Happy Halloween

He now has THREE Fireman costumes! I bought one at Target that I didn't really like but bought as a contingency plan. This one is the best and we borrowed it from the Bounds (it's home made and a bit fragile so I won't let him play in it). And JP bought one at Kmart that was on sale this week and it has the best helmet (according to JP).
Pickle's "costume" glows in the dark!

JP took the little Fireman over to the Bounds to Trick-or-Treat with Ry-Ry. I expect them back any time. We're still keeping the Pickle away from other children until we are sure she won't get the Pox.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Giving Back

One of my favorite bloggers that I follow brought up a topic yesterday about "Giving Back." You can read her post at http://farmfreshiowa.blogspot.com/2008/10/give-back.html. It got me thinking . . . here is my comment that I posted to her blog:

I think the term "give back" does not necessarily have to mean giving monetarily. When I think of "give back" it makes me think of giving to others to help spread the blessings that I have. People view wealth in different ways and regardless of my station in life I want others to have the same opportunities that I have had - education/ job/ family/ warmth/ love/ kindness (not necessarily in that order).

The challenge with any political cycle is that each side feels they need to label everything when in reality, I think, everyone is in agreement. Using terms like "give back" or "spread the wealth" are only used to incite ire, but both political parties are generally saying the same thing. We all want economic growth and we all want the opportunity to succeed - can't we all just agree on that.

Another example that really bothers me is "Pro-Choice" vs. "Pro-Life." Aren't we all Pro-Life? I don't think there is anyone out there that is "Pro-Abortion," but if you say you are "Pro-Choice" then many will look at you like you just killed someone. Again, is there really a need to be labeled?

I am doing my best to keep this blog non-partisan so I will not even get started on the most recent label that's out there: Pro-American. To quote a very funny SNL skit recently, "Really? Are you serious?"

What have we been up to?

I know everyone has been waiting and waiting to find out the answer to that question since it has been over a week since I posted anything. JP's mom (Jo) was here over the weekend so we were busy shopping and playing. She took some great pictures of the kids as well.



Jo flew out with a day's notice to help take care of the kids since JP has had Shingles all week! He has been useless (his word, not mine) as it is VERY PAINFUL and itchy. We have tried to limit his contact with Pickle since she can contract Chicken Pox from him . . . Ranger has had the vaccine. If she is going to get the Pox we should see them any day now. She's been whiny the last couple of days so she better be sick if she's going to act like that!

Saturday night Jo took us out to celebrate JP's Birthday (their birthdays are Nov 6th and Nov 9th respectively) and we went to Oregano's (of course). As soon as we arrived Ranger asked his dad if he could go talk to the cute little girl . . . so he ventured over to talk to the most darling little blond girl who was only 19 months. He has a habit of joining other families when we're out. He spent most of the time talking to her dad but did take a moment to help her get off the bench and even tried to retrieve her water for her. What a gentleman!

Trip to the Park

We spent Sunday afternoon at one of our beautiful parks . . . if only it hadn't been over 90 degrees! The intention was to get rid of some old bread . . . .

Pickle has a true passion for pushing things and walking . . . .
Of course we had to enjoy the playground as well . . . .
Why do all children feel the need to immediately try to climb UP the slide?

Pickle didn't really enjoy the swing . . . not as much as her brother anyway. She promptly threw up (just a little) after this.

An Ordinary Day

This week's Real Life assignment is supposed to be a photo tour of an ordinary day but I forgot about it until the end of my work day so I'll give you a quick run down and then share the pictures we took after work.

5:35am Wake up before alarm . . . out of bed and to the gym
6-7 Treadmill (catch up on celebrity gossip by reading US), weights, situps
7-7:45 Feed Pickle, hang out with kids/ hubby, get coffee, shower (with Pickle) and begin getting ready for work
7:50 Log onto work computer to check emails
8-8:30 Supervise kids while hubby heads to Discount Tire, put on makeup, get dressed for work, drink more coffee
8:30 Put Pickle (Miss Grump) in bed, back to work on the computer
8:40 to 10 Work (this includes emails, calls to candidates, etc.) while JP takes Ranger to school and goes back to Discount Tire
10:15 - 10:45 Drive to work
10:45 - 11:15 Training on new voicemail system
11:15 - 12:00 Eat lunch (salmon with peanut butter sauce made by the caterer at the office) YUM!/ catch up with CC on the debate last night)
** I didn't get to watch the debate last night because one of my college sorority sisters was in town and we had her over for dinner! How fun!
12:00 - 5:00 Work, work, and more work . . . .
5:00 - 5:30 Drive home
5:30 - 6:00 Mow the yard - yep, I mowed the yard

6:00 - 6:30 Dinner (leftovers)
6:30 - 7:00 Pickle to bed, JP showered, I cleaned the kitchen, and Ranger talked to his grandad

7:00 - 7:30 Boot up computer to blog, PJs on Ranger, brush teeth, read two books

** Time to predict . . . but my evenings rarely differ . . .

7:30 - 8:00 Watch My Name is Earl while creating Real Life post . . . just love the DVR so we can pause TV while getting kids in bed and fast forward through commercials
8:00 - 9:00 Watch TV with hubby
9:00 - 9:45ish - Get ready for bed and read . . . then sleep

One of the requirements was to include a picture of the kitchen:This is just as I am about to finish cleaning up after dinner so it's not too bad. Had I remembered to take the picture earlier you would have seen lots of dishes on the counter and tupperware scattered over the floor (thanks to Pickle). What you can't see are the crushed Cheerios that I always feel like I'm stepping on.

At the far end are the cabinets . . . doors are being constructed and stained . . . we're almost there!

*** This was not an ordinary day from the perspective that I would normally leave for work much earlier than 10:15 but we had a tire emergency. I also don't typically mow the yard but I bet you could figure that out!

Nature vs. Nurtue

Nature vs. nurture is a topic often debated by the pedagogues of the world. I was once part of these discussions and have made at least 100 firm and cogent arguments on both sides of the opinion. I do not pretend to know the absolute answer and the below pictures are offered only as anecdotal evidence in a debate that will continue in perpetuity. For these two have both nature and nurture in common.

Morning Exploration

You would think she had learned not to play with the warming drawer after shutting her fingers in it WHILE THE OVEN WAS ON. She had a nice little blister on her finger for about a week. Perhaps this is safer . . . in her mind at least!

Lawn Buddy

Another fun fall afternoon in the backyard.

4 Teeth

Look at my teeth . . . don't mind my messy face!
Look what I can do . . . I'm actually trying to put them BACK IN the box!

Josh & Jer

I mentioned Jer and his family in the post about Payson so I thought I would share a funny story about these two. Josh and Jer have been best friends since middle school and as luck would have it they have both ended up living in Arizona. They have a long history together and probably more secrets between the two then either of us wives want to know.

So we were having dinner at a friends house a few weeks ago and someone asked, "How long have you been friends?" Jer says, ". . . since middle school . . . " and Josh says, " . . . about 15 years . . . " Really? Might want to check that math . . . ! **Giggle**

Okay, so I thought it was funny . . . .

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If you click on the pictures you can enlarge them . . . that way you can see the tiger up close!

Best Tiger Viewing Ever

What a fabulous trip to the zoo yesterday. The weather was great and the animals were out to play . . . even the tortoises were on the move!
The most playful of the bunch were the otters and we caught the prairie dogs during their posing time.
The kids enjoyed themselves and were happy to be out of the house since we've been kind of cooped up this weekend with JP at races both days. Poor guy was really suffering by Sunday afternoon so we took lots of rests. I was amazed by how much Pickle really liked the animals . . . the ones she could see from her vantage point in the stroller.
The larger ones that I thought she'd be able to see the best were not "available." (The elephants were at the back by their pen, the giraffes were MIA, and the zebras were on break.) She was excited by the flamingos ("go-gos") as Ranger used to call them and the wallabies.
Here is Ranger displaying his "Go-Go" talent:
These pictures do not do justice to how amazing the tiger looked. He was pacing in the tree and then would stop and look right at the camera. His (her?) face was beautiful! I wish I would have had my telephoto lens.