To bark, or not bark

I'm guessing everyone has a bad day, right?! So what could possibly top off a bad day?...if there is a way. A frickin dog warden note!

So I can't wait to finally get home from work tonight (after an extra long shift due to games) and learn that the dog warden received an "email" that we had excessive barking from our pups. Funny, since I can't stand it if our dogs bark outside, and am constantly bringing them in if they bark even once. The warden couldn't tell us anything other than to try and keep our pups quiet for the next week....I think they have the wrong door. Our neighbors dog barks like crazy, but not to the point I would EMAIL a complaint. However, I will not point blame or bark, and invited the warden over anytime he pleases! Joy.

We are very friendly with our neighbors. We all have dogs. Dogs bark. So who has the complaint?? If I have a problem with your dog, your music, you drinking, or your engines..I will stop by and kindly ask you, as a neighbor, to keep it at a respectable level. I know my neighbors...so who are you with the complaint of my non-barking dogs. The dog warden said they didn't even bark at him when he brought the notice!! No one is home, a stranger is knocking at the door, and my dogs are silent. Nice guard dogs aren't they:)

Moose A. Moose

Hmmm...does Gavin have a puzzled look on his face?? Maybe because it's way past his bedtime! But we were having fun carving his pumpkin.

He was a big help and picked out the design himself! He kept checking inside to make sure all the "guts and pieces" were cleaned out.
He helped put the lid on when it was done.
well...one last check inside...I think I see something. (and yes, he pulled out a handful of carving shavings) Nothing gets by this little skeleton!

I think we're falling for fall!

We were lucky enough to have another beautiful day today so we figured we would make the most of it and spend the afternoon outside a bit. Gavin's first pumpkin is all cleaned out!

Why didn't we carve it?? Well, that is because we got another late start. We were busy making "shakers" this afternoon with small washed out juice containers. We filled one with beans, elbow noodles, sesame seeds and orzo. You would be amazed at what is in your pantry sometimes that can be also used to fascinate a 1 year old. Gavin loves to shake them! The beans and noodles are much louder than the other two, so naturally are his favorites. And I wonder why I spend so much on toys......

Tim had to take Chance to the vet at 1:15. Just a check-up since he hasn't been in awhile. Figure we toook Sammy last week, might as well keep them on same vet schedule. Chance is now 98 lbs and Sammy is 80. Oh, on the way to the vet, being such a beautiful day, Chance had his head out the window. This is very typical with dogs. I know you have all driven past that dog in the front seat with his head hanging out and ears and tongue flapping in the wind. Well, Chance somehow stepped on the "up" window button. Tim caught it quickly and hit the power button on the driver side. So while the window never crunched the poor dog's neck, it did scare him enough to forcefully pull his big head through a small space cracking the rain guard on Tim's truck. Thank goodness for superglue!

While daddy was fixing his truck, Gavin and I started playing outside. Soon as the pumpkin was cleaned and scraped out, he quickly learned to take the "lid" on and off. And made sure we all watched him each time. He is a very busy talker, however, I usually have no idea what he is saying. Sometimes I make stories up that I think he is saying. Hey, sometimes I may be right.

Here, I am certain that he is calling us over to ask why we haven't started carving yet. (because it's almost dinner time)

And now, I guarantee he is mad because dinner time means we will be going in the house. It's been great to be outside the last two days. As well as fortunate that I had them both off of work!

Ok Gavin....a few more minutes outside won't hurt:)

Crinkly leaves.

I don't know about these, maybe you should pick me up now.

Or MAYBE daddy needs to roll with me:) Who doesn't love a pile of leaves??!!

Parade!

On Sunday we originally had planned to go to the zoo for the Pumpkin Path, but last minute decided that it would be too much walking for Tim. He is still doing great with his recovery, but let's not do anything crazy to slow it down. So while it was turning into a beautiful afternoon, I remembered that it was the day for the Rossford Parade!

So we got Gavin dressed up and headed into town.



We met up with one of my coworkers and her husband who currently live in the city and we walked downtown together. She just had a baby girl on Gavin's birthday! Sept 30th is quite the popular day!

Gavin was a very curious little chicken, he watched everyone and everything that went by. However, he did get startled in the beginning with the firetrucks blaring their horns and sirens. But as soon as we picked him up, everything was just fine in the world.

There was some slight delays in the parade. We later found out that a little boy had fallen off of a float on the first street, however, when we heard sirens, we had just assumed that it was part of the festivities. Don't worry, the child was not hurt. Just a delay in sections of the parade. We also learned that the high school is not the best place to stand. It's the end of the parade, and in future years, when Gavin will be interested in candy...most of the cars and floats and walkers were all out:(

Again, that is good to know for the future. Lots of kids walking by would stop to give Chicken Little a high five. Most the time, Gavin even gave them one. By the end of the parade, we had one sleepy chicken. Mind you, he usually gets a nap around noon...and at this point after all delays, it was after 3:30.

We also had a birthday party to attend that day for another coworkers daughters first birthday, however, as you may be able to tell....we didn't make it. Even if we woke him up, I wouldn't want to risk a meltdown at a party. So we came home and took a late nap. It was a nice afternoon.

TGIF

While your typical modern family would be excited at the prospect of a fun filled weekend together....that is not the case here.
Tomorrow I have to work all day long. And we are even opening early due to the Bowling Greeen home football game across the street and family weekend...not to mention the Bucks play at noon as well :) But I keep in mind that it is my last saturday working, as the girl I am covering for, is returning to work from maternity on Monday. I have enjoyed working the Saturdays the last few weeks to see some old customers/regulars, but I do miss the time at home!! But extra money is extra money...especially during football season..and daddy off work post surgery.
Keep your fingers crossed that sunday will be weather bareable and we can head to the zoo!
I am excited to dress Gavin up and tote him around outside! Honestly I would love to just sit at home and hang out with him all day if that is what the weather decides for us...I haven't felt like I have been able to spend any real good time with him all week! This morning at daycare, I kicked back and went in and played for over twenty minutes with all the kids and the "shakers" because Gavin was clinging to me (being we got there past snack time) and I just couldn't leave. We had some fun! And I got to play with the other kids. ONce Gavin got to enjoying himself I snuck out the door when he was busy moving. Hopefully he doesn't hold it against me...but I cant bare leaving when he is crying and reaching out to me :( Although I know he is fine by the time I probably get to my car.
Tim never left the house today. Said he just needed a day to be lazy. ----I'm jealous:) (he did do a few things around the house though!)

Bringing you up to speed....

So I feel that I should bring everyone up to speed on the events of the last month as I start this new blog.
On Sept 29th, Tim underwent surgery to have his Acl replaced. Mind you this happened foolishly as he was "playing" on a dirt bike at a bachelor party and apparently forgot that he is no longer invincible. He was thrown off the back as he "wanted to see what it had" and is lucky to have not been hurt more seriously.
Sept 30th was Gavin's first birthday!! So needless to say, we postponed a party...as neither of the boys in my home were going to remember such an event. We did take some pics, and had a small birthday event the following weekend with presents and helium balloons:)
Tim is recovering wonderfully from surgery and his very anxious to start getting back to "normal." He is not the guy that likes to sit around, nor be at home all day alone. He has been doing the best he can around the house, and has even returned to class two weeks post surgery. He has Physical therapy twice a week and is moving along with it remarkably.
Gavin has been enjoying time at daycare, and being picked up by Grandma everyday! He loves spending time with Grandma and Grandpa until mommy can pick him up after work. He even started taking a few steps this week!!!!
What a handful we are about to have. We are looking forward to it tremendously!
As for for our furry friends, Sammy went to the vet today and we found out that he has allergies...wonderful. He chewed off his back nail and we were worried, but turns out it's common and it will heal just fine and we have nothing to worry about. Chance is amazing as always. He just goes with the flow. Both labs have been great with Gavin.
Poor Jazzy has learned to live with us all. He makes us remember he is still important and needs attention with the occasional hairball and the insistent need to be petted and in your face. Gavin loves the cat, and giggles EVERY time he sees him. Jazzy loves Gavin too. He lets him pull his hair, tail and push him off everything. I am awaiting the day to see Gavin carrying him across the room.
We are learning to adjust to our new routines and believe that by next month Tim will be back to work. (if not, Tim may go nuts!) I need to have Tim back to work, so that I can get my morning routine back on track. It's been nice having him here in the morning to help out...yet somehow, it hasn't gotten me out the door earlier...hmmm. This weekend we are "hopefully" going to the zoo for the pumpkin path so Gavin can dress up and see some new sights...weather permitting. Then we are off to a 1st bday party of one of my coworkers daughters. We shared our pregnancy together and I hope that occasional playdates are in the future:)

Testing.....

So after being amazed by my friends and cousins blogs, I have decided that maybe I can find the time to create my own and share some daily/weekly doses of what it's like here at our house:)