Look who is sitting up!

Such a big boy!

AZ Monsoon

I got a call from Drew yesterday afternoon so I could hear the rain, thunder and lightening as he was standing ankle deep in water!  This is the time of year that they have monsoon rains and this was his first experience.  This is a pic of the streets in Tucson.

Puppy Class

Last nite Jim and I went to a Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) puppy training class to meet the puppy raiser for Licorice, the dog we are hoping gets released.  The puppy raiser wanted to meet us because she is the person they contact first if Licorice gets released and then she can tell them she has a family lined up for her.

When we were walking up to the building we saw a lady with a young pup in training and I asked her where to go.  She pointed me in the right direction and we headed in.  Along the way she asked me if I wanted to raise a puppy and I responded, "no, we are hoping to get a released dog."  And she said, "Licorice?  I am her puppy raiser!".  So if you believe in signs then this was a good one!

We chatted with her for about 10 minutes in the parking lot and by the end she was asking if we would adopt her too!  She loved what we do with our dogs - backpacking, boating, hiking, swimming, camping, walks everyday!

When we were chatting we got to meet her new pup - 3 month old Lois!  What a kook!  She had that crazy, wild eyed lab look.

After chatting for awhile we went into the training class just in time to see "play time".  That is where they bring all the dogs outside, take off their vests and let them loose in a free for all doggie chaos.  And then they call them back, make them lay down and be calm.  It was a hoot to watch!  Jim got some video that I will try to upload.

After that they came in for some training.  They worked on stairs (you can see a stage in the back of the picture that they walked up the stairs and then down the stairs on the other side), walked by a toy, and walked by a pile of kibble.  Towards the end, they all down stayed their dogs right by the kibble and right by other dogs.  That was funny too because all of a sudden someone would decide to get up and lay on someone else.

The last thing they did was show the puppy raisers how to teach the dog shake, roll over and visit (put its head in your lap).

Licorice has 3 more months of training and could be released at anytime.  Her raiser thought that if she did get released it would be because of her prey drive.  She said that of the 15 puppies she has raised (yes - that is right - 15 puppies!) that Licorice had the strongest prey drive of any of them.  She said that when they went for hikes she would constantly be on the look out for prey - which is not what they want a service dog doing.

So - keep your fingers crossed.  My thinking is that this is a win win situation.  If she gets released we get a great dog.  If she does not get released someone who needs her gets a great dog!

A Manny and his Charges

Love this pic of Muncle Marty and his babies in Arizona!  No one ever had a better "Manny".  These are lucky, lucky kids!

Mount Lemmon

Cactus last ditch effort to grow at high elevations

On our last day in AZ we took a trip to Mount Lemmon.  Leslie and her kids went with us.

We really enjoyed the day - hiking around and checking out the ski slopes.  The ski resort is tiny! 

 

The cookie cabin - had lunch and a giant cookie

Ski run

At the top

Random Arizona Pics

At the Frog and Firkin....again!

 Here are some random pics from our AZ trip.

Marty as mannequin

Bookstore fun - which is the mannequin

Tried to get this for the dorm room

Marty's burger - what the heck was he thinking

Outside of Drew's dorm on move in day

We called this the Missy and Shelly saguaro

Hamming it up - tried to hug a cactus

Desert Museum

Yesterday we went to the Desert Museum about 25 minutes from U of A.  It is a really nicely done museum but most of it is outside and it was HOT!  And it really was not even a hot day.  The plants were amazing and the ecology of the desert is so interesting.

The best part of the day was when Grace found a wild rattle snake under a sign for a kestrel exhibit.  We were about 1 foot away from it.  At first we were not sure it was real because the rattles were red, white and blue.  We told a docent about it and he called in a snake 911 on his radio.

A snake expert came out right away and grabbed him while telling us about his.

He was a repeat wild snake to the area.  His rattles were painted red and blue by the museum when he was previously caught.  They also put a microchip in them when they catch them.  They were going to take him to their laboratory and check him out and then release him back into the wild.

After we finished at the museum, we went to the University and saw Amanda's dorm room.  There are three girls in the room and way to much stuff!  Lots of knick knacks, clothes, food, shoes, chairs... 

After the dorm tour we went to get some cards, sat down at the Frog and Firken and played Kings in the Corner and waited for Kayla, Jordan, the Courtney's and the boys for dinner.

Unfortunately in the middle of the game, we had a monsoon downpour and we were sitting outside!  We quick had to put the cards away - wait 10 minutes and then it stopped.

We had a really nice dinner visiting with everyone.  Drew had gone to a required class in the morning, got all his books and took a nap!  The kids all look saucer eyed and overwhelmed.  Each time the boys said they needed something I told them to go get it instead of myself or Luke's mom going to get it.  Our jobs are done!  My job now is to only manage the BIG issues!  And I like that!

Drop Off

Desk area

Drop off day was INCREDIBLY smooth and easy!

We shopped at Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond, picked up our pre-ordered linens and headed to lunch for giant burgers.  Then we went to the dorm about an hour and half early and asked if we could just move in the....yep!  Off we went.

With the help of 3 students everything was loaded into bins and wheeled into the room.  Drew's room mate, Luke, was right behind us and he came in a few minutes later.

All of us and his folks unloaded everything, set them up and were done within an hour!  We hung out a few minutes, took some pics and then headed out to leave them to figure out how to be freshman.

It was short lived because they (Drew, Amanda and Luke) showed up 40 minutes later while we were having our celebratory beer at Frog and Firkin (a pub)!

Their dorm door

Luke and his normal happy self

Roomies

Leaving for School

Left yesterday to take Drew to college!  It was a smooth but long trip - had a couple delays.

We got here, rented a brand new 2015 Tahoe and went and pick up Amanda from campus.  We quickly met her room mates and went to eat some Mexican food.  Amanda filled us in on the rushing scoop - she has 6 houses to visit today.

Then we headed to my girlfriend's house who lives in Vail, AZ.  It took about 30 minutes to drive there and we got there at 10 pm and were settled by 11 pm.  Her house is beautiful and so AZ like:

And of course I have fallen in love with her dog Scooter.

Stay tuned for more details...move in is this afternoon.

Boxer Boy

Murray got a hair cut yesterday and whenever that happens, we are offended that his "junk" is hanging out.  So I decided to cover him up with a pair of Marty's boxer shorts.

It led to lots of giggles.  But he was not amused.  The best angle for viewing was from the back -- it was hysterical!

Family Pic

A quick pic before Mari and Kyle headed to the game.  William is 5 months and 1 week old.  Not sitting up yet but he has two teeth!

Will Day!

"Don't mess with me!  I am with my Uncle Jim!"

We got to watch Will all day today while Mari and Kyle went to the 49er/Broncos game.  You would have thought we had all won the lottery - we were so EXCITED!

And it was better than we even imagined.  He was a complete angel all day.  He just smiled, played and chatted the whole day.

We took him to G's soccer game and he loved being outside.  Then we got home and he watched the game with Drew.  At one point he was laying on a blanket, rolled over and went to sleep.  Such a sweet boy!

The only issue is the wrestling match that occurs when he is eating...he never sits still!  Crazy kid!

Selfie!

Mid play session and then it was time for a nap!

Ready for the soccer game

Buddies

So happy!