Thursday, June 28, 2012

New Collar!

I noticed the other day that the clip on Ro's collar was broken (it cracked and was barely hanging on).  So I ordered one online and it came in today!  You wouldn't believe how hard it is to transfer the license and rabies tags...maybe it's because my hands nerves aren't that great...but it took forever!  I even got her a new 'Quiet Spot' to match and keep the tags quiet! Doesn't she look beautiful?!

Also...she has a bad habit of sniffing the floor at home (which we've been working on).  Well, yesterday she came up to me and I was like "Ro....have you been sniffing the floor again??!"  She gave me her cute eyes, but also this "Uh....maybe..."  She had a green sprinkle on her nose from Anya's cookie, so there was no denying it.  Silly dog.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

We made it to the summer!  Our first working year together has gone pretty well.  Ro and I work really well out in public.  The only difficult time is when I am with the whole family!  I think it gets a little overwhelming for the both of us, and I think Ro feels a little responsible for Zander as she helped teach the little guy to walk!  It isn't all the time, usually just when the kids are really excited about something.  Now when I go out without her, which isn't often, it feels like I've forgotten something. 
So...it has been incredibly hot here lately, which doesn't bode well for me because my legs don't regulate my temperature very well.  We've had entirely too much time indoors...and here are some pics to prove it! :)
 Any guesses on whose hiding under the blanket with a dragon?!..........
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That's right!  A smiling dog named Ro!

We have managed to get out occasionally...but it seems so complicated!  The ground has been so hot for little Ro's feet, so I really have to be careful because I don't want to burn them. And then to top it off, we took the girls to dance class and because it was so hot I thought we'd wait in the car with the AC on.  Well we were PARKED for a good 40 min (relaxing...listening to music...talking...), and then a car came along and hit the van.  SERIOUSLY??  Argh...so now I have to figure out how to work in a repair.  The good thing though was that Ro was relaxing on the floor and it only jogged us and the kids weren't in the car.  Some paint damage and front quarter panel (something like that).  But still...I have terrible luck I think.  I'm just glad that neither of us were hurt.  
I have also been trying to get in shape more, so I have been heading to the gym each morning.  I haven't taken Ro yet as I only go for a short amount of time and it's usually during her morning nap! :)  But we are scheduled to go on another hand-cycling ride this Saturday!  I really hope it isn't like 105°F...that would be crazy!  I wish it would cool down so I could go out and practice more with Ro, we have our Public Access Test coming up and I'm super excited for this one!  As long as we pass, Ro officially becomes a part of our family!  She already is...they'd have to drag her away I think...

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Handcycling

Today we tried hand-cycling for the first time.  Ro did a great job of figuring out where to run next to me so that we didn't get tangled.  My best friend June came along for the ride, she did one of the hand cycles as well! I only got stuck once when I tried to turn around because we were going the wrong way.  A nice cyclist by us helped me get turned around and we were off again.  We were able to ride a total of four miles!  Ro was pretty tired at the end, but we had a lot of fun! :)





Monday, June 11, 2012

My sweet girl Ro! :)

I feel that it is once again time for an update as it's been awhile since we posted anything new.  The school year ended, and it was a difficult year indeed.  It is hard to balance something you feel so passionate about (teaching) with the politics of the education system in which I currently find myself.  I know that I will never fit any 'mold' of what a teacher or classroom should look like- I am a unique individual presented with a unique perspective and situation in life.  Every aspect of my life has been difficult this year, and I was very fortunate to have Ro listen to all my cries and whines as I struggled to find the courage to continue to move forward and figure out what my next step is.  I do think the biggest thing Ro does for me is just being next to me...even when I run to the restroom! :)
So what has Ro been up to over the last few months?!  We've been to the movies, out for dinners, to a dance recital, to visit my grandma who has been very sick...and much more- again to far in between updates to remember them all.  Just the other day we went over to Barb's house so Ro could play with two of her half-sisters and her good buddy Chivay!  She ran around for two hours straight and was SOOO excited!  I guess she deserves some time off since I work her so hard (sarcasm...about the overwork part!).  As soon as we got home, she walked right to her bed and didn't get up until morning!
I have also learned a lot about taking care of a dog.  I try hard to make sure she is a clean, lean, hardworking machine!! I really strive to make sure she behaves well, and that her cute tail is always wagging.  I like to think that my dog is the cutest one around.  My students were upset when they realized that Ro would not be moving onto the third grade with them next year, I told them although she is smart-she needed to be held back...mostly because I needed her help again!  I know that this summer is going to give us some much needed relaxing time together to prepare for the upcoming year.  It is going to be great-it has to be!
Last thing, today we started a summer camp called 'Camp Invention'.  There isn't much for Ro to do since there is lots of magnets and things in our unit-and I don't want her to topple over the kids towers and such.  She was so sweet and good about sitting in the corner today.  I felt bad, but really appreciate that on days when I need her to sit quietly, she is able to.  Such a blessing! :)  Here is a cute picture of her being her sweet self!
 My favorite little face!! (Mom...can I eat it now?  How about now?  Now?)

Don't even think about taking her favorite toy!  She likes to guard it...