The Happiest Place on Earth!

I don't have the traditional Disneyland pictures on my camera, but when I get them from other people's camera(s) I will post them as well. Camp starts on Saturday, but before it starts, my roommate and I and a friend decided to do a Southern California vacation. First stop...

DISNEYLAND!!!

The last car in the Disneyland train was made for Walt Disney's wife...Lillian Disney.

This car is only for VIP's (celebrities, kings, presidents and so on)...well, we were nosey

and found out about this car while we were riding in the last car for passengers...and since there was nobody in the car, they let us go back! It has carpet and velvet seats. There are pictures of the Disney's as well as lots of old antiques. It was a very cool experience!

Of course, we met Mickey and got our picture with him!

Saying Goodbye...

I already blogged about Edie's last day, however, I did want to post some pictures of her...

This is the last picture I took with Edie...at the puppy truck

which was really a training van...hence the picture was not in

front of the van like the typical goodbye picture!

The beagles that we live with own this little doggie couch

and we made it extra comfortable by putting an extra doggie

bed in the couch...The beagles rarely sleep on this couch,

but Edie sure loved it and was on it 90% of the time when we

were in the living room. The only way she would fit was to curl up

in a little tiny ball, so that is what she did!

No Fun

Yesterday was the day that I had to say goodbye to Edie-girl :( It wasn't so much fun...our day went like this:

6:30am: wake up
7:00am: go to work
12:30pm: leave work to drive to the puppy truck
1:15pm: get to the puppy truck and let Edie potty one last time
1:20pm:put Edie on the top passenger kennel in the training van (we didn't actually have the truck come, it was a training van instead)
1:25pm: leave the truck to go back to work

I have been extremely busy lately, so really haven't had a whole lot of time to think about Edie leaving...this made it easier to GO to the truck...but man did it make it HARD to leave her in that kennel :( I cried the whole way back to work, it was a sad day. Let me tell you, it NEVER gets easier to say goodbye to our puppies...

I have some pictures to post, but I will have to do it tonight when I am at home and not at work.

Grand Canyon and more Zion

It has been a busy week and I have not had time, want, or energy to update my beloved blog :) Finally today I had time...so here you go!

First, I will tell you about giving Ontario up. It was not an easy thing to do at all, I never imagined that I would give him up TWICE...but I was ok with it because I knew he was going to a great home and that he would be extremely happy and loved and get much more attention than I can give him. It was hard, we met the people at Jacob Lake which is about 40 miles from the Grand Canyon. Ontario was happy and didn't even look back when they walked away with him. He got in the car happily and that was that. I of course cried the whole hour to the Grand Canyon... I have since talked to his new mom a few times and he is doing VERY well in his new home. He gets to be the alpha dog in the home...which will be new to him, but his mom says he's picking up on it. He has a german shepherd brother in this home and so far they get along nicely and he is loved very much. I miss him a lot...

Second, Edie is leaving on Wed. I can't believe she is ready, but she shows me everyday how she is ready for her next adventure and she is! She is a sweet, adaptable, easy going little girl.

Third, I will be getting a new puppy in August--at least that is the plan. I am going to Camp Bloomfield again this summer and will get a transfer dog in August when I am done with camp...

Now...for the pictures...

Edie in Zion...she likes to turn her head

just as the camera clicks to take the picture!

Silly girl!

Zion Canyon...SO beautiful!
We learned that the rocks get their red color from rust...
Isn't that neat???
You can't drive your car to Zion Canyon, you have to ride a shuttle
Here is Edie riding the shuttle...

The GRAND Canyon...North Rim

Edie at the Grand Canyon, it wasn't hot, but I guess being black

it was possible that she was kind of hot which is why she is panting...

Edie being serious at the Grand Canyon

All in all, I think my roommate, Edie and I had a pretty good time at the Grand Canyon. It wasn't the best of days to be there...you can see that there isn't blue sky and you can't really see across the whole canyon (which is 14 miles across if you were wondering) and shortly after our picture taking and sight seeing was done and we were in the gift shop...it started hailing major and then there was a downpour. We took that time to do some shopping in the gift shop...and also eat lunch in the restaurant. Then we went back to Zion, where the weather was better.

St. George and Zion

Here are pictures that were promised. This weekend, my roommate, Ontario, Edie and I are traveling around Southern Utah. Today we went to Zion National Park and St. George where we are sleeping... so anyway the first few pictures are the St. George LDS (Mormon) Temple which is beautiful. This was one of the first working temples in the Church and was completed in 1877.

The front of the Temple says:

Holiness to the Lord

The House of the Lord

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints

St. George Temple

I think this picture with the flag and the sky is really cool!!!

Ontario and Me in Zion National Park

--he was being a brat and would look at the camera!

Zion National Park...

Ontario sitting pretty in Zion!

Possible calendar 2010 picture of Edie???

Sitting pretty in Zion

Edie was not real thrilled with this picture spot or something...

***We could not go to "The Grotto" which is the famous part of Zion because you have to ride a shuttle there and they don't allow dogs on the shuttle. Of course Edie--being a PIT would be fine, but Ontario is a pet and is not allowed on the shuttle. Tomorrow we are going to the Grand Canyon after we drop Ontario off with his new mom. Then on Monday morning we are going to go back to Zion and ride the shuttle and take some hikes with Edie...look for more pictures in the next few days!!!

This is a picture I took a few days ago, when I looked at the puppies and they were cuddled together on the bed...aren't they so cute???

Life as we know it...

Well, life as I know it is going to be changing for me in the next few weeks--no pictures right now, but I'll post pictures in the next day or two...

First, Ontario is going to be moving to Tucson, AZ. I never imagined that I would give him up...AGAIN...but indeed I will be giving him to somebody and he will no longer be living with me as my pet :( I don't quite know what to say about this! I am going to miss him more than I can even imagine at this point, but I know this is what his new mom needs and I know he will be extremely well cared for and loved--could I ask for anything more for him??? He's such a great dog and has brought so much happiness and joy to my life in the 2 years I've had him...I guess now it's time for him to do the same for his new mom. I know I will still hear about him and see him, but it is wierd to think that he will no longer be "mine".

Second, Edie had an evaluation with our CFR yesterday and passed with flying colors! She is a wonderful girl and I didn't expect anything less than to show our CFR how amazing she is...and Edie was amazing and pretty near perfect. So what does this mean??? This means that Edie is ready for the next step...she is ready to go to training to learn to be a guide dog! She will be going on the puppy truck to San Rafael on June 3. When I got her, I was told I was getting a naughty dog (my favorite), however, Edie has NEVER been a naughty girl for me. She is a sweet dog with a great personality who just wants to do what people ask her to do and get some lovin' in along with doing what she is supposed to do. She has been the PERFECT dog for me! I love this little girl and am going to miss her, but am excited for her to go to training and do what she was born to do!

And...

Third, there are 11 more days of school and then I will have survived my first year as a teacher...but who's counting???

15 more days

There are 15 more days of school for my students...but who's counting???

15 more days

There are 15 more days of school for me and my students...but who's counting???

confessions...

With my recent illness...I wanted to come clean about a few things...

1. I don't really like dogs...I like raising guide dog puppies, and I tolerate dog hair from the dogs I live with...ok, I even love the dogs I live with...but I am annoyed with everybody else's dog when they aren't well behaved, and I don't ever give advice, because I know the other person isn't going to follow through (the exception to this is of course GDB puppies which are always perfect ;))

2. I look forward to watching the biggest loser every tuesday night...I wait a whole week to watch it! I love the show and I love to eat junk food ie. ice cream, chocolate, etc while I'm watching the contestants try to lose weight.

3. I love musicals and mormon tabernacle choir music...I even listen to these genre's during the week...especially the musicals. I'm horrible about being able to tell you the latest "popular" songs on the radio, but I can listen to show-tunes saturday night (a radio show we have) and am pretty good at telling you which song the musical is from.

4. I have to read my emails from oldest to newest...no matter what. Even when I am waiting for something...like the phase report, I still read from oldest to newest.

5. I love to read self-help books and books about money and how to be finacially fit--Dave Ramsey is my favorite.

6. I have like 20 What Not to Wear's recorded on my DVR...i'll get around to them some weekend, when i am not busy.

7. I used to hate shopping...but now, I can't go more than a few days without at least looking for something at a store!!!

8. I watch Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters...i'm not as addicted to them as I am the biggest loser, but I do make sure I get around to watching them on Sunday night (of course they are recorded)

Ok...I can't think of any more confessions right now...I am a nerd, whatever, live with it!

Since I've been home...

I have been trying to get pictures that are calendar worthy...what do you think???

And we had bath day at the dog wash...

Edie was less than thrilled...

Ontario didn't have any objections...he didn't mind the bath in the least!

While in Philly

My sister in law and I went to New York City for a day when I was visiting. We rode the train from New Jersey to New York Penn Station. Then we stayed in a hotel close to times square...

We also...

Saw Wicked on Broadway!!!

This picture is dark...but it's more of Wicked...

Went to the top of the Empire State building...

And Visited the Manhatten LDS Temple. We went through a session at the temple which was amazing...it was beautiful!

The temple is across the street from Juliard...

so we saw Juliard as well as the Metropolitan Opera House

and a very nice part of the city!

Trip to Philadelphia

I went to Philadelphia for my spring break...I didn't take many pictures in Philly...but I went to spend time with my 3 nieces and my nephew as well as my brother and sister in law. It was a great trip and I had a lot of fun. These pictures were taken at a mall when my sister in law and I treated ourselves to the Cheesecake Factory and some shopping. Of course we stopped at the carosel for the 2 kids we had with us...

This is my nephew and my sister in law! He LOVES elephants!

My niece...she loves horses!!!

Before I went on the trip, I was home sick for several days. I won't go into details....but I got bored and so this is a picture of Ontario's eye...just because I guess :)

Last night I was talking to Ontario and he was cauking his head and it was cute...and since yesterday was the 2 year anniversary since I got Ontario as a 10 week old baby and the first pictures I have of him he was doing the same thing... (he still has very big ears, sometimes they don't seem so big...but they really are as big as they are in pictures. At 2 years and 2 months...i don't think he has potential to "grow into them")

Isn't he beautiful? SO handsome!!!

That's the life...he knew what he was doing when he failed GDB school :)

Edie sleeping in the "pretty pretty princess" bed (2 costco beds stacked)

Does she not look soooo comfortable???

She LOVES laying on her bed!

Pretty Profile!

I guess she's winking with that right eye???

Pretty girl on her bed!

Hopefully this makes up for the lack of pictures AND posting in the past few weeks. I've been really sick this past week, so me and the dogs did A LOT of this "resting" stuff! They are such angels though, especially Edie. She has been so curious and sweet to check on me very often and just to make sure I was alive. She is going to be an incredible dog for somebody in a few months! Whether it's as a guide or as a pet or a k9 buddy or d4d dog. I really think she will be a girl with a job, but she is just the sweetest dog! She is approaching her first b-day in 15 days. Of course we are going to find some good photo shoots in the next few weeks, so look for more pictures to come of the pretty girl!