Random Thoughts

If all goes according to schedule, we'll be finishing up this school year on February 12.  We'll work on some reinforcement techniques for  a few weeks and then dive headlong into first grade.   I've purchased the Cantering the Country program...Olivia loves history, so I figured we could study the U.S. one state at a time and stop to focuse on major historical events as we go...this is the plan at least.  Lindsey will be starting her K4 program (even thought she won't be 4 until September).  She's super bright and I don't think she'll have any problems at all with the worload.  However, if I'm wrong we'll just stop and wait a few months.

We found out that Lindsey (3) has to have her tonsils and adenoids removed.  They were hoping to do it this week or next, but the huge adenoids have started pushing  fluid into the ears and now we're battling a double ear infection.  So....back on antibiotics for another 10 days, then return to the ENT and see if she's ok.   Poor thing, since Thanksgiving she's been on meds every 2 -3 weeks.   I'd say we should definitely meet our insurance deductible this year.

The dog is still here.  I still don't like the dog.   I've had some moments of intense fellowship with her...she's coming over to my way of thinking...or at least she's feigning compliance.  She still won't come when called, gets us up at least 2 times per night and still nips at Olivias feet (mostly when wearing her slippers).   She made the mistake of nipping at me last week, quickly found that this was not one of her better decisions and is far more docile now.   When company comes she gets way too excited...not sure how to break her of this either.  Not that we get a ton of company, but still.

Flat Stella is MIA.  I sent her out on a tour of the south.  The first hostess didn't let me know she'd gotten her for over a month, then said she mailed her to her next destination...she never arrived.  So sadly, I'm figuring that hostess #1 lost her and just didn't want to own up to it.  SO....I've made 2 clones this last week.  1 was sent back to the south to finish her schedule with the remaining 4 hostesses.   The other was sent to FL; she'll be heading to South Africa in a week with the hostess there.   Unfortunately, my enthusiasm with the clones wasn't as grand as the original.  We made her only 1 dress, glued it to her and sent her out.   The original had an entire wardrobe that could be attached with velcro, and changed at will for the various climates.  I truly hope that one shows back up...but its been 2 months and I'm certain she's a lost cause.

Enough rambling.   I have a huge list of things to do today....and blogging wasn't on the list.  Although, I'll now add it to the list, so I can check it off.  I'm funny like that.

Apparently, I’m Nuts

We've been having some issues with the new puppy nipping at the girls.  The nipping escalated to full blown biting, but generally its to the shoes or occasionally a hand.  So I've been trying to nip this situation in the bud...apparently it's not working.

Did I mention before that Holle is a Jack Russell Terrier?  Yeah, well...she IS DEFINITELY a Jack Russell.    She decided that the two steps between our sunporch and the kitchen are her property, not to be intruded on.  If she is standing there and Olivia tries to pass she'll bark, growl and bite at her (read BITE her).   So I've tried addressing this situation at the first bark to keep it from escalating...yeah...good plan there pal.  Very territorial, even at  9 weeks of age.

So yesterday we were having a good day.  The girls and dog were frolicking merrily on the sunporch.  Olivia and Holle were sitting on a chair playing together. I was busy being June Cleaver in the kitchen and Olivia came in to ask if we could work on her sewing project.  Sure, no problem...let me finish up what  I'm doing and we'll jump right on it.  Child happily walks back to the sunporch and starts to sit back down in the chair (where the dog is still playing).  I hear the bark, then the snarl...then the scream....as I run in slow motion towards the sunporch.  There stands Olivia with both hands clasped across her face.    The dog deliberately bit the child in the face.  It wasn't an "ouch you sat on me, I must defend myself" bite (which is still wrong, but at least relatively understandable).  But instead it was a "this is my chair now and don't you even THINK you're getting back up here with me" bite.    She got her right below her right eye, on the cheek bone.   It is bruised and thankfully she didn't get her in the eye.

My though process, is that if a dog at 9 weeks of age will try to bite its owner in the face...this is a major red flag.   Apparently I'm nuts...because everyone thinks it was an "oopsie" and that the dog deserves a second chance.  Even my mother, who doesn't like the dog said "well if she didn't break the skin, she wasn't really trying to hurt her".  WHAT???  If a sniper misses his mark, was he not trying to kill someone, or was he having an off day?

Thankfully, I do have two close friends who are logical like me...and they are both thinking send the dog packing while you still can.

The spouse and I are having moments of intense fellowship over this topic. 

What I do find intriguing about this, is that Olivia (5 years old) is the one who wanted the dog.  The one who prayed for the dog.  The one the dog attacks.   Lindsey (3 years old) can tell the dog to sit, and it does.  She'll tell the dog to come, and it does.  The dog will bark and she tells it to stop, and it does.   The dog can assume its position on the stairs, Lindsey can walk right by without a glance.  So apparently, somehow Lindsey has established herself as a higher rank in our pack...and apparently Olivia is low man on the totem pole, at least in the dogs mind.   I find this oddly disturbing.

Back to the Routine

On Monday we'll go back to our normal routine.   The spouse will return to work and the girls' ballet classes and Awana will start back up.  I'll admit I'm looking forward to it.  We've had a full 2 weeks for the holidays and I feel like we're ready to tackle new ground.   Even Olivia asked "Is it time for us to have school yet?"   I'm thinking its a good thing that she's missing our lessons each day.

We're going to add an excercise time each day (gotta love those New Years resolutions); we're adding a weekly spelling list and we're going to do more crafts each week along with a music time.   We're finally getting away from colonial days and moving on to the pioneer era.  We'll study Laura Ingalls Wilder for a while.  I found the cutest covered wagon craft kit at Michael's for $1 so we'll be making out own wagons.

We'll also spend time training Holle too.  I guess she'll be the school mascot!  She appears to be a bright little dog, but very strong willed.   We've already mastered "sit"; now we have to work on "come", "stay" and walking on a leash.   She's a very prancy little dog, I think she'd make a decent little show dog for the 4-H for the girls if we can break her stubborn streak.

It looks like we're going to be finishing up this "year" around the end of February.  So I'm in the throes of getting our new stuff planned out and purchased.  I'm wanting to add Latin, and I'm leaning strongly towards "Song School of Latin".  I guess that would work for foreign language and music if we're singing, right??