Dog Daze

There is usally about 15 to 20 dogs at the park at any given time. Banjo is the all black one, Dolly is the one by the tree.

Okay, so this may sound stupid, but the most fun thing I have found latley is the dog park. It is in the middle of down town, behind a cemetary, and I had know idea it was there.

I found it about a week ago by accident. I have been taking Dolly and Banjo every since.

It is this magical little world for dogs. There are even doggie drinking fountaines!

The girls LOVE it, and it is so fun to talk to all the other pet owners about their breeds and training tips. It is fun to see the tiny 2 pound dogs play with the giant 150 pounders. I am just amazed at how well they all play together. When a new dog comes in all the others run to greet it.

Dolly is the tri colored one... the Border Collie and her had so much fun together!

Cute huh?

Banjo was worn out on the way home. Not even enough energy to look out the window.

Survey Says...

I have gotten so behind on my posting. I have lots of things I want to write about, but seem to lose my time somewhere between getting kids to school and American Idol. So lets do a little survey. Which do you want to hear about most?

- Issues with the kids school

-Dolly and Banjo's trip to the dog park (this one has pictures)

-My grandpa's funeral (also pictures)

-Things I plan to do in my yard this coming spring

-What I gave up for lent

-Random thoughts that are not really useful to anyone, but may be entertaining

-None of the above, we have enjoyed not reading about your life this last week

Animal Quote Monday

"Poetry is what gets lost in translation."

-Robert Frost

Animal Quote Monday

Creatures whose mainspring is curiosity enjoy the accumulating of facts far more than the pausing at times to reflect on those facts. -Clarence Day

Valentines Day Is For The Birds

Charlie's card to me today was a home-made card that had two birds collecting string. In the card he wrote: "Want to be my mate and nest with me?"

To you this may sound strange, but to me..it was perfect! You see, Valentines day was originally a European holiday to celebrate the day the birds mated. This is much more romantic to me than a 2k diamond necklace or an over priced box of chocolates. I love Valentines Day because of the birds.

Birds have always been my favorite creatures. I can not see one fly without thinking it soars on the spirit of God. Charlie knew that gifts or frilly clothes were not what I would want. What I want to remember on Valentines Day is that nature is a gift to us from God, and Spring is on the way.

There is no better day to remember that than on this one. My Grandfather passed over into God's eternal realm early this Valentine morning, leaving behind his mate...my grandma.

So, now, even more than before, when the rest of the world buys candy and cards that sing, I will remember that each bird, plant, and person God gives us is a gift and on this day we celebrate life.

I'm Actually A Super Hero With No Special Powers, And Very Little Motivation

If you recall my New Years resolution was to stand up to injustice when I saw it. I really underestimated how much injustice there is in the world! It is only February and already I'm in a full blown "battle" against politics and red tape.

The kindergarten teacher at the kids' school (I'm going to call her Mrs. Awesome) is in the process of being let go. Now I can not emphasize enough how absurd this is! She is an amazing teacher, the kids love her, the parents love her, and her test scores are the best in the district. So what could be wrong? Well, apparently she has stood up for children one too many times and the principal has decided she doesn't want an active advocate in her school.

I'm outraged, the other parents are outraged and we are meeting today to see what the power of numbers can do. Our hope is that as a group we can sign a petition and present it to district saying we want to keep our teacher. All ready I have had people who want to help, but are afraid to go against the principal. My stomach has been in knots for a week, and my ear hurts from making phone calls. But, if we can pull this off we will have greatly impacted the 100's of kids that will have her in the future, and we will have taken a stand that in one way or another, we are all called to take.

Animal Quote Monday

I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit. -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The Rule Of Six

Here is a fun little blogger game. It is called the rule of six.

1. Go to your documents/pictures.
2. Go to your sixth file.
3. Go to your sixth picture
4. Blog about it



Here is mine...



This is a pic of Lou Lou when she 2 1/2. I remember this day so well. Spring had finally broken free of winter, and the weight that I carried during the cold months was lifting off my shoulders.

Charlie had found this little princess bike at a thrift store the week before, and it was a perfect day to give it a try.

Md was with us, on his red bike. I remember how good the sun felt, and how soft the grass was.
I also remember those little shoes she is wearing. They had Winnie the pooh and piglet on them. She loved them so much. You can't see it, but her shirt also has piglet. She loved it when she matched!

I can almost feel that little girl with the silky smooth cheeks. The way she fit in my arms, the way she laughed with a high pitch. The dimples that shown when she did. If only I could reach into my computer and give that baby girl a kiss, and hold her against my chest as her legs dangle and she laughs because I'm blowing on her ear.

We can never go back, and that is usually a good thing. I just wish pictures captured more than the image. Imagine how it would be to look through the photo album and not just see days gone by, but feel, hear and smell all those wonderful moments that have slipped away through the hands of time.

Really?

Who would have ever thought 2nd grade could be so complex. We have not had a great week here. MD has been having trouble at school, talking being silly and all that good stuff. Then yesterday I get a call that "inappropriate talk" has occurred. It seems now days that a childhood crush is deemed inappropriate.

Last Friday MD got a note from a little girl with hearts and x's and o's on it. She asked if he would be her boyfriend. He showed me the note while his ears turned red, and I thought it was adorable! I told him he and the girl could be good friends, but that they can't "go out" for another 20 years or so. I thought that was the end of it...right?

Wrong! Well somehow a mother of one of the kids heard of this and complained about this "inappropriate" talk. The kids were called in by the counselor, class mates were questioned, and NOW they want to meet with the parents! Am I the only one who thinks this is absurd? They are 8 for crying out loud. Who didn't pass a love note or two with the word "gilfriend" spelled wrong on it? My poor boy is so embarrassed to even go to school now, all the kids are teasing because the school has made an issue out of it.

If second grade is this bad, what's jr. high gonna be like? Aaaaaa!

New Blog That's Good For You!

My friend has started a new blog on healthy food. It is kinda fun and has a weekly challenge to help us all get healthy! Check it out!
http://purifiedpantry.blogspot.com/

Animal Quote Monday

Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat;But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,When two strong men stand face to face,tho' they come from the ends of the earth!

-Rudyard Kipling, The Ballad of East and West