Back to School

Ben and Logan went back to school yesterday!

Ben started his last year of graphic design school at the U. I think he is very excited to be done soon.

Logan started Kindercare. We didn't have much luck with our blog ad as far as finding a sitter so we decided we needed to make another plan (but that you all who kept your ears open for us!) We really liked the idea of having someone come to our house, but after researching it many of them want $10 or more an hour and let's face it, Ben and I can't really afford that right now. So we decided to go and check out a daycare I had heard people talk about called Kindercare. We went to an open house night and checked out the facility. Ben and I were both quite impressed. Each child has their own bed and dresser set. They have tons of toys that Logan just went nuts over. His favorite was a mirror with a bar in front of it. He could stand up like a big boy in front of the mirror and he thought he was so cool. They also let all of the kids be on their own schedule. They have you fill out a form each morning telling them what you would like them to do today--i.e. work on tummy time or taking a sippy in our case. So after thinking about it for awhile we decided to sign Logan up. Part of us was excited to have Logan interact with other kids. The other part was nervous that he wasn't going to get the same attention he does at home with a one on one sitter. In his infant class there are 8 kids under the age of 1 and there are 2 teachers. We didn't have to commit to any certain length of time so we decided to give it a try. At least this was a sure thing. They will be reliable and always there unlike nannies who often have schedule changes you have to work around. We figured if we don't like it we can then start to look for a nanny by advertising in the U paper or something.

So Logan's first day was on Monday and they said he did really well. I was most worried about him going down for naps because they have to sleep in the same room that all the kids are playing in so I was worried there would be too much going on for him to calm down. However, they said he did great. He didn't fuss going down and took 2 one hour naps. He usually takes a little bit longer naps but I was glad they were able to get him down without a fight. They said he was very cuddly which they loved. They also said he loved playing with the other kids but didn't like it when they got too close to him. I thought that was funny. I guess he needs his personal space. He definitely enjoyed all the new toys and ate ALL the food I took him which was like 12-14 ounces. The teachers were impressed. He still wouldn't take a sippy with formula in it for them but I guess we will keep working on that.

I will admit I was nervous all day about him and how he was doing. However, when I picked him up I could tell he was just fine. He just crashed on the way home as you can see. He hadn't taken a nap in like 4 hours so I knew he was pretty tired. He woke up after a good power nap and was just a happy lark at home so he couldn't have gotten too traumatized.

I think this picture sums it all up.......

Help Wanted

1 fun nanny/babysitter to watch 1 bubbly and expressive 7 month old boy

Ok so our nanny/babysitter has to go back to school in a few weeks and Ben and I are left, once again, trying to decide who to watch Logan. We have loved having someone come to our house. It has been nice to not have to pack things up every morning and for Logan to be with his toys and bed. However, I feel a little weird about going through some of these nanny services such as gonannies.com simply because you don't know much about the people that would be coming to your home. I have looked at daycares like Kindercare but am amazed at the cost and don't like the idea of leaving my child at a daycare where I am not sure what they do with him.

So the reason for my post? I am wondering if any of you mothers out there know of anyone or are related to anyone that might be interested in a babysitting job. We only need help 3 days a week and can be really flexible. It seriously would be such a good job for someone going to school cause they could do their homework when Logan is sleeping. We are also open to the idea of taking him to someone else's house as well--perhaps someone with one child that feels they could take on another a few days a week. I really just don't want to take my child to a large day care facility at this time.

Logan really is a good kid and pretty easy going. I hate having to leave him at all, but it is only a few days and bills need to get paid.

So pretty please send me an email (ellisfam320@gmail.com) or leave a comment if you know of anyone that might be interested in watching my great boy a few days a week. We seriously are pretty flexible and can discuss details if interested. Thank you blog world and I will keep my fingers crossed this ad will be fulfilled.

Disclosure: If interested in coming to our home must be a dog lover and able to play with our border collie.

Me, My Dog and My new hobby

I have always loved animals. Growing up my family raised Guide Dogs for the Blind and Canine Companions for Independence. I always loved working with and training my dog. Many of you fellow bloggers probably know this but what you probably don't know is one of my latest hobbies--agility. For the last year and half or so I have been training my rescue red and white border collie Cayman on agility.

We rescued Cayman over 2 years ago from a back yard breeder. I decided I wanted a red and white border collie when I saw one in a show at Sea World. I thought they were pretty and was intrigued by all you can teach them. Of course, to start we took Cayman to basic puppy classes. We loved going to them and when they were all over I began to find myself wanting to continue to do something with him. We turned to try agility. One of Cayman's rescuers taught agility so I contacted her to help me get started.

According to the American Kennel club "Agility is a sport that appeals to young people and to senior citizens. It has great spectator appeal. Agility is designed to demonstrate a dog's willingness to work with its handler in a variety of situations. It is an athletic event that requires conditioning, concentration, training and teamwork. Dog and handlers negotiate an obstacle course racing against the clock." If you have ever watched animal planet it is the sport where the dogs run around all sorts of obstacles---jumps, poles, walks, etc. Ok so I may be the only one who watches animal planet but agility is one of the fastest growing dog sports in the United States.

To start agility, we started by teaching Cayman many basic things like to be aware of his hind legs. Then when he was two years old we started him on the obstacles. We have been working with a new trainer and at home to teach him the many skills he will need to hopefully compete someday.

He has come a long way, and I must say so have I. Going into it, I had no idea how much training and work goes into this sport. It truely is a working relationship with your dog. You have to read your dog constantly and help guide them through the course. We are still a ways out from ever competing professionally but we are getting there. And most importantly we are having fun.

Cayman is now starting to take his jumps at angles and do them in varying patterns. He is getting faster at his weave poles and more consistent at his contacts. He is also starting to rely less on me and take the many obstacles on command. This means I don't have to keep up with him which is a good thing. If you could see him run this course in full drive you would understand how hard it is to keep up.

Here are the two of us running through the course. Don't we look like we are having fun! This picture was on the 24th of July. Ben and Logan came down to watch Cayman practice--and take some pictures for me too. One of the things I like most about the sport of agility is that the dogs look like they are just having so much fun. Many of them bark the whole way through the course because they are so excited. It almost seems like a playground to them.

I am always amazed at how quickly Cayman learns this stuff. He really does think through different situations. For both being new to the sport we have come a long way. We owe a lot of thanks to our teachers who help us out each week. Cayman and I hope to keep getting better and hopefully enter a competition next year.

Tony Grove

A few weekends ago we were able to go camping with my family up at one of my favorite camping spots--Tony Grove. It is located up Logan canyon and has the most beautfiul flowers like the ones below in addition to all the beautfiul pine trees.

I love to go camping and just relax. It always amazes me how fast the day goes by even though you don't do very much. We tried some new camping foods this trip including chicken and stuffing tin foil dinner and chocolate marshmellow bananas. Both were very yummy. We always seem to make way too much food when we go camping. My other favorite we made was yogurt parfaits. Yum yum!

Logan loved playing in the dirt. He liked to pick it up and watch it fall out of his hands. We took his pack-n-play up with us and I was suprised at how content he was to just sit and play in it.

Logan and his daddy

Logan on his first hike. He liked it so much this is what happened.......he fell right asleep!Three happy campers--my mom, sister and brother-in-law

I can't believe summer is almost over. I always look forward to camping trips. We didn't get any pictures but there as a lake up at Tony Grove that all our dogs loved to swim in--some more than others. We had 5 dogs up there with us. They all get a long so well and just had lots of fun. There was a lot of pine sap up there this year, however, which got stuck in all the dog's fur. That wasn't fun cleaning out. We all had tons of fun though and can't wait to go again!

Reunion and New Hair Color

This weekend was Ben's 10 year reunion from good old Davis High. At first, we weren't going to attend some of the events but then Ben got roped into helping out with a class slideshow and facepainting since he was a Student Body Officer. I am glad he was involved and we were able to attend.

On Friday night they had a picnic and carnival on the Davis High Football Field. Ben was supposed to help face paint but ended up talking more than face painting. It was fun to get to see one of Ben's good friends Jared and his wife Allie who I spent most of the time talking to. I was so glad I had someone there to talk to! We all had so much fun talking we were the last ones there. Logan was quite the hit and his daddy sure enjoyed showing him off to everyone.

Then on Saturday night they had a formal dinner with some entertainment. They had some funny 1998 trivia, class stats and stories and games. They also had a silent auction and of course the slideshow Ben worked on. The slideshow was a bit last minute, but overall it turned out very well. Ben always does such a good job on these things. We had a few technical difficulties but in the end it worked out.

Ben was nice enough to let me go out and get a new dress so I would look nice to show off. I took Logan out shopping with me which is always an adventure but was luckily able to find something within a limited time.

It was fun to get out of the house for a night, dress up and get to hang with my husband. A special thanks to my parents for taking such good care of my bottle refusing baby.

As a random side note I am now sporting my natural hair color. Did anyone even know I was a brunette? I am not quite sure how I feel about it yet but the good thing is I can always change it back.

Swimming Lessons

Logan just finished his first set of swimming lessons today. We went twice a week for 25 minutes for 4 weeks. I was a little skeptical at first at what we would actually do in the parent tot swimming class. However, I was suprised at the many basic things they teach kids. We played lots of games to teach them how to swim to the wall, climb up the wall, push off the wall, roll from their stomach to their back and many more. I even festered up the courage to make my son go under the water. Call me crazy but the first week they said to make your kid go under water I chickened out. I had to go home and realize that it was me that was scared to do it not Logan. They tell you to blow in their place to help them take a breath before they go under water. Therefore, next time at class I took a deep breathe, blew it in his face and down he went. He actually did very well with it. Of course he was a little unhappy, but he didn't choke on the water or anything like I feared.

Overall I was impressed with how much more comfortable Logan is in the water now than the first day I took him. He loves to swim after toys in the water and he literally will kick his legs and use his arms to get to it. We look forward to many more swimming lessons and hope that Logan will end up being a good swimmer.

Trip down Memory Lane

Ok guys so I am always a fan of memories so when I saw these new blog chain I had to particpate. Please humor me and leave a comment.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.