Not much happening lately !!

 Not much exciting happening here but the same old - same old. We had snow and really cold temps so stayed inside, then we had almost summer like weather and we were outside a lot.  Mom says "Here in Nebraska it can be winter one day and summer the next"  I would say she is right.  Miss M came over on one of those days when it was chilly outside and we went over to the tennis courts and played then I worked on commands with her. After commands and since she did so good I let Miss M give me a belly rub.  It it soooo much fun to play at the tennis courts because I get to play off of my lead.  I run, play, fetch and jump over the tennis court net.  I am getting really good at that !!  Not sure if that is a skill I have to learn but it is still FUN !

That same week we went on a field trip that I have never gone on before.  It was a long drive to get there so Mom pack my travel bag full of everything we would need.  Mom said I should take a nap during the ride so I did.  When we arrived there was a HUGE building with a HUGE parking lot.  We drove around a bit to find a parking spot so Mom said I could "hurry up" before we went in.  I did as she requested and inside we went.  First we visited with my two legged aunt Kaye then off to explore in a store called Scheels.  There were all kinds of cool stuff there but the coolest thing was a BIG round thing that people sat in chairs and it went round and round.  Mom called it a ferris wheel. We looked at it but we both agreed it probably was not a good idea to go for a ride.  Before we left I got to have my picture taken with a U.S. President - Ronald Reagan.  He was not much of a talker but I liked his hat.

Miss M and her Grandpa D came over and surprised me with another visit and trip to the tennis courts.   Avalon and I didn't get to go for our long bike run that day so Mom said I might have some built up energy and she was right.  I did not get the best report when we got back.  I wanted to run and play and not work on commands but since Miss M can only understand a little puppy talk I could not tell her that.  We still had fun though.

There was another special day that come around.  I don't know if it was special for Avalon and me but Mom said it was a special day because that is the day she cooks something called corn beef and cabbage.  It is called a tradition to do that.  It smelled soooo good all day while it cooked but at the end nothing for us.  It was only a human tradition.   Mom put funny green beads on us and made us pose for pictures.  I obliged because I knew if I did I would get a treat.

    Happy St. Paddy's Day !!!

 Mom and me went to Hy-Vee for what I thought was going to be a short shopping trip like usual but this time around she filled her cart full.  She called it a field trip this time around which I was not too excited about. That means stop and go a lot which means set/stay a lot.   I sure wish I was like Avalon at times and get to stay home and do whatever I want.  She is soooo lucky !!  Mom did take me on a few other quick errands and those were the ones I like.  In and out and off we go!

 Back to Nebraska weather !!  On Saturday we went for our usual weekend walk and it was chilly  outside.  Not as cold as some days but enough for Mom and Dad to bundle up. Then on Sunday it was like a summer day !
 Mom forgot her camera so did not get pictures of us swimming in the lake.  We even got to jump off the boat ramp and fetch sticks.  It was a little cold in the water so we didn't swim too long but the warm temps on the way home warmed us up.  We still had to go out on the deck to dry off but with the sun shining down on us it was kind of HOT !  We even had snacks outside.  Mom said to let us have dinner out on the deck but dad said NO so we didn't get to have an outside picnic dinner  :(

Last, I need to tell you about a special event with Miss M.  She has been playing on a basketball team and playing a lot of games. This weekend were the final games of the season.  Something called March Madness for them.  They played lots of games and at the end came in second place after the last game that went into double overtime.

GO Miss M and her team and coaches !!

A Special Day Happened for me !!

Before I get to my special day let me tell you about Avalon and my Spa Day and a few other exciting things.

First, Spa Day - Mom told Dad not to give us breakfast before we left but Dad felt sorry for us and let us have a half breakfast.  Mom did not know about this but found out when we got out of the back of the Ford at the groomers and Avalon left a surprise in the back.  Her breakfast was all over the back and I felt the need to flip it around some to make what Mom said was a bigger mess!  We had fun at the groomers and when Mom came back to get us the mess was gone.  Good thing because it kind of had an icky smell.


Second - Here in Nebraska the weather changes all the time.  A few days after our spa day we went for our usual bike ride around the lake and for the first time in a while we got to go swimming.  The water was kind of cold but the temp in the air was almost 70 degrees so we warmed up fast.  It was nice for about a week with warm temps but then some of that funny white stuff came back and so did the COLD temps.  We missed a few days out walking with Mom but dad braved the cold and took us out.
           Now for the SPECIAL Day - My 1st Birthday !!

First thing in the morning Avalon told me all about Birthdays and Birthday parties and how exciting they are. Then when Mom got up she baked me a special doggie birthday cake.  It had flour, honey, carrots and peanut butter along with a few other things.  It smelled soooo good when it was baking. Next, Mom put up some birthday decorations and then we waited for Miss M and Grandma T to come over.  I had to wait all afternoon for the party so when it was time my "wild child "got the best of me and things kind of when downhill for a bit.  Mom said I did everything a guide/service puppy in training was not to do.  I jumped, barked, ran around the house and tried to sneak a piece of cake early.  Miss M gave me my birthday gifts and I tore them open with my teeth which ended up with me eating some card board.  Not that tasty.  Mom told me to settle down but I just couldn't get myself under control so I had to eat my birthday cake in the mud room.  Avalon got hers on a pretty birthday plate in the kitchen.

There was another Birthday in the house this week too.  My two legged Dad had his birthday a few days after mine.  He is much older then me and told me I could not tell everyone his age but in dog years he is a little over 8 and a half years.  I thought there was going to be another birthday party at the house but Mom and Dad went out and left Avalon and me at home.  We weren't too happy about that.  However, when they came home they told us all about their adventures.  Dad even won some $$ at a place called a casino.

This week I also had two teachable moments as Mom calls them.  First one was the smoke detectors in our house and what they sound like and what you need to do when you hear them.  Mom was frying some chicken and the house kind of got smokey and all of a sudden there was this high pitch sound that was beeping very loudly.  Mom stayed in the house cooking but Dad did a practice fire drill with Avalon and me and we ran outside.  Dad told us as soon as you get outside you should call the fire department so they can come and put the fire out.  Good thing to know.  

The second teachable moment was just as important.  We were out on our weekend walk when this siren went off which Dad says warns people of bad weather and something called a tornado.  Dad said they were just testing them so we didn't need to worry, but if

there was a tornado coming we would all need to go to the basement of our house and get undercover.  I hope that never happens !

We went on a few trips to the stores in between snow storms.  I just do not like the icky stuff they put on the streets that make my feet so hot so I get to stay home when it is put down.  Maybe I should put my boots on and go but I would just rather stay home with Avalon and play.  

I didn't get to practice a lot with Miss M because she is busy with basketball practice and tournaments but we did get to practice one day in the snow.  I did commands with her and she got an A- for the day along with me practicing with my snow boots.   They feel funny but sure did keep my feet warm plus very stylish !!