As one who adopted a large, untrained dog I applaud you for doing the right thing with respect to training. Had we adopted Rex as a puppy we'd have been "in class" too. The window of opportunity with puppies is fleeting and to capitalize on it is wise, indeed! For us, it's been a struggle. A "jumbo" dog with a puppy's need to play is too often mistaken for a rogue, out of control, intact dog. Keep it up! Obedience work is the best way to socialize your dog. (what a face for ice cream!).

I hope all the students, parents, teachers and spouces have a great year.

When my kids were in school the only "chaos" was transporting them at different times and often to different schools. In preschool it was mornings for one and afternoons for the other. In high school it was two different high schools. I literally pushed my kids into getting their drivers licenses early so I could get a break. Other than that I don't see much difference. Parenting is parenting and school doesn't change that. Elementary school was easy because everyone went to the neighborhood school and our block carpooled. Ah those easy days when kids didn't have to be in car seats until five or 6 and booster until 11 or even 12 in some cases. I don't know how parents do it these days. It must take a whole convoy of cars to transport a brownie troop. Grand daughter is going to kindergarten this year. DD has been taking her by the school about once a month since the end of last school year. Last week she wanted to show her other grandma her new school. She led her all over the place pointing out the office, the library, the auditorium/cafeteria the big kids wing and playground (she's mad she has to stay in the "baby" one) and the K classroom area. She'll only be there for 3 hours but she knows more about the campus than I did in the 2nd or 3rd grade. She happened to see that the K rooms had people in them and ran up and knocked on the door. She'd only met 2 out of 4 of her possible teachers. She knocked and when the door opened she introduced herself as a new student and told the teacher who answered she wanted to let her know who she was in case she ended up in her class. LOL We grandmas and mom are having a long beach day the day before school starts. Daddy may join us after work. We will have dinner there. Kids will be tuckered out by the time we get home. Maybe passed out in their car seats. May not even get a bath much less be laying out clothes. She'll wear what she wants, just as shes been doing for the last 2.5 years.

I am diabetic and this year I got a pair of Bio Fit shoes thru the foot doctor. They have definitely helped me. But expensive. Since I am old and on medicare, medicare pays for one pair of diabetic shoes per year. I am going to by myself another pair,. Quick question......I have been getting pictures of all of my grandkids on the first day of school...........are you going to take your pic on the first day of school.....sign and all? LOL! Kathy G in MI