We had a weekend full of ups and downs - mostly ups, though. Myron arrived on Friday just before supper, and he and Cory were busy for a while that evening winterizing the pop up camper and doing some framing around our front door. The rest of the evening was spent hanging out and watching the baseball playoffs.

On Saturday we were all up early for Accalia's soccer game. She had a great game and is starting to become more bold on the field and help move the ball along. One more soccer game and then the season will resume in April or May. Cole was rather out of sorts during the game because he was tired and there weren't any kids for him to play with during the game. Next week he will hopefully have Alexia to play with since Chloe is on the team that Accalia's is playing.

Cory and Myron were actually gone for the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon watching our niece play in a volleyball tournament. Neither of the nephews had come along, though, so the kids and I stayed at home. There are few things less fun than trying to keep three children entertained at a high school sporting event.

The big down of the weekend happened right before supper. Cory was getting it ready and the kids, Myron and I were hanging out in the living room. Myron's dog, Dodger (7 yo black cocker spaniel) was lying on the floor. He rolled over onto his back and I started scratching his belly. Then I stopped so Cole could scratch his belly. Cole had just started doing that when Dodger let out a short growl and leapt right at Cole, barking and baring his teeth right up against his face. He was so close that I couldn't tell at first if he was biting Cole. Cole started to back up, I grabbed Cole and got in between him and Dodger since Dodger was coming after him, and Myron got Dodger and put him outside. The whole thing probably lasted three seconds, but it was one of those things where it feels like you're watching everything in slow motion. Cole was hysterical but thankfully physically unhurt. After that Myron decided he was going to head home rather than spend another night. He felt awful and we felt awful, but I was relieved that we wouldn't have to deal with Dodger for another night.

Myron got Dodger from a shelter about two years ago. Cory and I were a little disappointed that Myron had gotten an adult dog from a home without children since we had no idea how he would be around the kids. Turns out he's not much of a kid lover. He's snapped at Accalia once before, and that was when he was trying to eat from her bowl that she had left within reach and she started to take it back. Then he's growled at Cole before when Cole was sitting by him and petting him. Dodger reminds me so much of how Lucy was before we had her put down. She was so unpredictable with what would set her off. Lucy did bite, and Dodger has yet to actually bite one of our kids, but that doesn't make it any safer or make us feel more comfortable.

Cory and I aren't going to tell Myron what we think he should do, but I do wish Myron would board or at least kennel Dodger when we visit. It's basically impossible to sit and relax with Myron since Dodger is always at his side. Sure, Accalia and Cole can just go to a different part of the house and play and be away from Dodger, but that's not a fun visit with Grandpa. Then there's Ella. When she sees Dodger (or any dog), she wants to be near the dog. Since Dodger's not the kid loving kind and Ella doesn't yet understand the need for distance, I spent part of Friday evening upstairs with Ella. She had napped late and wasn't tired at all and wasn't being distracted by anything.

So, I'm not sure what we'll do since Myron has given no indication that he's going to get rid of Dodger. Cory and I were talking about how if Mary were alive and this had happened, there would be no doubt that Dodger would be finding a new home if he couldn't be trusted around children. The safest thing, of course, is to just not visit if Dodger is around and roaming free. Otherwise, our visits will probably consist of me hanging out with the kids in an area that Dodger can't access while Cory and Myron hang out with the dog. And that's such an absurd scenario...

So that was the abbreviated weekend visit from Myron. Cory has tomorrow off because of Native American Day (Columbus Day for the majority of other Americans). Hopefully we can end the long weekend on a slightly happier note.