Diesel Graduates! :)

Yes, Diesel graduated his Advance training class. It is the very last step that he can take when it comes to just regular training. I'm soo proud of him! He is soo good at the things that he does! Actually his test didn't go so well, and I was pretty bummed about that, but it really wasn't his fault! See, his class consisted of just him and another dog. So, b/c there was an intermediate class graduating the same day, my trainer asked us to come into that class to do our test. Well, if you don't know Diesel really well, he LOVES other dogs and thinks they are all there to play with him!!! His test day was no exception! He thought every dog there was there to play and I could not get his mind focused and in working mode. He did some things well, but for the most part, he was just not with it that day. Fortunately, my trainer knows that he is VERY good at what he does an listens VERY well so she didn't take anything to seriously and passed him. I was so disappointed though, so I asked if I could do the test over again another day. I know he is better than what he showed and I know that I'm better at controlling him and getting his attention. I didn't want to end things like that, so I will be going in to do the test again, but he already graduated!

Next thing on the list for us two to do is a herding lesson. That is not until December, but the Rottweiler group that I'm in is putting on a Herding seminar weekend with some training lessons and instinct tests. I already think that he has the instinct in him, so I'm going to put him right into a private lesson. I can't wait!!!

Already???

Well, I know it's a little behind, but.... better late then never right? I'm sure you are all wondering what I'm talking about. ;) Well, J started Pre-school last Tuesday! I know it's just preschool, and b/c of her age she will be going for 2 years in a row, but this was a big deal for us all! I thought it was going to be no big deal b/c she is only going 2 days a week for 3 hours, but I teared up when I dropped her off the first day! All I could think was that my little girl is growing up so fast (and now I feel old)! ;) Well, she LOVES it and is excited to go everyday! Our next door neighbors kid is going as well, and is in her class, so that made the transition really easy for her since she knew somebody! Everytime she comes home from school and I ask her what she did that day, the first thing she says is that she played outside on the slide. That is her favorite thing! :) I'm soo happy that she enjoys going to school. I did this mainly so that she had her own time away from T and it was something special just for her! I'm glad that so far it seems to be that way! I do have pics, but same issue as before with the Colorado trip. One of these days I will the pics up for the apporiate posts! ;)

Colorado-Finally! ;)

Okay, I know that for some of you, you have been waiting a long time to hear about our Colorado trip. I've been waiting to write b/c I wanted to be able to put up pics with it, but I will just have to do that another time. To make a long story short, Scott has the device that we use to get the pictures from the camera for work, and I can't find the cord that came with the camera, so... I just don't have any way to get the pictures downloaded at this time. I promise, though, when I get the chance (either by buying a new thing, finding the cord, or just borrowing it from Scott one night) I will get the GREAT pictures that we took up! ;)

So anyway, we went to Colorado in the middle of July (for those of you who didn't know that). We had sooo much fun! See, normally we go in the winter months b/c I want to see if I would be able to handle the snow, but this year we decided to go in the summer time so that I could see God's wonderful creation in a different light (so to speak). It was breathtaking! I was already in love with the place covered in snow, but I tell you, it is just as beautiful (if not more) without the snow! :)

We only went for a week (Monday through Saturday), so we didn't travel as much as we normally do. We started and ended our trip in Montrose. Scott and I always come here when we go up b/c it's where he used to live, but also a good stop and start place when it comes to driving back and forth. This place has become particularily special to both of us b/c of the first year that we stayed there. See, the hotel that we stayed at had a Christian Book Store right next door to it, so we decided to go in a browse around since we didn't have anything else to do the first night that we got there. Our first trip was to look at houses and start to plan to move out there, so we were really surprised at what happened next. We purchased some Bibles and other things (CD's and other books) and took them to our room to rest and relaxe the rest of the evening. While both of us were reading our Bibles and spending time with the Lord, both of us heard what He was saying to us (both the same message and practically at the same time)! Basically, God was reassuring us that sometime we would be in Colorado, but it wasn't when we thought it would be! We were so in AWE at how God worked in us b/c we thought we had it all planned out! Of course, that is how God works now isn't it!? ;) Anyway, since that time, we love to go back to Montrose and visit that bookstore and just enjoy those memories there that we will always have. We didn't do much in Montrose this year b/c it truely was our place to stay when we got to Colorado and before we left. We did see a rodeo the last night, though, and that was a ton of fun!!!! :)

The majority of our trip was in Glenwood Springs. (Scott lived there too at one point.) Let me tell you, if I had all the money in the world, I would live there! I absolutely love Glenwood and all the areas around it (Carbondale, Aspen, etc...)! Of course, I don't have all the money in the world, so that will probably never happen. That is okay, though, b/c this way it can always be a place to go and visit and have a TON of fun!!!! The first day we got in, we drove a different way then we normally take. I don't remember what the road was called, but it took us in the back way (that's all I know). ;) Anyway, that drive was beautiful. Looking at the mountain sides as we are going through them was like looking at a convase that God has especially painted for us! It was truely a gift to be able to see all of that and know that God had made all of it! This drive was a little shorter than we had thought it would be, so as soon as we got into Glenwood we decided to hike up Hanging Lake. For those of you who have NEVER been, I highly suggest it! Hanging Lake, is literally, a hanging lake on the top of a mountain. We hiked up an EXTREMELY HARD 1 mile trail (I'm telling you it felt like 30 miles), but it was totally worth it in the end. There was this lake (just hanging there) off the side of a mountain with two waterfalls cascading into it. It was soo beautiful! Then, Scott tells me there is more, so we hike up just a little more and we see where it all starts. There was a hole in the side of the mountain and one, very powerful, waterfall was splashing down. Which, consequently, lead to the two other waterfalls into the lake that we had just seen. It was amazing! We definitely took pictures of that, and I will get them up as soon as possible, but I will say they will not do it justice. You will all have to go see it for yourselves one day! ;)

The next day we drove into Aspen and spent the day there. We just walked around all the shops and just took in the beauty. I tell you, it is VERY beautiful there! I know why the celebrities want to have their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th houses there! ;) We happened to walk by a reality place and looked at their fliers on the windows. The cheapest thing there was a studio apartment for sale that just had a little kitchenette and it was going for.... $868,000!!!!! Can you believe that! ;)

Well, the third and last full day there, before heading back to Montrose, we went for a 3 hour horseback ride up Sunlight Mountain (which is Glenwood's ski resort). What a site. We had a private ride (that was TOTALLY worth the extra money) so we were able to spend more time and get better horses (that were more compatible with our riding capabilities). I got to ride a Morgan (which was a first time for me and a lot of fun b/c he knew how to gait and did it almost the whole time), and Scott rode a Belgian (which is a squatty draft horse). Anyway, again what a site! We went all the way to the top and got to look down over Aspen valley and see all the mountains and beauty that surrounded us! I do have pictures of this as well, but they didn't do ANY justice at all to what we saw! Again, something I highly recommend, even to those who really don't ride! ;) On our way down the mountain, back to the ranch, we had sort of a run-in with one of the bulls from the free-range cattle that there. He was on the trail in front of us and was calling to a female. Well, we started to follow him for awhile (only b/c he was on the actually trail) so he finally got over to the side and started heading toward a cow that was standing near some water. We thought all was fine and kept going down, but then realized that the bull didn't stop making his weird sounds and they were getting louder. We looked back and noticed that now he was following us. All that went through all of our minds (our guide included) was that we were going to have to run down the mountain and try to get away from him! Secretly, part of me was thinking that would be a ton of fun (but also scary at the same time)! ;) Anyway, after awhile, the bull realized that we were heading away from him and was no threat to him and his women, so he stopped and turned back towards her. The rest of the ride was peaceful and ended way too fast if you ask me! :) After the ride, we relaxed the rest of the day until that evening. We found out, when driving through Carbondale on the way to Glenwood, that there was a rodeo that night, so we decided to go. It POURED (and I mean BUCKETS) of rain a few hours before the show, but they said that they ride rain or shine. So, we paid and waited in our car until it was about time for it to start. Oh yeah, I have to note too, that this was a special event b/c all the proceeds were going to the Race for the Cure (it was going on that weekend in Aspen) so the rodeo was called "Tough enough to wear pink" so all the cowboys and cowgirls had pink shirts on! Okay, now that that is said, we got out of our car just before it was supposed to start (and by this time it was just sprinkling) and walked over to the arena. The bleachers that were there were not covered, so we knew that we would be standing for the whole thing (but honestly we didn't know how long we would stay). So we get to the arena and our jaws just dropped! The whole arena was one HUGE mud puddle of water! There was one dry spot (well, not a puddle at least)in the middle, which was obviously a little higher than the rest, but that was it! Sure enough, the rodeo started and went until 9:30-10pm. It was the best rodeo I have ever seen! They had bull riding, barrel racing, mutton busters (which are the little kids riding on the sheep), some sort of tag with calfs (adults and children played that one), and steer roping. I'm telling you, it was great to see the cowboys and cowgirls (and kids) get all muddy in their pink shirts! :) It was all for a great cause, right!? ;)

Well, that is our trip. I would say that was in a nutshell, but it was much longer than that. Sorry for all of those that read this, but it was truly a great trip! I could say so much more, but time and the thought of all of you reading this, I will stop. Pictures will come soon (I hope)! ;)