Meet Miss Ava Solbach

On February 19, 2011, Joseph and I welcomed a new little girl into our family. Now, before you get excited and think that I had a baby and just was holding out on ya'll, let me tell you that Ava is a puppy. We adopted her from Operation Paws for Homes. She was rescued from a high-kill shelter in NC not long after she was born. Ava had a rough start to her life (she's 13 weeks old). Out of her litter, only three or four survived. They had all contracted some sickness from the shelter they were in. She was all skin and bones when we adopted her even though she had a clean bill of health.

Her first day home.

President's day. Third day after adoption. See how skinny she was!?

She loves to snatch whatever Rocky has right out of his mouth.

What messes, Mom?

MY dragon!

Sleepy baby

Now, if you look closely, Ava seems to have a foot growing out of her tummy. That's Rocky's back leg. She lays on top of Rock and he lets her.

Aren't they just SO sweet together??

A Hot day in February

THIS is the temperature that greeted me when I left work this afternoon. It's February for crying out loud! It should NOT be 60 degrees outside!

It's Monday, What are You Reading? (2011-2)

"It's Monday. What are you reading?" is a meme hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. This is where you list what you've read in the past week.

It's been a LONG time since I've participated in this meme, but I really wanted to join in this week. Partly since it's been a really good year for reading so far and partly because I miss my reading meme friends.

Without further ado, here's my list for this past week:

Kringle ~ Tony Abbott 1/30

The Lightning Thief ~ Rick Riordan 1/30

The Sea of Monsters ~ Rick Riordan 1/31

Beast Master Vol. 1-2 ~ Kyousuke Motomi 1/31

Backstage Prince Vol. 1-2 ~ Kanoko Sakurakoji 1/31

Boyfriends, Burritos and an Ocean of Trouble ~ Nancy Rue 2/1

The Titan's Curse ~ Rick Riordan 2/2

Moe Kare Vol. 1-7 ~ Go Ikeyamada 2/2

The Battle of the Labyrinth ~ Rick Riordan 2/3

The Last Olympian ~ Rick Riordan 2/4

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle ~ Avi 2/5

Lyddie ~ Katherine Paterson 2/6

Jip: His Story ~ Katherine Paterson 2/6

So, my goal this year was to read as many books as possible that I own that I either haven't read in YEARS or just haven't read at all yet. My total books towards that goal since January 1st: 33. I think I'm doing pretty well so far.

As for my To Be Read this week list:

I am currently finishing up I Am Number Four ~ Pittacus Lore and Under the Lilacs ~ Louisa May Alcott.

I intend to begin and complete The Lost Hero ~ Rick Riordan and possibly start on the other two books by Avi that I haven't read yet. If not Avi this week, then I'll read Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park. (Not really looking forward to reading those two no matter how much I love Jane Austen.

What did YOU read this week?