Thursday, July 30, 2009

KSDS Grad Retreat 2009

July 7 Olivia and I headed to KSDS for this years grad retreat. We took a night flight to get to Kansas City because this was my first time flying with a dog and I wanted first class because Watty would have more room. Our flight was delayed about an hour so we didn't get to Kansas City till about 11 and we didn't meet our "taxi" to Washington, KS till about 11:45 since I am last one off the plane. We made it to bed about 3 that morning.
Watty waiting to board the plane.

On the way to Kansas City in style.

We got to KSDS a day early so we could take that night flight. Since we were there early Watty's puppy raiser's, Sandy and Bob, came and visited with us a little bit. They brought their pup they are raising now and boy he is huge. He is Ellie's brother and his name is Jackson. We chatted in the duplex a while till it cooled down and headed to Banner park so the dogs could play. I couldn't believe how big Jackson was compared to Watty.
Watty on the right & Jackson on the left
Jackson giving me kisses

Grad Retreat started Thursday morning and there were 17 teams. 3 guide, 1 social and 13 service. We started off with basic obedience and then broke into guide class and social/service class. The guides went out and worked on routes and what they needed to and social/service class worked on retrieving with/without distractions and other commands. Friday and Saturday we worked more on distractions and if there was still things we needed help on we had Michelle there to help.
July 11 happened to be the Kansas Counties first birthday. Puppy Raiser Lisa was at the retreat taking pictures for the newsletter and she brought Ellie. Ellie got a birthday cake and got sung to. She didn't get to have any cake but she sure did want some. I wanted to see her blow her candle out. :P The cake was yummy and everybody had enough to tell Ellie it was good.


While we were at the retreat Watty and I met his half brother Hansel. Hansel is a puppy in training and is oh so sweet. Watty looked like him when I got him only a year ago. Watty has lighted up so much.

Olivia, Watty and I headed home Sunday morning back to Houston. On our way home we rode a "barbie jet" and it was so funny how we had to put Watty. He had no room and I kind of felt bad for him. Watty was so tired I don't think he cared. Once we were in the air he was out. Slept the whole way home.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

June 20

My cousin, Shannon, finally found her prince. I was blessed with having the honor of being in her wedding. I carried flowers down the aisle to represent the grandparents that had past on or were not able to make it to the wedding. The wedding festivities started on Friday June 19 with a bridal luncheon for the brides party. I got to meet the rest of her party and her stepdaughters E and V. E and V love Shannon to death and so does Shannon. During the party they kept asking her stuff and loving on her. Sweet little girls.
Mother of the bride Cindy and Bride Shannon

Bride's party

Bride's family and more of the Bride's party

Aunt Ruth and my mom

Shannon and I

Rehearsal at the church was crazy but fun. It went smooth. We had 7 little ones running around that were part of the ceremony. After rehearsal we headed to Z'Tejas for some yummy Mexican food and conversation.
Groom's family

Anne, Uncle Lowell, and Aunt Ruth

Shannon & James with friends

Shannon & James listening to speeches from friends and family

Saturday June 20 was wedding day. I went and got my hair done while my Aunt and her sister were getting theirs done. I met up with Shannon and the rest of her girls to get ready at the church around 4. We all jumped in our dresses and got ready. As I was getting ready Olivia had asked me if Shannon told me what the dresses looked like because mine was almost the same dress. All the girls laughed and said I had great taste. Before the ceremony we had pictures with the bride. The church smelled wonderful with all the roses that were used. After pictures we headed back to where we got dressed and waited for the start of the ceremony.It was a beautiful ceremony. Shannon looked like a princess and James her prince. I am so happy she found her prince. After the ceremony we had more pictures and then headed to the reception at the Headliners Club.
Shannon & James with the flower girls & ring bearers

Justin & Ian were ushers

Wedding party

Yummy cake

Jeff's, Shannon's brother, band did the music for the reception.

Shannon & James' first dance as husband and wife

Father/Daughter dance

Me & the happy couple :)

Watty even enjoyed the wedding. He wasn't in it with me but came along all dressed up. The florist even surprised us with a corsage for Watty to wear. By the end of the ceremony all of the flowers had been shook off.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

An Amazing Year

Today makes a year since Watty and I were partnered. It has been a tough, crazy, and fun year. We both have grown in many ways. Our partnership is getting stronger as we work together. Yes we still have things to work on this next year to make further strides to be where I want us to be. We have had problems that we had to work through and we got through them. I want to thank Sandy for raising such an awesome pup, Michelle for teaching him more than the puppy raisers are aloud to and for being there for all my frantic calls, Lisa for giving a ear to listen and a shoulder for me to cry on, and all my friends and family, including my KSDS family, for giving me the support I needed when I wanted to give up with my hard headed little boy, and to Watty for being patient with me and being my comic relief when I really needed it. Love ya boy.



Thanks Lisa for doing the video for me.

Friday, July 3, 2009

UNSTOPPABLE TOUR

June 14 Olivia and I went to my FIRST concert. Yes I did see Rascal Flatts in March at the rodeo but they can't do all the theatrics there. This was also a different tour. In March it was the Bob That Head Tour and this one is the UNSTOPPABLE TOUR for their new album. GREAT CD!

I am a member of their fan club and I won a backstage pass to meet Jay, Joe Don, and Gary. I also won 2 tickets so the day of the concert I had 4 tickets. I gave 2 of my tickets to Ryan, a friend from camp, and he meet us there at the concert. I also meet up with Alicia who I met via the fan club. We both won meet and greets so we chatted in line while we waited for the guys. We had been chatting online for about a month before we met and we also met other "fam" members. SO fun.

I was pretty calm but Alicia on the other hand. She was fine until we went back and saw the guys. At first sight she freaked...me I laughed at her. I did try to calm her but she had been waiting 4 years to meet them and she ADORES Gary. It was her turn and she freaked. She gave Gary the biggest hug I have ever seen. Then she went to Joe Don and Jay. She ran, not walked, ran back to Gary. Squeezed him again and said OH MY GOD about 10 times and then turned around to take the picture. Then it was my turn and of course I had to become shy. I had gotten a gift for Joe Don's son because his first birthday was two weeks before our concert and I wanted to get Jag something. I had the gift in my hand and I guess JD heard Alicia ask one of the guys back there if I could give him a gift since they were taking the gifts. Gary said Hi to me and JD stood in front of me. I handed him the gift and said it was for Jag's 1st birthday. He opened the gift which was a t-shirt The guys loved it and Gary asked if he could wear it since it was so hot that day. I told him if it fit why not. JD gave me a hug and said thank you. Such a sweetie. By that time it was time for picture. I didn't want the typical person in a wheelchair pose that I have seen so I asked Jay to be behind me and then I wanted JD and Gary on either side. We didn't get the exact pose I wanted but I LOVE MY PICTURE! By the time we were setting up to get the picture Alicia calmed down and was able to help me get the guys how I wanted them. I even had my head on Jay's shoulder. Once the picture was taken they said bye and one of them squeezed my arm as I was leaving. Alicia and I think it was Jay. If you haven't figured out yet Jay is my favorite. :) The meet and greet was a blast and we hope to have many more.

After the meet and greet we went and took our seats for the concert. Darius Rucker was opening for Rascal Flatts and he was good. I haven't really heard many of his songs but he has a new fan. Then it was on to SUMMER NIGHTS! They opened the show with summer nights and from then on it was nonstop bobbing of heads with the gang. The guys really know how to put on an awesome show. They did a lot of older songs of theirs as well as a few of the new songs. Gary knows how to get us girls going with his smooth voice and moves.


Joe Don the cutie he has a great voice and can flirt with all the girls by just looking their way. He sang Mayberry and brought back the talk box for Me and My Gang. All I can say about the talk box is OMG! He makes me melt. Jay is a great bass player and loves to crack jokes during the set. He told us how we can get on Joe Don's bus

and to wait till Hanna Montana comes out on DVD. Didn't mean it as a joke but still pretty funny. Jay is a cutie with his gorgeous blue eyes and dimples.Here Comes Goodbye is one of their singles out right now and it sounded fabulous live. Someone handed the guys a note and wanted a picture of the guys so the guys obliged.
They obliged for all of us with “the butt picture”. So many people take butt pictures during their shows they decided to give us easy access for “the butt picture.” Then they gave us cute poses of all three together.
Chank, the fiddler, likes to try and make Gary mess up. Gary did forget where he was in the song What Hurts The Most. It is funny because I had just seen an interview where Gary talked about messing up during shows.

Olivia and I learned from the rodeo that when they say goodnight thanks for coming and just walk off stage the show is not over. They came back with Revolution

and Darius Rucker came back. Life is a Highway was the last song and that was a great way to end the show.

The guys had 18-wheelers out by the buses that are decorated with Rascal Flatts Pictures. A great photo opportunity too.
Handicap parking was next to the tour buses of the guys so we were going to wait a little bit but the police kept saying that they were not the guys buses so we decided to leave. As we were driving out we saw they were the guys buses. Oh well. That was an awesome night!
**thanks to Deanna for some of these pictures