Haircuts!!!

It is that time a month where everyone needed haircuts. Kelly has been trying to get me to be the barber around here for probably the last 14 years! I decided that with the great economy I could help out by giving haircuts to the boys. I went out and purchased some "sweet" clippers (that is what the boys called them) and then started with Camden. He is easy a #2 all around then the trimmers for the sideburns and neckline, (a little down his back too, he is HAIRY!). A little pat on the back, I did a good job and saved us $10. Then Kellen. A little harder, he likes it short in the back and a little longer on top (#2 and #4). I started slow and took my time, again success ($$cha-ching$$). Last it was Kelly. Now to my credit it is 10:00 at night (I go to bed at 9:30). I have been working 15 hour days and still taking care of my 3 children - keep that in mind. I did not want to cut Kelly's hair, it was not part of the deal, he is quite particular with the hair he has - he likes it a certain way and does not like it messed up. I started to cut, it started well enough. I was trying to blend the back to the top and my hand slipped a little...... I explained to Kelly (after accidently saying "oops" quite loud), I was thinking it was time he go a little shorter (oh, crap!). He was a kind and gentle and has not once said a word. It is a little bit shorter, (o.k. a lot shorter), but we still saved another $13 a good $35+ dollars with haircuts and a tip. Good for us. (Sorry Kelly, I really love you ALOT - with or without hair!)

Raingutter Regatta

Last night was the Rain gutter Regatta. It was an adventure. This is a scout thing, they race boats made of water bottles down a rain gutter by blowing on the back of them (or the sail if they were lucky enough to have one). Kellens' boat was doing quite well until it turned and took on water. Not good!. He ended the night getting the award for "Most Striking" boat, and about a million mosquito bites! Yeah!

Problem Solved!

"Energy King" saved the day! After a few hours he had everything in working order. Now I don't want to say I told you so but I did comment to Kelly a couple of weeks ago that there was a strange dripping from the roof. He claimed it was all normal (I was not sure how I had missed it the past 9 years). Apparently that is when we should have called "Energy King". We had a plugged up drain pipe and needed a part replaced. After all of that we just might have to have a car wash to pay for it all! Kelly decided all-in-all it wasn't so bad if we broke the bill up into 9 year increments, (since you are supposed to have it serviced every year), statistically it was not so bad. That is my husband always trying to make it worth it!
OK and to all of those who have questioned the pictures, Kelly was mad I was thinking about blogging too in such a crisis. But really what was I supposed to do? Scream? Cry? Cuss? Kelly was doing that so I took out the camera to document!

We need a professional!!!

An early morning post usually means an exciting night!
Me and Kelly went upstairs to go to bed last night and a drop of water hit Kelly in the head. After he screamed a few not quite G-Rated words he looked up and there was a big bubble in the ceiling dripping water (along with those infamous stripes that run down the tape line!) So it started. Kelly pulled out the ladder and climbed up into the attic (all I could think of is that the ceiling is probably weak because it is wet and there was a good possibility I would be calling 911 when he would inevitably fall through - I did not give him enough credit, he was safe!)
Once he got up there he noticed the "condenser pan" was full and not draining (except over the sides and into the ceiling). Anyhow after hours of trying to empty the pan and using a little "Mighty Putty" to put a temporary hold on the leak he decided we needed a professional. He got up early (really early with the ladder and everything), took a look and called Energy King! Can't wait to see what this will cost us!
I guess that leaves me home alone, waiting for the "King"! I think I can do it!

Tooth Update!

It has been a week since Camden's mouth swelled and he looked like he had elephantitis. He is doing much better. Enough so I can finally post a picture, although it does not do justice to how he actually looked. At one point he could not fully close his eye and his lip stuck out about a 1/2 inch. He only had 1/2 of a smile.
He went back to the dentist on Thursday. It is still more infected then he wanted to see so he is waiting to finish working on it (he did do a pulpectomy and pulled out the root and nerve). Camden said it is the only tooth he can actually chew on right now. He is still on twice daily ibuprofen but it is so much better!!
Now on to the next illness.... That's how we roll!

Apple

Does anyone out there have an I-Pod, I-Phone, or other Apple Product? Following is a warning!!!!
Mekenzie got an I-Pod Nano for her birthday last year. We ordered it online and it is still under warranty. It has been giving her some trouble so I gave them a call. The lady on the other end of the phone asked me to do a few things to it, I did then I handed Mekenzie the phone and she asked her a few questions. Neither of us could understand her most of the time and she was so frustrating!! She decided that there was something wrong with the battery and it needed to be returned to be fixed. She gave me 2 options: #1 Send it back to them, it could take up to 8 weeks or #2 take it to the only Apple store miles around and have them fix it. Because I love Mekenzie and realize she might actually die if she was without an Ipod for even a day so I decided I would do the later and take it to the store. I make my appointment for 11:30 the next day (Friday). Now it has been a long week. Not only has Camden had the whole tooth thing going on, Kellen has been up at night in pain, plus it is the busy time at my work and on Thursday I already have 14 hours overtime so it is important that I get in and out within a reasonable time. I walk into the store and there are approximately 1 billion people in the store, there is NO room to even move around. I check in with the "Concierge" at the "Genius Bar", it is 11:25. They tell me to go ahead and get a Coke or something because there are 12 people in front of me. Are you kidding me??? I go and buy some shoes, (trying to calm my nerves), I call Kelly who assures me I do not have to wait and he will figure something out (that is why I love him!), then I go back. I think I am now #14 in line (they flash it on a screen in order to remind you, you are now stuck there as your name slowly creeps up to #1). I wait, and wait, and wait all the while getting so excited every time I see my name move up a slot!!
Finally "Chris" comes and tells me it is my turn! ( I think I had drifted off to sleep or something!). He takes the I-pod and does a few things then proceeds to tell me the Ipod is messed up and needs to be replaced. I again have two options. Option #1 He can replace it right there and I can walk out with a new one now. Option #2 since it has a inscription I can call Apple and have them replace it with the inscription and they will send it back to me - It would take 3-5 days. The inscription was a big deal, we have a saying at our house "Everyone Needs a Mekenzie" and I really wanted it left on the back for her. I leave telling him I will call Apple and send it back. I go home, hours later, barely making my hair appointment.
I get home, and email Apple. They will let me send it back but they are going to charge me $29. I call them and explain what "Chris" tells me and she says they have to charge me. So they sold me a faulty product, and now want me to pay to return it when it is under warranty? I am confused. Not only that but they now want me to pay another $39 for the extended warranty in order for them to replace it. So I explain how I am confused that I can go to the store and get one for nothing. In order to get it replaced from them (the same people) I have to pay $68???? I tell them thanks for nothing and make another appointment at the Apple Store. This time for when Kelly can go with me, we will make a date of it!
Saturday comes and we go to the Apple Store. I warn him what he is in for, as to not surprise my very impatient husband, we WILL be waiting! We get there check in with our "Concierge" at the "Genius Bar" and wait. We are #2!!! Kelly stand there "people watching" and claims this is everything that is wrong with the world (there was a little bit of EVERYTHING at the store today). We wait for 15 minutes, get "Chris" to again help us and walk out with a new I-pod without the inscription (I am going to get it on there somehow, I am thinking pink sharpie!). Mekenzie is happy, I am happy, and Kelly is vowed to never go in an Apple store again. That might be hard since I am asking Santa for an I-phone. I won't be holding my breath!

We love Dr. Chantry

We just got home from an emergency visit to the world's best dentist! Camden has continued to run a fever and his face has continued to swell. He only has 1/2 of a smile and his eye is droppy. It is Sunday night and our dentist met us at his office at 8:00 to take a look. He cut it open in order to let it drain, it could not be numbed so Camden was a trooper when he had to cut it. I imagine it hurt! Camden is not too happy right now but we are hoping he will feel a little better tomorrow. It still looks pretty swollen but it should go down over the next couple of days. Looks like he is probably staying home from school tomorrow!!

A Beautiful Brunette

Mekenzie is now making the big bucks so she decided she wanted to spend a little (o.k a lot) and get her hair done. She went with a nice brunette color and bangs. We think it's cute - Judge for yourself!

Mother of the Year!!!

We started the day so well today. Good weather, a good soccer game, and a date with good friends. So when Camden took a nap this afternoon it was not out of the ordinary, until he woke up. Just to back up a little Camden has been complaining of tooth pain the last few nights. He had a tooth worked on a couple of weeks ago so I figured it was just bothering him a little. He sometimes complains when he thinks someone else is getting too much attention (like all kids). So when he woke up and his right cheek was swollen - not a little swollen, enough it was shocking. It seemed to drag down his eye and pull up his lip (I will post pictures tomorrow). We were on our way out to dinner and games with friends but I did call the dentist (a friend of ours), first. He told us he was in San Francisco doing some training but that it sounded like an infection (I figured). So he is on antibiotics (and pain killers) and we will go see the dentist on Monday. I guess he is staying home from church tomorrow. Kelly offered to stay home with him (I believe there is a football game on about church time). What he will do to get a day off!

Shooting Stars Soccer

Camden had a soccer game today - Kellen would like me to add he had one too but since he can't play soccer, or anything else right now... (he is a little bitter!).
They won!!!! (again!) 6-2. He is on an awesome team! They have been together for the last 4 years. It is fun to watch how much they have grown and learned the game! It was a good morning!

The Circus

Me and the boys went to the Circus yesterday! It was a good time had by all. (except maybe Kellen). As you can tell by the picture Kellen was not sure he wanted to be there. He has a broken foot and was not feeling really great, but I think he had a good time. It was our last thing before they went back on track Monday.
There were a lot of cool things but I think the biggest laugh came when the Elephant pooped, then peed all over himself (they are boys)!

The circus has changes a lot since I last went, probably 16 years ago when Kelly and I were dating. No more 3-rings, a lot more "show". It was a lot of fun and lasted just the right amount of time. We ended our day having a little "In and Out Burger" Kellen was hooked up with his 2 orders of fries, he is a huge fan. Me and Cam ate a regular combo meal! Mother of the year here I come!!!!
Now we have to prepare to go back to school, and get back on a normal schedule! I am not sure what I am going to do home all alone 2 days a week.....I guess I will figure something out!

Labor Day- Quadding

We decided we needed to do something fun as a family for Labor day so we went quadding! We LOVE our quads (4-wheelers). We bought them about 4-5 years ago and have had a great time with them!!
Our day started out well enough, the drive was good, weather was good, no tickets for Kelly (long story...). We got all the quads unloaded and it looked like a good day.
Just to back up a little. We have some awesome friends that let us not only store our quads on there property, they also let us drive on the acreage behind there house. We NEVER have a problem when we are riding at the house. However when we drive 25 minutes away it never fail one of them has a problem. Today was no different. We had one quad that would not start so our mechanic (Kelly) worked on it while me and Mekenzie went for a ride. When I got back me and Kellen decided to stay back while the rest of them went off for a while. Me and Kellen had a good time, we took random pictures, ate a whole bunch of cantaloupe, (me and Kellens favorite food right now), and watched other people. They came back, I rode for a while then it was Kellen, Kelly, and Mekenzie. Me and Camden were hanging out in the car, we checked out the dirt bikes (he really wants one!), we sat on the table talking....it seemed like a long time. We were getting a little worried as it had been quite a while since we had seen or heard the others (we could see the trail from where we were, we would see the helmets drive by every couple of minutes). Imagine my concern when I see Mekenzie come back without anyone following her. She explains that she went through a mud puddle (mud lake) and Kellen followed, only he got stuck and his quad died. She had been sent to get the tow ropes. I almost sent one of the nice gentlemen next to us to help but decided Kelly would have told Mekenzie he needed more help if he thought he did. A few minutes later they finally returned, them and the quads covered in mud!!! Between the mud, and the now broken quad we decided to call it a day!
We came home muddy and tired but had a great day! Kelly - who is the greatest - even fixed the quad!