Hello Everyone!

Greetings from North Carolina! I've been living on the east coast now for exactly one week, and it has taken exactly one week for me to finally get my internet hooked. "What took me so long to get the internet?" you ask. Well, I didn't have the money to pay for the installation fee of course! "How much was the installation fee?" you ask. A grand total of ZERO dollars (face palm).

Anyways though, I thought I'd take the time out of my busy law student schedule to update you on the latest happenings going on here in North Carolina. First, let me just say the state is absolutely beautiful. Trees and greenery everywhere. The weather has been fantastic, only creeping past 90 degrees once and typically low humidity. A far cry from the sizzling summer going on back in Missouri. The weather though should be changing by the weekend though with hurricane Irene storming up the coast line. Right now the weather channel has us getting hit Sunday with approximately 85 mph winds and rain. Oh and there was an earthquake today; North Carolina's first since 1944. What did we law students do as the ground beneath our feet shook and the walls trembled? We remained sitting and quietly listened to the remainder of the presentation. Missing a vital piece of information is a more terrifying prospect than the building collapsing on top of us.

Speaking of Law School, I love it... So far. It feels great, and right, to be back in a classroom setting. The professors are amazing and have accomplished so much in their respective fields that I couldn't help but be in awe during their introduction at Monday's orientation. As of now, the only class I've had has been the Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research class, designed to teach us how to write like lawyer and find the appropriate research materials to help with our case. A class that I currently have homework in, and am neglecting to write this blog post. So until next time, take care everyone.

Busy, busy, busy!

We had a busy last few days! As Derek stated we were illegally storing Watson at the apartment for a few days...no worries we made it out of the apartment without any problems! My dad came up Thursday to bring home a truck load of stuff and good thing he did! He somehow managed to load almost all the big stuff in his truck bed and made it home successfully--he has experience in the moving and packing category, just ask him :-) Dad somehow managed to load the bed, couch, table, 4 chairs, 2 bar stools, a dresser, and some boxes. I am not sure how he did it, it was pretty impressive! I wish I would have captured a picture of this!

The week moved on and packing continued, I almost forgot how much I despised it! I told Derek after he finishes with law school, his job better pay for our packing and moving! My dad, mom, brother Dave, and Mitch came back up on Saturday with two trucks to move the rest of our junk, it is pretty amazing how much stuff two people can collect. We also took Watson on his first outside the home excursion, we went out to eat in Columbia and Watson sat outside with us. We had many visitors and smiles and Watson just couldn't get enough! On Saturday we also made our first married purchase and got a Dyson vacuum! It was very exciting and Derek and I actually couldn't agree who would get to vacuum first. Derek won because I had to work Saturday evening, Derek sent me an e-mail at work and called the vacuum a "transformer". I thought this was pretty entertaining!

Derek got to the point where he just wanted to throw stuff away, needless to say he ended up throwing away some pictures, BUT he ended up dumpster diving and collected them--thank goodness! Sunday rolled on and we shipped Watson into hiding at Derek's brother Mitch's house along with more junk that wouldn't fit into my car. We finished checking out at 10:30 and Derek said goodbye to Columbia. Mitch had a fun time with Watson and we were glad Watson got to meet Mitch before we left. It was also a sad moment because Derek and Mitch said goodbyes until probably Christmas!

Here is a picture of Watson--he was trying to help move :-)

During the move Watson also barked for the first time, I ended up capturing a video of this. I hope you all think it is as entertaining as we do! **The video is not loading I will try again later!

On Sunday when we got home to Washington, Derek's family had a little goodbye BBQ. Tiffany, Mark, and Zack came over to say their goodbyes and to have dinner with us. It was a fun time filled with laughs and much entertainment between Watson and Zack. We had delicious food and were grateful we got to spend some time with family between all the craziness going on in our lives currently. We also managed to slip over to my brother Matt's house and show off Watson to Matt, Sarah, and Sadie. Before Sarah and Sadie made their way back home, they all just loved Watson. But, how can you not? Is he not adorable, maybe I am just biased!

Zack just loved Watson and kept telling him how much he loved the puppy. Zack is missing his shirt because he saw uncle Derek had his shirt off and wanted to be like him :-)

Here is another picture I captured at the BBQ that I think is absolutely adorable. I think I may have to frame this one!

After all the driving and visiting, Watson was a little tired! He loves to sleep on the air conditioning vents.

Derek left yesterday morning and is currently living in an empty apartment, he says North Carolina is absolutely beautiful and that our apartment is pretty nice. He is just a little bored right now and has done a lot of exploring. He will update us soon, once he has Internet hooked up. He has been sending me pictures and everything looks very nice. He has his first law school class outing tomorrow and is very excited about that. I am heading back home to Washington Friday morning to be reunited with my puppy. Grandma and Grandpa Spaunhorst are currently pup sitting since I work midnights this week. Hopefully by the time I get back he will be potty and crate trained--wouldn't that be something! Well that's all for now, more to come soon!

Much love!

Laurie, Derek, and Watson

The Trials of Watson, Packing, and Preparing for North Carolina

Back in Columbia, and illegally housing Watson at our apartment complex for the next few days due to the fascist laws of Kelly's Ridge. The situation has made potty training a wee bit difficult (HA pun), considering I can't always sneak him outside in time, and he views his puppy pad more as a bed than an acceptable soiling spot. As the day has progressed I've decreased his roaming area more and more. As it stands now he's allowed access to the living room. The constant vigilance required with a new puppy is making packing a lengthy and at times impossible endeavor. There's still a lot to be done between now and 10:30 a.m. Sunday when the heads of Kelly's Ridge come down to check if we have met their draconian requirements.

If we ever do get everything boxed up and moved out of the apartment on time, the next step is preparing for North Carolina: requiring me to find time to buy a new suit and more packing... Then there's still the problem of getting from Charlotte airport to Winston-Salem. As of now, the best option is the reliance on a fellow law student who has offered to pick me up from the airport, but, due to prior commitments, I still wouldn't get to Winston till about 6:30 p.m. a half hour after my new apartment complex closes... Looks like Watson just woke up from his nap. Guess that's it for now then.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome friends and family!

We wanted to start a blog to share our lives with you since we will be moving to North Carolina. We are enjoying our new lives together and had an awesome time at our wedding with our family and friends and we had a blast in Jamaica, on our honeymoon! We will load lots of pictures to share with everyone shortly!

Our first week back in the USA and we already got our first child, fur-child that is. We picked Sir Watson Buhr up on August 9th (Derek and I's 8 year dating anniversary) and have been glowing ever since. We are currently in the process of potty training--which is taking work. But Sir Watson is a bundle of energy and is very cuddly and is already very attached to Derek and I.  He did excellent with his first hour and forty-five minute drive and his first night with us--we hope it stays this way. Again we will post many pictures of Watson as well!

Derek booked his flight to leave for school yesterday (08-09-11) as well. He will be leaving Watson and I behind on August 16th to get ready for Wake Forest Law School. We are very proud of Derek and can't wait to move out there with him--which will be hopefully sooner than later. Even though we will be sad to leave everyone in Missouri!

Well we will update the blog as often as possible and hope each of you enjoy! I hope I can keep you all up to date and interested! :-)