jenstephenson's PhotoBlog

Titanic!

2009-08-19T03:23:28Z

Ok, so we have the 10 gal aquarium with about 10 various fish in it. All is well, usually. We feed them *almost* everyday and I change the filter monthly and I will add water to keep it full since evaporation does happen. Well, I just topped it off yesterday and it was full to the top. Today, I was in the liv room lighting some incense and then went down the hall to check on the boys in the shower. I was down the hall maybe 3-4 min total and as I was walking back towards the living room, I could hear what I thought was a crackling noise and I instantly thought of how I lit incense and maybe something caught fire so I start running. I get to the liv room and check the incense and nothing. Then, I look over at the aquarium where the noise was coming from and it was NOT crackling I was hearing but splattering....of water.....from the aquarium to the floor from a crack all along the bottom of the aquarium. I hopped around and let out a few squeals for about 20 seconds before I gathered my wits and unplugged everything then ran for big bowls. I put 2 big bowls under the aquarium and then got another bowl and started scooping fish out. Rescued all the fishies (the water they are in was from the water gushing out of the bottom of the aquarium). By this time, I had gotten the boys out of the shower and enlisted their help. We got everything out of the aquarium and started scooping water out while putting towels on the floor. Finally, after we got the water level down to about 3 inches, me and Michael lifted the entire aquarium on it's base and took it out into the yard to finish draining in the grass. I was afraid to take the aquarium off the stand because I didn't want the bottom to literally fall out with glass and decorative pebbles everywhere. We successfully moved it outside and I sopped up as much water as possible with towels and now there is a fan blowing on it. The fish are in 2 huge mixing bowls on the laundry room floor. In a twist of luck, I have an appt to have my carpets cleaned next week. But, I'm not sure what do do about the fish. I'll be making a trip to Jack's Aquarium & Pets tomorrow for advice.......

Thursday

2009-08-14T03:16:05Z

We had a busy day today. Nick had his JumpStart Kindergarten. Then, we went shopping for new pants for the boys. I had them try on all their long pants from last year and 1/2 of them did not fit and the other 1/2 JUST fits so I needed to get a few to grow into. So, we went to the mall, ate at the food court and then went to JCPenney's. Got some good deals. After Penney's, we ran home and grabbed Michael's guitar and went to his lesson. He's learning "Cat Scratch Fever!" He's doing really well with it! I bought him a metronome, per his teacher's recommendation. Then, we came home and I exercised, cook dinner and then me and Michael practiced guitar together. Actually, I didn't really play - I spent a lot of time tuning my guitar since Nick decided sometime in the last week to play with the little knobs at the end. Heavy sigh. The day went by so quick! Mike asked me to take more pics of the yard so that is what I'll post today.....

Lost another one!

2009-08-11T04:40:22Z

I swear I'm gonna have to get Nick some dentures if he loses any more teeth!!! Today was a good day. A friend came over and sewed a canopy for our swing and it was nice to have company and we ate lunch together and her daughter played w/the boys. She did an awesome job on the sewing project and even sewed a pillow to match! My step-dad came over and worked on the riding mower for me. When I mowed, it seemed as if it wasn't cutting even and Jim took the blades off and they, indeed, were very dull. He also took out the air filter so I could get a new one and he checked the oil AND put more air in the tires. As an added bonus, he brought me a bunch of veggies from their garden which was wonderful. Nothing like fresh produce. In the afternoon, I packed up a box for Mike and took it to the post office. Things he needs and wants. I mail a box every week, it seems. He's spoiled - haha! I exercised and then cooked dinner and then helped Michael post some Yu-Gi-Oh cards on eBay. He's hoping to make some money so he can buy......more...Yu-Gi-Oh cards!!! It's been a long, productive and pleasant day....

Pancake Day!

2009-08-11T04:29:51Z

On weekends, the boys love to request pancakes. Sometimes I make them and sometimes I don't. Well, today I did. I make pancakes w/those little choc chips. The boys LOVE them!!!!! After pancakes, we went to the pool and saw some friends and had a nice afternoon there. When we got home, I mowed and the boys raked. That was our Sunday. :)

Saturday and such

2009-08-11T04:23:13Z

So, I didn't blog the past few days. Again, no amazing Kodak moments. We did the usual running errands, Michael had his soccer camp and Nick had JumpStart Kindergarten the last few days. But, now that it is the weekend, we did not have to get up this morning for the first time early because Nick's t-ball season is done so I got to sleep in - yeah! Took Mike's truck out for a spin since it hasn't been driven in awhile. I forget how nice it is to drive - it's so smooth it does not feel like a truck...it feels like a luxurious SUV. I really should drive it more often! haha! We went to Yellow Springs and got some incense. The boys loved smelling all the essential oils and we chose a few for a cool little oil lamp I bought. Then, we went to a few stores and picked up some things we needed. When we got home, I exercised. I've been running on the treadmill in prep for the 5K next month. The boys are very good about giving me space and time to do that. They don't interrupt me which is nice. Once I finished exercising, I took on the chore of cleaning the garage. It was full of cobwebs, spiderwebs, spider eggs, leaves, dead grass and sticky popsicle residue. Michael helped me get everything out of the garage and I swept it, hosed it and push broomed as much water out as I could. Wow! Looks really nice and it's a project I've been talking about doing since last September. Only took me 11 months to get to it - ha! That night, after we ate and showered, we watched, "Mamma Mia!" The boys didn't enjoy it so they went to bed about 1/3 of the way thru. Me, I really enjoyed the Abba songs and I thought the ending was a hoot. In fact, it was so entertaining, I rewould a few times and watched it over and over. Too funny! Anyway, nothing exciting. Yes, I cleaned the garage on a Saturday night - woohoo!!!!

Wednesday and stuff

2009-08-06T02:33:13Z

Today was another day of camp and class and then I met my friend Anita to help her plan a bridal shower and then we went to lunch. So nice to get together with a friend and plan a party which I love to do. Me and Michael have been practicing guitar which is a fun thing for me and my oldest baby to do together. I signed up for the USAF 5K run so I've been training for that and go out on my treadmill almost daily. Then, I walked around the house and took some pics of our lush yard. I haven't had to water in what seems like ages because it's been so rainy. And, altho it is August, it was 66 degrees when I left the house this morning at 8:25, isn't that weird???? Enjoy the pics....

Plumeria

2009-08-06T02:17:17Z

Ok, so we've gotten so much rain that it feels like a rainforest around here. I'm posting pics of my tropical garden addition.... The boys are both busy this week. Michael is in a soccer camp and Nicholas is in JumpStart Kindergarten. More shuttling for me since I only have about 45 min between drop-off and pick-up times. But, it's good that we have a reason to get up and start our day. Good practice going to bed early, too. We are having a good, busy and productive week. And, I wish I had enough of these fragrant flowers to make a lei....they are my favorite flowers in the world. And, altho this little flower is about the size of a 50 cent piece, it smells so strong and wonderful!!!

Practicing

2009-08-06T02:42:43Z

Michael is now taking electric guitar lessons and he's taking them pretty seriously. He already knows "Mary had a little lamb" and "old mcdonald" and he's only had 2 lessons. :) Both boys are learning Russian via Rosetta Stone on the computer. They're learning a lot this summer!

T-Ball medal and stuff

2009-08-02T03:09:15Z

Today was a lot of running around. Nick's final t-ball game of the season was at 10 am this morning. They played a great game and Nick got a medal! He is so proud and wore it all day. Took the boys thru the A&W drive-thru and got them root beer floats. Then, we went to Jack's to mice for our sweet snake (haha!) Fed Cornflake and then had just enough time for lunch and then I had to deliver Michael to his friend's house to go play laser tag for a bday party. While Michael was at his party, Nick watched a movie while I worked out and ran on the treadmill. After that, the boys went to "Give Parents A Break" and I went and had a pedicure done, went tanning, grabbed a bite to eat and then went and saw a movie. By myself. I saw "the Proposal." I laughed out loud many times during the movie - it was a contrived romantic comedy but it was very funny and entertaining, nonetheless. I was kind of surprised at myself. I'd never been to a movie by myself before. I just wanted to do a series of things tonight that it would've been hard for someone to do all that with me. It was very enjoyable to sit there with my popcorn and relax and not feel like I had to make chitchat or worry about someone else'e happiness. It was nice to just do whatever I wanted for 5 hrs.

Donuts!

2009-07-31T16:58:38Z

So Nick and Mike have this donut tradition. From time to time, either Nick or Mike will say to the other, "let's go for donuts!" It's their thing they do. Well, Michael got invited to a water park today so I knew Nick would be feeling left out so I asked him if he wanted to go for donuts. Of course we did. Went to Tim Horton's and Nick picked out 2 donuts: choc glaze and a new kind called Blueberry Bloom. Here's some pics of him enjoying our special time together....