Jack went to the New Albany Fire House to meet santa, do crafts, and donate a toy to another boy in need.
Jack liked Sparky
Jack liked the trucks
Jack didn't like Santa
Archive for Our Family
The Green Choice: Real or Artificial Christmas Tree?
Welcome to the weekly series, Growing up Green. This will be your eco-friendly stop for green, all-natural, toxin and chemical free tips for your family. Learn simple and meaningful ways to make your children’s environment a little safer for their health and the earth.__________________________________________________________
Image from apartment therapy
This has been a long time debate with strong supporters on both sides. There are pro’s and con’s to both real and artificial trees but after breaking down the data there becomes a clear Green Star.
Artificial Christmas Tree
Green:
- 1 tree last for years, on average 6-9 years
- Savings on gas to and from tree farms yearly
UnGreen:
- Most trees are petrolium-based and are made of plastics, including toxic and non-biodegradeable PVC and metals
- They will therefore sit in landfills for hundreds of years
- Older trees may contain lead.
- Significant resources are required to provide energy for factories to produce artificial trees
- 85% of artificial trees are made in China according to the National Christmas Tree Association
Real Christmas Tree
Green:
- Real trees do not cause deforestation, most come from tree farms
- Tree farms provide natural habitat to animals
- Tree farms absorb CO2 and emmit fresh oxygen.
- Christmas trees in the US provide enought oxygen for 18 million people daily – wow!
- Tree farms help prevent erosion
- Real trees can be treecycled into mulch for your garden, learn more about treecycling here. Find a location near you here. In Columbus, Ohio bring your tree to SWACO for drop off. Contact here or here for pick up. If you would like to take home the mulch from your tree try Kurtz Brothers.
UnGreen:
- Gas required driving to the tree farm each year
- The use of pesticides and herbicides on the trees (except on organic farms)
- Trees purchased in areas that cannot grow them, where the tree must travel a distance to make it to the tree lot (however travel from state to state uses less resources than traveling overseas)
The Green star goes to….. the real tree! Read about different types of trees available and care for your tree. Also check out these top 10 Christmas Tree myths.
Family History
My family has had a long tradition of cutting down our own tree. As a child we went the day after Thanksgiving 45 minutes down the road to a tree farm. We hunted for the perfect family tree. I usually wanted the largest tree possible with long, soft needles, such as the white pine. My mother usually went for a smaller fir tree with short, strong, and stiff needles. We have alternated over the years through different types. I enjoyed watching my dad cut down our special tree. My dad took out the back bench of our van and sometimes let my sisters and I sit in the back with the tree (probably not the safest idea, but we thought it was soo cool at the time). We kept the tree outside for a few weeks before brining it in to decorate. My dad played Christmas music and made popcorn while decorating the tree. Eggnog and hot chocolate were often part of the event. My mom always did the lights and we all helped with the ornaments. It was a fun family tradition.
The Next Generation
Family Fun
Last weekend we headed 20 miles to Homestead Farm in Alexandria, Ohio. We had such a positive experience last year that it was a no-brainer to head back to the same farm this year and hopefully many years to come. Jack thoroughly enjoyed the tractor ride to the field. Tractors and trucks are very exciting to Jack. We enjoyed a pleasantly sunny and warm day and plenty of trees to choose from. We found a winner right away but explored the field for a while to enjoy the fresh air before heading back to the barn. We chose a 7ft white pine; perfect for the spot we planed for it in our home. Its amazing how much smaller the trees look outside compared to in the house! 
The winner
Tractor Ride
After the tractor ride back to the barn we enjoyed a warm cup of hot chocolate and cozy fire. We brought our tree home and put it in water immediately at the recommendation of the staff at Homestead. It guzzled quite a bit the first few hours then slowed. Jacked helped mom put the lights on and Dad helped with the ornaments. Jack tried to take off the ornaments as fast as we put them on. There are an unusually large amount of ornaments on the top of our tree with a desolate base. Ever time Jack takes one off we place it up higher. And of course we played Christmas and burned a fire while we worked! I can’t wait to see Jack’s face light up when he sees our tree on Christmas morning! I think it will probably be even more exciting and rewarding than experiencing it as a child myself. Read more about American Tree Farms
Homestead
Find a farm near you to cut down your Christmas tree in Ohio
Trivia: Who developed the first artifical christmas tree in 1930? Answer
Wordless Wednesday
Smiling Happy Todler!
Jack loves to find our phones or camera and say “my-you” aka smile
A Lion’s Halloween
Happy lion
Jack does such a great ROAR that we thought he’d make the cutest lion for Halloween. We found a warm and comfy costume at Once Upon A Child for $6. I was pleasantly surprised that he didn’t mind the Lion hood at all.
He dressed up for a Halloween picnic party at the park with his play group on Tuesday. I had to draw a lion face on daddy in order to get Jack to sit still for his lion face. Many moms brought yummy, festive treats to the party. It was cute to see all of the kiddo’s dressed up on the playground. We had planned to attend a Trunk or Treat at a patient’s church on wed but we were all pooped after a crazy day at work so we opted out.
2 Lions
Looking for a Cook (cookie)
Having fun
Thursday was Trick or Treat in New Albany. We went to the neighborhood of Mac, our business coach, and his family. Jack tried to keep up with their 6 year old, Sophia but she was on a candy mission. We walked around the neighborhood for a bit then helped Mac hand out candy. Afterwards we went inside and warmed up by the fire with some tasty red wine. Sophia enjoyed babysitting Jack in her play room.
cutest lion
Jack actually sat still for a group photo
Saturday, we made a spur of the moment call to my mom and learned it was Trick or Treat in my home town that night. We decided to surprise my dad and drove up their way with Jack’s costume ready to go. We figured he was such a cute lion we should show him off to as many family and friends as possible (yes, I’m a biased mom). We let Jack walk up to Papa, waiting for trick or treaters. He jumped with joy when he saw Jack in the driveway. Jack did a great job helping Papa hand out candy. Greg also enjoyed the experience since he grew up in the country and never had trick or treaters come to his door. Mamma took lots of Jack photos and made us a yummy pumpkin pie – my favorite!
Mamma keeps Jack out of the street
Jack & Papa ready for the kids
on Papa's AJ Hawk Chair
A good helper
Jack in the Pumpkin Patch
Mommy steals a Kiss!
We took Jack to the pumpkin patch this year at Lynd’s Fruit Farm. Last year Jack was just 8 months so this was his first time exploring the pumpkin patch on foot. He was not interested in the pumpkins what so ever!!! He was interested in running in every direction as fast as he could. His body couldn’t keep up with his feet and he did a few nose dives into the ground but it didn’t seem to phase him one bit. Boys! He is really catching on how to ware mom and dad out as much as possible! I think we all got a good workout in at the pumpkin patch! We did come away with a nice pumpkin though, chose by mom and dad. You will see in the photos below, Jack running all over with not a glance at a pumpkin! He did have a good time!
Running
Running
Rocks, more intereting than Pumpkins
Can dad interest Jack in a Pumpkin?
Checking out the Pumpkin
Later tonight (hopefully)… A Lion’s Halloween, stay tuned!
To The Lake
Digging in the sand
Last week Jack and I returned from vacation in Traverse City, Michigan where several relatives have cottages on Lake Leelanau. My mom, Greg’s mom, Doris and his sister, Lindsay came with us. Also taking the trip was Greg’s Brother, Mike, his wife, Becky, and their 2 children Clareese (5) and Weston (3). We had the privilege of riding in Doris’s brand new, “Cash for Clunkers” mini van. Mike and Becky followed in their car. The drive went much better this year than last. Jack slept, talked, played and danced in his seat. I think facing forward and being a year older made a big difference.
We arrived last Monday evening
Jack, Reese, Wes
and all of the kids jumped out of the car and went straight for the beach! They dug in the sand and waded in the water, not time for putting on bathing suits either! It was a lot of fun to see Jack enjoy the lake, last year he wasn’t too thrilled with being wet and wasn’t too interested in the sand either. I also enjoy bring new family and friends to the cottage and watching them experience the place I have enjoyed every summer of my life (except 2007).
Jack & Reese
Refreshing, clear water
It was great to see grandma and grandpa and uncle Jimmy (my mom’s family). I was so pleased that grandpa was doing so well. He had his leg amputated 2 years ago and he did alright last year at the cabin but this year he looked fantastic. His buddy Jim Gothier took him out fishing nearly every day and he was living it up! I’m so glad he has such a loyal and giving friend. I also visited with Aunt Gail and Cousin Ashley. They enjoyed seeing Jack.
so Cute
Ready for a boat ride
Jack's 1st Boat Ride
Each day we were there I took Jack out in the lake water and we played in the sand. He really like throwing rocks in the lake and twirling circles in his raft. Reese and Wes seemed to enjoy it too. Reese collected some Petoskey rocks, native to Lake Michigan for her show and tell in school.
Gettin Dirty
Happiness
Reese & Jack
We had dinner each night with the whole family. Jack and I brought veggies from our garden at home (lettuce, beets, carrots, swiss chard, cucumbers, and squash) to contribute to the meals. Grandma cooked some yummy dishes with them and I made a mental note of some of her recipes so I can make them for Greg! In the evenings we either had a camp fire and smores or watched “So You Think You Can Dance” and “America’s Got Talent”.
Enjoying the Lake
Fun in the shade
We took a few trips into the towns of Leland and Suttons Bay for some shopping and to check out the marinas. I enjoy looking at the large fishing boats. Overall it was a great trip, except for the fact that Greg couldn’t make it.
Aunt Lindsay
Grandma's Cottage
Check us out on our CBS local news
Jack, Greg and I were interviewed by Columbus 10tv about raising our baby Green. Click to watch! Look for “Green Baby Products” on the left.
Wigs, Hops & Shower
We had a busy, interesting, and fun weekend. It started off on Saturday with Daddy and Jack playing at home while JamieLee and I went to an event 
for work, Relay for Life, sponsored by The American Cancer Society in Newark, Ohio, about 30 min. from New Albany. It was a perfect sunny, warm afternoon. I was glad to be outside. The event was for a great cause, raising money for Cancer Research. JamieLee and I were there to offer stretching and myofascial treatment to the participants and to meet people and get Ohio Family & Sports Chiropractic out in the community. 
Wigs for Women
The vendor next to us was a Newark hair salon offering free hair cuts and donations to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths, a program to donate your hair for wigs made for cancer patients. Pantene partnered with several sponsors to offer “ Wigs Helping Women,” free wigs for cancer patients. They need 8″ for a ponytail and 6 ponytails make a wig. Find out how to donate here. I saw many women of all ages throughoutut the afternoon visiting the hair salon table and donating. It was moving and inspiring to see young teenagers scared to death to get their hair chopped but doing it proudly. This reminded me of my OSU Rowing teammate Amanda who used to do this regularly with Locks of Love(which I learned charges for their wigs). I also kept looking down at my very long ponytail and felt pretty embarrassed standing there while so many others donated with much shorter hair than me. I contemplated throughout the event “should I? Shouldn’t I? Should I?” In the end I thought, why not! I thought it’s probably something I should do sometime in my life, especially with my family history of cancer, and I really did need a hair cut. Afterwards I felt good that I contributed to a wig that will hopefully make someones day!
Here goes nothin...
That's a lot of hair!
Still plenty of hair left
Hopin’ Gallery Hop
Saturday evening JamieLee and I went to the Gallery Hop in the Short North. I told JamieLee about the monthly Gallery Hop a while ago, thinking it was a fun event to represent a little bit of Columbus to this California native. Finally the scheduling worked out and we made it to the hop! This was only my second time, my first being my freshman year at Ohio State. We grabbed dinner at one of my favorites, The Northstar Cafe, then headed downtown. We saw many beautiful gallery’s and jewelry stands. There was a cool store called Tiger Tree which sells many products made by recycled children’s books. I really liked their blue polka dot shoes! I also liked their reusable shopping bags which could be folded into a pock-sized pouch. I enjoyed the numerous ethnic stores, the girl on stilts, a wine tasting, and the plethora of local bands, including a drum-line. JamieLee really liked the LARGE girl belly dancing who fortunately I did not see, and the toothpick girl. Check out her take on the night at her blog Calie and Me .
Shower Baby Shower
Sunday I went to my good rowing friend Heather (aka Feldmann) Strang’s baby shower. I am really excited for my friend, who with her husband, helped Greg and I meet for the first time back in college. Heather was looking beautiful and I hope she has a wonderful birthing experience. 
I also visited with a few other college friends who were there. At the shower there were some tasty treats and a few traditional baby shower games, which I am never good at.
After the shower I picked up Greg and Jack to head to the Prenger homestead for a multi-birthday Celebration. Most of Greg’s family have their birthdays in June (and February). Grandma and the kids thought it would be fun to ride around in the wheel barrel.
It was a tireing but fun and fulfilling weekend.
