5-27-12

Zach and Mike went to Marion Lake for Memorial Day. Zach camped for the first time. When I asked him how he liked it, he said, "It was great." Same thing his dad said.  

At one point, he had Mickey Mouse with him on the deck where the family was gathered. Cousin Paul's new wife said, "Look Mickey has a tail.  Zach do you have a tail?"  Zach said, "No, I don't have a tail. I have a butt."  I keep trying to get him to call it his bottom, but I think I am the only one who cares. 

5-9-12

Zach had the first nightmare he could tell us about last night. He was crying a little in his room. When I went in he said, "The bear got me." I nearly told him that one almost got Uncle Eric too and he was holding fish guts.  And then I guess there is the one about Mommie and the hoagie in her backpack. Oh and then there was the time on vacation when Dad told me a bear was coming, and I jumped out of my skin. Anyway, he got over it pretty fast. Went right back to sleep.

5-8-12

Zach got a haircut today. This is the 3^rd time since around Valentine’s Day that we went to Snip n’ Clip.  I didn’t tell him where we were going. I didn't even tell him when we were there, but when I parked, he said, “Haircut. I better sit still.” He did a good job, but about ¾ of the way through he started asking for his lollipop.  I forgot they gave him those, but he didn’t.  

Lamar’s donuts is next door to the Snip n’ Clip.  It is a small shop but they have a little counter with 4 or 5 stools.  After his haircut, we each got a donut. Zach wanted to sit on the chairs to eat. He likes the 'black donuts' with sprinkles. He calls chocolate black sometimes.

He stayed with Aunt Barb this weekend so Mike could go visit his cousin Jerry in Chicago prior to attending a conference.  I had to work.  Apparently he had a blast.  When I got there to pick him up, he had to show me some of the stuff he did, including sitting on the steps and playing in the giant fort Cole and Barb made under their dining room table. He gave everyone a hug and a kiss goodbye. Cole got two. 

He talked the whole way home, and this was 9 o’clock at night. The drive was awesome. There were a lot of storms in the area and so much lightening.  It was like being in one of those static electricity globes that make lightening when you put your hands on them. When we got home, he had to inventory his toys. He is different with the cats today – engaging with them more. I think he had some good playtime with Odie, Bear and Scotchie.

Zach and Odie at Warren and Barb's house.

As we were driving away from Barb and Warren’s at Christmas, Zach pointed down the street and said, “Trick or Treat.” It was the weirdest thing. I am certain it is because he had a memory at that time.  He did it again last night as we were getting ready to go home.  I guess he remembers that first time he went, when he walked all the way in to that house, and when he would take a piece of candy and give back one he got somewhere else. 

After his nap today, he said, “Let’s go to Aunt Barb’s!” He had to settle for the Legacy Park playground where he can now climb up the slide with only a little bit of help at the very top.  He is starting to run more using both arms. Until now, he runs with one arm down and one arm swinging. 

I was scrolling through is TV recordings this morning, and right as I highlighted Yo Gabba Gabba, he said "Yo Gabba Gabba, I want to watch that one." I asked him if he read the name. He said yes. It sure seemed like he did, but maybe it was just coincidence. Also today, he wrote the letter Z with a purple crayon, which is what he said he was going to do, but when he was finished he said it was a 5. and I could sort of see why he'd say that. 

Also I told John that we were starting to potty train Zach and that he didn't like to take the time to go, and John said we should teach him to pee behind a tree! It was so funny for John to say something like that. 

4-28-12

Jacquelynn Rose jacqroses@q.com	11:18 AM (10 hours ago)
to me

Sharon stopped for a quick visit and it was great seeing her. She has to walk with a walking stick for balance. It is concerning that she has a 5 hour drive ahead of her from  Des Moines, but she manages the drive okay. I made a care package for her, grapes/cheese, water, and Dad bought Dutch Letters from Pella, so I sent 3 home with her.

I wanted to share a couple of shortcut ideas for cooking and you may already be doing this as well. But here it goes

I micro wave 3 baking potatoes for potato salad instead of boiling a pan of potatoes. 3 works us + 3 to 4 eggs, celery, sweet pickles and we still have a little left over.   Eric and Shelley uses pickle relish instead  and that makes it a faster process too. 

 If you make the 3 bean salad, you can now buy green and yellow beans together in a can. Add kidney beans, onion and the dressing and that is a quick  healthy salad.  

**** Grandma sent a box of recipes home with me to give to you.  I sorted through them and kept about 10. We must remember to thank her for them. 

It was enjoyable sorting through the recipes because the ones she kept were Grandma through and through. 

The majority were pie recipes, some salads.  The baking and canning kept her going for so long. 

OH, I use hosta leaves in flower arrangements. Do you have hostas?  

Dad bought me some get well flowers last week and they still gook great. The leaves were dying so I added the hostas leaves and  the arrangement looks very nice.  Sweet Dad!  He has really been a sweetheart. 

Okay enough babbling. I know that you are a busy lady so thanks for calling this morning. 

4-27-12

From April 24

Andrea & Eric,

   Here is a copy of the newspaper article about a bank robbery yesterday. When I looked out my kitchen window yesterday morning at about 10:30 I saw a police car in my backyard between my house and my neighbor’s to the east. As you know that is clearly not an area meant for driving so I wondered what was going on. I went outside and the car was still running but there was no one in it and I noticed a motor bike on the ground under the front wheels of the car. The car hit my pear tree and took that out so I looked down in the circle and saw about a half dozen police cars. The robbery suspect was on the front porch of one of my neighbors in the circle and the police finally took him down somewhere near the park on Teg Drive. The police car chased him down through neighbors’ yards across the street from me cutting between houses then across Hafor Drive and across my east neighbor’s front lawn then down into my backyard. I assume his motor bike hit a protruding root beside my house which caused it to flip because the police car then hit him after it hit my pear tree.

   So what’s new with you?

John

 

Man accused of robbing bank in I.C.

 

 

By Gregg Hennigan

 

The Gazette

 

IOWA CITY - A suspect in the armed robbery of an Iowa City bank Monday led officers on an hourlong chase by motorcycle and foot before being apprehended.

 

Eric Martin, 34, of 1656 W. 42nd St. in Davenport, faces charges of first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm as a felon, interference with official acts with a weapon, carrying weapons and eluding.

 

Law enforcement was called at 9:32 a.m. for a report of an armed robbery at Hills Bank and Trust Co., 1401 S. Gilbert St.

 

Police said a man wearing dark clothing entered the bank armed with a handgun and demanded cash from the tellers.

 

After an undisclosed amount of money was put in a backpack, he left on an off-road motorcycle.

 

Nearby Johnson County sheriff's deputies pursued the motorcycle into Benton Hill Park. Officers from several other agencies set up a perimeter, and a team entered the area and found Martin in a wooded area behind the 1100 block of Weeber Circle, which is northwest of the Lodge apartment complex off Highway 1.

 

Martin again fled on his motorcycle, then fled on foot when the motorcycle collided with a marked squad car, police said. He was apprehended a short time later in the 1900 block of Woodberry Court, near Willow Creek Park, after a brief struggle, police said.

 

Martin was treated and released from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for minor injuries. A news release said he was being held in the Johnson County Jail on a $38,000 bond, but the jail said he had not been booked as of 5:10 p.m.

 

Two Iowa City police officers suffered minor injuries while arresting Martin. No bank employees or other civilians were injured, police said.

 

The Iowa City Police Department and the FBI are continuing to investigate the robbery, 'including determination of Martin's involvement in three previous Iowa City bank robberies,' according to the news release. A police official did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

 

The U.S. Bank at 2312 Mormon Trek Blvd.

 

was robbed in February and November, and the MidWestOne Bank at 2233 Rochester Ave. was robbed in December. All three of those incidents occurred after 5 p.m. on Fridays.

 

Monday's robbery led to lockdowns at eight Iowa City school district schools for about one hour, and parents were notified with a recorded phone call. The University of Iowa also sent out an alert on its system.

4-24-12

Potty Training: Day Who Knows

I picked up Zach from Kidz Kabana today around 11:15 after I got done at the gym.  Zach was in the bathroom washing his hands. Miss Stephanie said he did great with potty training today. She also shared that Zach has actually been sitting on the toilet to potty for some time . . . as it sounded good to him. That rascal. Tonight he would not potty before his bath, but he didn't hesitate to take a leak in the tub.  He is such an operator.  I wouldn't be surprised if he is running a gambling wring from his Little Tikes car bed.

Speaking of Little Tikes,  Zach and I drove to Belton today to buy a Little Tikes climber with slide. It was a fabulous deal!  It is in really good condition for half the price of some of the other ones for sale on Craig's List. On the way, I say, "Look Zach. We are in a town named Grandview."  He said, "Yuck."  and a few other choice words like icky and poopie, but I was laughing so he got away with it.  Then we drove past a trailer park and he said, "Look! Broken stuff!"  The neighborhood with the playset was nice. The gal, probably my age, operated a childcare from her house. Their cars had KU stuff on them, so I figured they were ok. They had 2 Labradoodles (my dream dog)! It was fun.

Mike got home from work before Zach awoke from his nap. So we set it up near his tree house for a surprise. I told him the Easter Bunny did it. He had a good time climbing and sliding on it. I want to find something to put on the ground under it to make it a little softer, like wood chips.

My manager is going to cross-train me to work in the ICU at St. Mary's. It will be great to be able to try it out.  I am excited to learn about the gizmos. Then I got a certificate for cookies for being the first person to notice that one lady that had a stroke, even though she'd been there a week and had the stroke years before. It is neat that they are so happy that we called the stroke team.  Also, this goes against my personal trainer's advice, but St. Mary's has the BEST chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy.

4-22-12

Potty Training: Day one

Pottied like Daddy x 2. Pottied in pants x 3.  Wet pants are not a problem for Zach. Who needs dry pants when you are having fun? Mommie got pull-ups, which we are trying to pretend are underwear, but Zach is not fooled.  Diapers still at night.