I didn’t even know such a thing existed until I read about it two years ago in a local publication. I made a call and found out that our area in Hutchinson, MN has actually had this program available for quite some time. Reading therapy dogs are trained to read with young children who need the extra practice. For kids who love animals, it is a major incentive and a highly anticipated activity each week. There is no cost to the program in McLeod County, but there can be a waiting list to get a time slot with one of the dogs. We go to the Hutchinson Library each week for about 20 minutes. My daughter gets special time “alone” reading the her dog, and has had the pleasure of reading to three different dogs, some of which give her high-fives (or high-paws) after reading. Some put their heads in her lap or close to her leg while she reads, and they are trained to pay close attention and not be distracted. If this is something that interests you, give the library a call. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this program and the volunteers who keep it going! For more information on programs at the library, visit the City of Hutch Library Page.

photo credit: kyz

Several months ago my parents, sister and brother-in-law, and all of us decided to head to Florida in lieu of a family Christmas celebration. The kids, having never been there before were so excited. For weeks before we left, we were hounded with questions like “When do we leave?” and “Will it be hot in Florida?”

Of course, it will be hot in Florida. Wrong!

The evening we arrived, Florida was experiencing some of the coldest weather in a long time and frost warnings were out. To amply things a bit, we left sunny Minnesota where people were experiencing record breaking HIGH temps for this season. So when it was 60 degrees in Minnesota, it was only about 40 degrees on our first day in Florida. Instead of spending a day at the pool as planned, we headed for SeaWorld. This decision ended up being a great one, as we all loved SeaWorld. The crowds were low, the middle of the day was sunny, and the interactions with the Dolphins ended up being a trip highlight.

Traveling with nine people was a blast, but we quickly experienced one of the week’s major destinations; the bathroom. It seemed like someone always had to go, so we became experts at scoping out  and “touring” all bathrooms along the way. [Read more...]