College + Three Dogs

Me @ 16 w/ Puppy #1 

The great thing about going to college while living at home is, I don't have to leave my animals behind him. I've always had a puppy accompany to my college classes, and one at home as my pet. 

Can I tell you something? I love my dogs, I really do, but ...and I know you moms out their are cringing however as the oldest of six, I think I'm qualified to have some idea of this statement...

"Having Three dogs is like having kids." 
With the exception that they can't talk. Much.

I don't travel much.
I don't spend more than 8 hours away from my home,without checking or sending someone to check.
I can't just leave the house on a whim.
I feel guilty if I have leave again if I've just come home.
My life pretty much revolves around making sure they have proper amounts of exercise.
My paycheck revolves around food and care for them.

While I love all of my puppies, I do wonder sometimes, how I wound up with three of them, and day dream how easy life would be with only one.

I don't think I'd know what to do with myself.

Oh wait, I remember now, when I had two, I worked a dog daycare, so they just went to work with me, and I had no real how care for them, life was good.

And when I had 3-4, I also worked a dog friendly job.

Me @ Dog Daze Doggy Daycare

Enter job that they can't come too and then life gets a lot harder.

Today for instance, I had to get homework done, so I forced myself to put the dogs on the back burner, make sure they got outside to potty? Yes, made sure they were fed, watered, and had toys? Yes. But no long play/walk/training sessions UNTIL HOMEWORK IS DONE.

It wasn't easy since they don't deal with down time very well, (especially after just being crated for the last five hours)

So here I am, attempt to figure out Truth Tables, and I have a lab running in and out of the room because he's bored, a dachshund hopping on and off the bed, scuffling with the lab over various toys, another dachshund, whining at your elbow because you didn't give her the granola you were eating..

Yes there were moments where I just screamed in frustration, which only gave me a moments peace, as the dogs stopped what they were doing to peer at me curiously, before returning to their antics..

But I did it, and still had some daylight left to let them run around for a good 30 minutes or so.

I really wish I could resolve not to get another puppy until Summer of next year, but God knows I'm weak when it comes to puppy faces.

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

9 wk old Pompei in the snow

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

9 wk old Midnight on my lap

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

7wk old Rob (and Midnight's baby) in the grass

Aww who needs sanity. I've lasted without it this long!

College + Three Dogs

Me @ 16 w/ Puppy #1 

The great thing about going to college while living at home is, I don't have to leave my animals behind him. I've always had a puppy accompany to my college classes, and one at home as my pet. 

Can I tell you something? I love my dogs, I really do, but ...and I know you moms out their are cringing however as the oldest of six, I think I'm qualified to have some idea of this statement...

"Having Three dogs is like having kids." 
With the exception that they can't talk. Much.

I don't travel much.
I don't spend more than 8 hours away from my home,without checking or sending someone to check.
I can't just leave the house on a whim.
I feel guilty if I have leave again if I've just come home.
My life pretty much revolves around making sure they have proper amounts of exercise.
My paycheck revolves around food and care for them.

While I love all of my puppies, I do wonder sometimes, how I wound up with three of them, and day dream how easy life would be with only one.

I don't think I'd know what to do with myself.

Oh wait, I remember now, when I had two, I worked a dog daycare, so they just went to work with me, and I had no real how care for them, life was good.

And when I had 3-4, I also worked a dog friendly job.

Me @ Dog Daze Doggy Daycare

Enter job that they can't come too and then life gets a lot harder.

Today for instance, I had to get homework done, so I forced myself to put the dogs on the back burner, make sure they got outside to potty? Yes, made sure they were fed, watered, and had toys? Yes. But no long play/walk/training sessions UNTIL HOMEWORK IS DONE.

It wasn't easy since they don't deal with down time very well, (especially after just being crated for the last five hours)

So here I am, attempt to figure out Truth Tables, and I have a lab running in and out of the room because he's bored, a dachshund hopping on and off the bed, scuffling with the lab over various toys, another dachshund, whining at your elbow because you didn't give her the granola you were eating..

Yes there were moments where I just screamed in frustration, which only gave me a moments peace, as the dogs stopped what they were doing to peer at me curiously, before returning to their antics..

But I did it, and still had some daylight left to let them run around for a good 30 minutes or so.

I really wish I could resolve not to get another puppy until Summer of next year, but God knows I'm weak when it comes to puppy faces.

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

9 wk old Pompei in the snow

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

9 wk old Midnight on my lap

Sanity vs. Puppy Breath 

7wk old Rob (and Midnight's baby) in the grass

Aww who needs sanity. I've lasted without it this long!

A Series of Adjustments

I have this bad habit of starting a post and never finishing them, so in an attempt to go ahead and post them here are some I started last week. Let's hope I can remember WHY I started those posts! :) 


- Monday October 11, 2010 


Life is a series of adjustments.
And most of the time I hate having to adjust.
Its the before God, Honest, Truth.
I don't like big changes.
Hence why it took me two years to move to TN.
I couldn't comprehend laying aside all my plans and diving off a cliff into the unknown.
God had to straighten me out on that one.
However I have found that I'm sort of a control freak.
I hate it when things don't the way I've carefully planned them to go.
As in go into slight panic attack, shortness of breath, tightening of chest sort of "hate". 


After the first six months of this year, I'd thought I'd gotten past this stage. If you haven't notice, this has been a, less than ideal year for me, I hate complaining or even mentioning anything about it, because I know there are those going through MUCH WORSE then being broke. At least I have a job to keep the money coming in (as it goes out the back door).  But that doesn't mean its any less serious. 


Without any money that meant a LOT of what I had planned for this year, in regards to trips, and just life things such as school etc.. had to go by the wayside. I had to change a LOT of what I had in mind for this year. 


So one would think I'd be used to it by now. 


I'm not. 


So I had this plan, Pompei (the yellow lab/golden pup I'm training to be a future guide dog aka seeing eye dog) was to stay with me for about a year. I raise and train him during that time, and then send him back to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, so he can continue his journey to becoming someone's eyes. I found out around May that my group leader was housing a German Shepherd that was to be used as a Breeder for a new line of dogs that GDF was going to work with. I asked our representative if I could raise one of the puppies and was given the affirmative. So I began planning my life towards getting a fifth guide dog puppy around late November, and sending Pompei back around that time as well. 


Now this may seem like a little thing to those who are not puppy raisers. Its just a dog.  Um..No. When I say I'm a volunteer I mean I pretty much center my life around this pup for the year its with me. When they are puppies we can only leave them alone for a certain amount of time, so I have to arrange for someone to check in or watch said puppy if I can't do it. Since my job doesn't allow me to have the pups at work with me, I having to make my schedule so I can have time to go home, pick up the puppy and proceed on to school. 


So 75% of my life is spent wearing my puppy raiser hat. And I love it. My plan was to go ahead bring puppy number 5 into my home and after that take a break for a couple of months, just to have a little down time. 


That was MY plans. 


So when I heard that we welcomed 9 more future guide dog puppies into the world  on 10/10/10. I was estactic! Not only would I get to follow my newest baby before he/she got here but I was FINALLY raising something without "retriever" in its name. 

All those plans were shattered today. Yes shattered may be a bit dramatic...but I had the last couple months of this year set to go in a certain vein, I had my trips and school planned around it. I had my mind getting prepared for it, and within five minutes of sending an email those plans were tip off the self they were sitting precariously on. 


Apparently my name was never written down on the list for one of these special pups, thus knocking me out of the running for one. 


I'd forgotten the puppy raiser motto to "write it in pencil" and had most satisfactorily written that down in ink. 


::Saturday October 16, 2010:: 


Now that I've had time to work through my feelings, move on, face bigger more important "problems" such as my $193.50 charge for those registration tickets, and having the money for that....I've come to realize this is a little deeper then just not getting a GSD pup. Its more about loosing Pompei.


Pompei is special. This is another one of those "you've got to be a PR to know what i'm talking about moments" but I'll try to explain. 

With the high volume of dogs going through my home, you don't BOND  with every dog. There are some dogs you just live with. Out of 12 trainee's only four would I have kept as a long term pet..had I been given the option. The fourth of that group being Pompei. 

I think I was hoping by getting a GSD that it wouldn't feel like I was replacing Pompei's presence in my house. This next puppy has some high standards to live up to, and I guess I didn't want just ANY puppy that was available. I can understand a little better why people don't get new dogs soon after their previous one passes. 


Now that I've had time to work through my emotions and adjust my thinking, I'll most likely wait and see what I feel closer to Pompei's IFT. I've never been through a semester dog-less.  I've never been without a service dog pup for more than a month in the last five years.


I don't know if could take a break now, even if I wanted to. 


We.Shall.See. 


Though I've heard rumors that Midnight (first picture) is supposed to go into heat sometime soon....thinking about waiting for one of her pups...  

Until another thought strikes me,

                                             

Summer Week 5

[1] Fun weekend. Finally. I was way tired of staying home, and felt less guilty about ditching the pups for a day, since Pompei got neutered and is on "house arrest". So Rebekah and I  went to Panera and talked and talked, then to McKay's Bookstore, and the mall for some splurging fun. :) I finally found some white shoes at Payless.. I may have to return them for now, so I can make it through the week, but its breaking my heart! I also finally got around to using my Areopostle gift card, which Roomie gave to me at Christmas.. I know, I know.

[2] After all that spending, I came to the sad realization that I was broke, and still have another week before payday. So Sunday I spent a lot of the day budgeting, planning what have you. I really really need to save some monies, cause I really really really really really really really want another car. Like real bad.
[3] Umm...listing my Canon Rebel xti on Ebay. Good bye Camera, you were good too me but its time for to find a new home. Works great, but I like my Sony a lot better, the colors on it are so much better SOOC. 3 out of 4 pics on here were took with Sony can you tell which one was with a different camera?  Also listing my school books as well. Finally.

[4] My life is ridiculously boring right now. If you can't tell.
[5] Summer Projects: About me Scrapbook, Daily Photo, Photobook for Rei's handler, photobook for Midnight's new family, and of course Pompei's scrapbook, and wittle down my 101 N 1001
[6] The job hunt has slowed down to a crawl. I really waiting to see them outcome of certain things going on here, before I move too a more active hunt, plus I'd really like to be a job more than well 8-12 months for once. Plus who says having a career in one field is fun anyhow? My roommate is trying to get to come work with her at her school for Special Ed. I'm tempted but scared, that I'm not qualified.
[7] Finished the Vampire Diaries series last night, how anti-climatic I can't believe it ended the way it did! ARGH!!!

[8] Re-Organized my closet Friday. I need more summer clothes still. I need money to buy more summer clothes. I need another job, so I can have extra money to purchase summe....you get the point.


[9] Baby my neighbor was babysitting

[10] Good Bye

Daily Thoughts

The random ramblings of me in 140 characters.....

• 21:13 Just realized I have Midnight's BC number..need to get up my nerve and call. I miss that dog still so much. #
• 21:14 Midnight was the third puppy I raised as a guide dog, she was chosen as a breeder last Jan..? #
• 21:15 Survival mechanism has been not to think about her much, so don't realize how much i miss her. #
• 11:32 @kimhalligan1 Pompei is the fourth pup, 1st didn't make it,2nd is a guide,3rd is a breeder and then Pompei :) #
• 11:33 @LeaderDogMom well that's cool! #
• 11:34 @the_KaraSchultz lol I'm just glad he didn't try to eat it! #
• 11:36 @TheSophDog he was definitely miffed by my reaction ;) #
• 12:23 @kimhalligan1 it is sad but we can always get another! :) #
• 12:30 @kimhalligan1 exactly. My orig idea 4 raising was 2 have a big dog w/o the long term responsibility or expenses. Now I just love it :) #
• 12:43 @barrie I have one but you can't have her. LOL! #

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Helllllooooo

Hey

Its been a while, I know. Sorry, I have a hard time writing about myself.
Since I last wrote, I have kept myself quite busy. Every year the young people at our church give a Holiday dinner for the rest of the congregation. This year was kind of bittersweet, because this was last year I would be able to participate; as next year we should be....not here.

This year we had it catered at big facility, which (I think) took the fun out of preparing the food our selves, but it was easier on the adults so we left it like it was. It was nice to get to sit and eat our food with everyone else. But we enjoy serving our "guests".

Since then, we have adopted a new family member: Please Welcome Texas!!!

Check Out His Blog: http://gdfpuppyraiser.blogspot.com

He's a 5-month-old miniature dachshund; amazingly enough, he and Bubbles a love each other, I'm still shocked that my dad let me keep him, but I really needed him to help me through Midnights leaving.

And although its been really hard to come up with a scrapbook layout lately,...heres what I've been able to produce:

As far as the move updates: well.....I sent my registration in to PSTCC, so we'll see what happens, My boss is putting in my notice for the second week in January. And I'm almost through furnishing my kitchen! If Only i could find some money for a new table, that would be awesome!!!

Well I need to go feed my neighbors cat, but I hope to be back soon to blog :D

TTYL (talk to you later)

Erin

Another Day

Despite a pain wracked night and morning, I have survived yet another day in my life.
Besides spending most of the morning in bed, I did a couple loads of laundry, exercised Midnight as much to my ability, played some piano; and then sat the computer.
Fun filled day I tell you!

We did get our box that we won from this contest. {CLICK HERE}
Very cool...first time winning anything! My sisters are the lucky ones in my family..lol
That kept Midnight busy for a little while, so I didn't have to keep her entertained.
Other then that, Robyn and I had pizza for dinner before heading off to church for our mid-week service. And now I am home again, readying myself for another day.

SP: This is practice, for blogging about my self. Its a lot harder then you would think. Especially with no school or anything to gripe about.

Today's random picture: Autumn and Bubbles at the park

Good Bye

For the remainder of this week, I will spend my time saying my goodbyes, to a dear friend. I have known her for just a year, but our time together has been awesome. She has been so supportive of my through every endeavor I have taken up. She has been my comfort through hard situations, and helped me get my mind of pressing matters by the offer, not of words, but a small wag of her tail. In turn, i have trained her and socialized her to as many different situations as I possibly could, and she has excepted each challenge with dignity.
I'm really proud of the dog she has turned out to be, and can only hope that she will be able to change someone else's life as she has changed mine.

{Midnight in my lap at our 4-H Teen Retreat}

Alright you made it through the sappy stuff. But now my life is coming to another point. I have nothing to do with myself but work..and prepping for the move.

Moving means a lot change including but not limited too: housing, church, job, school, stores, food brands, prices, friends, guide dog group, etc..etc..

The biggest worry I have is with the school and job and puppies. With the school we've already spoken to someone there who gave us a LIST of things we need to bring. *sigh* Oh well. Its worth it.
But my worry is starting in uncharted territory with no *close* assistance. My A/C came to my community college with me, and spoke to the person...but this I'm going it on my own. YIKES.
Puppy #4 is due in late March..which is right in the middle of the semester....close to finals.
I'm not too worried about having a small pup during that time...with a schedule and proper exercise I'm fine. But its introducing it to a class during the semester which worries me.
Maybe ...depending on my schedule; puppy may get to stay home for the first semester.

Then the job thing, I can't afford to live on my own and work at a doggie daycare. The pay is just way to little. And I'm truthfully tired of working in those places. I love the dogs but.........yeah.

Now that I know when Midnight is leaving, I'm ready for things to speed up already, and lets get this done, so I can get my next puppy. But alas, only one day at a time.

October 10, 2008

I supposed I should write something as its been a little while. Life has been interesting,
Monday- work, and I was able to buy a few supplies for me new house :-) Very exciting IMO.

{Random picture of my computer}
Tuesday Midnight and I did another guide dog presentation..which you can read about HERE.
And then lost my debit/credit card, which i believe may be in our van...but can't prove it. I HOPE it is.

Wednesday was rough, not only did I have to be at work by 6:30AM, but it was cold, rainy and all the dogs were CRAZILY hyper. Nobody wanted to potty outside (scuse the dog talk) and they were almost literally bouncing off the walls. By the time I left at 2:00PM, I was beyond worn out and ready for bed. But alas that wasn't to happen any time soon as we needed to prepare for our "Mountain Trip" in about two hours. During that time I was thoroughly beaten for spending a $100 a month on Lunch. HMPH. Even after I got home at....1AM...
Do I go to bed?? I"ll let you answer that question.

Thursday. BORING. Although it took me pretty much all day, I did get a scrapbook layout down. I'm so proud of myself as its been a while.

{I hate these tiny pictures and will probably switch back to my wide screen blog}

And today is Friday...spent my day work and then helping out with a baby shower preparation. And Now i am heading for bed.
Until next time.

{hi}

I've never stayed home alone without a big dog in the house with me. So this weekend was interesting...kind of freaky actually. I know my nervousness was causing Bubbles to get very nervous as well; because she was running around and barking her head of constantly!
Its just been weird around here without her; I have a lot planned tomorrow..and its not as fun knowing I'll be going by myself. But according to both my leader and my R/A Midnights on her way back next week...? Huh? Ook... yeah that month went by SOO fast!!
But hey I'm not complaining!

Anyways ...to get this BACK OFF the dogs.... I did get a couple of LO's done today..YaY! I did try too upload them to a gallery...but it just wasn't working and I was running out of time. So anyways here's the ones I did.


{Click Photo for Credits}

{Click Photo for Credits}

To Kristen: Thanks so much for you comment!!

{Randomness Part Two}

I have just found out that Rei's partner has died this week. I am saddened and shocked by this.

Rei will be returning to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, where she will be reevaluated and placed as with a new handler. If everything goes as it should. Who knows maybe I"ll get to go to this graduation!

And because I barely get to see my parents any more these days, the deadline for late registration and AB-TECH has passed, and I'm still classless, so it is official. I won't be going to school this semester. ::sigh::

Next week, I'm getting full-time hours which is kind of good. I really need the money right now. 

I've almost got my camera paid off now, I've got up to $248 saved. Which means as soon as I hand over $500 to my mom, I'm set to start saving for a new car! Woooo!!! Mine is slowly falling apart; as of now, the windshield wipers don't work, two brake lights are out, the Air Conditioning doesn't work, one head light works, only if on bright, the back seat is faded at the top, the roof is coming apart, and the insulation on the doors is falling off. My front door automatically locks when ever you slam it hard, and to start the car you have to shift it too neutral. BUT. It runs. And it gets me from point A to point B. And thats really all I NEED it too do. 

Which leads me into my next topic: My Birthday :-) I will be nineteen years old, in just ..........four weeks!! (sorry had to go check exactly when my birthday was ha ha.)

Now I believe that nineteen is an age where the birthday presents go from small things like, books, or shoes or clothes to things....like well...CARS lets say..

::heh heh:: On my WISH list for this year are: 

2005 Nissan Pathfinder 

2006 Kia Rondo

2004 Acura MDX

Now the common element between all of these photos are, the cars are big and spacious. 

I'm not really a little car, type of girl. One because I have a big family, and I will need to have room to fit, if not all, at least MOST of them. Two because I have dogs, and when you have a large family and are also a puppy walker you need to have room for the people and dogs to fit COMFORTABLY. As of now...that ain't happening. 

Three, well I just like the cars! The Pathfinder we rented last year for our trip to Congress, LOVE THAT CAR!!! And the Rondo we drove this year, also a DREAM car. I know Kia has had some bad raps, and I know that the guys at my church would argue me under the table about the cons, of that car, but hey, If I like it, and have the money........ I'll read a bunch of reviews before I get it! ::GRINS:: 

Also on my wish list is this: 

You may OOO and AAAH. 

LG VOYAGER :-) 

Now when you compare the price of the cars vs. the cell phone...hmmm...I think thats affordale!

I love you Mom and Dad!!!

.......I'd better start saving my money..............

I've also got a new public blog for Midnight : http://gdfpuppyraiser.blogspot.com 

Forget the www.wordpress.com one, that site is cooky. Almost everytime I try to log on I have to get a new password..its just more trouble then its worth, so back to good 'ol www.blogspot.com. 

And our last subject for the day, and my favorite: SCRAPBOOKING!! 

I have been working diligently to clog up my computer as fully and completely as I can, with Scrapbooking stuff; I still have 47.50GBS to go! 

And that concludes this post! My brain is dead now and I can barely see straight. Its time for me to hit the hay ::smiles::

See Ya Later! 

Erin & Co. 

Busy Busyness

Since I've feeling lazy I'll just copy and paste the posts from Midnight's blog....

July 17, 2008
This week coming up is going to be absolutely insane; Tomorrow I work from 11-7 and then we hit the road to Raleigh NC for 4-H Congress(4hr trip); we'll spend the night get up Tuesday morning for that, and then head back home...where I will go to work at 7AM the next morning then leave for church in Knoxville around 4PM that evening (1.5 hr trip); coming back and working from 2-7 on Thursday; Friday I go back in from 11-7 and then head downtown for our puppy meeting at 7:15PM. Saturday I work from 7-12 and then get the rest of the day off. (HALLELUJAH);
And Sunday back to work from 7-12/3-6.

July 22, 2008

Monday:
Started out ok, then went from bad to worse VERY quickly. I got up early so that I could have my things ready, so we could leave for Raleigh as soon as we got home; but being the procrastinator that I am, I was scrambling up until the very last minute before i absolutely had to leave for work. And then I couldn't find my keys. It took us about 20 minutes to find them ...sitting in my purse! I jump in the car with only 5 minutes to make the 17 minute trip to work, and I find out my cell phone is dead!! I knew I was going to be in trouble for that....but that was not all! I won't go into details...but lets just say my day was NOT going well; my only salvation was the fact that we were leaving for Congress later on and I knew that, that would be fun.
I got off at 7:00PM and headed home...gave my mom the news grabbed my bags, found a sitter for Bubbles, grabbed some food for Midnight and piled into the rental car. ( I loved that car btw). We left at 8:01 PM and arrived at the Hotel at 1:00AM.
Our GPS system gives us an arrival time to our destination; and NORMALLY, with my mom driving the time goes, down, down, down...and for the first our it did.
Until we stopped for gas. Driving a 15 passenger van we are used to a big gas tank as well as a LARGE gas bill (now).
We start pumping gas into the car and my mom and were standing there making predictions about how much this car could hold. We got to nine gallons; and the pump was still going, and going, and in fact it didn't stop until gas was spilling onto the ground!
We were of course shocked and nervous, that we had somehow gotten a car with a problem! Yikes!!
Thankfully there was a police officer near by who knew what was happening....apparently the gas pump didn't cut off when it was supposed to, and the car had and over flow tank for just such and occasion which is why the gas leaked out! Greatly relieved and thankful we proceeded on our way. That basically zapped all the time we had saved. *sigh*
*At the Hotel*

Midnight on Tie-Down

Autumn is knocked out
Tuesday
We needed to be at Athens High School at 8:30AM to get signed up for Kristen's Category.
In all truthfulness, presentations can be kind of boring; and its a good thing they have a time limit..but as it turns out, someone had the "Bright" idea to move those in the Wheels and Engines category to another room...thus cramming; thus creating a mad house in this tiny class room. But we all squeezed in and began. Unfortunately the move also mad our wait about 2 hours longer; because those doing presentations on Electricity were in there also.
So first they did Electricity ages 14-18, then Wheels and Engines ages 14-18; and breaked so the judges could confer and then give out awards. That probably took a good 2 hours right there..because in that age range you are expected to give a longer speech. (Mine was 18 minutes or soo but I had a interesting topic if I do say so myself :-)). During this time Midnight and I walked the halls and met up with people we had met earlier in the year at Teen Retreat and people who recognized me from last years Congress.

Kristen getting a pep talk from my mother....or something.....::grins::

Midnight during a presentation -- She got lots of compliments :-)

All of us crammed in the room waiting for the presentations to start.

During one of our treks; I recognized Brax & Frankie's raisers sister..."J".. Some of you might remember that we met them last year when they had Brax and I had Rei.
If you don't well you can click on the links for the "rrrrreest of the story!"
She recognized me as well and we went to find her family who was keeping Frankie while her raiser was out of town....well out of the country really! lol Frankie was in the room sleeping and a presentation was in progress so I couldn't go and say Hi, right then. So "J" and I stayed outside and talked for a while.

Frankie posing for the camera

Midnight looking Frankie from across the hall
When the door finally opened, I gave "J" Midnight's leash and went to say hi to Frankie and her raisers Dad by myself. We still had a long day ahead and I didn't want to disturb either dogs right off the bat. I then got caught up talking to someone else about Midnight of course, and had to sprint back to Kristen's room to make sure I hadn't missed anything.
I hadn't, and so was forced to sit outside of the room with my sisters and some other 4-Her's from our county.

Sitting in the Hallway waiting for someone to finish their presentation; You couldn't go in during one.

Autumn and Midnight are best friends.

I had long given up denying people petting rights; and so Midnight was laying in the floor getting stroked by some kids; who were loving it almost as much as she did. She acted pretty silly most of the time there ...sit?!?! How can you sit still while someone is petting you!?
Of course I got the normal (HOW CAN YOU GIVE THEM BACK!?!?) question, but I was also getting asked if we were allowed to love on the dogs ourselves, which was a bit odd in my opinion.... I personally don't do a lot of petting and such of my puppies while we are out "working", as its very distracting to Midnight for me to be touching her...but I guess people were translating that too mean that I couldn't love on them at all...I made sure to correct that theory!
We basically spent the next hour or so, alternating between listening to presentations and walking the halls; FINALLY it was time for Kristen's presentation.
Don't tell her I said this, but she did really really well. Her competition was in about two people...the other 4 were.....just ok, but they were young so they have many opportunities to try again; and work on their material. Apparently the judges agreed with my assessment and awarded Kristen the Gold Medal ....first place in case you didn't know.
We were all very excited for her;

Waiting in the Hallway for the judges to finish up - (Autumn, Mom, Robyn, Kristen, Midnight)

This is all very boring to Midnight
After she got her Gold Winner picture taken, we spotted the Frankie Raisers and so after we were finished with the pictures, my mom wanted to go speak with them so we walked down.
This time Frankie and Midnight defiantly saw each other.
It seems that this time around we have "switched" dogs in a way! Last year I had the hyper bouncy puppy; and they had the calm laid back one, and This I had the calm laid back pup and they got the hyper bouncy one!
I do admit that it was nice to have a dog that was calmer this year :-)) We decided to take the pups outside to let them greet each other after having been so good all day; Now THAT was a struggle since Midnight kept spinning around trying to see Frankie; But we finally made it outside, and let them play.
Midnight's reaction to Frankie was a bit surprising; Frankie was being a normal bouncy 7-month old and Midnight (only two months older) Felt that she was too good for a young one like that and kept growling at her to "back away" ....which I've never seen her do; so that was unusual.
**Side Note** If I had felt that Midnight was going to attack or get aggressive with Frankie I would have immediately put distance between the two. Midnight seemed to be telling Frankie not be so pushy.
After getting some energy out of her system I love on Frankie some before getting a couple of pictures of the two; back inside Frankie immediately plopped down on the floor and did not move. :-))

After saying good bye to them we got on the road back to Asheville; and thus ended another 4-H Congress for the Thames Family.