Shower saga continues and new glasses!

If you read this post, then you know about our shower troubles and how we thought they were over! Well, that fix only lasted humm, about 1 week. The water pressure was still great, we were now just having other troubles.... like the hot water would not turn off! {Yeah that's cost effective! :p} So, on Monday, Troy took it apart again and found that it needed new "O" rings. Off to the hardware store we head and, viola it's fixed! Until Wednesday at 6:30 AM when Cody is ready to hop in. He comes in my room to inform me that there is now NO hot water in the shower! Poor kid ended up taking a spit bath in the sink! Then Troy comes home a little after 7 AM, I tell him about the new shower problem, but he's in need of a nap before he can tackle it. Around noon he gets up to watch the kids so I can go to centers in Robby's class. He takes the mixing valve apart yet again. Turns out the new "O" ring slipped off and blocked all the water! {How can something so small block the flow of the water?} Great! easy fix we had hot water! He takes his shower and tells me I might also want to ... just in case, right. OK, works great for me, so when Cody comes home we tell him he might want to jump in while it's still working..... Cody gets in and ...poor kid has the worst luck... again NO hot water! By this point Troy is starting to get a bit irritated. We figure we're going to need to replace the whole thing, so he calls the plumbing company and requests a call this evening. No one calls, of course. By Wednesday night, he's decided with a little help, he should be able to replace the fixtures and soldier the pipes. {I'm not quite as confidant as he's not done much if any soldiering, but OK whatever I just want to be able to take a shower!} Thursday, bright and early he gets to work on it. He ends up having to cut a larger hole in the wall because the one left by the previous owner was not big enough to reach all of the pipes. {There's nothing like lath-n-plaster backed with dry-wall!} His help arrives at 9:30 AM and they really get to work. I went to play group at 10 AM until about 1 PM. The project was finished around 4:30 PM! After one stubborn pipe just refused to soldier finally held on! The bathroom gets all put back together and I get the maiden voyage .. the pressure is wonderful and hot to cold ratio is great! Troy takes his shower and aside of the fact I used all the hot water {how could I have done that I'm sure I only took a 10 min shower....... :)} Kyle's mom comes to get him and asks if we know we have water on the floor! WHAT!? So, guess who calls -- that's right the plumber! Oh well, too late, we got it under control! The big girls and I went to a baby shower after dinner and Troy and Cody checked out things. After they fixed 2 more leaks and changed out the connecting pipe to the faucet, ran a bead of caulk round everything, it appears that we have NO more leaks! Thank the powers that be! A good strong warm shower and NO leaks! :)

On to another note, Savanna has joined the glasses club! She is so excited to be able to see clearly.

Another installment of Scottisims and Emily update

He comes running up to me...

Scott: "It hurts really really bad!"

Mom: "Do you want me to kiss it?"

Scott: "No, it's not gonna work!It hurts! Mom, you know what? The skin got off, yeah it did!"

Guess it was better cause he went away.

Scott: "Can we go to the park today and go sliding? Is it 100 degrees?"

Mom: "No, it's not 100."

Scott: "But how many is it? I don't know!"

Mom: "I don't know either... looks like 10 degrees!

Scott: "Is that warm?"

Said to me while playing the Wii: "My feet muscles and my butt muscles and my leg muscles and my arm muscles are flopping!"

Mom: "It's time for bed, you've already been read to, kissed, hugged, tucked in and given the flashlight, so go to bed!

While doing his little head shaking body movin' attitude Scott responds with: "Yeah, well I don't want to go to bed, cause I don't!"

{The first picture yeah, he totally posed that for me! The second and third were taken by Shantel with her camera.}

Emily is up to 3 lbs 4 ozs! She's such a trooper!

52 Weeks of Blessings -- week 8-- Baptism

This week I'm thankful for the blessing of baptism.....Today Robby and his buddy were baptized. Robby said, "Today is the best day of my life! I'm gonna remember this day forever!"
Saturday was also a special day for Shantel, it was her first Temple trip. Took these shots of the kids afterwards. Shantel went home and wrote 5 pages in her journal about her first Temple trip. I think it was a good day. She also said that it was a day she would never forget! This was Cody's 3rd Temple trip.Sibling love?!

What kind of blogger are you? and other fun things

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

I SO want to visit Ireland!

Your Hidden Talent

You have the power to persuade and influence others. You're the type of person who can turn a whole room around. The potential for great leadership is there, as long as you don't abuse it. Always remember, you have a lot more power over people than you might think!

What's Your Hidden Talent?

Shantel got better results than I did!

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb - Collage - Morph

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family tree template - Pedigree
Thought it would be fun to do Robby too! He thought it was funny:)

Vacuum Salesmen

So how many of you have had one of these Vac Salesmen come to your door? I think 6 or 7 months ago The Kirby guys were working the area. They find ways to get in the door, you know their tricks! You'll be entered to win something if they can just take a few minutes of your time and show ya their vac. So they came when we were getting ready for dinner I brushed them off. They came back and the kids let the salesmen in! I was frustrated! I couldn't convince the guy to leave! Finally Troy came home and he got the point that we were not buying. We had recently purchased a Oreck. We are happy with our Oreck. It's light weight unlike the Kirby.

Well, round here we have something called GATE {Glendive Agri-Trade Exposition}, it is mostly an agriculture show with booths and such. The booths all have sign-ups to win this or that. So we went to GATE a few weeks ago and signed up for all sorts of stuff -- I mean who doesn't want to win, right. The other night a guy calls and says that my husband was selected for a prize, we just had to listen to a short demonstration for their air cleaner. OK whatever, so I say the guy can come by. It's the Rainbow Vac salesman. He gives us his "short" 1 1/2 hour demonstration and we do our best to convince him that we are not willing to buy a $2,300 vacuum right then. He of course calls his boss and works out a "one time only deal" we still tell the guy it's just not something we can fit into our limited budget. We were impressed with the vac, but come on! Even $1,900 is not something I can just come up with ... but there are, of course, payment plans for $190 down and only $54 a month for the next 3 years! If it was a car, then OK, but a vac! We told the guy that it would be something to consider when we have our debt payed off and we have saved the money. People don't like it when you would prefer to save up and pay cash! makes them grumpy. During the presentation, he filters the dust and traps it so he can show us how wonderfully the Rainbow picks up the dirt and dust out of the carpet or couch. He sets these nasty things on the floor -ya know for visual reminders. At one point, he does the vac comparison {remember we have an Oreck}, where you go get your vac and he shows you why yours sucks, well it sorta backfired on him as he went to show us how much dust gets back out into the air just by turning it on. The guy opened the outer cover to expose the bag and then turned it on, grabbed his spotlight so we could see all the dust flying around. Guess what? We saw maybe 2 or 3 particles fly! So he runs the edge of his light up the bag, to no avail! He then asks if there is even dirt in the bag! Yup, half full! Still nothing. The salesman then turns off our vac and sets it aside. Finally the guy gets it that we are not going to buy, and he starts to pack it up. We get the impression that he's a bit miffed. His nice demeanor left and he left all of his trash you know, the dirt samples on the floor and his paper towels from cleaning off and drying out the vac on my floor! Scott came to get me and said, "that man, he left all the nasty stuff on the floor! Yeah, he did!" We got his business card and plan to make a little call to his boss and let them know just how we felt about his attitude. He also gave me a lovely headache with his air cleaner thing. You can scent the air, which is cool, but not if you put three different scents {first vanilla, then lemon and finally eucalyptus!} in it and leave it on for 1 1/2 hours! My head is still aching! We did get our free gift for listening a set of cheap-o steak knives.
That's my rant for the night!

When is it time to do the laundry?!

When is it time to do the laundry?.... observations, by me
deciding to wash:
♦ When the dirty laundry has covered every square inch of the laundry room, it just might be time to do the laundry!
♦ When every last stitch of clothing is in the laundry room and every occupant of the house is threatening to run around in their birthday suits, it just might be time to do laundry!
♦ When the kids rooms are clean because all their clothes are in the laundry room, it just might be time to do the laundry!
deciding to fold:
♦ When the clean laundry has multiplied and divided until it covers the width and breadth of the: hall, laundry room {or where ever else you may store clean laundry} and it threatens to take over the ENTIRE house, it just might be time to fold!
♦ When every person in the house has had to paw through the clean piled up laundry to find a complete outfit, it just might be time to fold!
♦ When someone calls and says:"would it be alright if I drop by in the next 1/2 hour?", it just might be time to fold!
♦ When you could swear it moved under its own power, it just might be time to wash, dry and fold that laundry!

52 Weeks of Blessings -- week 7-- The Savior

My Savior, my Redeemer, my Lord, my Friend, even Jesus The Christ! There is no greater blessing than that of the Savior of the world! One of my favorite hymns is:
I Believe in Chirst
Bruce R, McConkie
LDS Hymn #132
I believe in Christ; he is my King!
With all my heart to him I'll sing;
I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tounge employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come,
He healed the sick; the dead he raised;
Good works were his; his name be praised.
I believe in Christ; oh, blessed name!
As Mary's Son he came to reign.
'Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ,who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: "Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be."
I believe in Christ -- my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I'll worship him with all my might;
He is the sorce of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.
I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I'll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.

It's like he wrote my testimony too!

Dear Father...
The silence brings me to my knees,
And I begin to pray.
"Dear Father, help me find
Your brighted way."

"Dear Child, come take my hand.
Follow as I speak."

"Oh, Father, help me quench the pain,"

Sweet Child, believe in me.
Trust my simple words,"

"Father, will you always be there?
If I should ever fall?
Will you always love me?"

"Yes, child my hand is alwyas nigh.
My love for you unchanged.
Let my Spirit be your guide."

"Thank you Father,
May I call again?"

"Dear Child, my line is always free.
Please rely on me from morn til eve."

As the silence returns,
And tears begin to fall,
I know He's my friend.

Carrie Flynn 1992

Showers, Highlights, and Hitch-hikers!

We have lived in this house for 3 years and the whole time our shower has been the most pathetic thing on the face of the earth! I'm not kidding! This shower's water pressure was pitiful.... unless you wanted a freezing cold shower, then the pressure was awesome!

This above picture is close to a good day before, pretty difficult to get clean in that stream! Well, yesterday Troy decided to see if there was a repair kit for our faucet..... guess what, for $30 he fixed it and now...

We can shower like the rest of the civilized world! I can not tell you how happy this makes me! :D I told Troy it was the best Valentine's Day gift he could get me! :) Wish he had thought of that about 2 years and 11 months ago! Better late than NEVER!

Yesterday, I highlighted a friend's hair and she returned the favor... My hair is darker than hers, so it didn't get quite as light, but it was a fun afternoon. Such a flattering picture of me, don't you think?! :)

EmmaLece is just hitching a ride!

Spread the Love award

Holly awarded this to all her readers and the creator, Mica at Grab-oodle Soup, of this award said: "I have met so many lovely and very talented ladies here in Blogdom, what more can I do or say to express my humbled heart to each, than to give all my Dearest Readers and Friends a special award filled with Love. So, Spread The Love dear ones, Spread The Love to those you love. Accept my award in which I have specially designed and share it with others. Enjoy the day." I would like to keep up her tradition of passing it along to all those readers of my blog! Enjoy it you ALL deserve it! Please take it and post it with pride! {I want to see it on your blogs in the near future!} :)

Wordless Wednesday -- Stuck on you!

A contest?

G. Parker is having a writing contest in honor of her 200th post. You can click on her name to read about the contest, while I sit here and contemplate my entry!

My Day With The Cat

My Day With The Cat

Have you ever just sat there and thought:

This "Mom Job" is not what I bought?!

Sitting there thinking: THIS is no fun

I don't want to be here, away from the sun!

So just for this minute, this hour, this day

I'll have The Cat over to play!

Today I'll just be 'da bomb'

It's somebody else's turn to be "Mom"!

Dishes and diapers are really NOT fun

Neither are sticky messes and chewing gum!

So tell me, Cat, tell me: What can you do?

That Hat Cat was ready for me

"Oh, I have something, just you wait and see..."

Then that Cat, he did say, "How 'bout a NEW trick?

Oh yes! Let's find out just WHAT makes you tick!

Laundry & housework sit there, you stay.

For I'm having a The Hat Cat over today!

We'll run through the house

And disturb every mouse!

We'll fly kites & and never think twice

Oh, won't that be lovely & nice?!

Huh, what's that you say?

I have bill here to pay?

Oh, No No No, this won't take too long

You bills, get back in that cupboard where you belong!

I'm dancing & playing & singing today

'Cause The Cat has come to play!

Dust Bunnies stay hidden far far away

I'm out with The Hat Cat, just for the day!

We're running & jumping & flying for pay!

Don't I have errands, you ask

Today, I'll not be doing THAT task!

It's snowmen & snow forts in which we will bask.

After-all, this day, it just won't last!

Hurry, come on, Thing Two and Thing One

We've got SO much more to get done!

Yes, sand castles, bike rides & mud pies

Swimming & hiking & top-secret spies!

Mountains to climb, crossing bridges that sway!

For The Cat, just HOW long can he stay?

Dinner & homework here in a rush?

Oh, what's that? You hear the school bus?

Come, Cat grab these Things & hide us away!

Lock us up tight in the box with the hook

No, don't you dare take a second look!

Hurry, now hurry, before they come in

"My time is all up. Oh, what a time it has been!"

Said that Hat Cat with a sad kind of laugh

"It's almost time to be checking spelling and math!

Now, now this just won't do...

I'll not have any of THAT, from you!

I've been here, I've come

And we've had us some fun!

You, hold tight to the hands right here beside you

They'll show YOU, just what you should do!

Take a moment or two, yes, just that!

And remember..... you heard it....

Straight from The Cat!

Carrie Flynn Keiser

Feb 11, 2008

© 2008 (do not copy with out my permission!)

Snow Fun! and an Update on Emily Rose

Tried out picasa, that's pretty cool, thanks Kate! Kate said thank Cecily, so thanks! :)

















She is up to almost 3lbs! Here she is getting her first real bath. Still lookin' pretty tiny!

52 Weeks of Blessings -- week 6-- great In-laws

{Sorry up front again no photo!}

This week I'm thankful for my in-laws. I truly have a great set of parents-in-law. They are the couple who almost weren't. They grew up literally across the street from each other and have been friends their whole lives. I'm not exactly sure if they "dated" in high school, but they were friends and had a big group of kids that they hung out with. The thing is that, they were graduating and starting life during the Vietnam war. It was a time of conflict. My some-day-to-be mother-in Law actually was married to another and he went off to war! My some-day-to-be father-in-law also went off to war. Her first husband was killed in action. He was gunner in a helicopter. I think that would have been very tough, so young and a widow! I'm not sure of the time span, but he came back home on leave or something and got engaged to his long-time friend. He said he didn't want to loose her again! He went back to war and they were married when he returned from his tour of duty. He served awhile longer in the Air Force and they started a family. Shortly after coming back he invited the missionaries in. It wasn't long before he joined the Church, she had been a member her whole life. They had a daughter, Denise, a miscarriage {at 6months along} and then a son, Troy. She was told it would not be in her best interest to have more children. They became foster parents. Many children were cared for and nurtured in their home. Eventually, they got a little girl that they fell in love with and just had to keep. They adopted her giving them 3 children. They were foster parents for 18 years! Some of their foster kids still keep in touch and one still considers them his parents. They lived and worked in their hometown, raised their kids. After 28 years on the police force he retired and moved to a sleepy little southern UT town. Retirement is boring, I guess, because they decided to serve a mission. They spent 2 years serving in the Family History Library. They were in Salt Lake for the Olympics. After serving a mission, they went back home and my father-in-law decided that he really wanted to live closer to the grandkids. Thankfully, we have the most, so they would probably be coming our way! My mother-in-law was not as sure about "following the kids around," but she agreed to put the house on the market and see. Well, the house sold and they moved North. We have been so blessed having them close. Not only have we had ready, willing and able sitters, but our kids have had a great opportunity to have grandparents close to really get to know. Because they are here, we have been blessed to get to know great grandma {Nana} too. Great grandpa {Papa} passed away a year ago and Nana came to visit. Due to a little fall down the stairs, she decided to stay here. They put up with us 3 out of 4 Sundays a month, plus come sit for us and enjoy watching the kids grow up. I'm so thankful for good in-laws who love me.
{Now, you might think it funny that I chose to highlight them before my parents, but I want to spotlight my parents near their anniversary, in Aug}

A Vocab Lesson.....

Scott was helping me make a breakfast cake {which we're going to have for dinner} When he said, "I want the muncher." I replied, "The muncher? I don't know what that is?" We were to the part of the recipe that you mix up the topping. I had everything in a small bowl and had just gotten the pastry blender from Savanna. Scott pointed to the pastry blender and said, "That, I want the muncher. So I can munch it."

I thought munch was to eat, but I've been instructed by my 3 yr old that a muncher is not one who eats, but is in fact a pastry blender! Thanks for the vocabulary lesson!

You make my day Award

♥ Keeley gave me this award, thanks SO much! ♥ I enjoy reading her blog she is a homeschooler {I'm always impressed by those who take on the challenge of home schooling!} and often has interesting facts and educational information posted. She said this and it made MY day! "Carrie at Keiser Family because she's amazing. I can't put it any better than that. I just read her blog and feel at home. Um, yeah Carrie, you are incredible. You handle your many responsibilities with not only aplomb, but love and humour. It makes me want to be a better (less lazy =D) Mum."

Now to pass it along..... {1. & 2.} I would like to give Holly and Melissa this award because they "Make My Day" with their posts and comments! I just know I'll have a nice comment from them and I always enjoy reading their posts whether they be thought provoking, kid crazed or inspirational. {3.} I would like to award this to Cecily because she makes me laugh! {4.} To Crystal because she has a knack for bringing a smile to my face with her comments and posts. {5.} To Wendi because she inspires me! {6.} Cara for her inspiring 52 weeks of blessings project! It makes my day to read every-one's blessings, and to focus on mine! {7.}To Shellie because her humor and story telling are the best! I smile and laugh nearly every time I read her blog! {8.} Michelle because she is also inspiring to me, strong and unafraid to post self portraits! :) {9. 10. and 11.} Debra, Angie, and Laura because they all have twins and we can relate! Melissa and Shellie {awarded above} also fall into this category.

I gave this to 11 people but I feel that I could have given it to many more. You who have been bestowed with this honor may pass it along to whomever you deem worthy ... wherether that be 1 or 100! Thanks to all of you who take time out of your day to check in with us and leave comments for me to read! You're the best!

A few tests - just for fun

Got side-tracked and took a few funny tests!

You Belong in 1952

You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Your 1920's Name is:

Birdie Mafalda

What's Your 1920's Name?

You Are Lightning

Beautiful yet dangerous People will stop and watch you when you appear Even though you're capable of random violence You are best known for: your power Your dominant state: performing

What Type of Weather Are You?

You Are 92% Real

There's hardly a person on this earth more real than you are. You have no problem showing people who you are, flaws and all. For you, there couldn't be any other way. Because it's way too stressful to live an inauthentic life. You're very comfortable with yourself. And because of this, you're able to live an exciting, interesting, and challenging life.

How Real Are You?

You Are a Chocolate Cake

Fun, comforting, and friendly. You are a true classic, and while you're not super cutting edge, you're high quality. People love your company - and have even been known to get addicted to you.

What Kind of Cake Are You?

You Should Drive a Blue Car

You're the type of driver who isn't hung up on the what car you drive. You don't need a flashy car to show off your wealth or style. Instead, you go for value and reliability. You're quite practical. You're a great driver, but you don't show off. Part of your skill is not standing out on the road.

What Color Car Should You Drive?

Wordless Wednesday -- ♣ Put Your Dukes UP

Scottisims

Scott came up with a three-quarters eaten peanut-butter cookie and said, "I can't eat this!"

Mom: "You've eaten most of it, just finish."

Scott: "I can't eat it, 'cause it's holy crap nasty!"

{Read at your own risk}

Went up to check on Scott in the bathroom and asked: "Did you do a poo? Do you need me to wipe?"

Scott: "Yeah, I did a BIG poo and it made me go uump {insert a little jump here}!"

I was laughing so hard I almost couldn't do my job! :D

overheard yesterday:

Scott to EmmaLece: " Are you going to be obedient?"

EmmaLece: "No."

Toothbrushes and grumpiness!

I don't mind waking up to take little ones to the potty at all hours of the morning ..... well not when compared to the alternative, sheets to wash or listening to screaming because I won't hurry and get in the bathroom. What I do mind, is little feet and whining at 5:50 AM because "I don't like my toothbrush! I want my blue one back!" Why can't he just like his new white one? I never knew 3 year old boys couldn't use white toothbrushes and that it would cause such trauma as to wake him up and cause crying over toothbrush colors! The big kids got up and got going for school, when Shantel peeked in to inform us: "We're up and Scott is scared." My reply, "He's not scared, he just hates his toothbrush!"EmmaLece got up happy, but that only lasted ... about 5 mins! She's been cranky and mean all morning and it's not quite 9! No one can jump on the trampoline, 'cept her, no one can sit in the already occupied chair, 'cept her, no one can read the books, 'cept her!

And now to my grumpiness! Have you ever had something that you just love? you know like a great camera that you couldn't find anything wrong with? and then to have that same something out of the blue, just go on the fritz?! Well 2 years ago I spent a fairly good amount of money {$549.99} on a camera and photo printer, about 3 weeks ago the said camera just started to turn itself on and off! That's right, we're sitting down to breakfast, when Robby says, "Mom, your camera is being weird!" Sure enough, I soon hear the camera turn on and the lens opens and yup it is in the off position, when I go take a look! Thinking it's the batteries, I get new ones. I think that has solved it, when about 6 days later it starts all over! I try different types of batteries all to no avail! if the batteries are in the camera, it is turning itself on and off til they die! Since I can't afford a new camera, I'm forced to take pictures in a most un-enjoyable way ... I have to put the batteries in reset the date and time take the pictures and hope to turn it off and get the batteries out before it turns back on! AARRGGH! Of course the warranty was only for 1 year! I sent an email bemoaning my troubles.....They are sorry that I'm have troubles, did I check the FAQ? the troubleshooting section?

The Daily Dose!

Thank you Holly! She awarded all the readers of her blog this because: "If you're reading this post, then take this award and put it on your blog. It's from me to you because, chances are, if you're reading this it's because I have visited your blog before, or I will now that you've come here. So, you deserve this award too! I'm going to check. I'll know if you've been here and I'll know if you put this on your blog or not!"
I like her way of thinking so you read her right! Enjoy this award and post it with pride! :)