Mackenzie & her @#$)(*@#$(@#$(&@@#(_$* Ball

So, Mackenzie has been LOVIN' the nice spring weather, as it means she gets to play outside. Which usually consists of blowing bubbles on the front porch, 'tweeting' to the birds and riding her "vroom" (powerwheels) up and down the driveway. Saturday, as Jamey had cleaned the garage - Mackenzie got ahold of an old, dingy, dirty, cast-off volleyball from our long ago time of playing sand volleyball on a team. The volleyball had become one of Foster's outside toys - as it is a little deflated - just enough that he can pick it up with his mouth. Well, Mackenzie was in heaven with her new ball - throwing it, chasing it, kissing it, fighting with Foster for it. Yesterday afternoon, we got home from some errands and as soon as she gets out of the car - she goes immediately to the ball and takes it out on the driveway to play with it. Which is all fine and good. I am standing in the driveway, just watching her. She is running around the driveway, gives one last look at me, laughs and begins to run away down the street at full throttle with her ball! Obviously, no matter how secluded we may be - we do NOT want her playing in the street or running away outside! So I begin to "give chase" - only to stumble on some cracked concrete, roll my ankle and fall over; all as Mackenzie continues to run, laughing the whole time. Somehow, I do manage to limp up to catch her and wrangle her into the house. As I am laying on the couch, about to vomit from the pain throbbing from my ankle, and on the phone with Jamey about what to do - my dear sweet daughter must have known I was sad because she decided it would be a good time to tickle my toes, on my sore foot. And when I didn't put on the normal, hysterically laughing act - she figured she must not be doing it right, as she then grabbed the sore foot to begin to shake it back and forth while yelling "tickle, tickle"!!! Fast forward a few hours and some vicoden later - a trip to ER shows it is not broken, but severly sprained and swollen; so now here I sit, hyped up on some pain pills and limping around for the next few days/weeks....all because of that @#)$*@#()$*@#)*$ BALL!

Speechless

I am speechless as to how to caption these - they are just too funny!! I don't know what my favorite part is - she put the shoes on all by herself, the flared skirt and exposed diaper or the intent talking on the phone.....

(And the mess you see scattered in the background is what she managed to get into in the 10 minutes we were playing in the dining room/kitchen!!)

Mackenzie springs for Spring too!

Following up with our exciting landscaping news - some spring time pics of Mackenzie. First up - her first ice cream cone all by herself on an a nice sunny spring outting with Nana Jane. Then enjoying some fresh melon - rind and all. And of course, every little fashionista needs her pink sparkle sunglasses to face the sunny days!!

April Showers for Flowers

Last year - Jamey and I dabbled in some bulb planting for our front landscaping, which trust me - was a new foray into un-explored territory. But we were quite excited this week to notice that our planting had been successful and we are currently enjoying some beautiful tulips and daffodils in our front yard! And of course, we had to photograph them as well!!

Nice Hat

The ever fashion conscious Mackenzie debuts a new fashion trend - Foster's dog dish as her hat. She also shoved a piece of dog kibble down her mouth before picking up the bowl and announcing "hat". She sure loves her Foster!

Critter Capture Update

This morning - we had a RACOON in the trap!! Pictures to hopefully follow (although Jamey made fun of me for both blogging about it yesterday and then wanting pictures today). I know Jamey was thrilled (insert heavy sarcasm here) to be awoken with the news of the critter capture - as that meant he had to get up out of bed to deal with it before work! And last night, I had asked his plans for critter removal and his response was "I will cross that bridge when I get to it". I don't think he was anticipating arriving at that bridge so quickly! :) Jamey also announced that I should not be so excited that it may not be our roof living creature, but instead "some random neighborhood raccoon that was sniffed out the food in the trap." However - last night, before bed - when he checked the trap - the door had been sprung shut and the trap moved a bit, but was empty. When I went to bed - I heard the roof scuttling/digging noises - so I knew critter had returned to the roof. Then this morning, no noises and full trap - which to me indicates a strong possiblity that this is the offending raccoon. Either way - one potential roof resident down - we will see if we get more tonight!!

UPDATE:

Critter has been released into the wild in rural Scott County. Apparently, critter did NOT enjoy time in cage or car ride - Jamey reports the raccoon ran quite quickly when freed. Received a phone call from Richard tonight, who was a bit disappointed that his services were not needed in "racoon disposal".

Mommy & Daddy's Early Morning Adventure with Wildlife

So Jamey & I greeted this morning at 5:15 am in the front yard, armed with a flashlight, shovel and pole as we were banging on the house - trying to scare out the "varmint" that has AGAIN taken up residence somewhere in our soffits/gazebo roof. We awoke a few minutes earlier to hear the unmistaken digging and scratching sounds and somehow, arrived at the decision to venture out and try scare it out ourselves. Yes, I realize this was rather uncharacteristic of us. And on our way back in to the house - after an unsuccessful scare tactic, of course - a neighbor drove by us, so Jamey is concerned they are going to think we have really lost our minds this time!! I am sure we made quite the picture.

It has been a NEVER ENDING ADVENTURE for us lately with critter control in the porch. It started this fall with a nest of squirrels, in which a baby fell out - and I found laying on the front porch - and had to deal with keeping Foster & Squirrel Cat (no pun intended) away from, as they were mesmerized (and drooling). Then right before Spring Break in Vegas - I swore I kept hearing scratching and digging in the ceiling, but Jamey just thought I was crazy. When he finally heard it, he did further investigating in the attic to prove it was outside of the main house. Upon return from Vegas, it was REALLY bad - I was having visions of a rabid raccoon falling through the bedroom ceiling, so I began to call pest removal. Oh, but since it is an ANIMAL - that is not qualified as a pest, but "varmint" and therefore the professional removal choices are quite limited and costly. (as I told my mother - they are understandably costly b/c if I was going to KNOWINGLY go in after a rabid furry beast - I would charge an arm and a leg too!) When Jamey heard the cost for professional removal, that got his butt in gear to take care of it himself. We have put down "varmint repellant", we have a capture trap ready to go.....and of course, nothing for the past two weeks until this morning. Jamey is supposed to be setting the trap up this afternoon so we can hopefully rid ourselves once and for all of our unwelcomed newest house pet! Adding further urgency is that all the professionals I spoke with told me that the animals are bedding down and nesting in preparation for birthing young....and all the professionals charge "per head" for removal - even if they are young babies!!

Let's keep our fingers crossed the trap works (or me, wielding a shovel). I am sure we will update, with pictures I am sure, WHEN we have eliminated our critter.

Vegas is an incurable disease!!

We have been bitten by the incurable Vegas bug!!!!



2008 - Spring Break. It is getting seriously contagious now, as Vicki & Bob were contaminated by us.

2007 - Spring Break (and our first time away from Mackenzie) - Jamey succombs to the disease.

2006 - Girls trip with Sharon & Jenn (and Mackenzie, in utero!) - my first bout with this disease.

Rain Rain Go Away

The rain gear was a huge hit with Mackenzie, who wanted to wear it all day long!

some SMART ladies & their kids!

Just rec'd this pics from our friend Vicki from the Easter Egg hunt awhile back. Even they they are a bit overdue, I still thought they were cute ones of the kids and us Smart Teachers! ;)

Gracie & Parker are blogging now, too!!

After monthes of envy of Mackenzie for her cool online blog dedicated to her adventures, Gracie & Parker finally have their own as well. Check them out at gandpplace.blogspot.com - where you will also be able to find more frequent updates on Parker's treatment. All continued prayers and well wishes are very much appreciated!