The Rules of Frozen Sheet Music

     I grew up playing Disney songs. I had a big thick Disney Songbook that I wore out, and had to replace because I loved it so much. I taught music lessons and often went back to the Disney songbook for various lessons.  I would teach Scales and Arpeggios from Aristocats as a fun way to teach modulations. Teaching music from Sleeping Beauty means you are actually teaching Tchaikovsky. "When I see and Elephant Fly" and "Cruella DeVille"are great songs to teach jazz patterns.

      When a movie like the Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast came out when I was a budding young pianist, one of the best parts was getting the sheet music and learning all of the songs.  Many happy hours were spent at the piano learning those songs by heart. So when Frozen came out, I knew that I would be buying the sheet music.  Somehow, now as a mother with children, my experience of the music was quite changed.

     First, when the book arrived, there had been milk spilled upon it within 5 minutes of it's entry into the house.  I should have taken that as an omen. I saw a post from Rants from Mommy Land on the Rules for Singing Frozen. I knew I had to put my own twist on the playing of Frozen songs.

1. There must be a child in my lap as I play anything from Frozen.  Playing piano around a child while also sight reading the music can prove challenging.  Sitting next to me on a piano bench is not acceptable.  Using pedals won't work either.

2. If it were up to me and my usual musical process, I would play the first song in the book, and then play through each one till I got to the end of the book.  This cannot happen. I have to play "Let it Go" first. Then there after some in fighting we may finally agreed on "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"and then "In Summer" could be next. When I try to play "Reindeer are Better Than People" I was met with a chorus of nos.

3. The kids would be happy if I just banged out the melodies for their favorite songs. They really do not care if I play the chords and accompaniment or not.  When I try to play intros or bridges they get impatient.

4. If I miss a sharp or flat, they let me know "Mommy, you are not very good." They don't understand that the chromatics and modulations in "Let It Go" are a bit tricky, especially since the song is already starting off in A flat.

5.  I am not allowed to sing, ever, even if it is to help them with the words, or to correct their pitch.  Which leads me to -

6. Children singing Frozen are never off key, or at least you can't tell them that they are.  They can effortlessly sing a song that spans the entirety of 2 octaves, even if it means growling the low notes or screeching the high notes.

7.  I may not turn Frozen sing along time into a music lesson, in any way shape or form.  Frozen transcends notes and rhythms and any mention of "Peanut Butter" or "Every Good Boy Does Fine" will not be tolerated.

8. I can now only play Frozen songs.  Any attempts to play anything other than Frozen are met with booing.
 

Million Dollar Babies

      How many distressed babies does it take to pay a CEO? 12.  Cheaper by the dozen? Is there a discount for multiples. The recent remarks by AOL's CEO Tim Armstrong really hit close to home. In case you didn't see the news, here is an article about his original comments. 

Click here for the response from one of the mothers of said distressed babies.

      We lovingly call our twins the million dollar babies. I spent 6 weeks hanging upside down in the hospital, then when the twins were born they had 26 days of NICU time between the 2 of them, which all in all was a lot less than it could have been.  Thank God we had health insurance through my husband's employer since I had been unable to work through the majority of my pregnancy.

     When I first found out I was carrying twins, my mind automatically imagined bed rest and NICU stays.  At my 20 week ultrasound, I went in so excited to find out the genders of the babies.  My husband and I had agreed to a moratorium on the name discussion till we knew for sure what we were looking at. I left that appointment being told I was on bed rest for the foreseeable future. To add insult to injury, I was told that my baby girl had a heart defect, and may not make it.  The words "selective reduction" were used.  I don't care what your stance is on abortion.  When you are carrying 2 very wanted babies, the thought of killing one of them and simultaneously putting the other's life in jeopardy is not  something you want to think about. But I suppose Tim Armstrong would have had me cull the herd rather than shell out for a "distressed baby".

     Obviously this man has never felt the pain and anguish of having your babies whisked away before even get to look at them, as he was stitched up post c-section.  He has not had to lie in recovery, shaking from post operative hypothermia, and beg the nurses to check on the results of his baby girl's EKG and sonogram.  He has not had to walk the length of a football field one day post surgical to the NICU because the nurses were on the shift change and too busy to get him a wheel chair when it was time to feed the babies.  He has not felt the anguish that is leaving the hospital without the babies that he carried inside for too short a time. He has not had to take one baby home, leaving one behind. He has not had to beg his husband to take him back to the NICU at 10 pm for one last feeding of the sick baby still at the NICU, because  there is another baby at home that will keep him up all night. If he had gone through that, he would not be so quick to judge.

     Does he think that any mother would want a baby to have to be in the NICU.  No one would wish that for anyone. Conversely, if it were his baby, wouldn't he want everything possible done to ensure that baby had a chance at life?

     Tim Armstrong has apologized, but I don't buy it.  I think he needs a little sensitivity training to be sure.  Maybe he should go visit the NICU at his local hospital (and perhaps even donate a bit of his $12 million dollar salary).  He should bring some food for those families who are in crisis.He should sit and talk to them, and look in their weary eyes that are red from crying.  He would then know that no amount of money was too much to protect these delicate lives.

Volunteer Blues

I have been a volunteer in many capacities.  I have served on parish councils, headed youth ministry, chaired many a committee, been on boards of not for profits and I am currently the Secretary of the PTO. I have planned Science Fairs, Easter Egg Hunts and Family Picnics. I have hosted ChristmaHanaRamaKwanza shindigs, and Not So Scary Halloween Parties. I have directed plays and conducted musical groups.  I understand that not everyone is cut out for this type of work.  I am happy to take on the role. What frustrates me the most is the "helpful" comments and "constructive" criticism from the arm chair quarterbacks that feel that it is their right to do post game analysis when they had zero role in the planning and execution of the event.  If you aren't going to contribute, then don't criticize.  At every event, I have my own running list of what could have gone better, what went well, and what could be changed for next time.  I don't need anyone to point it out to me after the fact.  It is really not at all helpful, and will cause me to mutter curse words under my breath.  

All of the below have been actual comments made to me over the years. As a public service I will share them in hopes of making the world a little better for all of the harried volunteers our there.  

1. "Why don't you hold a bake sale, car wash, or pancake breakfast?" 

Um we do.  Every year, several in fact. We fund raise in many different ways, continually.   We carefully chose the events we did based on our talents and interests, and what we thought would give us the greatest amount of return for our time. If you would like to plan an additional fundraiser that you would plan and execute, feel free to do so.  

2.  "My other group had a wonderful consignment sale, hosted a conference, put on a full scale production of Into the Woods."

That's great.  Again, would you like to chair it? I have already bit off more than I can chew. Adding another huge event would likely send me over the edge.  

3. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if our Pastor/President/Principal would MC, get in the dunk tank, or play Dumbledore at Harry Potter night."

You know, I had the same thought in my initial vision. Unfortunately our Pastor had an unexpected funeral, our principal had a District wide board meeting, and our President's kids got sick at the last minute.  These people tend to go above and beyond in their jobs. It is wonderful if they can give more time, but if they can't it is okay for them not to. 

4. "I didn't hear anything about the event. You should do more publicity"

We have meetings, we have a website, we have a Facebook page, we have a newsletter. Emails were sent. Flyers were posted.  There is a giant banner outside of the school advertising the event. We sent a note home with your kid as well. While I can understand a physical note may not have gotten to your hands, there are other means of getting the information. Please use them before criticizing us for not getting the word out.  

5. "I know I forgot to RSVP but can I possibly sneak in at the 11th hour?"

If the people planning an event request an RSVP, they do so for a reason. It is nice to know if we are having 14 or 40 or 400. Food has to be ordered, photocopies made, swag bags stuffed. When an Easter Egg Hunt is put on, be sure it is not the actual Easter Bunny hiding all of those eggs.  It is nice to know how many people to plan for.  On the flip side, it is good to know if there is no interest at all in our event so that we can cancel, and spare ourselves the pain of planning the event only to have no one come. Once we cancel though, no whining, as we gave you the opportunity to sign up.  

6.  "I was on my way out the door and I called/texted/emailed to ask you a question about the event, but you didn't answer."

So sorry I failed to answer your question in a timely manner.  I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off setting up said event. It is very unlikely that I will have a moment to check my email or hear my cell phone. 

7. "I know I volunteered to help, but I didn't realize that I would not be able to also watch my kids."

Oh really, you don't think a hot, crowded kitchen is a good place for kids to be. Because I don't have 3 of my own, including a set of twins that are way younger than yours. Meanwhile I now have my husband scooping ice cream to replace you and I'm hoping my 14 year old neighbor is actually watching my kids like I begged her to. 

8.  "How come we changed venues/vendors?" or "How come we use the same vendors every year?"

There are a lot of considerations that go into event planning.  Was the date available? Does the venue require insurance that we don't have? Does the park have public bathrooms and/or a pavilion in case of rain? Does the bouncy guy have a law suit pending? Was the clown we used last year arrested for selling marijuana? Or maybe we use the same place over and over because they give us a deal. Or maybe the known is more comfortable for the person actually doing all of the work. 

9.  "It seemed like you could have used more help." or "Why weren't they passing out programs at all of the entrances, not just in the rear?" or "Why did you have to close some of the tables?" or "Why were there 12 year olds running things?"

It may seem like we were short staffed, because we were, which is why I spent the last 3 months of my life begging for volunteers. 

10. "I know you took a poll/vote, in which I did not participate, but now that you made plans based on the majority, I am going to crap all over what was decided."

I often ask people for feedback. I have done Facebook polls or used Survey Monkey. Which night of the week works best?  What time can everyone be here? Which restaurant should we hold our Mom's Night Out at? I want to be successful, and therefore attempt to do what the majority wants.  Not voting, and then telling me 6pm is too early, or that the restaurant that had the most votes once gave you food poisoning is not at all helpful. 

My Son - Future President

I had written a post a while back about the decision to put my son in dance.  Fast forward a bit, he loves it. He stole the show at the recital last June.  I would over hear people talking about the cute little chef. People commented on the studio's Facebook page about his performance.

  

Now his teacher is trying to top that number.  They are dancing to a Frank Sinatra song. She thought maybe we should put him in a tuxedo for this year's recital. He asked me what that was, so I showed him this picture.  

He looked skeptical, so I figured he needed a better reference point. I Googled Frank Sinatra in a tuxedo, but the images skewed towards older Frank.

And then of course there was the famous mug shot that popped up. 

So my son in his infinite wisdom, says 

"I don't want to look like that guy.  I want to look like Obama."

I think he is onto something.  

Really, as a mother, would you rather your son be a member of the Rat Pack?

Or President?  

Either way though, the dance lessons will come in handy, I'm sure. 

But, for now,  he looked pretty cute in his white tuxedo.

  

Classroom Separation Anxiety

     When you have twins, there are a number of parenting questions and challenges that come up that the singleton mom never has to face.  (A singleton mom is one that birthed just one child per pregnancy in case you are not up on the lingo of the multiple mom).  Perhaps the biggest question that plagues our minds is whether to not to separate the twins when they get to school.
     There are valid arguments on both sides of the issue.  On the pro side, separation can help the twins to form their own separate identities and not be viewed as a unit of "the twins".  Having them apart prevents the teacher from mixing them up, or comparing the two.  They will be more likely to have their own friends and interests, and not ride one another's coat tails. Sibling rivalry can be problematic in the classroom.  You would never hit a classmate, but hitting your brother is a daily occurrence. Also, if one twin is more dominant, and the other more introverted, the more loquacious will answer for both.
     On the side of keeping them together there are just as many valid arguments.  Being together keeps them from feeling alone or abandoned.  If one of your twins is an "informer" you will get a better picture of what is going on in the classroom.  There isn't the inherent unfairness of more or less homework, or better field trips. You don't have to split yourself in two on parent's night or at the holiday parties.  You only have to make 24 cupcakes on their birthday, not 48, and invite just one class, not two, to a party.
     From early on, I felt that I would like to keep my twins together.  I recently got confirmation that our district is very flexible, and has done it both ways.  This was a relief to me.  I don't want to be bullied into separating them, as so many parents are.  While I can see both sides, and would never criticize those that think separation is best for their kids, I want to make the decision as to what is best for my individual kids.
     If you ask them, they will tell you without hesitation that they want to stay together.  I realize that I am the parent, and my husband and I are responsible for making decisions for them.  However, their own wishes and desires should be taken into account nevertheless.
      Some other factors that are particular to my children are present as well. I'll share my reasoning for argument's sake.  For them, there truly is not a dominant twin, which per anecdotal history is a rarity.  My singleton and eldest is most assuredly the dominant personality in the house.
      The fact that they are boy/girl twins will prevent the teacher from mixing them up (hopefully) and assures that they likely will have different friends even if they are in the same class, as they are already quite individual in their tastes and preferences.
      Another burning issue for me is my daughter's hearing impairment.  While we have been working on her speech with a therapist, and made a second home of our ENT's office, the issues persist.  I hate to put her in a setting without him.  I do know that she eventually needs to make her own way in the world, and that I really should not saddle her brother with the burden of being her ears.  However, I can't help but think that the fact that they are twins is a blessing in disguise.
     As for my son, my daughter is his conscience.  I fear for the teacher that gets my son without my daughter present.  That teacher would have a rough year for sure. There is no one who can calm him down after a melt down like she can.   His future wife will need to make use of her expertise.
     Also, I have a family history of twins. Though my grandmother passed away shortly after the twins were born, she and I did have long phone conversations while I was pregnant and on bed rest.  She imparted much wisdom on the care and feeding of 2 babies at once and all other twin related issues.  She kept her twins (my aunt and uncle) together in the early years and felt that it worked well for them, and then they went their own way when they got to middle school.  I will likely take her sage advice and opt to keep my twins together for now, until it becomes a problem or they ask to be in separate classes.

Mommy's Favorite Milestones

Some parents wait anxiously for that first word, or the first steps.  Those milestones are for chumps. You spend the next 17 or so years telling them to sit down and be quiet.  The real milestones that actually make a difference in Mommy's world are way different than what you find spaces for in baby books.

1.  Being able to hold your own bottle - I had twins, and I can tell you, I contorted into all sorts of positions with various pillows and boppys to be able to feed 2 babies at once.  As soon as they were able to hold their own bottles, my entire world changed!

2.  Being able to self feed - Once you are able to sit them in a high chair with some puffs or a saltine, again, your world changed. You can cook a meal, you can eat a meal, perhaps even while it is hot!

3.  Throwing up in the toilet -  When the twins were 3 or so, we were cursed with a stomach bug.  However, my daughter had an aha momet.  "I frow up in da toilet so I don't make a mess." Yes YESYESYES!!! Life changing indeed.

4.  Being able to get their own cereal - This will change your weekend mornings.  You may actually be able to sleep beyond the break of dawn.

5.  Being able to answer the phone - My house phone is able to announce the name of the caller.  I have it programmed to say if "Daddy" or "Grandma" is calling.  My cell phone has pictures of beloved family members.  It is wonderful to let them pick up the phone, especially if I am in the shower.  If they do happen to acidentally pick up and get a telemarketer, the results are often amusing.  My preschooler once gave one poor unsuspecting person an earfull about how there aren't many words that begin with the letter X.

6.  Locating their father - No longer do I have to scream up the stairs, or tramp out to the garage in my pajamas. I can relay messages through my children.

7.  Packing lunches - This is not my favorite thing.  Some moms do love notes and cute heart sandwhich cutouts.  I use my credit card to put money in the school lunch account. My eldest quickly learned that if she didn't want to eat goulash on Tuesdays, she would have to pack her own lunch. One less thing for me in the mornings.

8.  Dressing oneself - Speaking of mornings, picking out their own clothes and being able to actually put them on their body is a big deal.  We have discovered that my younger daughter has quite the fashion sense.  In contrast, my son has a sense of humor about his clothes, and frequently declares it is backwards day if you point out that Mario should be on his chest and not on his back.

9.  Buckling seatbelts - No more back seat yoga poses!  I have ended up underneath the car on an icy day whilst attempting to buckle wiggly toddlers in snow suits into 5 point harnesses.

10.  Being able to tell you about their day - Relaying a story is no small feat.  I have 2 kids in speech therapy. Them being able to tell you that they had grilled cheese for lunch and then did fingerpaints at grandma's house is a really big deal.  For the moments that I miss, I get to feel like I was there.

Amusement Park Woes

      We had the occasion to go to 6 Flags Great Escape this past weekend.  The kids had a great time, but it made me realize that we are in sort of an in between stage when it comes to rides, too small for some, but heaven forbid you suggest a baby ride.
     My eldest just hit the 48" mark.  This brought with it the milestone of the first upside down roller coaster.This also meant we were no longer together as a family for the day.  My husband and I took turns taking her on one thrill ride after another, whilst the other took the twins on the kiddie rides.

     My son is not quite 42", which means that there are a great many rides that he is just shy of making the cutoff for, rides that we cold have ridden as a family.  For example the Raging River, which is one of my favorites.  It is one of those few rides we could all five get on together, in one boat, not having to split the numbers awkwardly.

     We did get to go on the Desperado Plunge, but had to split up.  I took the twins, and my husband took my eldest.  While in line, a woman asked as to their age, thinking they were a bit small for the ride.  I assured her they were 4 and 1/2.  She said they are a small 4.  Just what I needed to hear in that moment after watching my son try to stand on tip toes all day long.  My son loved the ride, it was one of the only big rides he got to go on, and he begged to go again.  My yonger daughter was terrified the first go around, but was a good sport and went for a second ride.  My eldest took the opportunity to ride yet another roller coaster.

     We have been talking about the possibility of going to Disney.  I'd like to wait until everyone is tall enough to ride the majority of the rides.  I checked their website, and Space Mountain as well as a few other big attractions are at 44" not 42"!  It may be a while before my son gets there.  I don't want to wish their childhood away, but it would be nice if he would actually get onto the growth curve.

Camping!

     In the good old days, I used to go camping with my friends.  It was always a great time, and we would go almost every 3 day weekend that we could.  There was plenty of drinking and debauchery, The best part though was the great food, as we each would be in charge of one meal, so as to ensure no one was stuck cooking all weekend. This led to a series of one-up-man-ships that would make any foodie green with envy.    

      I can't talk about camping without talking about Chloe-dog, my beloved black lab.  Chloe loved camping more than anything.  She would happily jump into any body of water, no matter how filthy.  She also had a penchant for fetching sticks the bigger the better.  Camping meant woods full of giant sticks (or logs or tree limbs).  These ginormous branches are forever termed Chloe-Sticks.

The old crew and Chloe-Dog

      

      The first summer my husband and I dated, he came with us, and earned himself the nickname of Caulk-and-Bawls (its a you had to be there kind of story).  Fast forward a couple of  years, and it is entirely possible that my eldest daughter was conceived on one of said camping trips (thought that mystery is another post entirely). 

     These camping trips continued after my first born in tow. I vividly remember having her there one frigid Labor Day weekend, which is the one and only time she wore the size 3-6 month snowsuit I had gotten as a shower gift.  

     Camping trips stopped after the twins were born.  I just had visions of one running towards the campfire and the other one for the lake, and having to choose my favorite to save.  That is until this past week.

     We decided to make a go of it this year.  With me taking summer classes and an additional 6 credits at the local community college this fall, we really didn't have the extra cash for a grander vacation.  Since we had all this camping gear, just sitting fallow for all these years, and camp sites go for a measly $22 a night, we thought why not?

     The first challenge was packing the mini van.  The last time we went camping, we had 1 kid and 1 dog, which all fit comfortably in my Ford Explorer.  Now we have a Chrysler Town and Country, 3 kids and 2 dogs.  We took out the 1st row of seats to make room for everything.  There were nay sayers.

No room to spare.

An old camping buddy, and my mother both said it couldn't be done.  We made it work with little room to spare.  This involved not using the booster for my 7 1/2 year old.  The middle belt is lap only, and there really wasn't anywhere she could go if anything happened. She had pillows and a dog on top of her. (There is also another dog on the floor.)

Are you comfy Buster?

     We arrived at camp around 2 in the afternoon.  Leo and I set right to setting up tents.  We then realize that the air mattress is missing.  This was a tense moment to be sure.  I will camp, but I will not sleep on the ground.  Despite cajoling from my husband, I decided take a drive up to the Fort Ticonderoga Walmart, which is obligatory for any camping trip.  The kids were chomping at the bit to get to the beach so I went to Walmart by myself and Dad took the kids to swim. I came back to pick them up and took this shot.  Amazing right?

     

2 mermaids and a ninja

     I have a friend who lives and works near to where we were camping.  She joined us for dinner and a little hike down to the rocks.   There was a gorgeous sunset.  Shortly after our hike, she left.  I wish she could have stayed a bit longer, say after the kids went to bed, but I will take when I can get.

Beautiful Sunset

     Day 2, and our only full day camping, we started off a bit rough.  We had used all of our wood for the campfire, as it was a bit nipply overnight.  We ate breakfast in courses.  I then took another drive into town, this time for fire wood.  

Note the long sleeves

     When I got back, we took the kids down to the rocks for some swimming.  This resulted in lots of whining.  It was chilly, the water was rough, the rocks were slippery.  Then we had the first of 2 dog fights for the day.  Our Dottie, who is the sweetest dog alive is not so fond of unknown dogs. The second dog fight, she broke the leash and went for the throat.  She spent the rest of the trip crated.    

Dottie - aka Cujo

     After the rocks came lunch. Then naps.  That is one thing that has stayed the same from the old days, everyone loves to nap at camp.  Then the children discovered the log swing.  I was not a fan, though they were.  Basically this was just a piece of fire wood tied to a tree, but they loved it, as did all of the other kids in the place.  There were throngs of unattended kids there.  So we swang for a few, but we had dinner to make, and I was not quite willing to let them stay unattended, which prompted much whining by my 7-year-old.  

Rope swing of death

     Then came dinner, and more whining.  I made corn and roasted potatoes to go with our chicken.  None of it met with much satisfaction.  We had the right idea in the old days, split up cooking duty.  It definitely takes a lot of pressure off.  I'm going to have to recruit some folks to come and cook for me . . . I mean camp with us next year.       

      Then we attempted s'mores.  Now, please tell me, who thought this up? Don't get me wrong, I love a good s'more, but seriously, who gives children a poky stick, then informs them to go stand in front of the fire until their marshmallow becomes a molten pile of goo.  S'mores resulted in me sending everyone to bed.  

     While we were packing up, a man walked by, saw that we had only the one vehicle. He of course inquired about how we managed to get 3 kids 2 dogs and all that stuff into one mini-van.  I guess we are just talented that way, able to pack so efficiently as to draw comments on our impressiveness from strangers.  

     It is so good to be home.  I'm really appreciating my couch, and my laptop, and my wireless internet. If nothing else, camping makes you appreciate the comforts of home.   

Buster in the brush

     

Doggie Report Card Day

We’ve cried, we’ve bled, we’ve lost countless hours of sleep, and we’ve cleaned every bodily function off the floor/carpet/upholstery that we can think of (and some we never thought possible), and now we’re getting even. BECAUSE…it’s Doggie Report Card Day!!!

My sister and I have had dogs in and out of our lives since infancy. We’ve seen it all, or so we believed. Now, we’re busy moms, the alpha females in our homes, and have recently welcomed new canine members into our packs. How will the new additions (Buster, Dottie, and Heidi) measure up to our “golden” standard (Rigel, a golden retriever, and the best dog we’ve ever had)?

We also have two special guest bloggers. Thanks Glenna and Rebel for your participation!

Name of Dog: Rebel

Owner: Glenna

Age as of 8/1: 7 mos

Gender: M

Breed/breed mix: “Sharpei mix” according to the shelter, other breeds we are guessing are pitbull and lab, he’s already 60 lbs!

Marking Period: Spring/Summer 2013

A – Outstanding (4.0)

B – Good (3.0)

C – Average (2.0)

D – I’m fantasizing about my dog with a new family on that hypothetical farm (1.0)

F – Honey, where's the shotgun?

N/A – Not applicable

(+/-) grades are acceptable

	GRADE
Sleep Habits
Through the night	A
Daytime naps	A
Sleep Overall Grade:	4.0
Comments: I was blessed since day one, he sleeps through the night and sleeps in if I do!
Food
Table Manners:
No Whining	B
No Stealing	C
No Begging	C
Sits still	B
Leaves people/children alone	B
Feeding:
Waits calmly	A
Eats when served	A
Doesn't inhale food like the world is about to end	D
Eats only dog food	B
Stays away from garbage/pantry/countertops/refrigerator/stove/oven	B
Food Overall Grade:	2.8
Comments: growls like a savage if you touch him while eating, one of his few flaws
Leash/Outdoor/Traveling Habits
Doesn't pull on leash	D
Walks straight	B
Heels	C
Handling distractions:
People:
Response:
Friendly but not overly	A
Non-aggressive	A
Non-fearful	A
Other dogs/animals:
Response:
Friendly but not overly	A
Non-aggressive	A
Non-fearful	A
Ignores:
Garbage	C
Scents	C
Cars	A
Inanimate objects	B
House training:
#1 outside	B
#2 outside	B
Expresses clearly the need to eliminate	D
Off Leash:
Stays near you	B
Comes when called	C
Ignores distractions	C
Car behaviour:
Calm/fear free	A
Stays in back	A
Stays still	A
Doesn’t distract driver	A
Maintains control of:
Drooling	B
Bowels	A
Urination	A
Regurgitation	B
Leash/Outdoor Habits Overall Grade:	3.14
Comments: super friendly but also has a guarding instinct. Selective hearing. Pees on the carpet occasionally still.
Personality
Friendly	A
Affectionate	A
Fun	A
Protective	A
Intelligent	A
Non-aggressive	A
Laidback	A
Submissive	B
Loyal	A
Social Skills:
With people	A
With children	A
With babies	A
With other dogs	A
With other pets	B
Play:
Enthusiastic	A
Successfully retrieves	C
Relinquishes toy without tug o’ war	D
Barking:
Stays quiet for:
Doorbell	D
Unexpected noise	D
Indoor play	B
Outdoor play	B
Stops when corrected
Doggie etiquette:
No jumping	B
No pawing/scratching	B
No leg/object/other dog humping	A
No crotch sniffing	A
Respect for:
Boundaries	C
Common commands:
Sit	A
Stay	C
Lay down	B
Come	C
Give	B
Property:
Kids’ toys	C
Electronics	C
Clothing	D
Pillows/bedding/upholstery	D
Kitchenware	C
Important paper	C
Personality Overall Grade:	2.94
Comments: super goofy and playful. Will play with any dog who wants to. Loves people and kids. Wishes the cats would play.
Mouthing
Biting:
Abstains during:
Play with adults	B
Play with children	A
Walks	A
Greetings	C
Grooming	B
Quiet time/family time	A
Chewing:
Only treats provided	D
Abstains from:
Shoes	A
Furniture	D
Mouthing Overall Grade:	2.89
Comments: The cats made the box spring a scratching post, he’s remodelled it into a chew toy.

           

Miscellaneous

	Trips to the vet	Grooming	Nail Trimming	Bathing	Crate Training
Calm	C	C	C	A	A
Quiet	A	A	A	A	A
Cooperative	A	A	C	A	A
Overall Grade					3.46

 

Cumulative GPA: 3.21

Closing remarks: Look at that personality! A little rough on some edges, but so so great! I got really lucky with my first dog. J

Name of Dog: Buster Brown

Owner:  Carissa

Age as of 8/1: 7.5 months

Gender: Male

Breed/breed mix: Black Lab Mix

Marking Period: Spring/Summer 2013

A – Outstanding (4.0)

B – Good (3.0)

C – Average (2.0)

D – I’m fantasizing about my dog with a new family on that hypothetical farm (1.0)

F – Honey, where's the shotgun?

N/A – Not applicable

(+/-) grades are acceptable

	GRADE
Sleep Habits
Through the night	A
Daytime naps	A
Sleep Overall Grade:	4.0
Comments:  Buster has no sleep issues.  Keep it up!
Food
Table Manners:
No Whining	F
No Stealing	F
No Begging	F
Sits still	F
Leaves people/children alone	F
Feeding:
Waits calmly	C
Eats when served	A
Doesn't inhale food like the world is about to end	B
Eats only dog food	D
Stays away from garbage/pantry/countertops/refrigerator/stove/oven	F
Food Overall Grade:	1.0
Comments:  This is one area that needs a lot of improvement.
Leash/Outdoor/Traveling Habits
Doesn't pull on leash	C
Walks straight	C
Heels	C
Handling distractions:
People:
Response:
Friendly but not overly	C
Non-aggressive	A
Non-fearful	A
Other dogs/animals:
Response:
Friendly but not overly	A
Non-aggressive	A
Non-fearful	A
Ignores:
Garbage	D
Scents	C
Cars	A
Inanimate objects	B
House training:
#1 outside	C
#2 outside	F
Expresses clearly the need to eliminate	C
Off Leash:
Stays near you	C
Comes when called	C
Ignores distractions	C
Car behaviour:
Calm/fear free	B
Stays in back	C
Stays still	D
Doesn’t distract driver	C
Maintains control of:
Drooling	A
Bowels	B
Urination	D
Regurgitation	F
Leash/Outdoor Habits Overall Grade:	2.37
Comments:  We have not done a great deal of leash work as of yet so his skills are hard to accurately assess.  The car rides are not that frequent either.  With more exposure I’m sure these areas will improve. He does need to stop pooping in the basement.  What is with that?
Personality
Friendly	A
Affectionate	A
Fun	A
Protective	D
Intelligent	B
Non-aggressive	B
Laidback	A
Submissive	B
Loyal	A
Social Skills:
With people	B
With children	A
With babies	A
With other dogs	A
With other pets	A
Play:
Enthusiastic	A
Successfully retrieves	A
Relinquishes toy without tug o’ war	B
Barking:
Stays quiet for:
Doorbell/Knocking	A
Unexpected noise	B
Indoor play	C
Outdoor play	A
Stops when corrected	B
Doggie etiquette:
No jumping	D
No pawing/scratching	C
No leg/object/other dog humping	D
No crotch sniffing	C
Respect for:
Boundaries	C
Common commands:
Sit	B
Stay	C
Lay down	C
Come	B
Give	B
Property:
Kids’ toys	D
Electronics	D
Clothing	A
Pillows/bedding/upholstery	A
Kitchenware	D
Important paper	A
Personality Overall Grade:	2.7
Comments:  Buster does not seem to understand which toys are his and which are the children’s.  All are fair game.  Maybe we should consider getting him his own Barbies. Also, the wire chewing is concerning as he is at risk of getting electrocuted.
Mouthing
Biting:
Abstains during:
Play with adults	C
Play with children	B
Walks	A
Greetings	A
Grooming	A
Quiet time/family time	B
Chewing:
Only treats provided	D
Abstains from:
Shoes	B
Furniture	A
Mouthing Overall Grade:	3.1
Comments:  This area has seen some improvement lately.  Keep it up!

           

Miscellaneous

	Trips to the vet	Grooming	Nail Trimming	Bathing	Crate Training
Calm	B	B	C	B	A
Quiet	B	B	B	B	B
Cooperative	B	B	C	B	A
Overall Grade					3.0

Cumulative GPA: 2.69

Closing remarks:

Overall, Buster is a good boy. He sweet and affectionate. He has some work to do on the house training, but I’m sure with a little effort he will get where he needs to be. He does need to work on his manners when it comes to food. His main issue is that he does not understand the difference between people food and dog food and feels he is entitled to any and all food in the house. This may be attributed to the rapid growth he is currently experiencing. With some more maturity I hope this will improve. The humping is thankfully limited to the other dog in the house, and she does not seem to mind so much, and in fact prefers it to the nipping. As long as that is kept to a minimum after he is neutered we can look the other way. 

Name of Dog:  Dottie Dawg

Owner:  Carissa

Age as of 8/1: 4 years?

Gender:  Female

Breed/breed mix: Some type of Hound and possibly Spaniel? or Boxer maybe?

Marking Period: Spring/Summer 2013

A – Outstanding (4.0)

B – Good (3.0)

C – Average (2.0)

D – I’m fantasizing about my dog with a new family on that hypothetical farm (1.0)

F – Honey, where's the shotgun?

N/A – Not applicable

(+/-) grades are acceptable

	GRADE
Sleep Habits
Through the night	A
Daytime naps	A
Sleep Overall Grade:	4.0
Comments:  Sleeping is one of Dottie's all time favorite pastimes.  She will stay asleep even if Dad gets up for work.
Food
Table Manners:
No Whining	A
No Stealing	C
No Begging	B
Sits still	A
Leaves people/children alone	B
Feeding:
Waits calmly	A
Eats when served	B
Doesn't inhale food like the world is about to end	A
Eats only dog food	C
Stays away from garbage/pantry/counter tops/refrigerator/stove/oven	B
Food Overall Grade:	3.2
Comments:  Having Buster has brought out some bad habits.  I'm convinced she is the brains behind some of Buster's food based shenanigans.
Leash/Outdoor/Traveling Habits
Doesn't pull on leash	B
Walks straight	B
Heels	B
Handling distractions:
People:
Response:
Friendly but not overly	B
Non-aggressive	A
Non-fearful	A
Other dogs/animals:
Response:
Friendly but not overly	C
Non-aggressive	C
Non-fearful	A
Ignores:
Garbage	B
Scents	B
Cars	A
Inanimate objects	B
House training:
#1 outside	A+
#2 outside	A+
Expresses clearly the need to eliminate	A
Off Leash:
Stays near you	A
Comes when called	A
Ignores distractions	B
Car behaviour:
Calm/fear free	C
Stays in back	C
Stays still	B
Doesn’t distract driver	C
Maintains control of:
Drooling	A
Bowels	A
Urination	A
Regurgitation	A
Leash/Outdoor Habits Overall Grade:	3.33
Comments:  Dottie came fully potty trained.  We lucked out.  I can count the number of accidents she has had on one hand.
Personality
Friendly	A
Affectionate	A
Fun	A
Protective	C
Intelligent	A
Non-aggressive	A
Laidback	A
Submissive	A
Loyal	A
Social Skills:
With people	A
With children	A
With babies	A
With other dogs	C
With other pets	A
Play:
Enthusiastic	B
Successfully retrieves	D
Relinquishes toy without tug o’ war	A
Barking:
Stays quiet for:
Doorbell	A
Unexpected noise	A
Indoor play	A
Outdoor play	C
Stops when corrected	A
Doggie etiquette:
No jumping	B
No pawing/scratching	B
No leg/object/other dog humping	A
No crotch sniffing	A
Respect for:
Boundaries	A
Common commands:
Sit	A
Stay	A
Lay down	B
Come	A
Give	A
Property:
Kids’ toys	A
Electronics	A
Clothing	A
Pillows/bedding/upholstery	A
Kitchenware	B
Important paper	A
Personality Overall Grade:	3.63
Comments: Dottie’s one weak area is retrieving. I think this is attributed to her breed and should not be seen as a personality flaw.
Mouthing
Biting:
Abstains during:
Play with adults	A
Play with children	A
Walks	A
Greetings	A
Grooming	A
Quiet time/family time	A
Chewing:
Only treats provided	A
Abstains from:
Shoes	A
Furniture	A
Mouthing Overall Grade:	4.0
Comments: Dottie has never been a biter or a chewer. Her only occasional slip happens to be wooden items, and I will attribute that to a desire to play with sticks.

           

Miscellaneous

	Trips to the vet	Grooming	Nail Trimming	Bathing	Crate Training
Calm	C	A	B	A	N/A
Quiet	A	A	A	A	N/A
Cooperative	B	B	B	A	N/A
Miscellaneous Overall Grade:					3.5

Cumulative GPA: 3.61

Closing remarks:

Dottie is a wonderful dog that came into our family as we lost our beloved 12 year old lab. She has done well with adjusting to the addition of the new puppy. She is slightly territorial and tends to bark at other dogs, however, never barks at people. She could channel this and be slightly more protective against strangers. 

Name of Dog: Heidi  

Owner: Alicia

Age as of 8/1: 5 months

Gender: Female

Breed/breed mix: Eastern German Shepherd

Marking Period: Spring/Summer 2013

A – Outstanding (4.0)

B – Good (3.0)

C – Average (2.0)

D – I’m fantasizing about my dog with a new family on that hypothetical farm (1.0)

F – Honey, where's the shotgun?

N/A – Not applicable

(+/-) grades are acceptable

	GRADE
Sleep Habits
Through the night	D
Daytime naps	C
Sleep Overall Grade:	1.5
Comments: Heidi was a terrible sleeper for a couple months. Poor bladder control would be understandable, so once a night was to be expected. But around 4:00 am, she’d cry after her walk until she was fed. We had to give in eventually (we’re only human) and feed her before sunrise which would necessitate another walk. Her grade would have been an F, but we changed her mealtimes to nine in the morning and nine at night and it solved the problem, more or less. She’s settled in to “C” behaviour – she starts whining and scratching between 6 and 7 am, goes back in her crate, and stays somewhat quiet until she’s let out at about 7:30.
Food
Table Manners:
No Whining	C
No Stealing	D
No Begging	C
Sits still	C
Leaves people/children alone	D
Feeding:
Waits calmly	D
Eats when served	A
Doesn't inhale food like the world is about to end	D
Eats only dog food	F
Stays away from garbage/pantry/countertops/refrigerator/stove/oven	C
Food Overall Grade:	1.6
Comments: Heidi will eat anything that fits in her mouth. Paper, garbage, leaves, rocks, Legos. Trust me on the Legos. They look the same when they come out. I do try to get non-food items out of her mouth, but she runs and has usually swallowed the item before I can dig it out. Everything so far has passed – lucky damn dog. She hasn’t figured out the garbage yet, but will steal food off an unattended counter or if you step away from the table. And she either whines while we eat if she’s crated or camps right under my 11-month-old’s highchair.
Leash/Outdoor/Traveling Habits
Doesn't pull on leash	D
Walks straight	D
Heels	D
Handling distractions:
People:
Response:
Friendly but not overly	C
Non-aggressive	C
Non-fearful	C
Other dogs/animals:
Response:
Friendly but not overly	D
Non-aggressive	D
Non-fearful	D
Ignores:
Garbage	D
Scents	C
Cars	B
Inanimate objects	D
House training:
#1 outside	C
#2 outside	B
Expresses clearly the need to eliminate	C
Off Leash:
Stays near you	C
Comes when called	C
Ignores distractions	C
Car behaviour:
Calm/fear free	B
Stays in back	B
Stays still	B
Doesn’t distract driver	B
Maintains control of:
Drooling	A
Bowels	A
Urination	C
Regurgitation	A
Leash/Outdoor/Traveling Habits Overall Grade:	2.07
Comments: Heidi has become territorial over her yard. She barks, pulls, and her fur stands up when she sees strangers or other animals. Her house training went as well as can be expected, but she does have “happy pee” when she’s overly excited. For walks, she’s afraid of her own shadow. It’s an excessive challenge when she becomes a dead weight every three steps. On long trips, we crate her in the car, and let her wander for short trips. So far there have been no major catastrophes.
Personality
Friendly	D
Affectionate	C
Fun	D
Protective	B
Intelligent	B
Non-aggressive	D
Laidback	D
Submissive	D
Loyal	B
Social Skills:
With people	C
With children	C
With babies	B
With other dogs	C
With other pets	N/A
Play:
Enthusiastic	B
Successfully retrieves	B
Relinquishes toy without tug o’ war	C
Barking:
Stays quiet for:
Doorbell	B
Unexpected noise	B
Indoor play	D
Outdoor play	B
Stops when corrected	D
Doggie etiquette:
No jumping	D
No pawing/scratching	D
No leg/object/other dog humping	B
No crotch sniffing	B
Respect for:
Boundaries	B
Common commands:
Sit	B
Stay	C
Lay down	B
Come	C
Give	B
Property:
Kids’ toys	C
Electronics	B
Clothing	D
Pillows/bedding/upholstery	B
Kitchenware	C
Important papers	D
Personality Overall Grade:	1.40
Comments: Heidi shows signs of being loyal and protective. Overall, though, she is very high strung. She loves us and is happy to see us when we return from an outing, but expresses that love with jumping, pawing, and biting. She only obeys commands when there is a treat involved, so not when it really matters. It has to be on her terms. For example, she’ll ignore/evade me when she is overly hyper and irritating people or when her play gets too aggressive.
Mouthing
Biting:
Abstains during:
Play with adults	F
Play with children	D
Walks	D
Greetings	F
Grooming	F
Quiet time/family time	F
Chewing:
Only treats provided	C
Abstains from:
Shoes	B
Furniture	B
Mouthing Overall Grade:	1.2
Comments: Heidi is more vampire than werewolf. The bite marks and scratches never get a chance to heal before new ones take their place. I can’t put her leash on without her gnawing on my arm. She’s also punctured the back of my thigh while I was holding the baby. During play, her teeth always seem to wander to my hand and arm despite my refusal to play the game her way. She bites to get attention and bites when she has attention. Then when your grab for her to correct the behaviour (a time out in her crate), she plays an annoying game of “try to catch me.” And most times, she’d rather bite than get affection. It’s sad when there are plenty of people in my house willing to pet her and play with her. Her only redeeming quality is that she seems to understand “baby,” but she doesn’t hesitate to bite my five-year old and seven-year old. During grooming, her biting gets vicious. Nail clipping takes two adults and we still end up with bites and scratches. We’ve avoided giving her a bath. Her behaviour is equally as bad. The best we can do is hose her down from a distance.

           

Miscellaneous

	Trips to the vet	Grooming	Nail Trimming	Bathing	Crate Training
Calm	C	D	F	F	C
Quiet	C	D	F	F	C
Cooperative	C	D	F	F	C
Miscellaneous Overall Grade					1.0

Cumulative GPA: 1.46

Closing remarks:

Heidi, you’re a terror, but I’m not a quitter. You’re lucky I’m as stubborn as you are.

Stay tuned for my next blog post, “My Positive Reinforcement Woes.” Heidi has issues and we’ve attempted to deal with them by going to an expert. Let’s see if there’s hope for me and my puppy delinquent…