Hi henning love readers, this is Kip

Woof! This is Kip Keino Henning, yes that is my full name and my mom finally relented and allowed me to take over her blog for today. So a little bit about me, my name is Kip Keino Henning, I am named after a famous Kenyan runner. My breed is jack russell terrier. I am currently 2.5 years old. I eat two meals a day, more if I can get away with it. I came from a little of 6 other brothers and sisters. Wanna see the litter?

My poor mom, 7 pups attached to her nipples. I was raised in a good home my first 9 weeks. My human mom got me from one of her co-workers so I still get to see my dog dad, mom and one brother every so frequently. 

Here is another couple of photos when I was brought home to live with my human Dad. See my parents didn't live together until they got married, which was about 13 months from when they got me to when they were married. My parents like to joke that my dad was the actual parents and my mom was the grandma, who got o see the fun side of me, bring me treats and presents but not have to do the dirty work!

Wanna see some more photos of me when I was a cute puppy?

Ok did I say a few photos? Sorry I meant a lot! I just know I am so darn cute :-)

How about a few more? Especially of my first bath.

And then I learned I like to cuddle up with my mom when I sleep, which I still get to do to this day.

Some of my favorite things are watching my mom bake or cook dinner. I have a certain spot I always like to sit in, it is most convenient to gobble up any food she might possibly drop. Another one of my favorite activities is running with my mom in the morning, we usually go 4 or 5 miles. I immediately know when she is putting on her running shorts and it is time to go. Or when she says walk, my ears perk up, and I start running around the house like a crazy puppy because I get to go outside.

I also love to go hiking with my mom, she lets me off the leash and I charge ahead up the mountain. Of course, I return if I don't see her following me, I always remember to check to make sure she is coming.
More about me, yes I am definitely an only child even though I do have a sister, I still make sure I am the center of attention within the family.

Some of the things that I do: if you are petting me and you stop, I will pat my paw on your hand or arm to continue petting me, I will let you know when I am done.
I wake up my mom with a lick in the morning for her to get out of bed to feed me breakfast. I never go to Dad for some reason, it is always Mom.

Ok, Mom is giving me the evil eye telling me that I have talked long enough and have entertained all of my Mom's lovely followers to the limit. Thanks for listening to me today, and woof!

Halloween Pet Costumes

Today is the last day to enter the Brittany Chavers Key to My Heart necklace, go here to enter if you haven't. I just opened up the Pick Your Plum giveaway too which runs through next Friday.

The last time I dressed up for Halloween I was a sophomore in college and we went around and collected candy like we were younger and would come home with huge smiles on our faces showing our parents all the candy and cavities we had collected during the night! Since then, I haven't been too big on Halloween, none of my friends have a party, I don't think about my costume each year, and I don't decorate a ton. But one thing I secretly want to do is dress up my dogs, don't ask me why I just think it would be cute and adorable, until they start chewing at their costume and if there is an ounce of stuffing anywhere in their costume, it will be pulled up within 5 seconds. So to save money, I don't actually buy a costume for them because I know it is a waste of money but it is still fun to think about. So I'm taking a poll for what costume to buy Kip and Kimbia, a boy costume for Kip, and a girl costume for Kimbia. Help me decide please!
Today I am linking this post up with the huge blog fest!

Costumes for Kip

Costumes for Kimbia

Puppy Fun

This morning I took my dogs running together at the same time. I always take one and switch days when I take them, but this morning it was sprinkling a little bit and I wanted both of my pups with me. Afterwards, I saw them chilling on the bed after the run.

I couldn't resist having a little photo fun with them and I just had to share with you all! Enjoy!

Dear Readers...

I am back from my min-vacation up to Oregon. Seriously all of you bloggers who live up there Erika Lee, Kira, Mandee and many others you are all lucky Oregon ducks ;-) or maybe Beavers if you root for that team, for getting to live in such a beautiful state. 

I had a post planned for this morning that included some recently found beautiful purses, I have a slight obsession with purses. But I need to write what is on my heart today or lest I am not doing any of you a favor but not being real and honest with you.        

I am struggling... 

I am struggling in life right now for a variety of reasons, so there isn't one specific thing I can pinpoint out, solve that and then everything would be a-ok. I will start with my job since that is a big portion of my time each week. I struggle because I feel like I go to a dead-end job with no way out, I have been sending in resumes, making contacts, and nothing is working. I know the economy isn't the best right now, but I refuse to let that bring me down. However, I take a day off which I did on Friday and I struggle with having to return this morning. It is a cyclical situation, I don't like my job but I lack the motivation to do much about it. And that is where I get stuck because I have no idea what God wants me to do with my life. I look at a job description, get excited for a bit then realize I don't have what they are looking for or the job sounds really interesting but could I do it? My head is filled with so many doubts and questions. 

I struggle to be the wife that my husband needs as well. Many of you know he is a college cross country and track coach, and it has been difficult on me, his schedule, the hours he has to put into it, and the time he is gone. I don't understand why I can't be more supportive and understanding to his job, and what he needs from me. I just know I don't do a very good time and as a result, I have done and said some things I am not very proud of...

As I write this early in the morning with my husband gone, and my puppies to keep me company, I just want you to know I am a work in progress every day, but behind the recipes, the DIY projects, and the smiling photos, is a girl who is struggling, who has a lot of self-doubts and insecurities. But that is me and today I am being real...

I have to go now because Kip is gently whining at me to get out of bed and feed him breakfast, that boy talks food and is led by his stomach!

Because I'm a proud mommy (of a dog)...

I'm gonna gloat a bit about the most adorable thing that greets me every day from when I get home from work and no it isn't the hubby, because it is were a contest, the hubby would win by a long shot just 'cuz.

Anyways introducing Kip Keino Henning, breed: jack russell terrier age: just turned 2 in April favorites: walks, treats, having people pet him and giving kisses and high-fives to his two owners.

Ok this is what he looked like when the my Sean (then boyfriend) and I bought Kip. Since then he has enhanced our lives especially since when husband (then boyfriend) and I were not living together, we only started living together when we got married just a tiny bit over 10 months ago, wow time flies fast! We joke that my Sean was the real parent and I got to be the grandparent, you know spoil the dog, play with him for a little bit but I wasn't always involved in the cleaning up the poo, disciplining him or not being able to sleep because he was barking up a storm.

Now that my Sean and I are living together, I get to be around my little munckin all the time and I love it even more! Kip has such personality, he has little quirks that make Kip so cute and he has become my running companion and believe me Kip definitely keeps up on my 5 mile runs. And because I want to gloat a little bit more, here are some more photos for your viewing pleasure! Go ahead, tell me how cute my dog is thanks! :-) P.S. Kip even has his own facebook page

                                              Kip came to work with me!

                  Just chilling in the grass being a well-behaved dog!

                                               Family!

                  My men watching youtube videos together!

                   Exhausted from a road trip!

                     Just a few weeks old!