Andy and I have been together since we were eighteen years old, and were married August 9th 2008 on Willow Island in Regina, Saskatchewan. Andy and I are lucky to share our passions, like traveling and enjoying the outdoors.
We decided that New Zealand would be our backpacking destination in the summer of 2001 while sitting in the south Albert Robins Donuts. I had just finished my first year at university and Andy was trying to decide what he wanted to study next semester at the U of R. After many cups of coffee and several hours of conversation, we both knew that traveling wasn't just an idea, it was what we were supposed to do.
By March 2002 we were saying good-bye to our family and friends in the Regina Airport and on a plane to Auckland, New Zealand. We worked and traveled throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand before coming home in 2003. After returning home, we both graduated from the University of Regina in June 2006 and knew that we had to go back to "Kiwi Country" again, before we got real jobs and life got complicated. So in December 2006 we set off for New Zealand again and spent 2007 living and working in the North Island. We also spent two months exploring Australia. People often ask us why we chose to travel to the same place twice when there are so many places in the world to see. My response is that New Zealand is our second home, we will always feel a special connection to that tiny country in the South Pacific.
Last summer was a hectic one for us, we got married and bought a house (right at the peak of the real estate craziness!) It had always been just Andy and I, but in June this year we decided to add to our little family of two and get a puppy.
We have always wanted a dog. We used to talk about it a lot during our travels and even decided on the name Charlie while at our favorite cafe, "Grindz", in
Tauranga NZ.
Getting a puppy was exciting for both of us, but I was even more excited because I had never had a dog growing up and had always wanted one. It was not a possibility because my brothers had asthma and allergies.
I picked up Charlie in the third week of June when she was just 8 weeks old. It was love at first sight. Cheesy, I know.
Charlie is now six months old and growing everyday! She is a Fox Red Labrador Retriever and has a ton of energy. She is also very affectionate and mischievous. We are in the middle of Puppy Training classes, which are probably more helpful for me than Charlie. It seems like Charlie does something everyday to make us laugh (as well as frustrated).
I feel very fortunate to have such an awesome family, even if it is just a small one.
