Thursday, December 22, 2011

Merry Christmas from Dravet's Kids around the world!

This is a beautiful video montage of children around the world with Dravet's Syndrome.  They are beautiful, beautiful children!!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150443890296938

Friday, December 16, 2011

A Blast from the Past

Had a nostalgic moment this afternoon as I looked at the wall of fame.  Again found myself missing our 2010 4 Paws family!

Stood in front of this "Wall of Fame" thinking it looked suspiciously like the one we signed the last time we were here!






We searched and searched for Hudson and Lorelai and the other families but couldn't seem to find them.  Miss you all May 2010 class!!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Last Day

Today was our last day of tracking and training.  It was pouring rain and we were soaked to the skin by the time we finished tracking.  Fortunately, it was 12 degrees Celsius so at least we weren't wet AND cold.  We make a quick trip back to the hotel to change into dry clothes and then spent our last training afternoon.  


Tomorrow each team does a public access test and then we have graduation in the afternoon.  We know from experience that it will be a bitter-sweet day.  On the bright side, we get to graduate with our dogs and go home.  On the down side, we will be leaving new friends.  



Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Training - December 14, 2011

 Stormie

Julie and Stormie

Heather and Hazy

Connor, Training Assistant

Me and Lilly, Heeling off leash

Pretty Stormie

Connor sitting pretty

Yoyo's little girl likes to dress her up!

Janet and Hattie doing "lap"

Julie and Stormie doing "lap"

Dawsyn playing with Megan




Tracking - December 14, 2011

Waiting in the rain for our turn to track.

 Ollie - doing what boys do best when puddles are available!

 Julie and Stormie

 Heather and Hazy

Hazy

Dawsyn and her latest crush, Jeremy

I do believe they are rather taken with each other!

 Yup, the feeling's mutual!!

 The Atwell family and Clifford

Heather and Ollie heading out to hide

Lilly just waiting for her chance to "seek"

Still waiting!  Notice huge muddy feet ... hmm?!

Julie, Paula, Joey and Stormie

Dawsyn and Yarden (Jordan) heading off to hide

Lilly did her job and now Dawsyn is heading back with Jessa and Jeremy, her parents all but forgotten!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

We visited Santa's wonderland this evening.  Who knew Santa hung out in Ohio?  You can visit too at http://www.cliftonmill.com/

The covered bridge at the entrance was beautiful.






The Mill itself is gorgeous!






 I have never seen so many Santa's in one place!   


This was my favorite!



Dawsyn and Kaitlyn





The miniature village was fantastic.  There was a cool drive-in theatre, a log house on fire with fire engines engaged, a train, and so much more!!  

 This was the COOLEST teeny little campground!

 An airport

 A school house




The drive-in was complete with fare skippers crawling out of trunks!

 A carnival with ferris wheel and carousel.

 House on fire









Dawsyn was really intrigued with Santa Claus.  Every now and again he'd leave his busy work in the workshop and pop out the chimney to wave and "Ho Ho Ho" to the children.  She would shyly look up at him and wave every time.  If we were a ways away, she'd take off running toward the workshop when he'd appear.  Prior to this evening, she's never shown any interest in Santa at all.  


What a fun evening and the weather cooperated by staying above freezing.