Day 26: The Dog Days Of Summer, Round 2

My cousin left early this morning after a nice visit over breakfast, but my aunt didn't have to fly back to Seattle until later this evening, so we had one last adventure with her today. 

Since it was (fairly) hot out, we opted to take Rebel and her dog Lucy (and the human children) to Dillion beach, where the kids and I went last week. It's such a beautiful ocean beach that's only 20 minutes from my house, and it's one of the only dog beaches around, so we packed up and spent a good part of the afternoon there. 

Doggie "cousins" Rebel and Lucy! Lucy is a service dog and will sit nicely for photos. Rebel is not but will do LITERALLY ANYTHING for a treat, even sit for point-327 seconds before lunging at my hang (immediately after this photo)

Lucy taught Rebel what it's like to be a "dog at the beach", jumping into the waves and rolling in seaweed. Rebel (once again) dug a big hole and played fetch with.....of all things....a spatula. Not the tennis ball we brought or the stick he carried halfway to the sand from the parking lot, but a spatula. 

Whatever moves your furniture, Pup-Pup. 

His favorite toy at the beach. Why? 

The human boys were completely insane and swam around all morning in the surf, even though I'm pretty sure the current was coming directly from Antarctica because the water was so freaking cold. But then kids have some ridiculous super-power of not feeling cold temperatures (at least when playing in the ocean waves is involved, because God forbid you take them to a pool that isn't heated exactly to 96.5 degrees and you'll hear them whine and whine and whine about how COLD IT IS and WHERE IS THE HOT TUB).

By the end of it Rebel was flat out unconscious from playing, Lucy was no longer yellow (more like a shade of grey and green from the sand and seaweed), and the kids had to be dragged out of the water kicking and screaming (almost), which means it was a successful day.

Special thanks to Aunt Kathleen and cousin Carter for visiting the last couple days! My family is the best.

Day 25: Poolside Circa 1963

My aunt is still in town for her service dog's re-certification, and she acquired a time machine or something with her rental car, because she managed to find a hotel/resort right in the heart of Santa Rosa that undoubtedly launches you right back in time to circa 1963. The hotel architecture, topiary, down to the umbrellas and spinning pink flamingo on top of a humongously tall tower, is all original (however refurbished) from the 60s. 

And it's just the best hidden gem in all of Santa Rosa. 

We hung out poolside at her hotel for most of the day, drinking way-too-strong margaritas under an umbrella while watching the boys swim in the pool on oversized pizza slice floaties. 

Non-alcoholic. Just so you know.

We were trying to find a restroom and instead found a giant chair! Why is it here? What's it for? Also the kids are borderline crying because the chair was hot and making their butt burn. This is real life. 

And as luck would have it, my cousin lives an hour away from here in Napa, and so she drove out in the afternoon and met with us at my house for dinner.

Our own personal little family reunion. 

Seriously, what a great day. 

Family!!

Day 24: The Doctor Is In

This morning was hockey skating practice for Camden, and with his skating practice comes free admission to open skate afterwards. 

So after a morning of Cam showing everyone in his class who's boss when it comes to hockey stops and backwards skating, he changed into full hockey padding (because you HAVE to have full hockey gear on to show off to all the recreational skaters, of course), and waited for open skate to begin. 

As fantastic luck would have it, my beloved aunt Kathleen is in town for her service dog's re-certification. 

Backstory! My aunt works for the prosecuting attorney just north of Seattle. She works with a service dog, who sits with children-victims of (usually horrific) crimes during their time being interviewed by detectives or on the witness stand. Lucy sits next to them with her head in their lap, so that when the real yucky stuff comes up, the kids can pet them, hug them, pull on their ears, or whatever they need to do to have love and comfort and distraction from their trauma. Coolest.Service Dog.Job.Ever. The wildest thing about it is she acquired Lucy from Santa Rosa years before we even moved here. Crazy!

So, my aunt's classes ended early today, and she got to meet up with us for lunch at the Warm Puppy Cafe attached to the skating rink, and we sat and chatted while the boys ice skated. 

Being that the ice skating rink is Snoopy's Home Ice, owned and operated by the Charles Schulz museum, they have Peanuts related things everywhere, and right outside the main door is a large wooden facade of the psychiatric help hutch from the comic strips. And wouldn't you know, "LUCY" was the doctor in Peanuts, and "LUCY" is my aunt's service dog. Photo op was obviously going to happen. 

Calen and a warm puppy at The Warm Puppy

Day 23: If Solo Was Seven

There's a new Star Wars movie out this month: a side/back story about young Han Solo. I don't know how young Han Solo is supposed to be, maybe a teenager? But anyways there's all sorts of "Solo" stuff coming out in stores and whatnot, including this super awesome Solo jacket from the Disney Store that Camden had to have. 

And of course, with his mohawk, his jacket, and his scoundrel attitude, Cam put on that jacket and became the absolute representation of what Han Solo would have been as a seven year old. 

We also tried to put in puppy Rebel as a baby Chewbacca (since he is, in fact, named for Star Wars), but he's a puppy and puppies don't like to wear flight goggles. 

As luck would have it, "Solo" came to our base movie theater this week, and so tonight was family movie night, complete with jacket and stuffed Chewy (and Porg) as accomplices. 

End note: I thought the movie was a blast. It wasn't an "epic", as other Star Wars movies have been, but it was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was. 

Day 22: Naughty Little Rebel Scum

It's all fun and games, until your puppy snatches the power cord to the (lit) Scentsy warmer, turns around and RUNS AS FAST AS HE CAN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, spilling vanilla-ey wax all over the console table and lovely framed photograph of your children, which instantly dries, of course. 

Awesome. 

Fun fact: if you use a butter knife, wax peels off glass like those plastic coverings on new phone screens. 

You Rebel Scum!!!

Day 21: The End Result

This is what Camden looks like at 4pm after getting up at 5:45am for ice hockey practice, church immediately after, an afternoon with friends and a drive to Tractor Supply with a wiggly puppy. 

I look the same way. 

Goodnight Cam.

Day 20: The Dog Days Of Summer

It hit at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit today, in the shade. It was goddamn hot. I don't mind super hot days, especially since they are few and far between. I had to work this afternoon, but I wasn't about to blow a beautiful day. 

So, we loaded up our beach towels and polka dot bikinis (not really) at 930 in the morning and headed out to Dillon Beach, a nice sandy stretch where the Pacific is pretty quiet. It's also a dog friendly beach, so we thought it would be a great time to show Rebel beach life. 

What is this gihugant place?!

It's probably the only time I've ever been at the beach in Northern California and was comfortable and not freezing, even at 9:30 in the morning! The sun was hot, the wind was non existent and it was just a great beach day (the water was still freezing, but the water is always freezing here. There were probably icebergs floating by that I missed). 

The boys had a great time digging holes, building sandcastles and flying their little mini Star Wars kites. Calen had a funny thing going where he'd build a sand castle and slowly destroy it, discussing how thousands of years were going by and the castle was "eroding" and slowly collapsing. 

Rebel really enjoyed the beach. Being it his first time, it was definitely sensory overload, with a thousand humans, many of which running up to him to visit, a hundred dogs, waves splashing on shore and smells, smells, smells. 

All in all, he got a 10 out of 10 for adapting quickly. He loved the sand, especially digging holes and laying in them. Bonus points if one of the boys poured water in the hole. He tolerated the water, still doesn't love or hate it, but just accepts water as part of his life. We are still working to help him LOVE water, which is our goal. He willingly went up to new people and dogs and especially loved when we left the Costco sized bag of cheddar popcorn unattended and he could lawn dart himself face first into the bag and rabidly munch until we could successfully tear his head out of the bag. 

Awesome morning at the beach for human boys and doggie boys alike. 

Learning to to "Look" and wait....even while the tide came and went under him

Day 19: The County Fair

This weekend, California came to the sudden realization that it should probably be HOT, because you know it's summer in California. And so after weeks of mild to almost cool weather, we peaked at 95 degrees in a blistering heatwave. And though most people are probably cringing and hissing at the sun and complaining on social media about how miserably hottttttt it isssssss, I for one see it as an opportunity to do summery stuff, since it's actually warm enough for one. 

So for the first half of the day, we were exclusively outside in the back yard, playing on the slip n slide and the kiddie/doggie pool and trying to convince Rebel that he is in fact a water dog (which, he doesn't dislike water, but he's not the type to just leap in face first either). Then the neighbor kids came outside with water balloons, and we got our own, and thus ensued a two hour water fight, fueled by cheddar popcorn and Otter pops. 

This summer brought to you by high fructose corn syrup and yellow #5. 

Ice cream in the pool!

Rebel somehow found a way to pick up, and carry, water balloons without bursting them

When 4 o'clock rolled around, we picked up Brad from work and headed out into town to enjoy the Sonoma Marin County Fair. 

"Enjoy" wasn't really the right word for the first hour, when the temperatures were at it's peak and you're walking on pavement. I "enjoyed" it as much as I enjoy walking on the surface of the sun. 

But, an hour and two watermelon lemonades later, and it started to cool down and we could really have fun. The heat luckily scared a lot of people away, so we burned through a bunch of rides without waiting in long lines. We walked through the animal barns (my favorite part) and watched part of a junior beef cattle show. We got to feed goats and a deer and then went on even more rides. 

It's a goat, on a goat!

Ride it like you stole it, Cam

By the time the sun went down, the entire county's worth of teenagers had arrived, and it was time to leave. The fair is always one of our favorite summer traditions here and once again we had a blast. 

Day 18: The Grand Finale, Poolside

VBS had it's last hoorah today, and we celebrated by a huge pool after-party. And while it was an absolute blast and loved working with all the kids, I was ready to have just one less thing off my plate. But really, what an incredibly rewarding week with these kids. 

Pool Par-tay!

Earlier in the day at VBS - making ships out of snacks

My VBS group making paddle boats!

Day 17: Who Needs The Toy When You Have The Box

We got Rebel this nice little cloth dog toy box thing for his plethora of toys. It even has a little dip in the front to stuff his little face in there and grab a toy. 

Of course, as we all know with toddlers, they don't want to play with the toys. They want to play with the box. 

And so, Rebel Scum purposefully dumped all the toys out of the box, dove in head first, and spent the next hour and a half growling, scratching, and yipping at the tiniest little "washing instructions" tag on the inside bottom of the box. 

Tags, it seems, infuriate Rebel. Later today he went ballistic on a tag attached to a wash cloth. 

Of course, I didn't intervene, I just sat on the floor and gleefully took video of our crazed little chocolate mousse cartwheeling in this box across the floor over and over and over, until at one point he stopped, climbed out, deliriously stumbled five steps and collapsed into a deep puppy sleep. 

Because everyone knows a tired dog is a good dog. 

I'm going to attach washing care tags to everything in this house. 

"Don't mind me just rearranging my toy box"

Day 16: He's Been Waiting All His Life

Since Calen could basically talk, he's wanted one our dogs to sleep on his bed. 

Juno probably would tolerate it, but we've always said no. She prefers to have her throne (the sofa) to herself once we go to bed at night anyways. 

When we got Sonic two years ago, who was supposed to be Calen's dog (but never took to kids, hence why she doesn't live here anymore), we tried, and tried, and TRIED, to get her to sleep on Calen's bed, and she absolutely would have none of it. 

So starting the very first night we brought Rebel home, we put him on Calen's bed at bedtime. And he's slept there every night since. 

Calen is in absolute heaven. He finally had "his" dog. 

Sleepy boys

Day 15: VBS

This week is Vacation Bible School at the chapel on base, and I volunteered to lead a group. 

I don't know why I thought I was going to have the time, or the energy, to do so, between training and housebreaking a new puppy (and being up half the night with said puppy, because he takes great joy in ripping a cardboard box into teeny tiny little pieces at 1:30 in the morning), and Junior Giants baseball camp, and hockey practice, and work. Sure, let's add one more thing!

It's fun, because Cam Bam is in my little group so I get to spend a lot of time with him this week, and I know most of the kids, so that makes it fun too. 

And then once VBS gets out at noon, we rush the whopping block and a half home to let Rebel outside, feed him (and the human kids) lunch, and continue our hard work to socialize him and train him. 

I'm TIRED you guys. 

Playing games with my VBS group!

Day 14: The Things You Say

In the car today. 

Calen: "Hey Mom, remember when we were at Disney World and those people were getting married and everyone was clapping?"

Me: "Well, they weren't getting married, but the man was asking the woman to get married."

Calen: "Why did they do that in the middle of Disney World then?"

Me: "Well usually when you ask a girl to marry you, you need to pick a really, REALLY special place, like her favorite place in the whole world."

Camden: "Like Chuck E Cheese!!!!!!"

Me: "........yeah.....maybe...."

Calen: "I think Disney World is a better place than Chuck E Cheese."

In Rebel news, we bought him a new toy bin for his ever growing toy collection, and he decided it was a great place to take a nap. On top of said toys. 

Day 13: The Fishing Hole

We got up especially early today. 

Who am I kidding. We've gotten up especially early for days, because certain tiny fluffs in the house like to get up early and poop. 

And since we were up especially early, and the morning fog hadn't rolled out yet, I decided to take advantage and set up Calen and his dog in another little photo shoot. 

This one was easy. Let's go fishing at the lake on base! What boy doesn't want to take his lab fishing, anyways? So I stuffed Calen in some knockoff (i.e. cheaper) Carhartt overalls, and had him walk his dog to the lake, chasing him along with the camera. 

This was also a great way to continue our "Rule of 12" in exposing Rebel to new things. The lake was a new place, there were geese, he was walking on leash, and met a couple new people.

And we went fishing. And I took pictures, and it was great. 

Disclaimer: I copied, or rather, modified, the first two photo poses from Pinterest. Because Pinterest is the best and the best ideas are ripped off from someone else. 

Day 14: The Rule of 12

Another post about this puppy. I know. But I mean he's completely engulfed all of our time, so what else am I going to write about?

So, the whole reason of picking this breed, this littler, and this puppy, was to have the most kid-friendly, adventurous, social dog possible. We want to take him everywhere, have him love everyone and every dog he meets, and not deal with the trouble we've had with previous dogs (disliking kids, dogs, cars, water, etc). 

My friend told me about when they got their puppy, they worked on this theory called the The Rule of 12 (link provided). The idea is that by the time the puppy is 12 weeks old (the critical age of socialization for dogs is between 8 and 12 weeks), it should have experienced at least 12 things in each of the categories (sounds, places, people, dogs, moving objects, surfaces to walk on, places to eat meals, rides in the car, etc etc etc). This helps build a confident, "desensitized" dog, and to me the theory makes perfect sense. And since Rebel seems to be a little cautious, at least, does not throw himself recklessly into new situations, I felt like we really needed to use this.

So, since the day we brought him home, we have been hammering at the Rule of 12 List, and adding in our own Rules of 12 that we knew would be part of his individual life (for example, I added an entire "Water" category, because I'm hell bent on having a water dog for the first time in my life!). He's watched us vacuum and open and close the garage door, climb stairs, taken rides in the car every day, had a field trip inside our market store (and met 1389 people who were giddy to pet him), and has eaten every meal in a new place, to name a few. He's also experienced water in various ways (sitting in the pool, checking out the slip in slide, drinking from the hose, etc). It's exhausting for us and really, truly hard work, but I'm confident it's going to really help turn him into the world's best doggo. 

Doorstops. New sounds! He found this fascinating

Pool time! He doesn't dislike water, but he isn't about to dive in head first for fun either. We are working on it.

Front yard time while kids play with boxes and loud trucks drive by. He loves the front yard!

Lunch on the slip n slide! in the back field! New surfaces/water. He's standing in a puddle and doesn't even care. Finally a dog that likes water!

Day 13: The Saga of the Toilet Paper Roll

When you go to change out the toilet paper roll, and the holder drops out of your hands, and in the blink of an eye a fuzzy retriever snatches the holder up and runs out of the room. 

Then, you go to retrieve said toilet paper roll holder from your retriever, and inso doing put the toilet paper on the ground next to you in order to pry his little jaws of life open. THEN, in a split second, the retriever leaps into the air and pounces onto the toilet paper, mouth first, and takes that away too. He then chews it up a bit, but as you try to rescue the toilet paper holder, he once again snatches it away. In the end, he got both, and I got neither.

Rebel Scum!!

Day 12: Rebel Scum

Rebel, as we all know, was named for Star Wars, as per the kids' request (actually, they wanted to name him Darth Vader, but I wasn't about to shout that out the back porch at night).

If we were to register him in the AKC (which we aren't, because it would have cost a kagillion dollars to purchase his AKC license -- we do have his Pedigree though), his registered name would have been Japatull's (breeder) Rebel Yell. Which isn't really Star Wars-esque but it's cute and I like it. 

But since we didn't register him, we don't have to always call him Rebel Yell and he can have two names. Like if he's being a complete shit and stealing all of our flip flops (which is a thing), we can go back to his Star Wars roots and call him Japatul's You Rebel Scum! 

Of course, since Rebel is named for Star Wars, just about everything involving him in the house is Star Wars. And since Petco has a Star Wars line, this was easy. (Do you hear that, Petco? I'm endorsing you! Give me a coupon or something?) His food and water bowls are Darth Vader and Chewbacca, respectively. Both his dog beds are Vader beds. His rope toy is a land speeder, and, today, we got him a Han Solo in carbonite doggie toy. 

Because why shouldn't a Han Solo in carbonite dog toy exist??

Rebel liked it, but really preferred yanking tiny Han Solo out of the carbonite and carrying him around like a dead mouse. 

You Rebel Scum, you.