It's the 5 for ten sale on Bath and Body Works soaps!
I'm not sure if it's going on all over- or just here in Ohio- but I wanted to make sure everybody knows. I hate when I miss it.

I think that Papa John's just made Ohioans more angry with the Pizza deal then they did calling "Mr. L James" a crybaby. This whole 23 cent pizza deal sounds great- but those poor poor people still waiting in line when we left are in for a very unpleasant surprise. People were losing their tempers and the employees did not understand the urgency of the situation. For some unrealistic reason they were taking PHONE ORDERS! the imbeciles. Their pizza making skills were slothlike and, worse, their people skills were cavemanesque. We were in the front of the line and still waited an hour. It was TOTALLY worth it :) I live for chaotic situations such as these (as long as I'm at or near the front of the line). I LOVE LOVE LOVE Papa John's pizza too. It was so NOT worth it for anyone besides a "stay-at-home, loves to be out and about, getting cheap stuff" mom.

We did have a fabulously chilly and great walking group this morning too. Zeb is obsessed with the swings.

the stander

Here's my grown up Z in all of his standing glory. He'll stand all day- but is refusing to move his feet forward. He only has three more weeks to take some real steps! The few we've seen have been pretty lame-o.

good thing I caught the news today!

Two bits of exciting information on the news today. The first being not so great exciting. Apparently an inspection of Southwyck mall turned up black mold and asbestos. Yep-that's where we did walking group all winter long (I've included a picture of zeb there at Christmas time) . I'm really not that concerned- especially considering that our time there was limited and that both of those things are found in structures all over the place. They also stated that the stuff was found in "A" location- not many locations- not all over the place. I'm sure it was in the one of the old unused portions of the mall. I'm afraid this means that the mall will be shut down for good! I really hoped it would last so we could walk there next winter. I really did like the place.

The second piece of exciting info from my friends at wtol 11 is all thanks to Lebron James. Apparently Papa John's hurt his feelings or something and so they are selling 23 cent (his jersey number) pizzas all over Ohio tomorrow (at least upper Ohio anyway). Hip hip hooray for us. Ohio has all sorts of great deals! In Utah all of the great deals weren't ever worth it because of waiting in atrociously long lines, but here in Ohio there aren't that many cheapos and fanatics willing to go through the necessary hoops (e.g., dressing up like a burrito). Looks like we'll be having pizza for dinner tomorrow!!!

bad bad bad tire luck

Today was a day of adventure. I think that I was running around like a banshee almost every second- until our near death experience.

Kent was driving the car and must have ran over something and we ended up with a flat (he has really bad luck with tires- this is the fourth in four years). Lucky for me we noticed the flat as I was returning him to school for some evening studying. I say lucky because it means he was present and it was here at our apartment. It was highly dangerous and Kent is ever so fortunate that a neighbor pulled up just in time to help. When I get into any predicament (no matter how dire) I burst into giggles. I couldn't help him with the tire or the jack or the bolt unscrewing. I just giggle. The giggling leads to frustration so I try to stay far away from these situations. I think it all goes back to the time I was driving the beast Expedition going 80 mph on I-15 when a tire EXPLODED. My sis and I personally caused the complete shut down of I-15 and a bomb scare. We were surrounded by at least ten police cars. The entire time we (my sis and I) were on the phone with my dad laughing HYSTERICALLY. So anyway- the tire is fixed- and we have our neighbor to thank for our lives.

Here also is a video and pic of a little more of my adventurous day. Zeb. He's always a great addition to any day.

He won't stop eating strange things. Today we were at the library and I was letting him run wild in the baby section (lots of puzzles, board books, etc). I look over to see him chomping away furiously. It really is a pretty normal occurrence- but when we aren't home I can't be completely sure that what he's ingesting is completely safe (although at home I can't be too sure about that either). I did the usual cheek squeeze and finger swipe through his oral cavity and came up with none other than the common wood boring beetle. He was gnawing on a Coleopteran. As an entomologist I couldn't be more proud. We were going to name him Charles Darwin- and as it turns out we probably should have. Darwin also loved beetles and at one point stored some in his mouth while he was out collecting. I have also included a picture of Zeb eating raw zucchini. He threw a tantrum when I tried to take it away.
And for the record (and all of you worry worts out there) I need to point out that Zeb rarely swallows any of the foreign objects that go into his mouth- he just chomps and chomps until he gets bored.

he so dang close!!! (ZEB POST)

The rugrat is standing completely by himself and actually took a step yesterday without falling until after the step was taken and completed. He will NOT, however, perform on video- we'll keep trying. I am just so content that it's happening now before Kent bails on us.

Today after church he was so tired. We stuck him in his crib with tigger and let him zonk. A few minutes later I heard some jabbering and went to check on him. He was talking to and hugging tigger. Sometimes Kent and I just sit and watch him- he is finally a real boy and is so entertaining (and it only took ten months to get to this point!).

Last night we went and visited a friend at the hospital and Zeb loved it. He loved the nurses, the patients, and the GIANT REMOTE CONTROL. Kent and I could not stop laughing when we saw it. The nurses agreed that it's pretty stinking funny. I guess the fact that we were in the geriatric ward may have had something to do with it :) He also loved the giant windows. Our friend was on the top floor and had an astounding view.

WOW!!!

Today my favorite color is Green. Wow! is all that I can say. We've had a bit of rain the past few days and it has transformed Toledo. I am in such awe of the photosynthesis taking place.
I certainly miss the mountains back in Utah, but Utah cannot offer anything as incredible as the spring that Toledo has produced. Just take a look at these two pictures. They are taken of Zeb in the exact same spot at Swan Creek Park three weeks apart. The first is in April- just as the snow had melted away. The second is today- after a few good showers. It looks like a different planet!!!! It really was such a fabulous day to go running. The smells were so refreshing- and the ground had the perfect bounce to it.

Can you believe how different they are? The trees are so amazing here. The green is so brilliant! There are Magnolias in full bloom all over the city! You can smell lilacs (thanks to the humidity) just about anywhere you go- and surprisingly my allergies aren't bad at all compared to Utah. If the temperatures could only stay this manageable all summer long.

Warning: kinda long and and only interesting for those with a love of zeb.



Here is our little monkey playing his favorite game. He loves to play catch! The last month he has started following commands and understanding SO MUCH of what we are saying. Now if only he could talk back in full sentences! He's sticking to basics with his handful of words- but he's adding them quickly. He refuses to say ball. He loves to say uh-oh and up- but has yet to tell us "no". I'm kind of excited about that.

After yesterday he may be using "no" more often. He electrocuted himself in one of the sockets (the only one without those blasted childproof caps. He got a cord half unplugged and then touched the metal part) and I sat him down in front of it and had the "no" discussion. We'd had it plenty of times before that but apparently it didn't sink in. The poor guy was so dang scared after he got zapped. I was terrified that it was going to stop his heart or something. Kent and I were both home when it happened- are we bad parents or what?

He is so funny right now. He'll play-talk- follow commands-and smile and giggle like crazy (really, he's kind of like a pet dog). I can't wait to bring him for you all to play with! Just 38 more days :)

Ew- freaking gross. Our house has ants. I'm so insanely disgusted. I love insects- I collect them even- but I HATE ants. Of all the six legged three body segmented creatures on Earth, ants are about the only ones that I can't stand. I can't even walk into the kitchen without getting the creepy crawlies all over my body. I think it's because my dad used to force me to clean the winged ants out of our basement (they were IN THE LINT THING OF THE DRYER!!!) when I was younger. I would cry and cry but he'd still make me do it. Ants with wings haunt my dreams to this day.
I'm calling Al (our fix-it man) tomorrow. Kent tells me to just sweep them up or vacuum them. I cannot stand the thought of ants being in our vacuum cleaner- I could never vacuum again. And sweeping them puts them in a very uncomfortable proximity to me. Kent also thinks we should get ant traps. Whatever- as long as he does it. I want no part in the ant infestation.
The ants also cause problems with Z. They don't seem to phase him. He just crawls right through them when I'm not watching. I've tried setting up obstacles blocking the kitchen but he's getting trickier. I have found some other distractions however.

Pulling every item off every shelf of the cabinet is the best deterrent. It keeps him entertained for at least thirty minutes a day- and I can scurry around cleaning up all of the other shelves and drawers that he's emptied. He's getting closer and closer to walking by himself and he's just so funny right now. He giggles (and screams) more than ever and it's rather entertaining to me. He LOVES apples- but will only eat them whole. If I cut the apple up in pieces and give it to him he will not partake. It's all or nothing with this rugrat.

calories, calories, calories

My goodness, what a gluttonous day. For lunch Zeb and I visited Kent on campus and got free Panera (very similar to kneaders) at a military lunch meeting. It was delicious and very unhealthy- but the meeting was super informative and beneficial. It got me even more excited for our options of living overseas eventually! There were parts of it that reinforced some of my nervousness with Kent being in the armed forces, but I'm definitely super excited about our future in the Air Force.
For dinner I made my very most favorite Teriyaki Turkey Sliders. Oh my goodness- I love them! and they were quite the hit with the ward. I actually made them as part of a "healthy cooking" life skills youth activity. The kids were so surprised that the cucumbers on them actually tasted good! Kent helped out by making his fantastic fruit smoothies in the magic bullet.
Finally this evening (after we got home from all of our stuff) we dragged Zeb out of bed to go and take part in the 31 cent ice cream scoops at Baskin Robbins (half the ward and Kent's med school class were there too). Z was such a good sport. No tears and immediately back to sleep upon return home. There was a ten scoop limit at BR- Kent got SEVEN. What a little piggy. In his defense I must add that the lady scooping our ice cream was extremely stingy and the scoops were beyond miniscule.

To top off the day, unfortunately Zeb has a horrendous little cough and I had this wicked sinus headache so we didn't go running either- which just added to my guilt while consuming the calories. Oh well, huh? You have to have a few days like this.

Here's the little guy hanging out watching blues clues. I don't like when he's sick- but he's really cute just lounging on the couch. And I love this ladybug blanket- thanks grandma O!

Just a reminder - Tonight is 31 cent scoop night at