Carpool #8: More Then Meets the Eye

I was on my way to work today. The area of interest is a couple miles stretch with nothing but fields on either side.
It was in this area that I saw a flash of light that my brain first registered as the yellow flashing light on a garbage truck, since I had seen one earlier in the morning because today was our trash day. I looked around confused for the source of the light. Nothing.


A second later, I saw another flash of light except this time it looked more like lightning or more of a white light. I thought how odd that first flash was but then thought, well it is supposed to rain today so I thought nothing then of the flashing lights.


A few seconds more time had passed and now I am away from the area the flash’s first occurred. I looked in my mirror and see sparks shooting up and showering down to the ground as a transformer is getting cooked in vast changing array of bright colors. Now it all makes sense. Still, it’s definitely a weird way to start Monday.

OHhhhh

Allie just got over having a high fever. It’s obvious when she’s sick because she gets whiny and clingy for several days. I put her down for a nap at 1:30 and she slept to 5:30. When she woke, Allie was all smiles again with lots of energy. The down side is that she was not quick to fall asleep at her 8:30 bed time. Instead she fought sleeping until 10:30.

I tried rocking her to sleep which she fought so I laid her down. Once Allie continued to cry/fake sob Kelli went in but gave up to let her work out sleeping on her own around 10:00. I then went in when I heard hear playing with the mobile. Indeed she was standing and playing so I laid her down and rubbed her back for little bit. She started to close her eyes so I started to leave. Allie, thinking I was gone, stood up to play with the mobile some more, so I walked back over. Surprised to see me and knowing she was busted, Allie gave a disappointed “oh”, like the “oh” you give if someone said they were winning a race and tripped at the very end and lost the race….yeah that “oh”.

I just laid her back down and walked out quickly because I was holding in laughing from her perfectly expressed “oh”. Surprisingly she did stay down and was out rather shortly.

How Embarrassing

Evidently I came down with something recently. It's called shingles, and it starts off with a burning pain that you can't locate (typically on one side of the body). It then turns up as a little rash of the chicken pox virus we all had when we were little.

Turns out that virus doesn't go away, it just lays dormant until someones body immune system gets weak (typical older people), or the person becomes stressed out.

I'm going with the stressed out. In my defense I'm not running around going "I'm stressed, I can't take it." I bottle it up. Anyone want to go for a run with me?

Normal Day

Here is a picture that sums us up. I am tired. Allie is excited about something. Emma is bewildered. Kelli is behind the scenes keeping us in order.


By the way this picture was taken when we had approximately 8" of snow that night.

Update: Allie/Emma

Allie Update:
We got a couple inches of snow on 26 Jan 2009 in our area. Since this is her Allies first decent snow with a steady stream of big flakes where she can walk around, I took her outside. As soon as I set her down she froze and let the snow hit her face and just looked at me and smiled. Soon we got to walking around for an estimated 10 minutes. She had a stick and scratched at the snow, only to move onto to another area and repeat. She kept saying "Ho, Ho". It was awesome.

Emma Update:
Later this same night at 11:00 p.m., as I was doing homework. Kelli wanted Emma to stay awake so she put her on the floor next to me, on her belly. Let me preface, before I continue that Emma rolled over on our bed the previous night as I was folding laundry. Kelli was shocked but I played it down to the fact she was on a soft surface, and she couldn't do that on more firm surface. So she starts grunting and fussing then starts moving and rolls over and is calm. We were shocked becasue she's not 3 weeks old yet. So I chalk that up to an accident. I roll her over and Kelli and I watch as she repeats the same process but rolls over onto the other side. Oh, boy! Kelli thinks she is going to be athletic. I think she's part male anyway because she has a hairy back and hairy shoulders...poor girl. A third attempt was made but she started falling asleep when she found her hand and started sucking.

So that's the update.

Emma

Emma in the new sling Kelli purchased.

Emma Joy

Born: Emma Joy
07 Jan 2009
10:54 a.m.
9lb 7oz

Christmas Family

Family time!!!!

Dark Pictures = Bad

My wife was not thrilled with the black picture of Allie. She said it looked creepy....hmmm.

So I decided to add that exact picture in not so creepy ways, starting with the original for reference. Click to enlarge.








And now for fun. We will take a picture of Allie and Kelli when we went to Relleke Pumpkin Farm. Click to enlarge.








This one is freaky...ehh

Nov 4th - A Big Deal

I would like to explain why Nov 4th was a big deal this year. I stayed home with Allie because we did not have a babysitter this particular day. It was a beautiful day in Historic Leclair.


Allie and I set out around 9am to do our public service and vote, technically she didn't vote, and on the way back we stopped and played in the gravel on the trail. Oh this gravel is fun. We'll call it "2ft of fun" because every 2ft we have to stop to play in the new gravel. Since we had no more obligations for the remainder of the day we took our time and played as much as we wanted.



Once we made it back home we swung for a while which is always a good time. Allie still has quandaries about walking into yard from the concrete especially now that there is fallen leaves. As long as she holds my hand she is fine to walk in the yard. Once she gets in the swing though, the higher the better!




After an action packed swinging, we set out to investigate the remaining flowers before the official "Cool Weather" hits and turns them brown. We even savored their last remaining scent,...they smelled like nothing at all to be quiet honest. However every time she leaned into the flower to put her nose near it, Allie would go "Mmmmmm."



So that was our day and it was a big deal. In fact, it took a 2.5 hour nap to recover. I used it to study for a Business Math test, unfortunately I wore myself out as well and fell asleep on my book for an hour.

Political Cartoon III

Funny Stuff...no wait, Scary Stuff.

Political Cartoon II

sigh....another policial blog post, another polical cartoon. i guess i'll just beat this topic to death since this presidential campaign has beaten the american public to death. enjoy...or not...

Random Email

My wife and I rarely converse during the week while at work. Even though we are both at our respective desk and have phone/email access, she's normally too busy and when she isn't, I am. A shout out once a week is standard issue for us.

Well I got an email from her today, 29 Oct 2008. I don't know what she is doing at work to warrant this sole email line but she cracks me up. Here is what I read...
"your bday next year is on labor day...fun stuff..."


fun stuff is right....

Happy Halloween

I applaud cartoonist who capture the sentiments that I have. Luckily, there are no cartoonist that disagree with me, right....any way enjoy for the few who will appreciate this.

Eat, no thanks, I'll Sleep

Allie after a busy morning in her highchair. By lunch she was whopped, she didn't even have turkey to make her fall asleep!

1 year pictures

We went to get Allies 1 year picture which turned out to be a mess. JC Penny's was not worth it...go figure. Instead I took Allie outside to capture some outside pictures that same day. Here is what I came up with.

Click to Enlarge.


So the funny thing about taking these pictures was I swept the leaves into a pile and set her in the middle. She immediately started making a noise, that sounds like someone with sore muscles. Then, she wouldn't take one step which was funny becuase I got behind her. She wanted to see where I was so she was twisting all around. Good Stuff.

House Guests

Kelli's brother and son came to visit after a long time being unable to get away. It was fun and Braydon and Allie play very well together.

Bath Time!


Kelli made up a little snack and we had them watch 1,2,3's to wind down for the evening.

Occasionally they are so alike.

Click to enlarge.

Bandwagon

I wish I was the Bandwagon but unfortunately I'm not...

I know most of the US is on the Obama bandwagon despite not understanding any of his policies. The concept, adults having no idea what either president stands for this close to the election is hard for me to believe. I've talked to several Obama supporters at work who were shocked at his health and energy plan and I wasn't being negative I was just saying here is where both presidents stand for. I encouraged them to investigate both sides but now I'm past the equality and onto sophomoric teasing. Bottom line, I'm a hunter, who works and spends within my means and believe society should do the same. People shouldn't have the government hold their hands throughout life. Take ownership and contribute. It only stands to reason I find this motto to the point.

We've Got a Diaper Down!

Kelli and I (along with some help from Ed R. and Mike H.) helped us work on my home this weekend. Kelli is attainment we tuck point the house and paint the brick becuase it looks horrible. This further translates into us needing to power wash the brick. (Thanks Ed, you did well.)

Mike H. helped to finish the the roof sofet and fascia. (Thanks Mike, it looks great)

After a lovely day of this work, Kelli and I were exhausted. I was already tired because my friend Josh E. came over Friday night for a little bonfire and beverages. (Thanks Josh, for not leaving until 3:30 AM.) So Saturday night I was truly was exhausted 9 pm.

Allie, on the other hand, was running around after her bath (with her diaper on), ...oh yeah, she's walking not really running, but certainly active. So we are discussing how good if feels to sit and who is going to sacrifice this comfort to go put Pajama's on Allie and give her the bottle.

As fate would have it Allie solved the dilemma for us. She came walking out of her room completely naked and holding her bottle with milk drips all around her mouth. I got up and went into her room and found a nice puddle of clear liquid on the wood floor with a book soaking up the mystery liquid.

Kelli now was up and we cleaned the mess got her PJ's on and gave her milk bottle to her.

Funny thing is we never found the diaper in her room it was in the living room, behind the chair which is off to the side of the living room near her bedroom door. SO we never noticed she walked into her room naked. All I can say is the writing is on the wall that kid #2 is going to wipe Kelli and I out completely.

Good Times

I wish every day was like this moment.

Clicke to Enlarge