheel of brie melted inside.

Y'all.

Be still my heart. (Perhaps literally.)

I will tell you that food, specifically cheese, was a big priority on this trip. We prided ourselves on having really no agenda, and it was so nice just to relax, eat, chat, eat, and take in the scenery.

And here is just a random collection of photos.

Thursday morning, we headed back to San Diego, but first we had brunch outside by the sea at the Hotel del Coronado. (I mean, I did say that food was a priority, right?)

(And in case you are wondering, yes, my shorts are a bit snug this week, but I have no regrets.)

It was a successful girls' trip that was everything we wanted it to be. It should come as no surprise that we might need to make this an annual getaway...

Introducing Billy

Well, this happened.

Yep. That's our new puppy, a dapple mini-dachshund whom Amelia has named Billy.

(Listen, I'm just happy his name isn't BonBon or Cookie or some other baked good.)

(The name actually suits him.)

Darryl surprised Amelia and me both with him yesterday. Amelia declared it the "most amazing day ever." To say she is infatuated with him is a gross understatement.

Okay. Fine. We are all infatuated with him.

Truth be told, I have had a little "puppy fever" over the past year (and I love dachshunds), but Darryl didn't seem to be on the same page.

And then he showed up with a puppy. Go figure.

Anyway, right now the score is Billy - 1, his owners - 0 because does anyone want to guess where Billy slept last night after whining in his crate?

That's right. Our bed. We are already failing as dog parents. (I Googled "puppy whining in crate" this morning, and apparently we did the exact OPPOSITE of what we were supposed to do.)

But Billy is sweet and playful and already seems to be settling in. I think he likes us. And the feeling is mutual.

Welcome, Billy!