BFF's

They have nightly/daily sleepovers, doggie has gone to the outlets, grocery store, accompany us to drop off/pick up from the sitters, gone on runs, to the playground, pretty much whenever Ian goes doggie must come along.  He is pretty good at carrying him on his own, only occassionaly have I been left to doggie duty.

*doggie's history: originally belonged to my sister (it's the closest she has ever been to being a dog owner) Ian came across him at my parents. And has since become the foster doggie owner, since doggie was abandoned at my parents house when my sister moved to Florida (bad stuffed dog owner).

Z House Funnies

I'm sure only my family will find the following funny and who knows maybe they won't but I do.

A couple weeks ago while I jumped in the shower for a quick de-stinking after running and playground fun I kept the door opened and I could hear Ian was in and out of the bathroom and I could hear trucks sounds being made and what not.  Well, when I finished my shower, grabbed my towel and opened up the shower curtain I was greeted by Ian sitting in his Wal-Mart version adirondack chair, with a book in one hand and a calculator that he was pretending to be a cell phone up to his ear chatting away.
While carrying Ian out of the mall he started saying momma and pointing. I turn around (since I was carrying him meaning he was looking at what was behind us) and I saw this:

Last week I offered to mow the lawn as Marcus was working on half bath mini upgrade. And either he didn't like the figure 8 design I made in the front yard or he didn't like that I bent the tire rod thingy while making my fabulous design resulting in the front tires pointing in 2 opposite directions when the steering wheel is center.



Same day as the figure 8 Lawn design I also mowed over a landscaping circle filled with some type of flowering plant (on purpose) and then dug up the roots of said plant to relocate to an unknown destination. While digging I was whistled at I must admit after you've had a child being whistled at is kinda a self esteem booster. But then I quickly remembered that our neighbor has a macaw bird (the kind that talk, so maybe I have the name wrong) but nonetheless it talks and conveniently enough he also whistle...bubble burster



Last night as Ian and I got home, 3 little neighbor girls came running over.  They all introduced themselves by name, age and house location.  I got Ian out and they all ooo...and aahh.. and all Ian did in return was put his foot out, lift up his pant leg to show off his new shoes.  I told the girls he got new shoes, they said "they are nice" and he said "yeah".

Bring it out and step on up

My soap box that is.  I only have 2 issues I'm getting it out for today.

Issue 1: Our new house is a mere 1/2 mile (that is over estimating) from the elementary school the boy will be attending.  I being an active person was very excited about this so I started envisioning The Boy's school career of walking with him to school and from there go on a run vice versa go on a run and "pick" him up at the end of the school day or BOTH. Sounds like a fantastic plan to me that on the 1st day of school got slashed in front of my very eyes. As I backed out of our driveway I witnessed parents standing at the end of their driveways with their elementary aged children.  And a big yellow bus coming down the road....ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! The school is a stones throw away from my front door and there is a bus to transport the children to said school.  SHOCKING, I took my shocking discovery to my husband who grew up in this neighborhood, he was not surprised and said well not all parents can walk their child to school due to having a career, etc. My argument they have time to stand outside in the driveway and wait 10min for the bus when they could have walked to school and been home in that 10min (counting on the fact that your child is not a lolly-gagger).  His argument ok that is fine now but in the winter some days it's too cold.  My argument get in the car and drop the child/children off. Again that would take 5min to do but instead the parent is standing outside for 10min (I'm sure longer in the winter due to road conditions) waiting for the bus.  I'm obviously still upset about this as school has been in session for almost a month now. I have on the upside seen some children who reside on the same road as my in-laws who ride their bike's to school which makes me feel better. There is a school corporation in our area that does not offer bus service and somehow those students/parents find a way to get to school in the rain, heat, and snow without a problem.  I truly don't understand why bus service is offered to our neighborhood to transport child to the elementary school.  To me it is a WASTE of money and time for the corporation. I say all that to say Ian will be walking to elementary school or if weather is bad we or I will transport him ourselves and that is after we feed him breakfast.  That is a soap box topic for another day though.


Issue 2: **Disclaimer I know there are many corporations out there that have the same policy.  Also I am by no means making any subtle annoucement of a 2nd baby Z.  It's just an issue I have with business America. Okay now with that little editors note out of the way I will begin.My husband works for a large bank in our area that is local to our area as well some surrounding cities/counties.  They value their customers and employees and will go out of their way to serve.  When our son was born on Dec 31st 2009 he was early, he was in the NICU and it was a life changing event in our families lives.  My husband had to use vacation time to celebrate/adjust to this life changing event so that we would still receive a regular paycheck.  However if there were to be a death in our immediate family he would be given days of grievance. To help cope/adjust to the life change without losing any pay.  Same goes for if an employee were to get married that would receive 2 days off paid as a way to say congratulations and allow time to adjust to this life changing event.  Do you see my issue here, when a child is born which is a joyous, life changing, emotional life event you get nothing.  I'm not saying a death or marriage should not receive any days I'm saying a birth should be given days as well.  It is just as life changing as death and marriage.

Ok,  feel better with those 2 issues off my chest.  Thoughts, agree/disagree?  Oh and I promise next post will be much more light hearted.

too close to home

The firetruck involved is from the department my dad, cousins and hubby are all with.  So very thankful all are safe.  My dad was not on shift last night but did head to one of the stations to drive the tanker to the fire.  Hubby was in transition mode of changing from banking clothes to fire uniform.  Cousin 1 is on vacay, cousin 2 was either in route to pick up his son from daycare, at home or in same transition mode as Marcus.

  

  
JEFF HARRELL
South Bend Tribune Staff Writer
8:48 a.m. EDT, September 15, 2011

A "perfect storm" collision of emergency vehicles at a busy Clay Township intersection left a firefighter, police officer and a civilian motorist hospitalized and a firetruck flipped on its side.

The accident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday when a Clay Fire Territory truck carrying three firefighters and headed east on Cleveland Road to a residential fire on Glen Lee Trail was reportedly struck by a Roseland Police Department vehicle headed north on Juniper Road responding to a motor vehicle accident near Auten Road.

Witnesses said a St. Joseph County sheriff's officer had pulled into the busy intersection at Cleveland and Juniper to block traffic as both the fire and police vehicles hit the intersection at the same time.

It was uncertain which vehicle the sheriff's officer had set up the block for, witnesses said, noting that the Roseland vehicle appeared to clip the sheriff's vehicle before slamming into the firetruck.

The collision spun the police vehicle and sent the firetruck veering out of control on the rain-slick roadway.

"It almost looked like it floated in air," said witness Duane Rosenthal, who was westbound on Cleveland when he stopped for the blocked intersection.

Rosenthal said the firetruck collided with another car driven by a civilian motorist, then spun and flipped onto its driver's side.

"It happened so fast," Rosenthal said. "I'm 77 years old. In all my years I never saw anything like that before."

"It was quite stunning to see something like that happen all of a sudden," said witness Mike Johnson, who had also stopped on Cleveland Road to allow "several police cars" to pass through the intersection.

Two firefighters in the truck escaped uninjured, but the driver was pinned to the ground in the driver's seat and had to be pulled out through the skyward passenger door by fellow firefighters.

The firefighter was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with "non-life-threatening" injuries, said Clay Fire Territory Chief John Vance.

The civilian motorist and the Roseland police officer were also transported to an area hospital. Injuries to both were also "non-life-threatening," Vance said.

The Roseland police vehicle sat in the intersection with heavy damage along the driver's side. The sheriff's car remained a few feet away with damage to the rear fender and taillight.

The civilian's vehicle was also heavily damaged.

Vance, who valued the firetruck at "a half-million dollars," said he spoke with the injured firefighter by phone.

"He said he's very upset about the truck," Vance said.

"Firetrucks can be replaced," Vance added. "We're just happy he's OK."
Staff writer Jeff Harrell: jharrell@sbtinfo.com 574-235-6368

bathtime fun

so glad the bathroom in this house is bigger as I'm out of the splash zone.  Please disregard the caulk/grout you probably wouldn't have noticed but now that i just mentioned you will notice. But anyways that is a future to do list.  We (remember use WE very loosely) would like to replace that tile with something new. Enjoy and remember don't look at the caulk/grout deal? DEAL!

Books

I'm a nerd and I'm okay with that because I get to be nerdy with 9 other fabulous ladies once a month @ 7p when book club starts.

Here's a run down of the books we have read since last year:

Sept: The Help by Katheryn Stockett


Oct: The Island By Elin Hilderbrand

This is just like a soap opera.  We've got ourselves a love affair x2, jealousy, divorce, suicide, passion, rash decisions, and a free spirited family member all on an island that doesn't have running water or electricity. 



 
 
 
 
 
Nov: The Year of Living Biblically by AJ Jacobs

 
This is one I couldn't finish and in fact only a few of our very dedicated readers did finish.  I was bored it felt like the same thing every page.  He did something and he learned something, repeat.  Those that did finish said it was just like that.  It was a little to literal for me.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dec: Mercy by Jodi Picoult
 

Those that really know me, know that I love me a Jodi book.  However, we as a book club learned that reading a book, while prepping for the holiday's, attending holiday functions, etc don't blend well with reading a book in December.  Nonetheless what I did read of it I enjoyed.  And would like to finish reading it along with the other Jodi book I have next to my bed.  Jodi brings up ethical issues and by the end of the books I still don't know how I would handle them if they were placed into my lap. Some of my faves of hers include: My Sister's Keeper (read the book don't watch the movie), Handle With Care, House Rules, Nineteen Minutes, The Pact, Harvesting the Heart, Plain Truth, and Keeping Faith. Sign You Home is currently sitting next to the bed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jan: The Glass Castle by: Jeanette Walls

 
This one is an eye opening read.  It's a memoir of the author Jeannette Walls' childhood of growing up with 3 siblings and father who is brillant when sober and a mother who is an artist but doesn't really want to work or provide for her family. This is one I would read again especially before the movie comes out that is in production.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Feb: Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Here's the description on the inside of the book:

WE DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS BOOK.

It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know something, so we will just say this:  It is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific. The story starts there, but the book doesn't. And it's what happens afterward that is most important.
Once you have read it, you'll want to tell everyone about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds.


All I can say is read it!





March: Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bon's by: Lorna Landvik

We needed something a little lighter after our Jan and Feb. readings.  If you asked some of our husbands they at times would have said we were reading a book about ourselves.  As this a book that has 5 women who have a book club and the bond that is formed.  In fact it was while reading this book we got ourselves to pick the books we read how the characters in the book picked theirs.






April: Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

If you were to read the back you wonder how you would get through it without any tears.  And I won't lie there were some tears that were shed but not for the reasons you would think.  The discussion of this book opened up a whole new aveunue of book club that we have never entered before.  We are all christian women, some go to church while others don't but we all pray and the night of this books discussion we for the 1st time prayed together as a group of women.  We had a great discussion and all took something from this book and have since applied it to our lives.








We have a couple more months worht of books to catch up on but i'm calling it a post for today and will touch on the others at a later time. For now if you haven't read any of the books mentioned I encourage you to read all of the except the bible one.  You will be bored

10yrs

I dislike this day oh so very much, I wish it was just another day in everyone's lives.  But it's not and never will be instead it's day that we can recall just like it was yesterday.   and still to this day when I see the footage of it all over again, I'm still in shock. Although i think I cry more now than i did 10yrs ago. I do feel one thing that did happened on that awful day was we came together and lived/mourned as one (no religion no politics just love).  Today 10yrs later we will remember the 2996 lives (break down of the number: 2,606 at the Twin towers; 343 FDNY, 23 NYPD, 37 PAPD and 15 EMTs. 125 at the Pentagon: 55 Military. On the planes 246 civilians) that were taken from this earth.



On this day 10yrs later honor the 2996 lives that were lost that awful day, pray for the families of the lives that were lost and have yet to be identified.  As the sign in front of our fire station states Do Something Meaningful this Sept 11th.

September to do's

New month new to do's, ok so that might be a smallish lie since not all of August's to do's got crossed off.

August leftovers:
1. tuck both vehicles into garage at night.

2. get color painted on the walls

3. get pictures hung on the walls
4. decorate guest bedroom

Newbies:

1. refinish table and chairs

2. Clear out furniture from garage this will assist in accomplishing August list #1

3. Kitchen upgrade

4. locate new to us appliances (more on this a little later)

5. close pool for the season
7. order prints of latest professional pics taken by Knox Photography

8. continue to work on printing off pics from snapfish

9. run in a 5k race with Ian and finish so he his the 1st finisher in his age group, ambitious?? Maybe but still worth a shot. Oh and not to pee my pants while running said race.

Again there they are on paper well on a computer screen waiting to be crossed off.

August list update

Another month in the year 2011 has come and went and in that time we crossed off and/or added and crossed off the following:
1. tuck both vehicles into garage at night--> we got one in as of last night. yeah this is moving onto September's list as we bought a new to us dining table that has to be refinished.

2. get color painted on the walls Ian's room is painted as is the dining area

3. get pictures hung on the walls ah yeah this will be added to September

4. decorate guest bedroom does it count if decor has been purchased??

5. get better with couponing, I coupon but I really think I could do better. couponing is one that some weeks you do really well on and others that are as steller so I'm going to continue to just do my best each and every week.

6. get into a nice weekly routine of having an errand running day and a stay at home day, one would think that by now I would have been in this routine but since the move the word routine has been boxed up. this is another one that some weeks are good and others are just impossible so I'll just continue to do my best.

7. budget...budget...budget we are slowly getting things paid off, Ian's helmet (gosh that was a long time ago) will be paid off before the end of the year, YAY

 

8. dive a little deeper into paleo eating, I have breakfast nailed down and lunch somewhat. Chelssie confirmed that I do have both breakfast, lunch and snacks (we won't mention those keebler cookies i just ate or the sandwich and broccoli/cheddar soup I had for lunch)

9. go through everything we moved into the basement and figure where it needs to go, I have a feeling this one will be on the list for a while. Maybe I'll find our routine down there- Basement items have been organized as far as items used more than once a year and those that we don't use often.

10. get some quality family of 3 time in- this is something that will continue to get better, Marcus received a promotion at work which means a change in daily work hours (downside to salary) we did make a trip to Indy,

11. get a post up about the books i've been reading. I'm in a Book Club (woohoo we meet tonight) and so this will always be on my monthly to do list we have a whole year of books to catch up on.

Items added:

12. landscaping around pool. - this is going to be a slow moving project that hubby's BIL started and we are left to finish with our non-exsistent landscape budget.



after

before

 

what's left to do



12. purchase new dining table and chairs- thank you craigslist and the use of my dad's truck we found a table and 5 and 3/4 chairs for $50!

chairs it came with



chairs we want, only need 3-5 more



our 3/4 of a chair

 

There it is the official list of August the completed, uncompleted and what is transferring over to September's list. How was your month of August??

Paleo

What does paleo mean here is what Wikipedia says: The modern dietary regimen known as the Paleolithic diet (abbreviated paleo diet or paleodiet), also popularly referred to as the caveman diet, Stone Age diet and hunter-gatherer diet, is a nutritional plan based on the presumed ancient diet of wild plants and animals that various human species habitually consumed during the Paleolithic era—a period of about 2.5 million years duration that ended around 10,000 years ago with the development of agriculture. In common usage, such terms as the "Paleolithic diet" also refer to the actual ancestral human diet. Centered on commonly available modern foods, the "contemporary" Paleolithic diet consists mainly of grass-fed pasture raised meats, fish, vegetables, fruit, roots, and nuts, and excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, and processed oils.

Alright now that we have that out of the way we will go on. My friend and Paleo follower Chelssie came over last week and while J and Ian played we talked Paleo. After going over what I eat throughout the day I'm already following the Paleo way in some ways such as (this is what I'm eating today and usually eat everyday I like routine what can I say):

Breakfast: scrambled eggs- paleo approved
morning snack: rice chex- not paleo approved but doesn't have gluten so still kinda good
mid morning snack: carrots- paleo approved
Lunch: Applegate deli meat, strawberries- paleo approved
afternoon snack: rice crackers- not paleo approved due to the rice but better than other crackers
pre-dinner snack: protein bar- no good
Dinner: chicken teriyaki- good but the rice is not paleo approved but better than noodles

So overall on any given day I'm eating at least 80% if not more paleo than not. Which is good and I'm staying away from glutens which is also good.  One can determine on their own how strict of a paleo follower one wants to be.  Come Christmas I may fall off the paleo wagon but I won't fall off without trying to hang on I've got almond flour and I'm researching alternatives to refined sugar and brown sugar as well and will playing around with some of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes. My Trader Joes shopping list is growing.

Below is a picture of a meal Chelssie made this past month:


Fresh strawberries, roasted squash and broccoli, carribean jerk chicken

Can you say yummy?!?! She also just sent me a link of some info to read through that I haven't gotten to look at it throughly yet but from what I did read and what Chelssie told me as well is that paleo requires preperation.  Off to prepare some sweet potatoes which are my new protein bar replacement.