Safety Town in the Clouse House

So this past Tuesday Pat and I had our "walk-through" of our house to become Foster Parents. I went into OCD mode the week prior and cleaned the house top to bottom. I was so stressed over the fact that a complete stranger was going to come into our home and analyze the way we lived. She was going to tell us what needed to be fixed and what was ok.

I made due with what we could fix, what I could clean, and what I would be able to accept. To be honest I wanted to put the house in a bubble and wrap the entire contents of it in bubble wrap! Well that wasn't going to happen so I did what I could and....we passed!!!! We passed with flying colors! Our contact through the foundation made notes while she walked around, made little comments about our "safety" features, and filled out our check off list. During the walk-through she was so impressed that she wanted to pick up a few things for her own home and add some things to the check-off list for future foster homes.

I was so happy when she told us she had never seen a home so ready like ours. She even told us she wanted to expedite our application. She told us we were the poster family for their foundation and she couldn't wait to place us.

So after the walk-through I took a few pictures to show all of you a couple of safety features we added to the Clouse House. The above picture is of our stove. Awesome invention. I no longer have a fear of bumping our gas oven and accidentally moving one of the burner's on.


In every single electrical outlet we have plugs!



My old office has been transformed into a playroom. These kids are set! We have a little TV, a V-Smart, blocks, books, and a little table to do arts and crafts :)



Our laundry room. This was a huge concern for me since this is where we kept a majority of our cleaning supplies. Pat came to the rescue and installed shelves above our washer. The cleaning supplies are now out of reach...even to me!

One Step Closer

Well tonight was a very important night for us. We are one step closer to becoming Foster Parents.

Pat and I hope that all of our family and friends will be there to support us through this journey. We want to provide the children that are placed with us a loving home that is filled with support, love, care, and security. We hope you will join us on this journey and path we have decided to take.

Love,
Laura & Pat

Speed Racer!

This past weekend Pat was down in Dayton, Ohio with his dad for Ham Fest (this is a whole other blog in itself). Well the grass was getting long and I thought I would mow before he got home. I soon realized that I couldn't find the key so after talking to Pat I found out the key to the barn where the mower was is on his key chain down in Dayton. So I got out of mowing :)

By the time Pat came home Sunday afternoon we had a mini amazon growing on the property. I decided since he just drove 4 hrs to come home I would mow the yard.

I have to share with you that I am not allowed to mow the lawn without prior approval from Pat due to my past experiences with the lawn mower. I've had several accidents while mowing the lawn and Pat prefers to do it himself. Just to give you an idea of some of the accidents I've had here they are :)
1. I started a fire in the back yard and stalled the lawn mower over it.
2. I started a fire in the field next to the house and left the lawn mower over it.
3. I broke the belt.
4. I broke the belt.
5. I broke the belt.
6. I hit the fence post.
7. I dented the front of the mower.
8. Blew out the front right tire.
9. Got a nasty burn down my arm from the steering wheel when I flew off of it.
10. I shoot out giant balls of flames when ever I stall the mower.
11. The latest..... I ran over and killed a bird.

Before you come to the conclusion that I shouldn't be driving this mower and side with Pat I have to share with you that this is not your ordinary lawn mower. This thing is a machine! Pat has done something to it, what I'm not quite sure yet but this thing isn't normal. It halls butt, its completely out of control! It speeds through the yard and when you push on the gas you are victim waiting for whiplash! It even has Toyota HID lights installed. (the ones for your car). You can mow the yard at 1am and see everything.

So back to the purpose of my post. I ran over and killed a poor bird! How the heck is it possible on a lawn mower? Im just so taken back by the whole thing. RIP poor bird, I would have burried you and had a special ceremony but all we could find was your beak and a few feathers thanks to the extra sharp blades Pat has on there that even cut cement.

Cali day 4

Today we drove out to Duarte where I was born and raised. Rachel and Rami and their 2 little ones...Sydney and Blake drove out from Vegas to visit. Rachel and I have been friends since 1st grade. We were 6 years old. WOW 24 years ago we became friends. Rachel and I were inseparable! I love how through out the years when we get together it feels like just yesterday we were going to school and just being young enjoying life. Above Im pictured with Sydney.


Here is Rami and Blake.



1001 Cotter Avenue. The very first place I lived. I loved this house and the neighborhood. It was so strange going back. Everything seemed so much bigger when I was little!



Our second house. Markwood Street. We moved out to MI from this house. Ugh.
I remember being able to pick up all the neighbors phone calls on our cordless phone at this house. Rachel and I knew just where to stand in the yard for each neighbor :)


Duarte High School. This is where I went to school.



After our trip out to Duarte we stopped by George's. Above he is praying that I dont wreck the hotrod he worships.


Hi Ry!

Ryan is a little bitter, he wouldn't look at the pictures of me in the hotrod. Im sorry Ryan. But I do have to admit that it was fun!

Me, Rachel, & Rami



Just the girls, just for Sydney :)

Cali trip day 3

Day 3, May 10th
My dad and I went to Catalina Island...no it is not where they make Catalina Dressing but it is a beautiful island of the coast of Southern California. We go on the boat and took the hour long ride over. I saw dolphins and seals swimming along side of the boat and had the wonderful sound of the little girl puking into a diaper bag behind me. I felt so bad for her. My only memory of Catalina Island as a little girl was getting sea sick and having to stay outside in the freezing cold. She was such a trooper.

Here it is the boat we took over to the island.


Catalina Island is such a beautiful place to visit. The water is so clear, and there are several little shops along the waterfront to get your tacky tourist gifts. I of course had to pick up a magnet to add to our fridge.


We rented a golf cart and took it up along the mountain. It was beautiful!

Cali trip day 2

Day 2...May 9th
Today we went to Hollywood Blvd. I have to first start off by explaining to all of our followers. Since Pat and I got married we have tried to start a family. Many of you know, many of you don't know but we have gone through several ups and downs throughout the process. Without any luck we turned to fertility specialists. They have diagnosed us with "Unexplained Infertility". We have gone through several months of fertility meds which include injections that I give to myself certain days, several doctor appointments and of course the ups and downs of hope and then reality. Through our journey I came across in a magazine the African Fertility Statues. I read about them and saw that over 2,000 women with "unexplained infertility" became pregnant after touching them. What are the chances! Oh how I wish I could see those I thought to myself. So time passed and I planned my trip to CA. On a whim I looked the statues up one day and saw that the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum had them on tour. No Way!!! Where? When? So I did some investigating. They were going to be delivered in Hollywood the day I flew in!!!! So I got a hold of my dad and told him this was top priority on our list of things to do! So we went to Hollywood!

Here they are! I will spare you all the pictures of me basically molesting the statues.

After we went to the statues we headed down Hollywood Ave and headed over to the famous stars cemetary. It was kind of weird but I got to see where Marilyn Monroe was burried.


After Hollywood we drove down the coast through Malibu and headed over to Joyce & Ruebens. Here I am with Uncle Bob.


Rueben
Boy does he love his picture taken, especially with the females :)


Here I am with Joyce.
Both Rueben and Joyce were the same as I last saw them and remembered them. Oh how I miss them but when I am there I feel like I never moved to Michigan and saw them just yesterday.

May 8th

3:30am my alarm started to go off and I knew my vacation had started! Woohoo!!

Poor Pat got up and drove me to the airport and I got off without any problems...well a short delay in security when the security guard told me my ziplock freezer bag was too big and he would have to throw away all of my items. My shampoo and lotions! Are you serious! The guy looked at me and told me I was lucky I caught him on a good day and it was too early to deal with travelers. I of course responded back that he was lucky I was still half asleep and too tired to argue! He let me through the gates and I was off too Texas.

Once I landed in Texas I had an hour lay over. Well that hour turned into 2 and they had to bring in a new plane from the hanger because the one we were going to get on was having "electrical problems". Glad they found out then instead of up in the air!

I landed in Ontario, CA and had a minor heart attack merging onto the 10 freeway. Another while getting onto the 15. Does anyone out there use their turn signals? I know the brake shops arent feeling the crunch of the economy out in CA!

Once I got to my dad's in Temecula we headed straight to the Green Burrito. I hate to say it but I was not impressed. La Familia Restaurant in Ypsi has them beat!


It was my Uncle Pete's Birthday so we headed down to the Swing Inn to visit with the car group and celebrate his birthday.









Here I am with Jean & my Uncle Pete.

There was a running joke for poor Gerry and his musical talent. Well of course boys will be boys and they turned it around and gave him a start like they have on the Hollywood walk of fame. Go Gerry!









During my visit I won the hearts of all of the guys in the car group and I became an "official" member for the picture. Eat your heart out Ry!