Update on Lola's training

Lola had her second lesson on Monday and Alan (the trainer) was so impressed. He said it was like she was a completely different dog. She even let a dog walk all the way around our court without whining or crying or trying to play - she actually just sat when I told her to sit and watched him walk by. That is serious progress! But we aren’t ready to venture off of our street just yet.

We have almost completely (about 90%) broken her of jumping on people when she greets them. All it took was shaking an empty coke can duct taped with 14 pennies in side. We did that twice and she was so scared (It actually makes me feel bad)! Now all you have to do is pick up the can and she is a perfect angel.

Right now we are working on:
*Come – Every time I say to, not just when she feels like it.
*Waiting to go through the doorway until she is invited (in or out of the house)

Still to learn:
*How to go for a walk- past other dogs - without whining, crying and pulling
*Not barking at dogs as they pass by the window

I feel like the training is more for me than it is for her! I am so proud of her. She is such a quick learner. I have to say though, I am pretty proud of myself, too, because training a dog - really training a dog, is hard work...But it is paying off!

Big Feat

This Saturday I participated in the Victory over Violence 5k benefiting the Fort Worth Women's Shelter. There was a small group of us from work that did it together, so our team name was "Big Feat". Get it? We work for Big Brothers Big Sisters; you use your feet to run, running 3 miles is a big feat... Very clever, I thought. Wish I would have been the one to come up with it, but I owe all the credit to Lauren.

This is what Freddy and Rich did during the race.

My neighbors, Sara and Austin, ran the race with us, too.

The "Big" Crew - Charles, Rita, me and Lauren.

I can't believe she is two!

My best friend's daughter, Landri, turned two. I can't believe it! Wasn't she just born...yesterday?

Landri giving her daddy some sugars.

I missed Landri sticking her finger in her cake the first time, so I made her do it again so that I could get a picture. Her mom just went with it - what a good sport.

Me and the Birthday Girl!

Me and Kristi

Walk the Dog

Last Thursday Lola and I had our first private lesson with a professional dog trainer. Don't make fun. Alan (the trainer) walked Lola and she did OKAY, but then we walked by our neighbor's fence with a dog in the backyard. Lola went nuttso. She wanted to play with that dog SOOO bad. She whined, she cried, she was obsessed. Really. Alan said that he, and most vets, would classify her behavior as obsessive. Yikes. I didn't know it was that bad. On the bright side, at least she isn't aggressive.

So...We start with getting her to heel (or is it spelled "heal"?- either way you know what I mean). Once she has mastered that, we move on to walking by other dogs. I work with her for 5-10 minutes a day, several times a day.She is making progress already! She doesn't try to walk in front of me anymore. She hasn't mastered sitting when I stop, but she is getting better. Yay!!!

Old neighbors; Good times

Our old neighbor, Rich, came in town this week for work. He decided to stay the weekend and hang out with the coolest neighbors he will ever have! We had fun just cooking out on Friday night. Saturday we went to the Victory Over Violence Race, out to breakfast and also to dinner. Sunday the boys went golfing (while Sara and I went shopping, of course) and then he left Sunday night. It was a very nice visit and the only thing that would have made it nicer is if his wife, Carla, could have come, too.

Playing Catch-up

Let me catch you up on last weekend before I post about this one.

Well...we went to Stephenville (aka "The Ville") for AGR Founder's Day. AGR is Alpha Gamma Rho - Freddy's fraternity. It was way more fun this year than it has been in years past. The beer and wine may have had something to do with it (I deserve to let loose every once in a while!), but really the Casino Night was what made it so fantastic.

They hired a company to come in, set up and staff the casino night. I would like to send a special Shout Out to our blackjack dealer, Mikey. He cheated for us every once in a while, but don't tell anyone because we won tons of fake money.

Me and Freddy...I look tired!

Freddy, Brady, Brady's guitar and Brady's pink koozie.

A night of "partying" (if you can even call it that anymore - we were in bed by 1) in the ville is not complete without a trip to Whataburger or, in this case, Peacock's.

Me and Rachel playing blackjack. I wish we would have taken a picture with Mikey.

AttennnnnnTION!

My friend Jessica has twins that turn two in May. I was so proud of her creativity when I received the invitation to their birthday party! It was so cute that I had to share. I scanned it on a black and white scanner, so try to picture it in it’s full camo-colored glory!

Disclaimer: Portions of this invitation have been whited-out so to conceal my friend’s personal information…and to keep random blog readers from showing up to this super-fun birthday party!