An "emotional" decision. AKA Cooper Willman

Simon started law school this fall. I was starting to have the "nearing 30 and my friends are having babies, baby fever".

Why not start with a puppy?!?!?!?!?

This is the picture of Cooper, a sweet little 5 week old Goldendoodle puppy, from the internet website he was purchased from:

I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!! I jumped all around and couldn't wait for our tiny, sweet baby boy to arrive!

As the day approached to pick Cooper (the name we picked because we love the "Manning" brothers; Cooper is the oldest of Eli and Peyton, injured his back and works as a lawyer) up from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, we were preparing for the baby doggie.

Collar: check. Leash: check. Tag for collar with name and phone numbers: check. Puppy books: check. Tuggy rope: check. Food and water dishes: check. Chew bone: check. Puppy shampoo: check.

I had (supposedly) done "my due diligence" and was ready to raise and train our new little puppy. Even though, he was scheduled to arrive 3 weeks before we were supposed to leave for our wedding in Costa Rica....... (first red flag). So, June 21st came and.........

Cooper couldn't get on the plane because it was "too hot" and the airline wouldn't accept him.

2 days, a trip to Los Angeles (which was supposed to be 5 hours and turned into 32), a few canceled flights from Phx to LA for Simon and Chicago to LA for Cooper, a hotel room, an accident in the elevator and hotel room, a pet carrier to fit under the airplane seat (45$), and a "pet flight ticket" (75$) later......Simon arrived in AZ with Cooper!!!!!!

Here's are a couple pics that Simon sent from LA:

What a cutie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are a couple more from when he first got to AZ:

Well.......then came the wedding in Costa Rica.

Upon arriving home after our 1 week whirlwind wedding/honeymoon, I worked approximately 12 -15 hours a day everyday that week, then was on call that weekend, then worked another full week ending with working 23 hours followed by another twelve only to leave early Friday morning to fly to Chicago Midway and drive to Indiana for our US reception only to turn right around Sunday, drive back to Chicago and fly back to Arizona........ IT WAS EXHAUSTING!!! Cooper stayed with his Lolo and Lola (grandpa and grandma in the Philippines)

Here are some pics from after that:

But with all the very, very long hours I have been at work and the long hours of school and studying Simon needs to put in, it was not the right time in our lives to have a puppy. So, God answered my prayers and some close family friends decided they would LOVE to have Cooper!!!!!

He is now living on "the Wennersten farm". He has an acre and a half backyard where he can chase bunnies and has even caught a pigeon!!!!!!! He gets to go to work with Jim (he owns two ACE hardware stores in the valley) where everyone LOVES AND SPOILS him!!!!

Here's a picture I received via MMS from his "grandma Linda" the other day along with a message of what a busy and happy pup he is at his new home:

What a BIG SMILE he has!!!! He is such a smart and loving pup.

Some days I miss him sooooooooo much. But, I know he has such a great life, and we can visit him whenever we want (which we haven't yet because I'm afraid I'll want him back)!

Sometimes the best ideas are not the greatest decisions, bu I am sooo thankful that Simon was supportive of getting a puppy and even more so when it wasn't quite working. I am also super thankful that God answered my prayer for a loving family to take him and SPOIL him!!!!

Love You Coop-a-loop!!

With Bated Breath

Ok, so maybe it is ONLY ME who is waiting with bated breath for our edited wedding pictures to be ready........ but in the meantime, here is the link that our FABULOUS wedding photographers, El Velo Wedding Photography, sent to tease us. ENJOY!!!!!!!!    Christina & Simon Hilton Papagayo

Newlywed Project #1: Changing Your Name

signing the marriage certificate in Costa Rica!

 I put this together (from a collaboration of lists I used to change my legal name) for a PA I work with who was married last summer and hasn't changed her name yet. I know most who are reading this (Kelly and Annie, my 2 followers....) have no need for the information. However, someone out there may need the info and stumble upon it in a Google search.........and maybe it will be helpful ;-) Plus, I wanted to show what I've been spending my free time doing.

Christina's To Do List for Changing Your Last Name (some may not apply)

1.     Social Security Number (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber; this has to be done first)

2.     Driver’s license

3.     Car Registration and Title

4.     IRS (form number 8822 www.irs.gov)

5.     Credit Cards

6.     Checking Accounts

7.     Savings Accounts

8.     Telephone Company (LAN line and cell)

9.     Insurance Policies (car, house, etc.)

10. HR and Benefits departments at work (health benefits, W2 and paycheck)

11. Employee ID

12. Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants (www.azpa.gov/AdditionalForms/AdditionalForms.aspx)

13. DEA (www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov; registration-tools&resources-registration changes)

14. AAPA (www.aapa.org)

15. NCCPA (www.nccpa.net)

16. Student Loans

17. Passport (fill out form DS-5504; www.travel.state.gov; change or correct name)

18. Voter Registration

19. Post Office Change of Name Form (www.usps.com ; use the same form for address change)

20. Health Club Membership

21. Video Rental Card

22. Library Card

23. Mutual Funds, Stocks, Bonds

24. Retirement Plans (401k, IRA, etc.)

25. Mortgage/Rental Agreement (apartment or house)

26. Property Title

27. Deeds

28. Water Company

29. Electric Company

30. Gas Company

31. Magazine Subscriptions

32. School Alumni Association

33. Sorority Organization

Project #1 almost complete!

I promise to post the link to our preview of wedding pictures ASAP!!!

A Costa Rican Family Adventure!!!

I wish I could steal the most fabulous vacation blog post idea, "From A to Z" posted by my super fabulous friend, Kelly McMillan. But since I'm not as creative, I will let the pictures speak for themselves (with some captions).
1st: get bride, groom and wedding dress through customs. Yes, we carried a gigantic wedding dress on an international flight.

2: take hotel shuttle (see green vehicle) on tour of resort grounds to find where we sleep, eat, swim and get married!

3: take the wedding party (minus 2) on a class 4 white water rafting excursion, don't worry, VERY safe......

4: make friends with the wildlife......

5: Charter a "guys only" deep sea fishing trip the day before your wedding....... at least everybody caught something!

6: rehearse the wedding ceremony

7: have a DELICIOUS rehearsal dinner

8: pose for a beloved 6 pack picture!

 WEDDING DAY!!!!!!!!!!

9: get up early and put on "Bride" attire, ready for hair and make-up!

Dress....

Shoes.......

10: 8 hours later..............TIME TO GET MARRIED!!!!!

Next up, ceremony and reception pictures. Plus, the link to the sneak preview our wedding photographer sent!!!!

Engagement, Paris and all things related

I "accidentally" left out the 2nd most fantastic adventure:

OUR ENGAGEMENT AND TRIP TO PARIS!!!!

After a great night at AZ on the Rocks (indoor climbing gym (where Simon and I met), a delicious pasta dinner we cooked together, a well put together iPhoto slide show and a semi-awkward slow dance...... Simon got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of his life with him as his wife. It was the PERFECT proposal full of surprises!!

Two days later we headed to Chicago/Indy for the annual Willman and Simons family Christmas celebrations! Which of course involved celebrating our recent engagement (which also involved an AMAZING cake made by the cakegirls in downtown Chicago).

Then......

It was off to Paris, France!!!!!!!!

I have a hard time with the zoom feature some times........

After a long 9 hours, we arrived in Paris, France! What an AMAZING, FANTASTIC, GORGEOUS, HISTORICAL, ENCHANTING, FABULOUS city!! Immediately upon arriving, Dave (my father in-law and world traveler extraordinaire) and I decided, no sleep! So we hopped on the open bus and saw some famous Paris sites!

It was pretty cold on top of that tour bus, but it was the sacrifice that needed to be made to capture the spectacular sites of the city.

The following days were filled with so much history and beautiful landmarks! We visited Versailles and Normandy (where my maternal grandfather fought in WWII). It was magical (the palace in Versailles) and sobering (Normandy/Omaha beach).

I was also surprised to find out my (now) husband had booked an engagement photo shoot  (originally it was supposed to be the actual engagement) by a super FABULOUS husband and wife team: One And Only Paris. I will be honest that I was anxious about a 4 hour professional photo shoot, but it was FANTASTIC!!! There were hundreds of photos taken (in order to capture a few perfect ones) so here are some of my favorites.

I have to say that it was THE most wonderful trip of my life.

Up next........ Costa Rica Wedding Adventures!!!!