Trigger's First few days of camp...

I feel like a mom who just sent their child to school for the first time! Trigger is participating in Dolphin Lab this week at DRC! Dolphin Lab is an awesome camp we offer at work for kids who are interested in becoming trainers. This week the lab is called "Advanced Training Lab." The kids come and learn everything they could to help with training and how to train a behavior! It's an awesome program because not only do they sit in a classroom and learn about it, they actually get to practice on staff member's dogs! Trigger is one of the students this go round! He gets to come to work with me and his new trainer will work with him 3 times a day and work on teaching him something new. Jackie is his trainer and she is going to teach him roll over! I think he is going to do great if he can focus enough! He gets so distracted by everything at DRC...but I can't blame him because there are so many senses! Cats...Sea Lions...iguanas...chickens...dolphins...fish...lizards...and birds! Who could blame the guy right?! So far things are good! He came with me on Sunday and then we skipped Monday because of the holiday, but then today he got to go by himself! I have Tues. Wed. off so i dropped him off (relunctantly i might add) and went back and picked him up around 4! Everyone said he did really well so I am very proud of him! The best part of camp is that he comes home and passes out on the couch! Sunday night he didn't even care Tyler and I were leaving...he stayed right where he was sleeping away! It is awesome!

Here are a few pictures of him in the office at work...



He LOVED Cheryl's bird Shiz....she ended up having to take Shiz home because Trigger wouldn't stop barking at her! He wanted to play with her so bad! If you look close in the pic. you can see Shiz in her cage on the shelf and Trigger is sitting there staring her down!



What a happy dog! He is doing so great and enjoying it! I'll keep everyone posted with how he does at camp this week!

Trigger's New Behavior's!

So since moving to the keys, I've been working with Trigger teaching him some new behaviors. Tyler videoed the other night so I could show everyone how smart he is and how quick he is learning! In this video he shows you his twirl, weave, and roll behaviors!

Welcome Home!

Last week on my day off I went and got my new FL Driver's License! I was so excited to get it and now I am officially a resident of Monroe County! Sorry for the poor image, I took it on my phone on the way home..

I also wanted to share my experience at the Marathon DMV because it was so shocking! So I called just to see the hours and it was about 4 pm. The lady said they closed at 4:45...which, one, who closes at 4:45?? Why not 5? Anyway, I said thank you and went to hang up. The lady stopped me and proceeded to ask me if I had all the correct documents with me. I told her yes and she said are you coming today? I responded with , "well, no...I don't think I have time" and she says, "Why?!" haha...I thought this was so funny because I am used to waiting days at the DMV in North Carolina and I was so surprised she was asking me nicely to actually come in! So I headed down, walked in the door at 4:30...and when I got in the car to leave, my clock said 4:45! Fastest DMV visit ever! The lady who printed it for me was so nice too. When she handed me my new license, she said, "Welcome Home!" with a big smile on her face! Who knew DMV people could be so nice...I love living here in the keys :)

I'm official!

So I wanted to let everyone know the good news that my new social security card came in the mail so I am now officially "Marie Lanier Blanton." I took a picture with intentions of uploading it so you all could see, but Tyler reminded me that putting a picture of my social security card online...for many many to see...may not be the brightest idea! So you'll have to take my word! Of course it came Thursday, so I will have to wait until my weekend (Tues./Wed.) to go get my new license. That, I will possibly put a picture up of!

More good news....I have found a softball team to join! Their team name is the "Bruisers." So intense! haha. Mom and dad mailed me my glove and cleats so I am all ready. Our first game is this Tuesday at 6:30 pm, so I will keep you all posted. From what I hear, were not too good, but were a lot of fun! I found the team from a girl I work with. Megan Ann was telling me about her softball game and I told her I was really interested in playing...so she hooked me up and now I'm on the team! Tyler and I got so excited about playing, we went to K-Mart and bought a brand new softball. We also decided to get int he sporty spirit and buy some tennis gear. Looking back now, I have NO idea why we did this, but maybe it will be fun...

haha...Tyler was all ready to go :)

We also got our pillow shams in from Bed Bath and Beyond...they have been on back order for so long so I think they finish out the bedding quite nice!

Also, I'm now playing words with friends because everyone at work is playing. I can't play on my phone, so I play through facebook...but it is so addicting! Well thats pretty much been my last few days! I hope you have a good night!

August Updates!

Alrighty then! I think its about time for another update on the Blanton household down here in Marathon, FL! haha...I've had quite a bit of stuff going on recently, but it does seem that things are starting to slow down! I first want to start off by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my big brother T! I was so sad we couldn't be together, but I know we will get to see each other soon! He has been the best big brother and such a great role model....I think this picture pretty much sums up our relationship...

haha...so HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best big brother in the whole world! I love you and miss you T!

Another exciting thing that happened the day before T's birthday was that little Violet arrived!! On Aug 19 (which happens to be my Uncle Dan's birthday...) at 8:15 am Violet Joy Dunn joined the world at 7 lbs 11 oz. She is doing great and so is Catherine!

Catherine and Mike got to bring Violet home today (Sunday the 21st) so please be praying for them adjusting to having 3 kidos now, not just two and for Ella and Jack! So a special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to little Violet (and to you too Uncle Dan!)


Tyler and I have also been having a blast hanging out with all of our friends down here. It's hard when you don't have family to surround you, so your friends basically become your family. Jen Warren who works with me at DRC in our medical department had a cookout the other night and invited us and a few others over...here's a few pictures

they wanted us to do something that looked like we were the married couple...

Me, Sarah, Jen, and Amelia! Such fun times!

Work at DRC was fun today too. Sarah and I had a session with Merina and her little boy Flagler. Flagler is only 9 months old and he is sooo cute! Sarah has been working with him for a while now and they are just so cute together! I got in the water with Merina, and she got in with Flagler. I wore the mask and dove down to the bottom of the lagoon...and then Merina would come up beside me, give me her dorsal or her pecks and then pull me all around the lagoon underwater. This is one of her favorite things so do so she zooms....it was so awesome!

Merina smiling and Flagler just chillin...

There is nothing cuter than a baby dolphin...

TRIGGER AND BEAR UPDATE: Trigger and Bear are doing great! They are really getting along and getting into a routine with each other. Trigger has been my little running buddy. He has gotten so good about running next to me off leash. I've also been teaching him to "twirl" which is where he spins in front of me, "spin" which is where he walks around me, "target" where he touches my hand and follows it, "weave" where he weaves in and out of my legs, and our newest one is "roll over" where he...rolls over! He is so smart, but he just gets too excited to learn sometimes! He is the best student after a nice 2 mile run or a day at the beach! haha...I'll have to post some videos of all his behaviors he is learning!

Bear in the meantime, is loving to torture Trigger. He also loves being under the covers. The other day I was putting this blanket over the bed and got this picture!

hahaha...thats his eye peeking at me through the hole in the blanket! seriously, we have the best cat (sorry Jazzy)...

And as usual...the boys wanted to help with laundry...Bear in the basket and Trigger laying on the floor staring at him!

Well I am working at the hotel right now and it is so slow! If you ever want to come to the keys...do so right about now! There is no one here and it is so nice! :) Also, please be praying that "Tropical Storm Irene" doesn't do any damage down here...I don't think its supposed to be bad but it will be Tyler and I's first hurricane down here!

Everyone have a wonderful night!

Future Mrs. Blanton...

Hi everyone. Just wanted you all to know that we got our marriage certificate in the mail on Saturday and I will be going to Key West on Wed. to officially change my name!! Wahoo! I think this is going to be a big process and only a few things will be changed at a time, but its so weird to think now I have to introduce myself as Marie Blanton to everyone. I also haven't been practicing my signature so I will have to start doing that too...I will update everyone on the progress though!

Here is where I have to go in Key West...

Here is what my new license will look like!

I'll let you all know how it goes!

Wow...its been forever!

Hello hello! This is Marie Blanton speaking now...no longer Marie Johnson. (Well I haven't formally changed my name, so I'm in this weird limbo of not knowing my name...) but hey I GOT MARRIED!! wahoo! Sorry for not updating this blog sooner, but life just gets crazy and in the way sometimes! The order of the pictures is kind of backwards (newest to oldest) but here's what I've been up to the past month...

Tyler and Trigger have been enjoying Tyler's birthday present almost every night! My parents gave him a Webber grill and then his parents mailed us a bunch of food and meat from Omaha Steaks! So goood and we've been living off grilling for the past week!!

Tyler has also found a new hobby! Lobstering! He went out on his first trip and caught two! We cooked them that night on the grill!! Man was that good! So happy to live here in the keys where you can catch your own dinner! How cool is that?!

Here was our dinner that night! Surf and Turf! I've been told this meal would be around 50-60 bucks per person in a restaurant so I'm pretty happy with it! Tyler did a great job cooking lobster for the first time and those steaks were great too!

We have also been preparing for our good friends Catherine and Mike's 3rd little baby to arrive! Violet Joy will join the world on Aug. 19. So excited to meet her and to have another Dunn around. Catherine and Mike have been so great to us and the least we can do is help celebrate little Violet coming into the world!

We used our crock pot for the first time and made this awesome chicken dish! It's called Swiss chicken casserole. All you do is put chicken in the bottom of the pot, a slice of Swiss cheese, a can of cream of mushroom soup mixed with some milk and butter, and then sprinkle stuffing on top! It turned out so yummy! And it was so easy to fix! Thanks to my wonderful brother and sister in law for the awesome wedding gift!

One of my favorite parts about getting married was getting new bedding! I loved the bedding we picked out because it was so cute and tropical! It finally came in the mail with all the pillows and bed skirt...I've been putting a sheet over it during the day just so Bear won't pick at it and Trigger won't rub his hair all over it! I love just looking at it :) We also hung some pictures above the bed to make a little headboard. Makes it just a little bit more like home.

OK, this one is a little old, but this is when we went to get our marriage certificate! Yay!!! It's official!

This is a picture of our schedule board at work and on my first day back to DRC after getting married, 1. they had changed my initials to MB from MJ. Also, I was put on a swim!!! That was my first swim with Tanner and Jax. Loriel (LC) was down to watch and observe me. I think I must have done well, because I am still doing swims! It is so exciting to be able to do all the programs now! It seems like yesterday that I was writing on here saying how I couldn't do any programs yet. Fun Fun Stuff!

So now that we have Trigger, I guess I have to have Trigger updates too:

All I can say for now, is that he is enjoying the beach bum lifestyle! haha...he has his own futon, gets to stay inside all day, and go to the beach pretty regularly! What else could a dog ask for?

Bear has also been great about adjusting to our new life. He even helps me out with the laundry still...which has doubled since Tyler now lives here too. The folding never stops!

And I just love this picture! He loves our new bedding too!

Well sorry again for not updating sooner, but I really will try to start doing it on a regular basis again. Hope you all have a wonderful night! :)