Benefits of the Chalkboard Fridge

My oldest is 15. He is an awesome kid and a super nice big brother. He's also insanely forgetful and tends to overlook things. The chalkboard fridge provides a space for a reminder even he can't miss. This is definitely one of the best DIY projects I've done!

Back to School

I know my daughter is getting older. I'm not totally in denial...not totally. I admit, I still refer to her as "the baby" when I'm talking to the dogs (don't judge me). I say things like "Awww give the baby kisses." or "Don't jump on the baby!" or "Be good, I'll be right back, I just have to pick up the baby." She started kindergarten this week. Now, it's in the same building as her preschool, but it's still a big change. The preschool, while held in the same building as the elementary school, is run through the district but is not free like the rest of the public school. The preschool has its own separate entrance and the kids didn't attend all day or even every day. When she was 3, she went 2 days a week, 3 hours per day. When she was 4, she went 3 days a week, 3 hours per day. Now, she's in real elementary school, attending 5 full days every week. The first 3 days were half days to help get the kids (and probably the parents) acclimated. It really hit me this week. She's on this school journey for, at the very least, the next 13 years. Add in college, and this is really a long process that is starting right now. I'm having commitment issues for her. It's just such a long time. She's still my baby and I'm not sure I'm ready for her to go out into the world without me. But life doesn't slow down and wait for me to be ready. We're both jumping in feet first, and I have to admit it's going well. She's ready for this. She is incredibly bright and consciences. She cares about her friends and cares about always following the rules. Her preschool teachers told me she was the kind of kid kindergarten teachers fight over. She loves school and se loves learning. These things make it a little easier for me to let go, but it's still a little crushing. Given my current status as a recently divorced mom, chances are this is my last baby. And she's not a baby anymore.

Pit bulls: Fact vs. Fiction

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I recently adopted a rescue dog. We've named him Remington, Remy for short. He is a giant love bug. He is convinced that he's a lap dog, though he's over 80lbs. If I sit on the floor, he comes every time and sits on my lap, like he really fits there. He is sweet and friendly with every animal he comes in contact with. In fact, a small dog actually growled and lunged at him on a leash trying to attack his face. My Remy wagged his tail and walked away. Zero aggression. He will play rough with my 15 year old, and then go through the same motions but in a completely gentle manor with my 5 year old. He never knocks her down and he is always ready with kisses when she puckers up right in his face.
Remy is a complete love and he's also a Pit bull.
This breed is met with so much apprehension. They are the most likely to be euthanized in shelters, and in most places cannot be adopted out to the general public without a rescue group to pull them. Countless cities have breed specific legislation, holding pities to a different standard than any other breed. People who truly mean no harm, spread the incorrect "facts" they've been taught, perpetuating the cycle of fear.
In reality, chances are, everything you've heard over the years about Pit bulls is untrue. The first myth I think should be addressed because it's the one I hear most often, is that Pitt bulls have locking jaws. That is just not true. Pitt bulls' jaws are not built any different from any other dogs' jaws. Think about it, physiologically what kind of mechanism would have to be in their mouths to allow their jaws to lock and unlock at will? How exactly would that work? Exactly. It wouldn't. Pitt bulls are strong dogs. If they are not letting go of something, it's because they don't want to. Certainly not because their jaws have locked on to it. If ANY dog has lock jaw, they need to see a vet immediately. This includes pitties.
The next myth that I think needs to be addressed is that Pitt bulls can snap at any time and turn on their owners. Statistically, this just isn't the case. Pitt bulls are dogs. That's it. They are no more likely than any other breed to turn on a person. You should always consider a dog's body language before approaching. It is incredibly rare for any dog to just attack out of no where. Generally when any dog attacks it's out of fear or pain, or in the case of female dogs, protecting their puppies. As moms, I'm sure we can all understand that maternal instinct to go all mama bear on anyone you see as a threat to your kiddos.
Next up is the idea that Pitt bulls are bred to be mean and they naturally have poor temperaments. A lot of people seem to think that Pitt bulls are basically bad dogs, and the few that are well behaved just had exceptional training. In reality, Pitt bulls consistently pass temperament testing with flying colors. They are not just naturally mean, they love people more often than not, and it's only bad owners who use their dogs' loyalty to their detriment, and those are in the minority.
Basically what it comes down to is that Pitt bulls are just dogs. They are no more dangerous than any other large breed dog. If anything, because they are so over bred and so often abandoned, they deserve our love and protection more than most breeds. These dogs are victims of the actions of human beings much more often than we are victims or theirs. These are wonderful, loyal, loving and resilient animals, worthy of our love and understanding. If you're still on the fence, do some research for yourself. Look up Pitt bull myths or Pitt bulls as therapy dogs. But whatever you do, please don't be afraid. Next time you see someone walking a Pitt bull ask their owner if you can pet them. Most owners that I've met are breed advocates and more than willing to share stories of their beloved pet.

Costco

I recently joined Costco. My mom has had a membership for ages, and when ever she comes downstate I shopping there with her. On her last visit I decided that it was time to get my own membership. I opted for the regular old $55 per year membership. The other option was $110 per year and offered cash back on purchases. Although that sounds great in principal, you have to spend $5,000 before you see any rewards. Otherwise they just refund the extra $55 you paid for this membership option. Since I can't imagine that I'll be spending that much, I went with the cheaper choice.
One thing I'm maybe a little more excited about than is normal is that I'll finally have that pesky membership number to enter on the free sample forms. Costco offers lot of free samples throughout the year but they're for members only, so until now I've been ineligible.
So, this year is my trial year. If I don't feel like I've gotten my $55 worth by the end of the year I probably won't renew my membership next year. Either way, I'm sure I'll write more about it at a later date. I'm planning to head over there today when my daughter gets out of preschool at noon. Here's hoping there's lots of good deals!

Logan...

This year my family and I had to say goodbye to one of our dogs, Logan. He had Cancer and it was time to end his suffering. I just wanted to share a little about him because I miss him every day. He was such a part of the family and I feel the loss all the time. He was a really sweet boy, always lovable and ready to snuggle. He had no idea how large he was. At all. He had a penchant for climbing fences and escaping to explore the neighborhood. This is a picture of Logan and my daughter sitting on my parents' deck in northern Michigan. My mom used to joke that he went from being a homeless street dog to having a home and a vacation home. Logan was a good dog and I had thought that I would have at least a few more years with him. The Cancer came on hard and fast and caught us totally off guard. At his last vet appointment I was told that he had about 2 weeks until the pain was unbearable so I took him home for a week to give him one last great time. Putting him to sleep was without a doubt the hardest thing I've had to do in my adult life. The women at Berkley Animal Clinic were absolutely amazing and thoughtful. One girl sat with me for over half an hour listening to stories about Logan while I cried and stroked his head. If you live in Metro Detroit and are looking for a veterinary office, I definitely recommend them. They also sent a condolence card a week after the event that was personalized and signed by all the staff. I thought that was a really sweet gesture. I made a memorial donation to Detroit Dog Rescue in Logan's memory, they're a great organization that do some amazing work here in Metro Detroit as well. So that's my story about Logan, the sweetest boy to ever walk on 4 legs. I just wanted to do one more little thing to honor his memory.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Booked!

My family has just booked a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Sea ship! My husband is staying home, but I'll be going with my 2 kids, my parents and my brother. I'm beyond excited to get to share this experience with my kids! I hope this trip will live up to all expectations. It's been years since I've taken a cruise, but I remember them being lots of fun. I'll be sure to post a review when we get back in April!