Week 55 from Lex's View

Hello All,
Life is good!! I love being a big brother, and this whole summer thing is pretty cool (that's figuratively, not literally, though)! I'm so glad I get to spend the whole summer with my family before leaving for guide dog school in September. I'm going to live up each day!

I kicked off the weekend with an amazingly fun playdate. It's the 2nd Annual Muddy Playdate. The goal was to get muddy! Let the games begin! 

I was a bit conflicted because there was a baby pool, and I LOVE water. There was mud, too, but at first, I liked the water better! Anyhow, I was able to introduce Kinley on to the social scene of playdates. The black Lab in the picture is Ginko. She is a released Guiding Eyes dog who is super fun to play with!

I played with my friend, Iron. He's almost half my age, but look how big he's gotten! 

Hello! Is anyone going to come to my pool party?
Oh wait...Looks like there's only room for me! 

I played with Morris for the first time. He's also a released Guiding Eyes dog. He's 3 years old and was FAST!

I played with Duncan. He's 6 months old and super cute!

I showed Duncan how to splash water. 

As the oldest Guiding Eyes puppy there, I took on the responsibility of heading up the games with the boys. Iron (black Lab), Duncan (yellow Lab), and Kinley (little yellow Lab) really like me!

5 dogs + 1 flying tire
= FLYING FUN

I had the best time playing with the hose! 

Look who has the tire! 

I rolled, but not in the mud!

I was a very happy guy!

And the winners for being the muddiest are....
1st place; Lex (that's me!!)
2nd place: Iron

Kinley and I were out for the rest of the day...except for a short dinner and potty break!

Happy Sunday!
Is my nephew getting taller than me?! 

We make a cute pair, don't we?! 

I have permission to ride on the seat of my aunt's new car with my special car seat cover. I'm so big that I almost take up the whole seat. Good thing she doesn't have one of those "meatball (electric) cars" because I wouldn't fit! 

We went to the bank, and I LOVED being able to see the bank teller perfectly. I made sure she didn't forget me by politely watching her!

Wal-Mart
I helped Mom make a return. 

It's high time a young man like me gets his own cell phone, don't you think? I'm trying to convince Mom!

Anyone want to play dolls?
These were the most boring dolls ever. We tried to see if any of the dolls made cool sounds or anything, but nada....no fun.

So, we moved over to these doggies. WAY more fun! They played "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round." There was a dog who barked on the bus. That was perplexed me a bit, and I tried to figure out where it was coming from.

I went to Disney World and watched a firework show!

There were chairs and a table near the pet aisles. Mom had me practice settling across from my favorite department of the store, and I did great! 

I went swimming again!

Mom got us this new toy for us. I think it's my reward for learning how to swim. Harlow thinks it's her reward for putting up with two boys in the house. Whatever the reason, we LOVE it! It floats, it bounces, it twists, and it looks like a snake. Best of all, it doesn't break! 

We're best friends!
Look at my head size vs. Harlow's head size!

Look at my tongue!

Are you ever going to throw the toy????!!

He leaps! 

Happy me!

I went on a walk and walked over this cool bridge. Who knew there is usually water under bridges? Neat!

I walked through a car wash and found this cool grate. I had a "grate" time exploring it! 

I stopped at the park while on my walk. This wobbly bridge didn't bother me. I even did a down on it. 

While on my walk, I also started to hear music, and I discovered it was the high school band practicing. I had a blast listening and watching it. They sounded great! I figure they need a marching band mascot, don't you think? I'll volunteer!

It's voting time! I went with Mom to vote. I thought I could cast my ballot, but Mom says I'm not registered. Oh well! 

When I'm really tired, I'll sleep on my back. 

Sometimes, Kinley and I practice our skills together. Puppies learn a lot from watching other dogs, so I think that means that Mom thinks I'm a positive influence on my little nephew. Anyhow, in this picture, we're practicing our "place" command, which is lying on a mat until Mom says that awesome word, "FREE!" 

Kinley and I went on our first outing together a business. We visited a motorcycle business that is providing a temporary home to our donation dog for Guiding Eyes. Are you seeing double?! (or should I say quadruple yellow Labs??!)

LOOK! We're famous! Mom's friend sent her this picture of us boys on the Guiding Eyes website. 

This week, I went to school. I was a very good boy working with a different handler the entire time. I sure am used to working with other people when Mom's teaching class. 

I practiced walking nicely on a loose leash.

Over
I'm trying to see if I could get away without putting my head all the way to the ground. Just had to see!! 

I practiced patiently waiting while instructions were given.

At one of the stations at class, I practiced my place command. I did great! The handlers were suppose to be "working out" while we dogs placed because lots of blind people love to exercise and go to the gym. So, we as future guide dogs need to practice settling while our human is doing weird things (like jumping jacks, stretching, etc). I did wonderfully! Yay for me! 

Kinley and I were both tired at the end of class!

The boys (as Mom calls us!)

I went to Tractor Supply. Now that there are lots of plants and flowers for sale, there's also lots of tight spaces for me to practice walking into and even doing some obedience commands. It's important for us as guide dogs not to be concerned with areas that are closed in. 

I helped Mom buy some oil. I patiently sat by the cart, as she figured out what kind and how many to buy. 

Lookie here! I need a bowl this big. PLEASE! That way when Mom feeds me she will think that she'll need to give me more food to make it look at least partially full. Good thinking, huh?!

In the check out line, I was very alert. My favorite clerk was working and she always gives me several bones. I love it! She even gave me a doggie bag to go. I'm treated like royalty when I'm at Tractor Supply!

It's Memorial Day weekend! Mom says it's a time to celebrate the people (or canines in our case!) who have gone before us. 

My family has had 12 other Guiding Eyes dogs before us.

"Oh say can you see!"

"Whose broad stripes and bright stars..." 

After the serious pictures, it was time to have some fun! Mom and I had been practicing a new, fun skill called "Put your glasses on." I put my head forward (almost like get dressed command) and let Mom place the glasses on my face. Then, I remain very still. I love learning fun things like this! 

Thanks to our aunt for getting us these cool glasses. 

Kinley had a red pair of glasses, too, but he is still learning how to leave things over his eyes. 

Walmart
I had to run into Walmart with Mom. I got to use Kinley's puppy leash. Isn't it impressive that an almost 80 pound boy can use a small leash for a puppy? Mom says that it shows that I have great leash manners!!

It was so cold this past week that Kinley and I laid by the woodstove. Even though I love summer, there's something about a chilly day by the woodstove that suits me fine!

A year ago....

A year later...
Someone has either done a lot of growing OR a lot of shrinking! 

Until Next Week, 

Lex