That’s what Silas says when he wants you to push him on the swing. And Brian tries his best to oblige him.
Extreme swinging!
project paint
24
Jul
Yesterday I painted our main level half-bath!
When we bought our house, the whole interior was painted with an ivory color, which is okay, but not our first choice. We haven’t painted any walls since we moved in two years ago, so I figured it was time we paint something.
We used the color Stone Hearth by Behr paint.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I thought the lights looked really cool against a dark wall.
That’s it! It was more work than I thought it’d be, because in the bathroom there are so many things to tape and paint around, but it was worth it! Looking forward to our next project, which will probably be Silas’ room.
norma’s computer woes
23
Jul
Spyware dudes are sure getting more creative. Norma informed me last week that her computer had been infected when she got on twitter. She was getting some unwanted content on her computer and asked me to take a look at it.
When I got to her house, her pc and username was pretty messed up. Here are a few of the tricks the spyware guys had wreaked on her computer:
1. Access to task manager denied by administrator (cute)
2. Rundll32.exe hijacked (bad, bad news)
3. Tons of browser toolbars added.
4. Windows Security Center disabled.
5. Fake Windows Security Center alerts constantly popping up telling her she needed spyware protection (day late, dollar short).
6. This is my favorite, her google search and dns was being hijacked. Any request I made for SpyBot (my favorite spyware removal tool), AVG Free, or FireFox, was redirected to sites the spyware authors obviously wanted… they looked sorta like the real sites, but it just linked you to more spyware!
I got a clue to #6 when Norma originally claimed she probably got infected on Twitter, because Twitter had links to movies and stuff. I told her, “… Twitter doesn’t have movies.” They even redirected requests for Twitter to their bogus sites! So, her computer had obviously been infected before she even tried to find twitter.
Fixing it was no easy issue. I had to get spybot and avg without using the dns… in Safe Mode. I then cleaned up her computer, but it totally trashed her user account (rundll32.exe was so badly messed up it had to be removed). I set her up a new account, and that seemed to work ok.
The guys that write this garbage should be locked up. Then give them a key to the cell that looks exactly like the real key, that makes a sound like the door is unlocking when you turn it… that ultimately does nothing.
awesome aeros
17
Jul
Yesterday we took the kids to see an Akron Aeros vs Erie SeaWolves baseball game. The reason we originally planned this was so Silas could see fireworks, because we missed them on July 4th weekend. We were cheering for the Akron Aeros, and they won 8-1.
Akron Aeros at bat.
Erie Seawolves pitching.
Brian and Silas enjoying the game. Silas is too cool to smile. He peed for the first time in a urinal at this game!
Brianna and I having a blast!
summer biking spontaneity
10
Jul
We decided to bike through a trail in a place called Deep Lock Quarry in Peninsula, Ohio today. We went there, but didn’t end up going to the quarry, but to the paths that joined up to it, which were a lot longer. The signs also said that bikers can only ride on paved pathways, and the quarry path was dirt. So, maybe we’ll go walking there some time!
I need to tighten my helmet…it’s kind of lopsided…
The bike ride was really fun, and had beautiful scenery. The only problem is that at the end we had to bike up a pretty steep hill, and we did it without stopping, so we were both really tired at the end! Also, today, for the very first time in his life, Silas peed in the woods! He was quite proud of himself!
Here’s a video of us before, during and after our exhausting bike ride today! Some of the clips are lower quality, because when I would video while riding, I would accidentally switch into compact mode, and I didn’t always realize it. Anyway, here it is!
P.S. Not sure why Silas had his DS with him, but that was silly.
july 5th
06
Jul
Since July 4th fell on a Sunday this year, it was observed by some businesses on July 5th, which is today. So, Brian was home with us, and we did a few fun things together!
The kids in their pool today.
Brian and Silas at the park, with the fire we built!
The kids and I at our little picnic area. We were making smores. Brianna liked licking the marshmallows.
Brianna is walking all the time now!
Brian and I!
We were going to see some fireworks in the evening, and we went, and there were quite a few other people there, but the date was wrong on the website we all saw it on, and there were no fireworks!
We had an awesome day, though! Looking forward to many more fun summer adventures!
independence day
05
Jul
For July 4th this year, we had a little cookout at our house, after which we relaxed outside while Silas played in the little pool, and then we all played a game of Scattergories.
Unfortunately I forgot to take many pictures!
The cupcakes I made, in honor of Canada Day and Independence Day. I even made one in honor of Obama! Am I hip or what?
g!
The inside of the cupcakes.
Brianna after eating a cupcake with blue frosting!
Setting up the little pool for the kids.
We had a fun July 4th, and today, July 5th, will also be fun, because Brian is off! We have a few things we plan on doing with the kids. Should be a blast!
silly spectacles
23
Jun
Brianna had a really cute pair of sunglasses, but earlier this year, she rubbed them on the driveway, which scratched up the lenses. So, I popped out the lenses and they are now “play glasses”!
Silas and Brianna playing with the toys in the toy box.
Briana left the glasses on her face for a long time. Her eyes are kind of big, so when she blinks, it almost looks like the whole lens is blinking, like a cartoon! It’s so cute!
pro football hall of fame
21
Jun
On Saturday we went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, with Brian’s parents and Sam & Kim and their kids. It was very interesting! Here are a few pics:
Brian’s Dad and his three eldest grandsons.
Brianna and Brian checking out some of the vintage football stuff.
Paul and Silas listening to one of the telephone stations in the retro area, where you can listen to football stuff.
There were other cool exhibits, as well as a really neat theater-type one, where you could get an idea what it’s like to be a football player in the Super Bowl.
Later we went to see President McKinley’s memorial. He’s one of the presidents that was assassinated. Here’s Silas with the memorial grounds behind him. I didn’t get a pic of the actual building though.
After that, we went out to eat, then back to Brian’s parents where the kids played outside with waterguns, then we went for icecream, and then to a playground where we all played on the playground and swung on the swings.
Then we went home. At this point, Silas was extraordinarily tired and hyper.
Here’s a video of Silas, playing with one of Brianna’s dolls, on the way home. He was doing this a lot more, before he saw me videoing 
