Friday, May 30, 2008

Radish...Onion...Carrot...Oh My




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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Memorial Day 2008









Kingdom For Kids

We took a magical trip to Dutch Wonderland this weekend. For those of you who don't live in the area, this is an amusement park in Lancaster that's built around making kids happy.

Granted, Ry was pretty happy on the ride out there because we passed about 40 zillion cows and horses. Every 5 seconds he said, "LOOK...A COW!" and then followed that up with "what's that smell?" We spent the last part of the ride explaining the circle of life known as manure.






Cole was a trooper. He's still a little young to really enjoy the rides, so he just hung out in the stroller and watched the magical moments take place. He tried to make a run for it a few times, but overall we'll give him a 9 for patience.


Rockin and Rollin

Cole's future girlfriend Hazel had her first birthday a few weeks ago. It was brought to my attention that she really likes chairs (random) so I made her a custom rocker fit for a princess.


Friday, May 16, 2008

Habitat For Humanity

QVC hosted a Habitat For Humanity event this week. It's pretty cool the way they do it -- we constructed the walls in our warehouse space, and at the end of the week they're shipped off and put together like a puzzle at the site.

My technique wasn't beautiful, but the nails made their way into the wood and I guess that's what matters. The house is going up here in town, so I'll get to see the finished product and bask in the glow of my mad carpentry skillz.



Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The Boy That Yelled FIRE

Ry's class at school is going through this phase where they all copy each other. One day they pretended to be holding guns...they would point at things and say "FIRE!!"

The joy of this game has stuck, but parents and teachers alike are not thrilled about it. So the new law of the land at school and at home is that the word "fire" is against the rules.

This rule, however, comes with a twist. What about a firetruck? How about a campfire? Those little rascals had a point. The newly revised rule is that you're not aloud to point at something and say "FIRE!"

Ry was playing with his trucks in the other room today. We heard him saying "FIRE [insert long pause here].........truck. FIRE..........truck."

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. Stay tuned.


Park Pics






Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mother's Day

It's still hard for me to believe that I'm responsible for 2 impressionable young children. It seems like just yesterday that Phil and I were galavanting around the bars until all hours of the night.

It's been a great year and the boys have grown so much. Ry learned to ride a bike and Cole is walking. Life is good!

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Football Is Constipated

This stinking fish is still alive...and apparently he's backed up. Aunt Mel has diagnosed the problem and I think she's right on point!

From http://www.allexperts.com/:

Question:
I've had the beta for about 2 months in a wide vase with a rooting plant in it. Last week he began acting strange. After some observation, I discovered that the fish is floating. He struggles to swim to the bottom when food sinks, then he immediately floats to the top again. Today, I noticed hem eating air bubbles--maybe thats part of the problem. If there's a solution I'd like to try it.

Thanks
PAUL

Hi Paul,
It sounds like he is constipated and now has gas in his intestines. This is common in bettas kept in environments that are too cool, they are overfed, or are not kept clean.

So, first get him to a warmer area in your home. His water needs to be 78 to 82 all the time. You may have to put a heat source such as a desk lamp on him, especially at night, if it gets below 75 in the room.

Keep his container clean by replacing all the water once or twice a week. Then, feed him tiny chunks of thawed frozen green peas to help his digestion. Don't feed any other foods until he is feeling better. Then, feed him very small amounts of his regular food only once a day from then on. If you feed pellets he only needs 2 to 4 a day.

Male bettas look like they are eating bubbles but are actually doing one of two things; Gulping air from the top to store in their labyrinth, or building a bubble nest. A Betta's labyrinth is an organ designed to store air to let them live in low oxygen water. If there isn't any oxygen in the water their gills aren't going to do much good for them.

Male bettas also blow bubbles at the top to make a nest in preparation for breeding. Here are some sites for learning more about Bettas and their needs;
http://www.healthybetta.com/
http://www.bettatalk.com/

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Holding A Vigil

UPDATE: Apparently a fish lying on its side and not responding to tapping on its tank is not necessarily a sign of imminent doom. Football lives! I came from work today and he was darting all around.

He's still floating to the top though, that can't be good.

This is high drama...will keep you posted!

********************************************
It's not looking good for Football (Ry's fish). In fact, I'm quite sure he's dead but I'm too squimish to take a good hard look into the tank.

Last night he was freaking out and then floating to the top...freaking out...floating to the top...

I asked Phil what to do and he suggested euthanizing him (Phil has never been a fan of the fish concept). I turned to our friend Jim who (randomly) raised beta fish as a child with his dad. When I asked if I should call the vet he gently explained that maybe we should just leave Football alone so he can pass on as intended.

If anyone has any good ideas for explaining this one to Ry, I'm all ears!!

Monday, May 05, 2008

May Fest

Living in town is the bomb. There's always something going on, especially when the weather gets nice. This Sunday was the May Festival at the park down the street from our house.

Ry and Cole posed for pictures with their cousin Sarah. And when I say "posed", I mean we plopped them in front of a tree and prayed for the best.

I will now give you my interpretation of what they're thinking in these pictures:

"Let's humor them"

Sarah: "Cheese!"
Cole: "I love you man!"
Ry: "Getting....so....restless...must....escape"

Ry to Sarah: "Let's ditch the kid and get our party on"
Cole: "Suckers!"

Old King Cole

Sigh...Cole is 1. Wasn't I just pregnant?!? He's had a great first year and is now officially a toddler. We celebrated with a birthday extravaganza filled with bounce house fun, tomato pie, and the traditional yet grotesque "cake smeared all over the face" photo op.

Happy Birthday Cole!!!








Highland Orchards

So Phil has his take on an afternoon adventure, and I have another. Here are some pictures of our trip out to Highland Orchards last weekend.


An additional random note...Cole has this Angelina Jolie thing going on. Pucker up next time you see him!


Saturday, May 03, 2008

Have you ever seen a tire give birth?

We were at a local farm/orchard last week and Ry was reborn . . .




Amen!