San Fran

Kellen's 5th grade class went on a field trip to San Francisco this week. I went with him and it was a good time! We started off getting on a "fancy bus" not a school bus. It had a movie playing, the kids had all of their electronics, and it was air conditioned! We drove 2 hours to the Exploratorium. If you have never been there and you live in Northern, CA you need to go!!! It is a great "hands on" museum with awesome science stuff. They were even dissecting a cow eye and a sheep brain!! I had a group of 3 boys and they thought it was awesome (I thought it was awesome)!! We were there for about 2 1/2 hours and it was not nearly long enough. I plan to take my kids back when they are off track, it was that awesome!
From the Exploratorium we went to the Golden Gate bridge and walked the approx. 2.5 miles across. That was one of those things that does not sound fun but was actually really fun! It was a great walk for me, about 1/2 way Kellen decided he might not be able to make it (he has been sick). I tried to explain he had no choice we had to just keep walking. We were one of the first groups to make it across and then we collapsed on the bus, took the 2 hour ride home, and got home just in time for dinner and bed! When I got off my foot it really hurt I took off my shoe and had a quarter sized blister! Kellen was exhausted and took 2 days to recover.
It was a really fun field trip, we might just do it again with the whole family!

It's Over!!

It is over... I have had it! I am tired and I need a break!
I am talking about Corporate Close at work! Anyone who knows our family, or has talked to me this last 2 months knows that this is the busiest, most exhausting time of the year for me at work. I am the Financial officer for an OBGYN and we close down the Corporate Year on Sept. 30th. That means we spend the end of Aug. and ever hour in Sept. preparing! My poor family, house, and friends have suffered. But it is over! And I am thrilled!!! Looking forward to a break.
I now get a few days off. My boss thinks it is to rest. The reality is that I need to get groceries, clean, make dinner again, etc... just to get things done that got no attention in Sept.
I think everyone is happy I am back to doing all my chores! Kelly is even asking for a haircut.....Will he never learn???

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!