Dog

Nope, dog didn't work out... Turbo is too young apparently... or maybe we just aren't "dog people"... not really sure, just know it wasn't going to work. He was a pretty good dog though...

SCHOOL!!!

So Saturday was the schools openhouse :) And then today Goober and Lissy took off for the big first day!

And yes, I'm aware that these don't look much like "first day" pictures... I think it's the lack of backpacks, but HEY no backpacks means no daily homework... and I'm ALL FOR that! :)

And in other recent news, we are "trying out" a dog for a couple of days. Here, meet Whiskey... he's a mutt, but a pretty nice one and he isn't going to grow any more... I do have to brush him and if we keep him I'm going to have to cut his hair too. Sooooo we shall see....

July 3rd... cause that's how our city does it.

So on July 3rd we went to the Parade... because as I mentioned in a previous post, our city has issues with celebrating our country's independance day on the sabbath... even if that country was founded on the principal of freedom of religion. Hmmm.

Anyways, it was bitter freezy COLD at the parade. My kids all had long pants and jackets and were still complaining about how cold it was! Thank goodness it started to warm up after a bit!

The parade started...

Then it stopped... for about 20 minutes. Come to find out later that one of the BMX bikers hurt himself and thought he had broken his ankle... glad it wasn't worse. As we waited a couple of helicopters flew by....

And I think the kids were more excited about them than about any of the rest of the parade... and that included the horses and the BMX bikers doing awesome tricks and flips and stuff!

After the parade we went home and made everyone take a nap... because, lets face it, late night watching fireworks at the parents house and an early morning at the parade PLUS a late night planned for watching fireworks that night equals.... notsomuchfun. So our kids were mad, but we were glad!

We took a nap.

Then we headed to one of Jeremy's coworkers houses for a BBQ. Mmmmmm yummy kebabs with zucchini and squash and Parmesan cheese on top! Heaven!

And besides Turbo got to get exposed to dogs...

 Shamus the boxer.... sooooo cute... want one!

Turbo was fine as long as he had a water gun handy. :)

and he had a blast shooting the adults! It wasn't so much a game of avoiding being shot as it was of standing still and hoping he didn't hit you. All the people there were awesome though and seemed to enjoy his antics!

We had a great time... and so did the kids!

In the end we walked down to the river to watch the fireworks and then we headed home to enjoy the rest of the weekend!

The Grumpy Dog Issues Lady

Ok, first let me point out that I like dogs. I grew up with dogs. I've owned dogs. My dad bred dogs when I was a kid.

Dogs are fun, and good to have around especially when you have kids. Sometimes people just need someone to listen and have no fear of it getting around :) Can you tell I was a kid that used to go outside, sit by my dog, put my arm around her and blahblahblah and sometimes bawl... cause really? That dog ain't going to judge you no matter how much of an irrational teenager you are! And it sure as heck isn't going to tell that really cute boy that you are desperately in love with him.

Anywho, as I was walking around my neighborhood yesterday searching out parents of the little punks that were picking on Goober... I noticed a LOAD of dogs. Some small, some big. Mostly nice dogs. Very few confined. One dog ran up to me, sniffed me out and wagged his tail. If EB had been with me he would have been TERRIFIED.

I continued on my way and proceeded to go in my front door, blocking aforementioned dog from coming in with me (he seemed set on it). After a few minutes I heard scratching on my front door. So I headed back outside to see if this dog had tags... mainly cause I really am not fond of having my door scratched up by a random dog.

Low and behold he had a tag. Yay! Hammer was his name (who names their dog that?!) and he was a sweet dog, but from about three blocks away. I called the phone number on his tag and got a voicemail. So I decided to walk him home... hoping for a fence or something to keep him there.

There wasn't a fence, but a chain in the front so I tied him up and went on my way back home. Kind put out that it was left to me to take care of someone elses dog.

Later I got a call from the lady of the house saying thanks for bringing him back and that she had just let him out to "do his duty" and that he usually wanders off, but comes back after a while. I replied that I was glad he had a tag so I would know where to take him. Her reply? He had been picked up by animal control a couple of times and so they decided to get him a tag.

Now, here's what I don't understand. Having been a dog owner myself I understand that sometimes a dog will escape, sometimes they run off when you are cleaning the car in the driveway and let them out while you are outside. What I really don't get is if a dog has been picked up by the animal control more than once, shouldn't that be an indication that they shouldn't be running around loose? While I'm glad they got a tag for the dog, many people wouldn't bother to look for one and would instead just call animal control.

I know that people think their dogs are sweet and not bothering anyone. I know that. I don't have a problem with how nice or not nice their dog is (which sometimes totally changes when their owners aren't around). I have a problem with the fact that my youngest son is scared spitless by cats.... let alone DOGS... which are usually bigger (and whom, I might add, might not be current on their shots and might actually be a danger to my children).

Then there is the whole dog doo on your lawn thing. I know dog owners don't think it's that big of a deal... it is after all a lot less than what they clean up on a weekly basis. Thing is, I don't know it's there before me or one of my kids step in it... and then I get to do that whole, scrape the crap off the bottom of the shoe with a toothpick thing. And that is besides the fact that this is one of the main reasons I don't currently own a dog.

Now, I don't want to be a pain in my neighbors butts. I don't want to complain to them, mainly because they are nice people and generally law abiding ...besides there are already laws about having your dogs loose. Shouldn't that be enough? If you have a dog. Get a fence. Then you won't have to feel bad about the dog not being able to run around a bit, then you won't have to make sure they don't run off when you let them out to relieve themselves. I now fences are pricey. I know! I've put one in myself. But if a fence is too much, isn't a dog too much?

I just don't get it I guess.