June 15th.

So yesterday was my husband's 37th Birthday !! woo hoo !

Can I just tell you what a great guy he is ..... rarely do I admit that - but he truely is one of a kind......Happy Birthday Hon !

We wuv u !! even when u don't share b-day ice cream..... :)

wishing u many more....xoxoxo

Break in the action...

It's been about a week since I've been able to sit down and type it out - but I haven't forgotten or given up on this blogging thing yet !! A brief recap of the week I've missed -

We had a FABULOUS Easter weekend - all started out in NYC - with our favorite family - The Kaucher's - we had a blast - ate great food, drank good drinks, and got in some much needed QT ! It was great....Thanks Laur for setting it all up - was really perfect. Jeff and I enjoyed the entire trip. We were however, back home pretty early on Saturday because of my workaholic husband....he had a huge job to start and was slight wiggin out about it, but alls well...

The girls had a great sleepover at G-ma's on Friday night....Lu has proven to be over the top high strung at my mom's - we are not sure what that is all about - might have something to do with Diggy being there...or just that she is not at home!?!? But for the first 2-3 hours at grandmom's she is a ball of fire...and non-stop - it's pretty overwhelming - but my mom managed to run it out of her on Friday - Needless to say on Sat. afternoon when I showed up she was barely able to pick her head up off the sofa....NICE !! Good Job G-MA !

Lilly was wonderful - as my mother thinks she is a real baby and carries her everywhere, so of course, was spoiled rotten ! Weather wasn't all that great so we didn't get many walks in over the weekend....but we made up for it this week - almost everyday we have walked and she is recovering well - is doing 5 steps per night....

and gaining more confidence in that little chicken leg.

My week has been hectic - work has been busy - Jeff is even busier ... not sure where the time goes... Although - a bit of good news !! My bestest friend Andi and I planned a trip to Florida next week - we used to go every year for a long weekend....and we haven't gone in about three years - between, weddings, babies, houses, etc. it was just forgotten about - We are both in need of a little R&R - so we booked it - and I am super looking forward to it..... I feel as if I am 5 years old and this is my very first vacation - cuz I cannot wait !

PS> We are staying at a Resort & SPA !!!!!!!!!! AHHH YAY !

PSS> It's 85 degrees in Florida next week..... :)

Happy Pre-Easter

TGIF !!!!! so excited that the weekend is here - we have a good one in store for us; and I can't wait to get underway -

We are heading to Brooklyn, New York later today - to spend some QT with family peeps....all whom are very awesome and we rarely get to do this so Jeff and I are so looking forward to our Friday night !

Pick up is soon and then the festivities kick off with happy hour, then some dinner, and of course after dinner happy hourS - and prob. some dancing.... gonna be a fun nite.

really looking forward to it

Hope the Easter bunny visits you !

Never a dull moment...

Within the Lauble household....Our weekend was nice, I did however paint ALL weekend long, but I got it done, the entire apartment is ready to be rented, my work is done there !! Jeff layed new flooring in the kitchen area, looks awesome, he did however manage to break the stove (sore subject right now, we won't talk abou it). We also managed to enjoy some friends this weekend too, on Fri. night we had dinner with an old friend of Jeff's and his new fiance.....was nice to catch up with them. And then after a full work day on Sat. we grabbed showers and met up with our close friends; Jamie and Nicole at the Waterwheel for a bite to eat at the new bar area....which I have to say is fabulous ! The food was great, atmosphere awesome, wine was super yummy and company terrific ! Def. what we needed after putting in a full day with rollers and brushes.

On Sunday we ended up going back to the apt. to finish up trim and the floor.....FINEAT-O! (thank god) When we got home we headed off to grandmom's house to play and maybe mooch a little dinner (no interest in cooking this weekend, sorry hun).

The girls were super excited to see the Dig Man again, and I was happy my mom was making us dinner ! We took all the dogs outside to play and potty - and just like that, my Lilly girl got hurt, Diggy was running with her, and she fell somehow, twisting her left hind leg, she let out an awful Yelp, and the hobbling began. Diggy didn't mean to hurt his girlfriend, he often forgets how little these peanuts are and how big he is....but Ms. Lilly is def. not herself at all.... Lilly is my free spirit little romper, constantly jumping around and into something...not soo much after yesterday. She has layed on me for an entire day....and has no desire to walk anywhere. We both thought that maybe she just sprained or bruised her leg, I hope, thats why its sore and she won't put weight on it, so I'm giving it a day - today is that day - and she now has a dr. appt. tomorrow....she is not worse, but def. not better. I pray it's nothing major....

Needless to say - the girls have not been able to enjoy this snowy day - Lulu trys to but Lilly wants no parts, she is gimping along and it's heart wrenching to see but there has been lots of napping going on today - Daddy is loving it ! I just want my old Lilly back !!

Update with prognosis to come tomorrow.....Stay Warm !!

My Russian Grandmother

Today is my grandmothers 84th Birthday and I wanted to cherish some memories of times past and present, let her know that she is a strong person and has overcome huge difficulties. Her background is extroidenary and often baffles me; when I was in grade school I wrote papers

about her, and actually brought her into school for "show n tell"; Her story amazes me to this day. Ya see, my grandmother, Nonna Ilona Alexenco Bull-Leister was born and raised in Russia; her mother a dancer/performer and her father a professor, she had only one older sister. I'm sure living in Russia in that era was hard enough to face, but then World War II happened, and her life was forever changed - completely flipped up side down, she and her sister were taken from their parents, put on a train and hauled like cattle to a concentration camp. Half way to there destination the train was bombed, the cart she was in was unharmed, but the front part of the train (where her parents were put) was destroyed, in her mind they were dead. Having only her sister, the clothing on there backs, no shoes, food, nothing, she was now living in a German concentration camp at the age of 15. She survived. And steming from this horrific tale comes love, she met my precious grandfather whom was a British soldier during the war.

Frank, Ilona, Nonna, Yvonne, Peter (all 4 kids)

Eventually after the war broke he brought her to his home in England, where she taught herself to speak english, they were married and started a family. While in England, they had four children, all of which were young when they decided to come to America for a better life. They packed up all 4 kids, a suitcase, $100 and came to this country on the Queen Elizabeth in 1955.

The rest is history - together they made a great life for there children; thru hard work, dedication and survival. She is a tough woman, and has conquered so much.

Grandma, Me & Megan 2008

I love her dearly; and I wish her the very best birthday today! xoxo

Back to the grind

Another week has begun....back to work in the cold weather....I'm about DONE with winter ! I would love for it to be April; wouldn't it be nice if winter was only like one month long or maybe even two tops....I would so love that. Just gets depressing after a while - cold days, layering your clothes, jackets which = static, dry skin pretty much everywhere, boots; not nice. I'm finished with winter this year, come on spring/summer, I would really rather sweat then be cold....seriously I would.

Hopefully this week moves quick - we don't have much going on, weekend looks pretty open too; I know that Jeff is trying to coax me into painting the apartment we have in q-town....it has to be done, but he is a useless painter and although he "plans" to help, he never does. So, I might be packing up the girls to assist !

So - its back to work I go....enjoy your week.

Me & Adam @ our wedding - Cheers Buddy !

PS....HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM !!!

hope to see you soon xoxo

To Grandma's house we go....

Everyone seemed to hear my prayers and I got that sleep-in-day I was in desperate need of - yeah ! With not much going on for Saturday - I ended up cleaning the house - doing laundry and running to the store - fun wife stuff ! Jeff and I had a dinner to attend on Sat. night and Lulu was still not, in my opinion 100% - of course in steps Grandmom Myers....who I've managed to turn into a Pug freak - much like myself ! After telling my mom that we were going out for the night and the girls were going to be home alone for a couple hours - I immediatly got "OH NO THEY ARE NOT" ... Bring them here! And so I did; my mom is not only now a pug freak but she has always been an animal lover, esp. dogs (probably where I get it from) Don't think she ever thought her grandkids were going to be snorty and furry, but only my mom would LOVE every second of that; and boy does she know how to spoil her grandkids ! My mom now has a lab/dane mix - Mr. Digger Dog - Dig was once ours - we got Diggy as a puppy (because Jeff seemed to think that he needed a manly dog to drive in the truck w/him - Dig throws up in any vehicle) anyway we raised him for a year, until Dig decided to eat our recliner, our sectional sofa, 1/2 of the back porch - and shred numerous blankets.....I was at my wits end with him, I loved him so, but it was not working out - and my mom had recently lost her beloved Polar Bear suddenly (very similar to Bella's passing) Diggy was adopted by Grandmom for good, and did he ever make out - going from a good home with us to the friggin Taj Mahal with my mom. Dig has turned out to be a great dog - but ultimately needed one on one attention, it really was a great match for my mom and for Digger. Best present I've ever given her !!
Digger
The girls think that Diggy is a big stuffed animal and literally bite, lick, jump, hump whatever they desire to do to him for hours. Dig is the best babysitter EVER, tolerating all of it ! He also kinda thinks that he is pug sized, and trys to sit on your lap and hug you (mind u he is 80 +lbs). Dig was also raised with Bella - so he has alot of pug traits....and is just so in love with Lilly and
Lulu - couldn't be more of a perfect match if I tried !
The girls loved there visit, so did Dig although grandma was a little tired....5am wake up call ... I was lucky enough to get a second day of sleeping in...woo hoo .... and on Sunday we got this for most of the day.


Love that !!

Lilly & Lulabelle

I'm Blogging...I'm really blogging.....

All thanks to the creation from my fabulous cousin-in-law Mrs. Laura Jean Kaucher-Connell ! Who rocked the hell out of making this page for me.... I literally gave Laur the name of my blog - "LilleLuBella" and said HELP !!! In turn she said "totally"....what kind of design do you want, I replied with a very vague "whatever" - do it up - and boy did she ever...she knows me better then I thought ! Laura is by far more like a sister-in-law to me, we've known each other for years, I've had the privledge to be part of the Kaucher family for a while now, spending many a holiday together........I happened to be married to Laura's cousin Jeff - Jeffrey and I are also neighbors with Martha & Glenn (LJK's parents, Jeff's aunt & uncle, my aunt & uncle in law) yadda -yadda - I might need to post a family tree..hhhmmmm (LAURA!?!?jk)

(The Kaucher clan - Our Family)

So for my very first blog entry I just want the world to know that not only is Laura a great friend to me, part of my family, and a pug momma too, she is extremely talented when it comes to all this web design, blog, html-ing....I am so very proud of her and can't wait to see what the future has in store for her in this new path she has chosen, I know she will amaze us, as always !

Thank you -