Dogs in parks

I don’t get it. Why do people think that the off leash dog law does not apply to them and their dog? I have no problem if someone is the only person in a park and their dog is off leash with nobody within sight. But once someone else is in sight, the leash needs to go on. See, my daughter is a little scared of dogs. She has no reason to be. The most a dog would have done to her is push her a little. No matter what the situation, a dog is still a dog. It could have never bit anyone ever in its life, but I’m not willing to have my child be the first. I like dogs. I grew up with one. But I don’t think I’ll ever own one and I know I don’t like them jumping up on me. My daughter probally doesn’t know how to treat them and her being around dogs on play structures makes me nervous. I think the bottom line is, follow the law and nobody gets hurt. If your dog is on a leash you have control of the dog. I think I’m going to have to carry the city police non-emergency number around with me and just start calling them when there is a dog off leash. I’ll remind the owner first, but if they give me any flack, I’ll just make a call. The worst situation I’ve been in was when an off leash boxer/pitbull stuck its head into my 3 week old baby’s carrier. That was a little scary for me. There are dog parks and off leash areas for a reason. Use them and I’ll use my park where leashes are required and my kids are safe.

BBQ grill topper

Recently I bougth one of these:

http://www.target.com/Chefmate-Round-Non-Stick-Grill-Topper/dp/B002SU7G0W/ref=sc_qi_detaillink

This is one of the best new things I’ve gotten for a BBQ. I cut up mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, green beans, broccoli, asparagus, and carrots. I put them in a gallon ziploc bag, and put some olive oil, salt, and pepper in there. Then when I BBQ’d the burgers I put this on the grill too. I highly recommend doing this and it will become a regular thing for us when we BBQ. Totally worth the $10.

five-o-three

Okay, so this is my favorite happy hour right now.  It’s in West Linn by the Market of Choice or New Seasons or whatever “nature” type of store is over there where 43 hits 205.  Anyways, the quality of the food is great.  It’s not the actual food I like the best (Oswego Grill is my favorite food), but the atmosphere and my ability to bring kids in.  See, when you have kids you need to start finding baby sitters when you want to head to happy hour because most won’t let kids in.  Five-o-three does, and if you get in there before 5:30, kids get a free dinner.  So not only do I get happy hour, but Addison gets to ear free.  Everything they have there is home-made.  For example, when Addison wants chicken nuggets, they aren’t the frozen type like most places you’d see.  They take small chunks of chicken breast, roll it in their own bread crumb stuff, and bake it with their fresh-cut fries.  I feel better that Addison is not eating the processed stuff.  The same with their kids Mac and Cheese.  They boil the noodles and make their own light sauce.  They even offer to start her free dinner right when we get in so she gets her food as quick as possible.  Their burger (for adults) is the best quality beef of any burger I’ve had in the area.  They don’t put much on the burger, but because the quality of the beef is so good, it doesn’t need anything else.  If you haven’t checked this place out you need to.  Especially with kids under 12 to get the free entre.

Kids and music

So my kids seem to be really into music right now.  So for Christmas, we got Addison a recorder (like in elementary school) for $1 at Toys-r-us.  What a mistake.  That thing is so loud, but she loves it.  Somehow the recorder disappeared for a while (ha ha) and we went to the music store and picked out another instrument.  We got a couple of good things, a kazoo, and a harmonica.  The harmonica is great.  It’s not very loud, and always in tune.  I’d go with the harmonica, unless you want to have to wear earplugs.