Dog Rules

My son Casey is crazy about dogs, so when I stumbled across the book My Dog is the World's Best Dog by Suzy Becker, I thought of him. I'm going to get this printed so Casey can put it on a wall in his home.

Dog Rules

1.   The dog is not allowed in the house.

2.  OK, the dog is allowed in the house, but only in certain rooms.

3.  The dog is allowed in all the rooms, but has to stay off the furniture.

4.  The dog can get on the old furniture only.

5.  Fine, the dog is allowed on all the furniture, but is not allowed to sleep with humans on the bed.

6.  OK, the dog is allowed on the bed, but only by invitation.

7.  The dog can sleep on the bed whenever he wants, but not under the covers.

8.  The dog can sleep under the covers by invitation only.

9.  The dog can sleep under the covers every night.

10.  Humans must ask permission to sleep under the covers with the dog.

Homie was Casey's first (real) dog. He still has about a dozen stuffed dogs in a box in our garage. 

Katelyn holding Harli

Harli Growing

Casey and Harli

Free Online Library for Children

We Give Books is a new digital initiative that enables anyone with access to the Internet to put books in the hands of children who don't have them, simply by reading online.

We Give Books combines the joy of reading with the power of helping others, providing a platform for caregivers and educators to inspire children to become lifelong readers and lifelong givers.

We Give Books also helps some of the world's best, most inspiring, literacy organizations by spreading the word about their great work and by providing books to the young people these organizations support.

Watch the following clip to learn more...

Remember Mr. Stupid?

One thing is certain around our house. We never know what is going to come out of Cody's mouth.

Tonight, as Cody was getting into his pajamas, he randomly said, "Remember Mr. Stupid?" I tried to think of all the men in Cody's life that he would possibly be calling stupid until Cody added, "...and his dog named Kitty?"

That's when it occurred to me! Cody was talking about a book we had when our kids were younger titled 'The Stupids Step Out'. There was an entire series of books written by Harry G. Allen, Jr. about a family whose last name was Stupid. Some people didn't appreciate the humor in these books, but our family loved them. (Kinda like some of the parents at Casey's preschool umpteen years ago, who thought letting your child watch Power Rangers was going to make them violent individuals, but that's off the subject. Sorry.)


Anyhow... If you have a sense of humor, go to amazon.com and check these books out.

     

And if not? Well, maybe you should consider lightening up a bit?

The Crayon Box That Talked

by Shane DeRolf

While walking into a toy store the day before today

I overheard a crayon box with many things to say

"I don't like Red!" said Yellow and Green said "Nor do I"

"And no one here likes Orange but no one knows just why"

"We are a box of crayons that doesn't get along

Said Blue to all the others "Something here is wrong"

Well, I bought that box of crayons and took it home with me

And laid out all the colors so the crayons all could see

They watched me as I colored with Red and Blue and Green

And Black and White and Orange and every color in between

They watched as Green became the grass and Blue became the sky

The Yellow sun was shining bright on White clouds drifting by

Colors changing as they touched becoming something new

They watched me as I colored - they watched me till I was through

And when I finally finished I began to walk away

And as I did the crayon box had something more to say

"I do like Red!" said Yellow and Green said, "so do I"

And Blue you were terrific! So high up in the sky

"We are a box of crayons each one of us unique

But when we get together the picture is more complete"

Back in My Nest

I intended to post yesterday, on my blog-iversary. (That's right. I have kept this up for an entire year.) Instead, I spent the day travelling home from an appointment with Cody's neurologist. After NOT sleeping at the hotel because our room was next to the ice machine and the a/c was not working, I started thinking about the children's book 'The Best Nest' by P.D. Eastman. Do you remember that book? Let me refresh your memory...

Mr. Bird thinks his nest is the best in the world until Mrs. Bird tells him he's wrong. The couple go on a quest for "the best nest" and try building nests in a mailbox, a church-bell, and a shoe (among other places). Throughout the book they sing, "I love my house. I love my nest. In all the world, this nest is best." but in the end, a storm blows them back to "the best nest of all", their original nest.

That's kinda how I felt yesterday. I love going out of town, even if it is for a doctor appointment. A change of scenery is a good thing, but I am always happy to be home, where nobody gets ice out of my freezer in the middle of the night, I can sleep in a California King Size bed, and pee in my own clean toilet. You know...back in my nest.



FYI- You can find this book at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. WalMart has a newer edition (2005) available online.