Here are some recent pictures of Max - he loves to play and snuggle up to you on the couch. He got the last of his shots today at the Humane Society Veterinary Clinic, and I'm so happy that we don't have to keep him away from other dogs now! He needs "society" very badly, and he doesn't know how to behave around other dogs yet...



















The sad eyes...(he wants a cookie)



















This is the expression on his face most of the time...he just gets really solemn in front of the camera!

James calls these "alien flowers" because we don't remember their real name. They've been blooming like this for three straight months.





















Our tiger lilies are finally blooming!
















This is one of the climbing roses that grew through the wrought iron part of the garden wall.





















Max likes to play in the garden - lots of dirt to dig in!! He's not happy here because I just scolded him for eating green tomatoes.
















Our tomato plants have gotten huge.

















Look at all the tomatoes that I picked this week!!!

For all those of you who think I've disappeared off the face of the earth....you're half right. I'll be spending the next two weeks holed up in my living room studying for the bar exam. It's miserable, and I'd much rather be hanging out with all of you, but unfortunately, I'm going through this lawyer hazing ritual - it's like hell week when you join a fraternity, except that it actually lasts for 13 weeks. It's almost over, though, and soon I will emerge into the sunlight again...I promise...

We got a new puppy this week! His name is Max, and "officially" he belongs to James, because I think that every man and boy should have a dog of his own. We got him from the Missouri Humane Society, and he's a German Shepherd/Golden Retriever/possibly Boxer. He's a really sweet little guy, and he's more interested in playing with people than with toys. He loves to lay in your lap and cuddle, but pretty soon, he'll be MUCH to big for that. (He's gonna be HUGE.)

I recently got back from Jordan and Sarah's wedding in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was really pretty there...here are some pictures!


Bride and Groom coming back down the aisle!




















Mom and Aunt Crystal...
















Party confetti at the reception...















Jordan and Meghan bustin' a move on the dance floor















All the "original" Patton kids at the rehearsal dinner (including the biggest smile I've EVER seen out of Jordan...)















Jonathan had fun dancing in his kilt




















Headed off on their honeymoon!

Here are some pictures of our garden!!












These are the bowls that are on top of the gateposts.
















This is the raised bed that James and I built.
















These are my "daintier" flowers.
















This is the kitchen garden - tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and lots of different herbs...all started from tiny little seeds!!
















One of the annual beds...I started the hollyhocks, dahlias, and daisies from seed!





















Another annual bed - much of it started from seed.

We FINALLY did it.





















Now I have to pass the bar exam and we have to pay our student loans.

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but it's been a long week. So far this week, I've taken three (of four) final exams, worked three different jobs, quit one job, broken one of my back teeth in half (no dental insurance, of course), painted a bathroom, and gotten three rejection letters (two law firms and a judge). Now, I'm going to get into my bed, and I don't think I'll bother getting out of it tomorrow. Probably not on Sunday either. (of course that means that I'll fail my federal income tax exam on Tuesday, but whatever...I won't have to pay taxes ever again because nobody will give me a JOB...)

Mom took Meghan and I on a cruise for spring break!! Here are some pictures....

James and I spent four days last week in LONDON!! Yeah, I know it's random, but the airfares were dirt cheap, and I had several classes cancelled, so we decided to just go for it and blow our 2006 tax return on our first "family vacation" since we got married. We had a great time! We saw the Tower, British Library, British Museum, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, St. Pauls, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, and much more. We spent one day in the town of Bath, too, seeking the ancient Roman baths and touring that resort town. We also went to see a play! Here are some pictures....

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the results are in, and James has MATCHED for a neurosurgery residency at.......(drumroll)......WASH U! (No, I'm actually not kidding.) After seeing all of the other top programs, he decided that he had it pretty good here at Wash U and didn't want to leave. He listed Wash U as his first choice, and he got it! We're both pretty excited....he's excited to stay, and I'm excited to finally be able to look for a job. It's so nice to just KNOW after wondering for so long.

So anyway, we'll be in St. Louis for 7 more years, except for 6 months in the middle when we'll be in Ireland. As a part of the program, you spend half of your fourth or fifth year in a hospital in Dublin. You guys will all have to come visit us while we're there! Okay, well I've got a whole bunch of guys in my apartment celebrating and watching the UFC Fight Night, so I think I'd better go keep an eye on things...

We had a nice trip to DC after New Years to see the Sagar family. James planned a surprise trip for me while we were there - the Supreme Court! I've spent so much time reading the opinions that came out of that courtroom in the past two and a half years, and James knew that it would mean alot to me to get to visit the place where the buck stops with the law. It was so much fun!















We got some great presents from the Sagars - James got a beautiful North Face jacket and pants. I got a beautiful purse and a silver necklace with a black pearl in the center. We were both so pleased!















We also went to the Sackler gallery to see an amazing exhibit of some of the oldest versions of the Bible in the world. Get this....I actually saw some of the DEAD SEA SCROLLS!!!!















Of course, Jenny the cat took it all easy - she spent the whole time sleeping on the rug by the Christmas tree and in some of the empty present boxes on top of the tissue paper!

The Patton family Christmas celebration was lots of fun, too. Poor little Anna Kate had a terrible cold (as did I), and she could barely breathe, so we held her the whole day and tried to make her feel better. Madeline got lots of fun "girly" stuff - including a Snow White Disney princess dress from her Uncle James and Aunt Kristen. Upon opening it, she promptly stripped naked in the middle of her presents and put on her new dress. Tyler got a really cool "imaginext" dinosaur, which we all enjoyed. He loved to "scare" people by making it roar at us.

We had a great time at the annual Park, Patton, Little family Christmas party. Almost the entire gang showed up, and we enjoyed some good food and "hang out" time. Madeline and Tyler were undoubtedly the life of the party, with Maddy spending quite a bit of time cuddled up to her Uncle James, whom she adores. (The feeling is quite mutual!)