I like my comforts

The weather has finally started to get hot here.  4 days near 90. Which is normal this time of year.  Joel likes to wait as long as possible to turn the A/C on.  Which I don't mind if there's a breeze.  I love having the windows open. Especially if it's a cool night.  But by Sunday, it had gotten too hot.  Mostly worried about the kids, so we finally turned on the air.  And then this loud noise followed by a high pitch squeal.  I hurried to turn it off to keep from doing more damage.  Joel looked at it and couldn't figure out what was wrong.

Monday morning I called our heating/cooling people.  They told me they were swamped and wouldn't be able to get to me until Tuesday or Wed.  Turns out that was a better deal than most people could offer.  Everyone in KC seems to be having issues.  Monday was HOT and miserable.  We stayed outside as much as possible because there was at least a breeze.  The kids ran thru their spray park until they broke it.  Then the Marowelli's came over and ran thru the sprinkler.  It was good times.  But by 4pm, the house was 88 degrees.  It was miserable.  So we had two fans going in the family room and I convinced everyone to relax in front of a movie.  We tried to remain that way for the rest of the night.  Dinner was cooked on the grill.  We played outside some more. Everyone took cool showers before bed.  But it was still so hot that night.  The low was 75, so the house never cooled off.  I barely slept.  I keep checking on the kids to make sure it wasn't too hot. 

We made it thru the night.  And it wasn't too bad in the morning.  We spent the morning outside and the kids ran around while I sprayed them with the hose.  After lunch it started to warm up but tried for naptime.   It was starting to get miserable again, so I started looking for a hotel.  I was NOT doing another night light that.  We were supposed to get some thunderstorms but it was going around us. We got a little rain but it just raise the humidity.  Luckily, that storm that was going just past us brought clouds and strong winds.  The temp in the house dropped 8 degrees in an hour. So I stopped the search.  The A/C guys were supposed to be here this evening or tomorrow.  I could make it.

By 5pm, the next evening I was PISSED!  I had called and left a message and mentioned I had three young kids at home.  By 5:45pm, Joel called and said he found someone at the plant and he was on his way over.  A BIG THANKS to John!  Not only did he fix the A/C, his two boys keeps my three entertained the whole time.  One great thing about working at a place with 4000 employees... you will find someone that can help you out.

Joel and I have been discussing how great it would be to build a house on some acreage and have it be as green as possible. And possibly getting off the grid.  Solar and wind power... that kind of thing.  One thing I've learned after this weekend.... MUST HAVE air conditioning!!!!

I'm difficult...

Whenever I want something, I tend to go overboard on the search.  But I want to get it right the first time.  Over the years, I've learn that cheap is... cheap.  What's the point of buying something cheaper if I just have to replace the next year... or sooner.   If I buy a $100 pan, but lasts for 10 years.... then it's a MUCH better deal. 

So the point of this is..... it has come time to buy a new camera.   It took me months to buy the camera I currently have.  And I was still nervous when I bought.  We have had a lot of Sony stuff over the years and they've been great quality.  But the digital camera I had bought before that lasted a whopping 6 months and was very expensive.  Had a crazy ordeal with HP and finally got most of my money back.   So I'm sure that had to do with my uneasiness.   Jocy had just been born and as a new mom, the last thing you want to worry about is getting film developed; and a MIL yelling for more pictures.  So I bought the Sony on sale because it was last year model.  It work well.  I didn't LOVE it but good pictures.  The software tho is horrible.  Really makes my computer run slow.  I'd probably still keep using it until it died but I dropped it two years ago.  The battery door is broke and has been duct taped shut since them.  But now it's to the point, everytime I'm trying to catch a great pic, the door opens and the camera dies.  It's beyond frustrating!  And it is a little too slow to catch my crazy kiddos.  A friend gave us a Casio right after I dropped the Sony.  I tried to like it.  I really did.  But I find myself reaching for my Sony.  And now that I have misplaced the battery charger.... it's sitting on the shelf in the office. 

 I DESPERATELY need a new camera.  Of course I'd love a Canon DSLR!  Who wouldn't.  I still get out my Ti and take pics of the kids.  But now, I have 14 rolls of undeveloped film.  Unfortuantely, we don't have the spare $$ right now.  So I will keep dreaming....  but Joel did finally give in and say I could get a new Point and Shot Camera.  YAY!  Here's the downfall.  I have a $175 budget and it has to be bought from Amazon.  We have gift cards that need to be used.  We are SO bad about that.  We still have one from our wedding!   I get so frustrated with all the research and whatnot.  The worst part.... I ended up back at a Sony!  It seems like a good camera and was named top 10 of 2010. But of course it's $200.  So I've been trying to convince Joel that if I keep this camera for another 5 years.... it's $40 a year!  We'll see how that goes.   I really don't want to keep looking... so maybe I'll get my FIL  to find me one.  He's always good at that kind of stuff.  And really.... do I have the time to sit around on the computer surfing camera's all day.  My crazy life doesn't allow that.   I'm sitting here eating my lunch and typing.... which is most days.  My free internet time is always during lunch!  Which seems to finally be coming to an end.  I have no idea if anyone will read this but if you have any good suggestions for a camera.  LET ME KNOW!!!!

Dedicated to Aunt Ra Ra

Here are few videos I've gotten of Nate's adventures of walking.  He's getting pretty good at it. And one of Elly on her motorcyle.  I will post as they load. 

Field Day continued

Field Day also included lots of mud and rain but was quite fun.  I'm glad that I stayed.  Got to know a few more moms and Elly got to be an honorary Kindergartener.  Mrs. Dodd demanded Elly be in her class!  Nate spent the afternoon being fussy (little nap)  and wanting to play in the mud.  He was a dirty mess by the end of the day.  Had to strip him down for the car ride home.  Elly was soaking wet too but refused to ride home "naked" as she said.  And she wouldn't wear Jocy's spare pants. Oh well.  It was a fun and exhausting day.  Very sad the school year is over.  And I'm sad that Jocy will not be returning. She has grow so much this year.  So here's a bunch of picture from the day.  Enjoy!

Jocy's class

I was amused watching the Headmaster Parachust with the Kindergarteners!

Field Trip and Field Day in one day with three kiddos.....

Yesterday was Jocy Field Trip to Deanna Rose Farmstead.  It's been awhile since we've been so I thought it would be a great idea to go along and take Elly and Nate.  It's such a great place and they have improved it greatly.  Unfortunately, we've had a lot of rain lately and Field Day was postponed til... yesterday.  I thought it would be a waste of time to drive home and then have to turn around and pick her up an hour later. So I decided to stay in hopes Nate would nap in the stroller...

The weatherman said to not cancel your outdoor plans on Monday because the rain would be moving out that morning.  Oh really???  It was raining pretty steady when we left for school.  But by the time we got off 435, it was just a light drizzle.  Wow... a weatherman who was right???   Well maybe for like 2 hours.  We were only at Deanna Rose for about 30 minutes before the rain started.  Luckily it was still a bit warm and chasing 18 kids plus my own kept the cold away.  It rained on and off the whole time. But the kids were having a blast.  It was only slightly muddy.  By the time we sat down for lunch, the temps started to drop and the wind picked up.  Nate was getting fussy from being cold and tired.  But manage to get all three feed and myself!  But by this time, Elly was little Miss Popular. Everyone wanted to help her.  After some popsicles from Mr. and Mrs. Dodd (teacher), the rain started again and we headed back to school.

Elly milking the fake cow and riding a tractor

Jocy's class

Nate walking around.  Not sure why... but was having a blast with wipes on his head!

Ok... it's time to pick of Jocy from her second to last day of school I will post about Field Day this afternoon.

New home

So I've finally given in and decided to change our website over to a blog.  I just don't have the time and patience for the website.  And I don't think the photo albums were working.  So we'll see how this goes.  Within the next month I will have a new format and get it looking pretty.  But for now this will do. 

So many things have happened the last month.  Nate had his first birthday!  It was a great party and we were lucky to have most of the family here.  Even Uncle Kevin finally made it to Liberty!  It was such a joyous occasion but sad at the same time.  Where has the last year gone?  How can my baby be taking his first steps and smashing his first birthday cake.  I will say.... it was very nice to throw a non-girly party.  The John Deere theme was a big hit.   

We had thought that he was going to beat his sisters at walking.  Both girls started walking on their 1st bday.  But Nate just wanted to tease us the week before and two weeks following.  Then two days ago, it was like a light went on and he figured out walking was so much faster than scooting.  He's pretty much been walking ever since.  He's loving being able to chase his sisters around.  It's going to be a fun summer!

Jocy is about to finish Kindergarten!  I can't believe it!  Monday is her last full day of school and then two half days. Then it's summer!  I think we have decided to not send her back to Whitefield next year.  It's an AMAZING school but very expensive and the drive has gotten to me.  Plus I maybe a little busier next year... more to come on that.  It will just be better to be able to put Jocy on the bus and then take Elly to preschool.  it's not official yet... still have til August to decide.  Plus the first grade teacher we like isn't returning next year... going to Egypt or something. :)

Well that's my quick up date and kick off to this blog thing.  There's a ton more that I can tell you but I don't have the time at the moment and there's always things going on in our crazy house!