Sheep & Dogs & Water -- what's not to love

Just after school started, we decided to take a short vacation as part of the long Labor Day weekend break. We headed up to Midway and stayed at the Homestead a quaint resort in Midway, just outside of Heber Valley. We had heard a number of commercials about the Solider Hollow Classic (a sheepherding competition) and decided that was for us. The competition was flanked by Swiss Days which generally consists of a lot of booths selling homemade crafts and concoctions and only a few things actually connected to the swiss. There apparently was some food that claimed to be swiss, but we elected to stay with food from Heber.

We walked around town a bit and checked out the local shops and restaurants. Sunday was a big relaxing day. We had breakfast in the cafe, took a nap, checked out the crater and hot springs on site (see below), took another nap, went swimming (not in the crater, but we could have) and got ready for Labor day.

We headed up to the championship late morning on Monday, apparently like EVERYONE else in the state of utah!! Actually it wasn't too bad and they were very accommodating of us and let Shawn drop us off near the entrance. While we waited, we were greeted by a bunch of bag pipers. Cole was enthralled by the music and was focused on their playing the whole time.

Then we headed down to watch the competition which is amazing, and not just because Sun was so a low impact day. The herder is limited to only whistles and clicks and the dog is all over the mountain, bringing down two sets of sheep and then corralling one set (with red collars, not all from the same set on the mountain). The crowd was really getting involved and cheering on the herder and dogs.

Here's a short video with some great examples of the dogs & sheep in action

After a while, we headed over to watch the Splash Dogs, a dock jumping tournament for dogs. We don't have a high speed camera and so it took some finese even to catch some of these dogs, but the distance they jumped and their enthusiasm was amazing. Some could hardly wait on the platform for their own jump, some even snuck up / broke away from their owners and jumped with another canine friend -- neither behavior was awarded with praise or treats. But the crowd was eating it up

These guys were some of our favorites -- both for jumping and generally enthusiasm!

Here's an example in real time


Cole seemed to have a good time - it was a lovely day. And he felt right at home with the dogs barking and carrying on around him.

All of the fun seemed to catch up and made the perfect setting for a good afternoon nap.

And it was the perfect way to wrap up summer. I hope we get to do it again in another year.

First Day of School

We can't believe our sweet little boy is ready to start school. We have known this date was coming for three years, but were never really ready. We have loved all of our early intervention therapists who spent so much time with us and Cole in our home helping with therapy related to vision, occupational, physical, and developmental needs. But the program transitions to the schools once a child turns three.

We toured two schools by our home, both suggested as strong options for Cole. One is a little closer to home and part of the school district and even within a standard school. We met the teachers and her aids from each school and got a feel for the environment and the types of activities Cole would participate in and where. The classroom has two sessions a day, morning and afternoon and each runs about 2 1/2 hours, four days a week. The other school is a little farther away and has many of the same features, but it also has additional pluses like more expansive facilities for therapy including a swimming pool and opportunities for field trips and it's a 6 hour day, four days a week. We really loved both teachers and felt really good about both schools. We were struggling to determine which school to choose. We happened to have an appointment before school with one of Cole's doctors. We explained our situation and she suggested that the 2nd school could really provide a lot for for Cole and if he could handle the longer days, which she believed he could, she suggested we go for it -- and so we did.

And so far it's been the best thing for Cole. We LOVE his teacher and her aids. She came to our home about a week before school began to get acquainted with Cole and his needs. Before school started, they held a back-to-school night where she was so sweet with him. They are so sweet with him and the other children in his class (four more little boys). They let him take naps -- some days longer than other -- but mostly they have a lot of the same activities in other preschools -- singing, arts and crafts, library & reading time, play time, etc. Cole's teacher sends home a folder with notes around what they did and how he liked it (or not) nearly every day. It certainly makes it easier to have him leave us in the morning knowing how much they love him too.

Part of the program involves picking up Cole on a bus. Unfortunately (or fortunately for us) our paperwork was delayed and so we HAD to take him up to school directly the first two days. We need to get him up fairly early so he can eat breakfast before the bus comes. This morning he took a little nap while finishing that breakfast.

Now we're ready to leave, one last hug from my big guy.

Here we are at school in his new loaner wheel chair. Dad's loading him in & getting him all set.

The same week, but a few days later as we wait for the bus

He seems all to happy to be heading off to school.

Isn't this cute - a little school bus - just for our little guy

All loaded and ready to head off to school.

We miss him already!!

Who invited the blue fuzzy guy?

For Cole's 3rd birthday, we held our annual movie & dinner celebration. We polled all of the attendees and ended up seeing Nanny McPhee Returns. Unfortunately, we didn't get our annual picture of everyone in the movie theater. I think we were all too hungry to hang around that or I forgot to get the picture -- but I'm almost sure it was the first thing.

We went to dinner afterwards so we took lots of pictures there, sort of. Autumn brought this blue fuzzy creature to dinner. At least I think she brought him. Well he showed up with her anyway. Shawn, clearly easily distracted from his dinner, decided it would be fun for each person to pose with the character. Some were more enthusiastic than others.

Aunt Tia started us off with a nice sweet pose

Uncle Ryan clearly getting into the mood

Grandma Jacquie cozy with the blue dude

Grandpa Keith -- I'm not sure who's really in control here

Who's hugging who Aunt Jeni

Uh, cousin Matthew, you appear to have something on your head

Cousin Autumn taking after her mother

Cousin Jordan, realizing the toy belongs to his sister, is doing what most boys do to their sisters things

Uncle Brendan, never phased by the madness around him

I don't think you know which end is up Uncle Chris

See, Aunt Angie, knows which end is up

Cousin Taylor, apparently taking after his dad

Not to questionable which family cousin Taylor comes from is it

Cole, not quite sure about all of the commotion, seems a little a little unsure of the role he is supposed to play. But also seems quite content snuggling up with the little guy.

And with our tummies full and tired from all of the laughing and teasing, we're ready to head home and plan for next year.

Thanks Everyone for another good birthday !!