Cooper and Bo Dec 2009

On our fridge are pictures of the children when they were 3,  6,  9,  12,  and 15.  We got the pictures taken throughout the year at a place that  has wooden numerals to use as props.  I like to look back and know how old the child was when the picture was taken.  This is the year for pictures with the wooden numerals again since the children are 6, 12, 15, and 18.

The most recent pictures have a couple of unusual ‘props’. These pictures will bring us lots of fond memories of this time of our lives.

Elliot (15) and Cooper

Gabrielle has Grand Champion for Showmanship

Elliot's Grand Champion Poster

God has really blessed us with children who enjoy life and learning. We are grateful.

Bo is nearly healed after his small surgery

 Bo is wearing a cone to keep him from irritating his surgery site after being neutered. This procedure was necessary for him to become more focused on the work of a guide than on the whims of being a male dog.

Sim's fish Dragonfly scores a goal

 The training is paying off in interesting tricks for Sim’s fish.  One or both can do the Hoop, the Tunnel, play soccer, and Finger feeding.  In reality, he doesn’t feed them fingers, but hand caught mosquitos. This is giving me a marketing idea for Alaskan mosquito-y summers…

Cooper, ready to dig a hole for a bone, is equipped with climbing rope, hiking boots, and mattock.

 Nearly everyone’s dog likes to dig a hole for his bone.  Cooper is not your average dog. Well, maybe he is.  It’s probably Elliot that’s showing some creativity.8+)

The wildfires in the Nenana area continue to grow, we’ve had a few noticeable earthquakes, and Nenana is getting several streets surfaced.  I had to use 4-wheel drive yesterday to leave our driveway.

Cooper April 09

Cooper ready for mud season

Bo May 09

Cooper May 09

I will make a few comments now and hopefully come back here soon to do more updates .

On the first of April Gabrielle and Elliot and their guide dogs-in-training participated in a Health Fair at the school. They gave tips on what to do or not to do when some one has a dog for a guide or helper. Michaela,  Simeon and Mom went to the health fair for a school project.  Simeon picked up some info about a fun run of 1 mile or 5k.  After reading the details, he decided to train for the 5k even though he is still 11 years old.  Some of his practice runs were with Brian.  There was still snow and ice;  and soon it was large puddles, ruts, and ice in the streets.   Several times Brian deferred to Gabrielle the chance to run with Simeon.  Fast-forward.  On May 9, all three of them did the 5k and did fine…with Sim coming in a full 8 minutes faster than the Brian/Gabrielle team. And…. they were featured in a sports page article of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner on the 12th of May.

http://www.newsminer.com/news/2009/may/12/blind-man-latecomer-highlight-first-here-comes-sun/

That was the same day that we went to Fairbanks for the dog obedience class.   Brian is giving Gwen a refresher while Bo and Cooper give Gabrielle and Elliot lessons. (!)  M,S, and Laurie went to do shopping for MORE dog food and some people food. Imagine who came to do a feature story on the dog trainer/school during the class.   Channel 11 TV from Fairbanks. Sure enough! The three Blairs and Gwen were seen on tv the next day. We haven’t seen it as we do not have any tv reception.