Winter in Nebraska

 Winter in Nebraska is boring !!  There are days it is snowing or ice raining or days it is sooooo COLD that we just stay in the house.  We don't always get to go for our walks around the lake just short ones to get our business done.  Mom and me have been busy setting up booths for the summer - Outlook Nebraska Vision Fair is in April, Pick a Pooch is in July and Nebraska Humane Society is in September. Mom has been talking to CHI Hospital about volunteering for pet therapy.  My two legged sister Aunna works there as a nurse.  However, before we can start we both need to take physicals, get a background check and be tested to make sure we are a good match.  Miss M will be testing too but will not be able to go with us till after her birthday in August.

My birthday was March 3rd and I am now 4 years old in dog years and 28 in human years.  No fan fare like last year when I turned 21.  Just a few extra treats.  Bummer  :(

My Dad's birthday was the next day - He got special treats and a special dinner.  We could have celebrated together ??

My Mom has been busy with my two legged sister Aunna and helping her plan her wedding.  It will be September 5th over Labor Day weekend.  I heard Dad say he is concerned about the first Husker football game being that day so hoping it is a day game since the wedding is at night.

Mom showed me some pictures of them out shopping for wedding dresses since I did not get to go along.  Mom said only two legged people were allowed.  Another bummer  :(

The first anniversary of the flood is coming up soon.  I heard Mom and Dad talking about it.  It was really a scary time with soooo many houses getting flooded here at the lake.  Mom, Avalon and I helped out as much as we could.  It has been cold here but not as much snow so hoping all is OK this year.

I am EXCITED to report that Christ the King Catholic school raised just shy of $500 for KSDS after we did our presentation in January.  They were hoping to raise $1000 to name a puppy but any money raised will help KSDS provide trained puppies to forever partners for FREE !

Happy St. Paddy's Day !!

Winter is here

Sorry, I have not blogged for a bit.  Something called Windows 7 became outdated and our computers were not BIG enough for Windows 10.  Not sure what that all means but Mom took away our old computers both at home and at my Dad's office and bought new ones in their place.  There was even someone who Mom called a "Geek" who came to the house and help me and Mom get everything up and running.  I think the "Geek" also went to my dad's office one day.  Things sure look different on the computer so it has been a learning curve for me.

My two legged sister -Aunna is getting married so Mom, Dad, Aunna and Drew went building shopping.  I was hoping to tag along and make sure it met my approval but that was not the case.  Mom said everyone had to sign a waiver form and wear hard hats since the wedding building was under construction.  Since I could not wear a hard hat I didn't get to go.  I heard Aunna saying she was looking for a younger person to be a flower girl and since in dog years I am only 3 1/2 I am hoping she picks me.  I already know how to carry things in my mouth so the learning curve will be short.  


It has been cold and snowy here so our daily walks have been a hit and miss lately.  Dad usually takes us in the morning before he goes to work but sometimes the sun doesn't come out early enough so we have to  wait till later when Mom says it is warmer.  We have even missed a few weekend walks because sometimes it rains ice.  Dad even slipped and fell on it and hit his head.  I heard him talking to Mom his head hurt and I was worried about him.  I sure wish Mom and Dad understood puppy talk !!

 It has been so cold here that I saw some people walking and fishing on the lake.  Mom never lets Avalon and me out on the ice.  She said it is dangerous.  I hope those people are careful.                                                                                                                             

 This week Mom told me was Catholic School week and we had been invited to do two presentations at Christ the King Catholic School.  I was soooo excited to be back working again.  Miss M, me and Mom do a lot of presentations over the summer when Miss M is out of school but not as many during the school year.  Miss M is in school five days a week and Mom told me Miss M's command training at her school takes 12 years.  My command training only took around 6-7 months after my puppy raising training.  She must have a lot of commands to learn. 

 Everyone got up early at our house so Avalon and I could get a walk in before we had to leave.  It was a drive to get there but we made it okay and had plenty of time to set up.  There were lots of kiddos - grades K-4 came first then 5-8.  After Mom and I did our presentations we walked around to almost all of the classrooms.  I think I might have had all 365 students pet me before we were done.  It was okay - I love to be the center of attention!  I even did a few more of my  commands when we were in the classrooms.  Mom told me these students command training also takes 12 years.  I just can't understand how many commands they must have to learn. Mom said I earned an A for the day!!

Mom said the students at Christ the King were raising money for my school - KSDS Inc.  Their goal is to raise $1000 so they will get to name a puppy.  I told them any amount would be WONDERFUL to help cover our tuition at school and help us be debt free when we go to our forever partners. 

Thank You Christ the King for letting us tell the story about Guide/Service/Facility Dog and how they can change the lives of their forever partners in ways we can not even imagine. 

Christmas - That wonderful time of the Year !

 Thanksgiving came and went.  This year it was just Mom, Dad, Avalon and I.  Other family members were either leaving town or not coming to town.  It seemed a little strange not to have lots of people here but the one good thing that happened is that Avalon and I got to eat dinner

with Mom and Dad.  I was really excited about this thinking we were going to get turkey and the fixings but it was just our same old every day dog food.  However, we did get to eat at the same time and that was cool.  We  did get to watch the parade together and Dad watched some football.   The day after Thanksgiving all of the fall and Thanksgiving decorations came down and the next two days we all spent putting up Christmas decorations.  I helped by eating a few of the decorations off of the Christmas tree and rearranging some of the colorful packages.  Sparky - Our elf on the shelf arrived after I ate some of the decorations so I was glad about that.  No report to the big red guy that I was naughty.

 I was soooo excited to learn we were going to Bell Ring again this year and puppy in training Huxley was going to be there.  Mom said this would probably be the last time we get to see each other since Huxley will be heading back to KSDS soon to start advance college classes.   He said his Mom and Dad were talking to him about starting college and he said he was a little scared.  I told him all of the training commanders at KSDS are wonderful teachers and the accommodations were great.  It was FUN times bell ringing and meeting all of the people who stopped to donate to the Salvation Army and pet Huxley and me.  However, the only person there that could understand puppy talk was the big red guy - Santa.  I told him I was trying to be nice and Sparky could verify that. 

Christmas Day finally came.  Lots of family and friends came over to celebrate.  However, Avalon and I had to stay in our bedroom while they were here.  Mom said I can get overly excited when we have company sometimes and things can get a little dicey.  Mom didn't want me to spoil my nice streak by being naughty and Sparky would have to report to the beg red guy.  Avalon never seems to have this problem but Mom said she had to keep me company so I would not feel left out.  I am soooo excited  to report  all was well but I think the snowman helped. 

Finally it was Christmas for us.  Sparky reported to the beg red guy that I was basically nice and Avalon was really nice.  We got new toys to play with and some really yummy puppy treats.  Mom was trying to give us a few but I just jumped up and took what I could since I didn't have to be nice anymore.  Avalon said Sparky saw it and she said he might report it back to the beg red guy when he leaves for the year.  I hope not and he forgets.   I will have to have a talk with him before he leaves but for some reason he doesn't really do anything but sit on the Santa hat and observe.  I was told his magic only happens at night so I might have to sneak out of the bedroom and go see him.  I don't want any bad reports going up to the North Pole !!

We changed up the marquee before Christmas so -

Fall and Thanksgiving

Fall is here because Mom and Dad spend a lot of time outside raking up things that fall from the trees.  Avalon and I usually just watch since there are no rakes designed for puppies.  I love our weekend walks around the lake.  There are soooo many new smells with all of the things 

falling from the trees.  No  swimming though.  Miss M comes over sometimes and takes Avalon and I out to play.  I do a little command training with her to keep her skills up.  Miss M also goes on walks with her BIG four legged puppy.  I am glad Miss M doesn't ride on my back.  It would look funny and I am not sure I could hold her up.  Maybe some day Miss M and I can go on a ride.  I wonder what a puppy saddle would look like ??  Will need one.

That white stuff fell from the sky. 

My two legged sister - Aunna and me had a health scare recently.  Aunna had to go to the emergency room and stayed in the hospital.  She has something now called migraines that effect her balance and vision.  On top of that she got a really bad upper respiratory bug.  Mom was spending a lot of time with Aunna and she got that bug too.  TWICE :(  Aunna has a four legged puppy but while she was at home recuperating another four legged baby came to live with them.  This one Mom said was a kitty.

 My scare was my legs just seemed to stop working.  I went to bed feeling just fine then the next morning they felt funny and I could not stand on them.  Dad tried to help me but nothing worked.  As soon as the puppy emergency room opened Mom took me.  They gave me something that made me fall asleep.  Mom told me they took x-rays of my legs and poked me to get some blood.  They didn't find anything so we were sent home with meds that made me feel loopy.  If things didn't get better in two days I was to go back.  However, after one day on the meds and resting I got up the next morning and surprised Mom and Dad by walking out of my bedroom.  Go figure ??

 I am so happy to announce we are going to be adding a new two legged person to our family.  That means our extended family will grow by one two legged person named Drew, one four legged puppy named Frankie and last one four legged kitty named Olive.  I heard there is something called a maid of honer and best man at a wedding so I am hoping they will be asking me and Frankie.  Maybe Sage can be a flower girl.

Mom and me changed out the marquee here at the lake and put up Tom Turkey

 Lots of human cooking went on all day on Thanksgiving.  

 Dad didn't have to do much cooking for our four legged Thanksgiving dinner.  It came in a bag.

This year it was just Mom, Dad, Avalon and I for Thanksgiving.  It seemed odd but Mom told me that family and friends were either leaving town or not coming to town this year. I thought this was kind of cool since that meant Avalon and I got to eat Thanksgiving dinner with Mom and Dad.  However, we only got our Thanksgiving dinner in the bag. Not so cool. The only sad thing about the Holiday was Dad's Huskers didn't win their football game so football season is now over for them.

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving