Taylors Dog Obedience Class, Week 7...

Here we are... on our way to obedience training, without Dad!

He called and had to work late... I hate it when he has to work late on Thursday nights, this is a big night for our baby. Plus, with me being so sick lately, I have really needed him to step in and do the work with her.

She LOVES to work, we really need to come up with a new name for it... like "dogapaloosa" or something, she has allot of fun working and especially going to class (probably more fun than she should be having, as you will see in the videos... she squirms and plays with sticks a bunch).

We laugh at her allot, she sits on her behind like a bear with her back paws all sticking forward. Too funny!
Dad showed up in time to take over for me before class started, whew!

My Knight in Shining Armor to the rescue, again!!!

Morgan came to get a peek at what we make such a fuss about every week.

"whatever" she just enjoyed hanging in the cool shady grass and watching all the comotion.

This week we were off leash, just the 12ft nylon skinny cord dragging on the ground and not attached anymore!

Very scary for me, but Taylor did pretty good and never broke off in a full run across the park as she did in all my nightmares. We try not to compare her to the other dogs, and just remember what she was like the 1st day of class with my arms falling off from tugging and yanking on the leash.

Yep, leaps and bounds! This girl has come so far!!

Our emotions and feelings are so much like if she were our human child... you want her to do good in class and impress the coach. But you don't want to put too much pressure on her, because she has come so far, you want to reward her for her accomplishments and feel good about herself and know she is a daughter of God.... oh yeah, well it's just hard not to see her as human sometimes.

So here we have to put the dogs on a down stay and walk around in a complete circle around all the other dogs until we make it back around to our own dog without them breaking the down stay. Taylor made it! She was really tempted, but she did it!!

I was such a proud Mom, and you can see her Dad was pretty proud of her too!

Here is what Coach called the pyramid.

She put the dogs in a pyramid shape in order of the breed and size of dog... so all the bigger large breads made the base, on up to the tiny toy breeds at the top of the pyramid.

We put them in a down stay and walk out of the pyramid. Then if they pop up or break their down stay, we go pull our dog out, until the last dog is still staying.

Labrador retrievers are not on the top of the list of intellegence, they are down around 7... but Taylor being so young is still working on maturity etc. I know excuses, excuses! But I would have never ever thought she would make it this long off leash in a pile of dogs!!

So Proud of her!!!

These were the last 5 left in the pyramid... the border collie (#1 on intellegence list), the Labradoodle (Poodles are #2), the old brown lab, the Aus. cattle dog (#10), and the yellow lab.

They were cement, we threw frisbee's and balls through them and not one moved. The herding dogs were really aware of the frisbee and the ball, but they didn't budge. The labs were just so mellow, I think they couldn't have cared less, they were tired from working so hard all night.

It is really hard work, as with any kid. But so worth it!

We haven't worked with Morgan on any training yet, she was exhausted just watching!

We think she will pick it all up really fast, and do really well. We kind of always thought she was obedient enough, she minds pretty well, and knows commands. But it would even make a huge difference with her, to be able to give her a command from a distance and have her mind. And have confidence that she would mind even with the distraction of a kitty cat or a bird in the yard, or someone coming over to visit.

Happy Birthday ~ Sis!!!

Happy Birthday Sis!!!

It's my Sisters Birthday today. I miss her so much anyway but I really miss being with her on her special day.

I was really excited when I found out she had taken the day off work... that means she is getting better at taking time for herself and knowing that she is WORTH IT!!

But I was a little bummed because I mailed her birthday present to her work address... and since today is Friday, she won't get it until Monday. Darn!

The good news is, I got an update from her during the day and a girl she works with is bringing the package home with her, so she might get it tonight or at least tomorrow... yippee!!

My SIL who taught me all I know about blogging is such a great example to write the things she loves about her kids on their birthday and post to her blog, so in her tradition, I wanted to do that for my Sis today!

Just some of the things I LOVE about my sister (because there isn't enough room in the blogging world to post them ALL)!

I love that I can talk to her about anything and everything.

She is my bestest girlfriend.

She is so giving of herself to anyone who would need it around her.

She has a great sense of style.

She is ultra intellegent, but doesn't make you feel dumb when you don't get her.

She always includes everyone, she has no weird boundaries when it comes to family... she carries "the more the merrier" attitude with her everywhere.

She takes really good care of ALL her parents and grandparents, and loves them even when they can be challenging.

She is determined, and can do anything she sets her mind to.

She loves to be around people, and doesn't need much alone time.

She loves dogs, and even mine unconditionally.

She is understanding when I am grumpy.

She is the best listener, EVER!

She is a great writer.

She loves and teaches my teenager like he was her own.

She is there to remind me when I am out of control.

She appreciates unique things and places, but is simple and easy to make happy.

We share a love for good bubbles! And she knows of their important place in our lives.

I love my sister!

Happy Birthday Sis!!!

Moose' on the Loose...

This is the cutest video!

How adorable watching these two baby moose and their mama coming in to get a drink and play in the sprinklers.

I LOVE IT!

Melon secrets...

At Girls Camp we had some of the best melons... watermelon, cantaloupe, YUM!! Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE melons! I could live on them, seriously!! But I have never learned the secret to picking out a good one.

-

We had one great melon after another at camp... how could 10 watermelons in a row be that good? So I asked the cooks what their secret was to picking out melons?

They told me to go to the produce manager and ask them to pick them for me... even if I only was getting one cantaloupe! They would come out and pick it for me.

Apparently being trained and paid to do that job, they know some trade secrets.

So when I was shopping this week, very tempted to call the produce manager... but I really only wanted one cantaloupe... so I took my chances. Plus I wasn't at my regular store. So next time I go shopping, I think I will ask for help picking out my melon, and not try and take any chances. Nothing worse than getting home and cutting into a mush melon, or one that has no flavor.

I got lucky and it is a super yummy melon, but it was pure luck for sure.

I do however know how to thump, smell, squeeze and look like I know what I am doing when I am in the produce section picking out a melon! You should see me, I have all the dramatics down! If they only knew it was all an act.

Happy Anniversary ~ 37 Years!

Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad!

37 Years of Marital Bliss!!

I love you and hope your special day was fabulous!!

________________________

To celebrate, I got my hair cut, and got to see my therapist, Katie!

(She is so cute and always photogenic... I might need to re-think being in pictures with her)

We got a really special treat tonight, we met my Man's sister and her husband for dinner in the city. They were driving through from Utah back to Washington and called us.

I love these guys, we have so much fun with them. I love that we always laugh when we are with them, and I can never seem to wipe the smile off my face either.

-

Even though Sis has the biggest photo phobia I have ever seen (see her hiding way back behind me... I won't post the picture I took of the two of them, because she is giving me the evil eye for making her pose for a picture, and I promised I wouldn't post anything on my blog that was incriminating or unflattering). One day she will thank me for keeping these records for us to look back on and laugh about... I just know it! One day! Besides, it was an important and special time to be with them, and I wouldn't miss capturing it here in my online journal for anything.

Day by Day...

Yesterday was spent trying to attempt to pull my house back together. Between me being absent for a week with the boys home alone, me bringing in camp stuff coming home, and the teenager pulling out camp stuff to head out for a week... my house looked like a tornado had come through with no mercy!

-

There were some bills to pay, I finally got the dried food scraped off of every surface of my kitchen, and there were some errands to run and of course I had to pick up the slack on the dog obedience training with Taylor. I was a little nervous about going out my 1st time amongst the cats and kids in the neighborhood with just a thin emergency break away line that would cut me in two if she actually broke. She looked really good with my Strong Silent Mysterious Man, but would she take advantage of my in experience? She is really smart and I have no doubt she works the system most of the time. But she held up her end of the bargain and remained obedient... as tempting as it was to run amuck! I am so proud of her!! And she loves to go out and work it, there is some kind of pride thing in it for her too!!

-

And then of course the make up work... yep, back to reality.

-

Today I get to go see Katie and get my hair done! Yeah, that always makes for a happy day!

Parents Gone Wild...

I'm seriously breaking a major pack I had with my husband not to mention a word to anyone what we did last night by putting this information on my blog (it was going to be our little secret)... but I decided I would only be cheating myself in the long run not to have a post of this momentous event in our lives.

-

My husband is a big Ted Nugent music fan and when he heard he was in town on the radio yesterday, he immediately called to see if I would go to the concert with him.

-

I have been so sick and trying to get my rest so I could feel better and recover, so I was convinced this activity should not be on the agenda, plus I was not a big fan of "Uncle Ted" in general.

-

So I tried to convince him to find a buddy or someone from work to go with him. But he just dropped his head and said "we don't have to go if you don't want". I could hear it in his voice he really wanted me to experience this with him.

-

It would be held at a very small venue with only 500 fans in the city. Which meant Ted very up close and personal... not sure I was ready for that either!

-

So I went online... who knows, maybe it would be all sold out, and the point would be mute.

-

All I really knew about "Uncle Ted" for myself was he seemed like a wild man to me, and had endless controversy that followed him, and I had watched hours of videos of him "killin' and grillin" at the Archery Shop when I did their bookkeeping. So I knew he was a big archery bow hunter... so he couldn't be too bad of a guy, Right? At least I had something I could relate to him, kind of. I pulled up some of his music, and realized that my man played lots of his tunes on the guitar all the time, so I knew more of his music than I realized. Then I read this write up on him for the concert.

-

Throughout his lengthy career, guitar wildman Ted Nugent has revelled in the controversy and criticism that always seems to follow in his path. While there's no denying his exceptional talent on the six-string, his knack for penning arena rock anthems, or his standing as one of rock's top live acts, it's his non-musical endeavors that have caused the most condemnation from his detractors (his pro-right wing beliefs, pro-gun advocacy, appreciation of hunting animals, etc.). But by the same token, Nugent is a family man and one of the few hard rockers who has admirably stuck by his lifelong anti-drugs and -drink stance throughout his career.

-

Not into drinking or drugs... he's got to be pretty old by now, maybe he has mellowed in his old age too!!

-

I decided I could do this for and with my husband. And would suffer the consequences of the recovery and lectures later... because I knew going into it... this was NOT what the Doctor ordered!

-

I have to say... I was nervous and worried, for many reasons.

My health recovery plan 1st and foremost... but also, a live Ted Nugent concert... eeekkk, the music, the words to the music, the crowd... just basically the entire environment!!!

-

It was an awesome night! We arrived early and ordered food in the tiny bar next to the concert house, so they gave us 2 of 15 tickets that would be let into the concert house 1st. My husband was thrilled with that, he wanted to be on the front row to get a birds eye view of the phenomenal guitar playing.

-

The small venue tended to weed out some of the rif raff you would normally find at a live concert of this caliber. Lots of 40ish couples just like us, and several of them brought their teenagers, so we almost felt like we were being examples to the young ones at their 1st concerts.

-

My husband got his birds eye view, I even think we got hit with some of Ted's sweat we were so close we could have touched him.

-

The music was good, he plays with a drummer and a bass player... and we were so close they would flirt and smile and look right at us and really appreciated that we were enjoying their performance so much.

-

He gave a really personal touch out to the crowd knowing it was filled with bow hunters from Idaho (they weren't hard to spot all dressed in their camo hats and shirts).

-

He tossed us a guitar pick, I had seen him fling a few and I really really wanted one... so that was too cool! He was so entertaining, and even though I had to really turn on some of the filters I have acquired in my old age to the world outside of my own. I surprisingly had such a blast... my husband is the best person to go to these things with, he is pretty mello, has a good time, but doesn't embarrass himself, and totally knows how to show me the ropes so I feel like I was meant to be there, and I get a very different view of the music business than I ever would on my own.

Another really cool souvenir was when the sound guys were clearing the equipment after the show, we were still standing against the stage waiting for the crowd to clear a bit, and I had asked him for a pick I saw laying on the ground by his foot (I thought I needed two, of course). He couldn't hear me, and pulled up the set list taped to the floor and handed it to me!

I didn't think anything of it, but My Strong Silent Mysterious Man said this was WAAAYYYY cooler than a signed pick! So apparently I did good! It totally made his night!!! He is really proud of this item.

Posting today, the aftermath isn't so bad, I am continuing to get better slowly each day... and it didn't seem to set me back with my health. But sure added to my list of great memories this summer, especially with my husband. We have had some really fun moments alone without the teenager at home. And I love doing things he loves, that I might not have done on my own. He is really fun to be with, and we enjoy and have a really good time together.

-

I was teasing him last night, that if this was a taste of life when our nest is empty, we are kind of "parents gone wild" out partying with Ted Nugent and Boston! We both laughed, it was just a really strange thing to be saying about our boring selves that are normally home bound and quiet!

-

It will be fun to read about our Summer of '08 one day in this journal, and fun to tell our grand kids one day!

Company Volleyball tournament/picnic...

This weekend in-between my naps trying to catch up with my own world after returning from girls camp (I keep bringing up how much the re-entry burns... but I really was that exhausted when I got home... really! worth every minute, but so exhausting) we were invited to my husbands work volleyball picnic at his bosses house.

When I left the week before we were planning on going, but Friday night and most of Saturday had decided we didn't really want or need to be there.

Well about an hour before it was to start, OUR decision flipped back to "we should go"... so reluctantly I got showered and dressed at 3pm and threw together a salad to take with us and we got in the car and drove the 38 miles to his home just over the state line into Oregon.

Their home was beautiful, right on the Snake River... the boys were drooling over the great fishing spot. And my husband was hoping to get invited back sometime so he could bring our brother in law who would have loved the catfish pond in the front of the house, that he told us needs to be thinned out. The fish were HUGE!!! (don't worry Pat, were in!!)

The family had many collections around that were so cool to look at... too many to name, and they all live on acres along the river side by side, so it was kind of a huge family compound but everyone had their own space. Two of the brothers had a competition who could find the best boat anchor (I guess they are kind of junk collectors on the side, but everything they had collected had it's place in the big scheme of things, nothing looked like junk) and the younger brother was the winner with this impressive anchor! It was a cool story how he had obtained it and got it back to his place, but I was too busy gaulking over the landscaping and taking pictures to be able to repeat it all.

This little guy was cracking me up with the ice cold water from the hose... it was hot out, but this water was ice cold!!! And he had learned how to share it with anyone who would come partake.

The volleyball tournament began and with 5 teams formed and charted into a double elimination flow chart, it was well organized. I was glad to be recovering from pneumonia so I had an excuse to sit this one out... with the machine shop against the winders, the competition was fierce and it turned into somewhat of a contact sport, I was really happy to be on the sidelines watching!

The teenager found his nitch right in there with the big boys... well most of them weren't bigger than him, just a little older.

We were so glad we went, the food was great... we were treated just like part of the family, and that means so much when you spend as much of your time with these people as you do your own family during the week, sometimes more!

A good time was had by all!!

Update after re-entry...

I should report that when I returned from camp, I found that all the flowers survived pretty well except maybe the hanging basket that needed more water than it really got all week. But I think it isn't a total loss, and I am currently administering plant cpr.

My boys were safe, and happy, and ate well contrary to all the stories the teenager was trying to lead me to believe that he had starved all week, I found evidence that would not support his theory.

The dogs were really happy to see me, and gave a full report on the teenagers shenanagins, and that they were not responsible for any of part of the messy house I found upon my arrival... but for the most part everyone was safe and sound and happy.

My Strong Silent Mysterious Man had taken Taylor to her obedience class on Thursday night for her 1st off leash training and she did great and gave him no problems. She even passed the test for not breaking command when they brought the goat in the healing circle!!

He was shocked and amazed, but glowing when he was telling me all about her great accomplishment!!

I am so relived everything went well at home, now I will start planning my next girls retreat!!

Wahoo!!!

Re-Entry...

Re-Entry back into my world after being at girls camp all week is sometimes challenging. But I am managing to fit my way into a house full of boys, even though I still find myself singing camp songs in my head, looking for dinner to be served (we had the best cooks!), reciting camp cheers, and skipping to the bathroom.

Here are some of the highlights from camp...

Hiking to the top of the mountains... (well sadly I didn't get to go to the top after my pneumonia got worse instead of better at camp... but I was able to get a priesthood blessing and functioned somewhat, so I got these pictures from base camp).

Arriving back to camp after a long hot dry hike...

And jumping in the pool to cool down...
The chicken dance!
Making cabin flags...
Learning to sign "Proud to be an American"...
The dining hall...

"Sharing your light" ceremony...

Oh and the dreaded skits... I complained, but they made me do it anyway...

I had to play Indiana Jones in front of everyone... what was this anyway drama camp???

At least I wasn't alone... my fearless leader was willing to play the kung fu panda part... we had music and everything to fill in the mood. I have never laughed so hard ever... silly, but fun!

Cabin Cheers...

"now put a little booty in it"

how'd that go again???

We had some work shops...

Including the mirror workshop... helping the girls reflect on how they see themselves vs. how Heavenly Father see's them.

Like I said, I had to perform all week... they made me dig deep into my phychy and reveal to everyone some challenges I faced growing up when I was the same age as these girls. I had really tried to bury that all these years, but they thought it was important for them to see me as a real person with real troubles that I had learned to overcome... I am not sure I was convincing that I had over come them... like I said... ah hum, I buried them!!

I swear I will need therapy from spending a week at girls camp...

Seriously, teasing (kind of) about all the drama! It was pretty fun I will admit. And I was okay with these girls know I am human and had "issues" with hair and wondering if I was pretty enough growing up. It was all good. I know it is not what defines me now!!!

One of my favorite parts, was the letters from home!

Even though it was a logistical nightmare to collect letters from every parent with a girl at camp in our stake (you would think they would be ever so willing, but it was like pulling teeth to get them all turned in).

It was soooooo worth all the time and effort when I saw them reflect and seem to appreciate their letters from their parents letting them know how much they are loved at home.

We made new friends, and cherished the old ones!

And a good time was had by all!!