Squeek took this one and wanted me to share it with you all
So much has happened of late that it's hard to keep track of it all. Let's see. First of all, squeek has graduated from the Livingworst School of Dog Training. She was about the right age, so we enrolled her over the summer so that she could learn some of the basic tasks of living and thriving. First, they taught her how to sit, which she did magnificently. Likewise, the instructor commented that she had a particular aptitude for shaking hands and rolling over. When we questioned her as to Squeek's chances in the AKC circuit, she informed us that though she had the demeanor required, she was the ugliest bulldog that she had ever seen (maybe I should back up here. see, apparently you can't enroll babies in puppy school. We knew that it was the right time, but in our research we couldn't find anything appropriate for sienna's age. Everything revolved around singing, and clapping, and stuff like that. These skills seemed a bit infantile, and Bozone seems to be too rugged to offer anything more advanced. So Laura had the great idea of teaching her some tricks. Thus, puppy school). While our hopes were dashed for the circuit, we were not surprised. In fact, Sienna scored a flat D- in the areas of housetraining, and respecting the command "STAY!" Likewise, she repeatedly nearly choked to death trying to gum her "reward," the dog biscuits. Frankly, I think the instructor, "Karen," had it out for the squeek (squeek had more hair than her).
How embarassing is it when your daughter's mustache
is better than yours?
What else? Colblaylor came to visit from NJ, which was both splendid and ephemeral. As proof of this, I can vouch that not a single "moment" was captured in which Sienna and Saylor played/SiennachaseSayloraroundwhileheplayedwithKira. they seem rather well, and we're very touched that they could join us for some Montana fun (shooting stuff).
Laura began watching Kira after school, which was hectic at first though has since calmed down. Kira rode her bike, and then Sienna tried to climb up it to get on to ride. she didn't make it, but she's not too far off.
Last weekend, Sarah from interlochen swung through town on her way cross country. she kindly gifted Story with a frog wood drum...thing. Sienna immediately withdrew the drum stick and began playing. while her wrist was a little stiff, she can hold a rhythm fairly well. I'm trying to convince laura that, in light of this, the cymbals would be the perfect instrument for sienna, though she resists. If I might ask a favor of all you, please send laura an email encouraging her to make the cymbals her future instrument of choice. I think they complement the cello well.
School has also started, and is cruising along smoothly. Great classmates, great material (our cadaver's heart had a sweet ante-mortem fibroblast clot in its right atrium and ventricle. Didn't die from it, but enlarged teh atrium and probably caused some other problems), and great use of down time. If anyone is feeling a little bored, or feels like they don't have a lot going on, I would highly recommend medical school.
With all these transitions, though, squeek has been less than, um, mellow. her sleep schedule has managed to get crumped (lame), and mealtimes are even more exciting than usual. Additionally, she has become quite the risk taker. I blame myself for this behavior, and laura whole heartedly agrees (who has taken up skeet shooting, in which she's the pidgeon. Luckily for everyone, the little flinger thinger (Pull!) cannot propel her, but only gives her a good thump in the stomach). Sienna received a plastic car/noise machine from a neighbor. She likes to not only mount it, but then stand on it. One time I was in the other room, and came around the corner and she was balancing, standing on top of the car with her arms in the air. Big smile. When she fails at this endeavor, we hear a big scream.
Check these out...they're rad:
