Exciting things happening in the Mitchell household!

Last weekend we built a garden shed. I know that doesn't sound exciting to all of you, but trust me it is! We don't have a garage, so everything we use for yard work has to go into our basement. We have those cool cellar doors that make me think of tornado alley. I like them, but I have to say that dragging a lawnmower up a flight of steps is not a good time. We also had to keep all shovels, rakes, dirt, fertilizer, grass seed...oh you get the idea.

Tomorrow is Brian's Medical School Convocation. He'll be taking the Hippocratic Oath and receiving his doctoral robes (I think that's what they're called). This is even more important to medical students than the actual graduation ceremony! Congrats Brian, you've worked very hard the last 4 years and you've earned it. I'm proud of you! You all can start calling him Dr. Brian Mitchell any time now!

Last but not least Brian and I are planning a quick mini-vacation to the New York Finger Lakes Wine Region. It's just and excuse for us to take the Mini on a road trip and drink some wine. Though not at the same time of course!

Ever seen a Mini Cooper? I have, and I've been obsessing over them for the past several years. And now that Brian is about to graduate and join the gainfully employed, I've taken that obsession to a whole new level. Introducing...



Sir Winston! My very first new car. He's a 2006 Mini Copper S Convertible. 6 speed manual transmission. And I am in love. With a car! Here are some pictures so you can fall in love too!







Brian is enjoying the new car as well. We've put 500 miles on him since we brought him home Friday. And we have had great weather. I can't tell you all how much fun it is to drive this car! He's a zippy little guy and gets a lot of attention. Mini drivers wave at each other, which makes me feel like I'm part of a club. Being in a convertible makes people think they can talk to you. People ask you for directions, they ask if you like your car, all sorts of things. Plus this car is so darn cute!

Here are a couple pics from the showroom when we picked it. I've never seen a car so clean and shiny and smelling so new! The dealer put a little sign on the window that said "Please don't touch, I'm going to my new home today"





If you want to see the interior you'll have to let me take you for a drive. With the top down, of course!

Tito has given up and started liking Lily. She's like his little shadow now. Here they are in the "guest room" (Note to guests, if you want to stay with us and are allergic to cats, please give me a heads up so I can de-cat the room!)



Here're the cats and what used to be Diesel's water bowl. I think he has given up on it and just drinks from the bowl in his crate now.



And here's our little girl hamming it up for the camera. Isn't she cute?

Hey there! Still reading this blog? Well lucky for you I have an update. First some pictures from Samoa.





Samoa was absolutely beautiful, undeveloped and hot. So hot we forgot to take pictures. Well not forgot, but it was actually too much effort. All we wanted to do was lay in the shade and look at the water. We also did some snorkeling, which was underwater, so no pictures for you!

Next up in the random combo blog we have pictures from our trip to South Carolina. Brian and I went to Folly Beach, near Charleston last week with my parents. We had a nice, laid back, no hurrying allowed week on the beach. Brian got some neat shots of the moon over the beach.







These were taken from the balcony off our condo. Every day we could see dolphins no more than 10 - 20 feet offshore. Not a bad view, ey?

This is the Angel Oak, said to be more than 1400 years old. No, I did not add an extra 0, it really is 1400 years old!



We also visited a nature preserve in a swamp, where I found a place to hide:



The tree was hollow all the way up to the top so it was remarkably light inside.

On the last day there we built a beautiful sand castle. Then we captured a bird and forced him pose for a picture. Just kidding, nature loves us and came to be in our picture. Congrats seagull, you're gonna be a star!




Last, but certainly not least, we have a new addition to our family. Introducing Lily!





Lily came from my coworker Cortney and is one of 7 kittens. Cortney also has 5 kids who played with the little babies everyday. She is one easy going girl. She's not one bit scared of Diesel. She actually goes and sits in his food bowl while he's eating. Tito is not a huge fan of her, he absolutely refused to be in the same room with her for the first couple days she was here. Today he started swatting at her, and to our delight, she swats right back.

Lily didn't leave her family completely behind. Her sister Emmy went home with my mom. Here's a picture of Lily getting her smack on.



To be fair, Emmy did give just as much as she got. They were both pretty tired by the end of the night. Another member of the litter may be joining our extended family as well. Brian's brother Chris may be adopting one of the brothers from the litter. He was a fantastic little guy that we almost took home ourselves so we're excited that he'll be around for us to visit.

Last but not least, Tito says: "That little kitten is a waste of food. Send her back and feed me more."