"Turn on the heat"

We have been having problems with our furnace.  We had someone come out to fix it, and after a huge amount of money was handed over, it was working.  For about an hour.  RT got it up and running again.  Right before bed it seemed a bit breezy in our house.  Turns out it wasn't working again.  RT to the rescue again.  I woke up at my time  (4am) to get some water (I'm fighting a cold) and realized it was breezy again.   RT ended up calling the company and letting them know whatever they did to our furnace, did not work. 

A service technician was scheduled to come out to our house between 4-6pm (yea, a little wait).  Our house was rather chilly.  I thought it was freezing, but, I have a cold and have the chills anyway.

The chill in the air reminded me of a line from the Three Stooges.  Yes, I'm a Three Stooges fan.  It's from my favorite episode, "Uncivil Warriors." 

Curly (who is a Major) is telling the "Colonel" a joke.

Curly:  There were three men and three beds, only had two blankets, how did they keep warm?

Colonel:  I don't know Major, how did they?

Curly:  They turned on the heat!  Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

That seemed like the logical thing to do today, but, it wasn't possible in our house. 

I did get a laugh out of it and watched the episode to laugh some more.

Take a look for yourself:

Why are Curly's clothes always to tight and short?  It cracks me up.

The service tech (finally) came out.   Before he left, he said the furnace was fixed and we shouldn't have any more trouble. 

It didn't last too long.  Maybe an hour?  I think RT figured out the problem and I am keeping my fingers crossed that we don't have anymore trouble.

If we do, I can keep my sense of humor and watch some more Three Stooges episodes.

Get out there and Vote!

We are given the opportunity to exercise our voting rights. 
We have the power to put (or not put) a person in office. 
We have the power to vote for or against proposed ammendments.
We are given this power at the age of 18 years old.  
This is not something we should take lightly. 
This is something that we as citizens should do to make our country better.
Your vote counts.
Get out and vote!

Pay it Forward

A neighbor asked for my help. 

Her aunt has been driving her son to and from preschool.  My neighbor (and her husband) is a teacher in a different school district so her boys are at an in-home daycare in the neighborhood.  Her aunt planned a vacation, so a driver was needed. 

Here I am.  The driver.

We weren't sure if the boy (I'm not going to give out his name) would go with me, so we set up a little play time (here) so he could get comfortable.  I don't think he needed it.  He just fell right in, started playing with legos, made something and was trying to give me a shot. (like a doctor)

I went to pick him up today at the sitter, worried that he might decide he doesn't want to go.  I found him waiting patiently at the front door.  I was told he had been waiting for about 20 minutes.  (I arrived early, too)  He hopped in the car, buckled himself in the car seat and we were off.  It's about a 5 minute drive (depending on the traffic light) getting us there 5 minutes early.  On the way there, and while waiting in line, the boy gave me a run down of what and what not to do for drop off and pick up.  We will be bringing his brother on Thursday and I was given specific instructions from him on what to do and where to go.  (I was also given the information from his mom, too)  The boy's information was much more specific.  Especially the part about how his aunt is always behind the line at pickup time (I was told she was the 3rd or 4th car in line). 

We talked about the school pick up/drop off procedures, where to park, the playground, sand vs. wood chips and recess time.

I'm not getting paid (money) for my driving skills.  I am getting paid in life lessons from a preschooler.  What could be more precious and valuable than that?

Danada Equestrian Center - Hayride and Bonfire

Our Daisy troop planned a little field trip to the Danada Equestrian Center for a Hayride and a Bonfire.  It was a family event and we had good weather and a great turnout.

Bella and I sat in front by the horses on the hayride.  Everyone was going towards the back, I thought it would be fun to sit up front and get a good view of the horses and the area around us.

yea, nice view of the back of a horse :)

We learned that the horses are not pulling the cart, they are pushing it

I would have to say my favorite picture with my favorite little girl

(and, I took this one)

Trail picture, the horse is included so you get the feel of the hayride

looks like this one could be a painting

Bella on the hayride

The horse on the left was a little gassy

unfortunately, Bella was downwind

 

my artsy picture

taken while we were moving

Bella wasn't sure it would turn out.  I like it

What do you think?

our troop after our hayride

warming up by our bonfire

We had beautiful weather.  It was so clear.  A little cold, but, the bonfire helped warm us all up.  We made S'Mores.  Some families brought hot dogs to cook over the fire.  Somehow Bella managed to sweet talk someone (family) out of a hot dog (that's my girl). 

The hayride at the Danada Equestrian Center was definitely a wonderful field trip for our Daisy troop.  They do offer sleigh rides in the winter (I don't think you have to have a group of people if you go on the weekends).  That might just be something Bella and I might have to look into this year.

Pajama Birthday Time!

It's a party and you can wear your pajamas!

Bella wanted to have a pajama themed birthday party this year.  I think she just wanted to have an entire day in her pajamas (who doesn't?).

We tie-dyed pillow cases (I forgot to use the plastic gloves that were included and my hands are a combination of  purple/blue/pink/yellow), played truth or dare (very popular game, that's all they wanted to play), freeze dance and limbo.  Oh, and we made bracelets.  (they were supposed to be necklaces but the girls were so excited and just wanted to run around). 

I made flower cupcakes using cut marshmallows and an m & m.  Got this idea from the kraft foods website. 

flower cupcakes

Bella controlling the board in the truth or dare game

Alex acting like a chicken for 30 seconds

(he was great about doing everyone else's dares)

Alex was an expert at the Limbo contest

The other girls at the party told him he couldn't stay downstairs because he wasn't a girl

So....

Meet Alexandra

She joined our party and was able to once again play the games

since she was a girl

 

I love these two pictures

just shows the delicateness of Bella

(we won't go into her real mood of the day)

(this was the cake we had that night)

Time flies.  My little baby has turned 7.

I'm so blessed to be your mom

Happy Birthday, Bella!

Post Halloween Post

Just a few pictures taken around Halloween that I haven't had a chance to post.

Pumpkin carving

It's all in the planning

yea, this picture was staged.  Good acting, huh?

Pippen eating pumpkin

(he's getting bigger and yellower)

Pippen just being cute

He likes to lay in the middle of the kitchen so you have to trip over him when cooking

Bella as a witch

nice wart on your nose, Bella

This was her first costume for a party she went to

Bella decided the day before Halloween that she did not want to be a witch, she wanted to be..

a soccer player (hanging out with Super Dog)*

 

*after 3 hours of trick or treating, Super Dog was in no mood to play with Pippen.  He rested for a couple of days and then was ready and got right back into their daily dog fights.

The Day after Halloween - also known as "Belly Ache Day"

Got candy?

My kids went trick or treating yesterday (yes, all three).  If candy were good for you to eat, we would be set for a long time. 

Bella and I (and Newton the "super dog") went trick or treating for 3 hours. 

Soccer player and "Super Dog"

That's a lot of walking.  We were with a few of our neighbors.  Bella got to run from house to house, I had a good time, carrying on with the neighbors and Newton even got a dog treat from one of the houses.  The girls (they were all girls in our group) stopped every once in awhile to have a piece of candy.  One girl kept saying that her sugar level was getting low. 

When we got home I made spaghetti and meatballs (homemade sauce and homemade meatballs).  I had the sauce cooking while we were out trick or treating.  No, sad to say, I did not have any of the meatballs.  I'm a vegetarian, remember?  I hear they were pretty good.  Bella couldn't finish much of her food (probably because she had several pieces of candy while waiting for dinner).  She was complaining that her stomach hurt.

Bella then asked RT to take her out again (because we did not have enough candy).  They were gone for about an hour.   Apparently her Kindergarten teacher was the last house they went to and she dumped her bowl of candy into Bella's treat bag.

When I walked in on them (RT and Bella) I find them sorting out the candy.  I also found quite a few candy wrappers.

Bella, who was still complaining about her stomach pains, reminded me of my dad on Halloween.  He always said the day after Halloween was "Belly Ache Day."   The belly ache is from eating way too much candy the day before.  I was realizing that, for the first time in my life, thanks to my sweet tooth daughter, I was actually experiencing Belly Ache Day.  I'm thankful that it's not me with the belly ache (I had a few jelly beans).  I'm sure Bella will survive and will be asking for more candy soon.

Hope you had a fun Halloween and are not suffering too much on this Belly Ache Day.