My Crazy Family

{Moral of the Story: Don't Buy Carpet from R.C. Willey}

Everyone keeps asking if the carpet issue in our basement has been solved.  I am happy to report the answer is YES!  Turns out that R.C. Willey intentionally sent out the wrong color initially with instructions for the installer to put it on the stairs and in Saylor's room.  There was a note in their computer system from the manager stating to do so.   Thankfully the installer had more integrity than that and talked to us before he even started to install it. 

Ryan called first thing in the morning with the problem and their response was, "It will take a month to special order the exact match and get the carpet finished."  WHATEVER!  Ryan told them this was completely unacceptable and he wanted a solution before the end of the day.  Someone called him back around noon and said they had found 2 remnants that were a match and they were sending someone out.  So, my question is, why didn't they just do this in the first place instead of sending the wrong carpet?  Turns out, it saved us $500!  Hmmm...you think this was a sales commission issue? 

Anyway, I am glad to report that the girls have been sleeping in their own rooms for the past couple of weeks and are loving it.  I will post some pictures when we get them all fancied up--but don't be expecting that anytime in the near future.  

{Deth......by Edgar Addison Poe}

In honor of October, the month of ghosts and goblins, I thought I would share a book from Addie's dark period (The trial of Vyvance--Ages 7-8.  Thank goodness for Concerta).  She wrote this on a particularly bad day.  The original illustrations were done in black and white on notebook paper with a color pencil medium.  Ironically, the red you will see is spilled Cherry Limeade water flavoring, a tasteful afterthought added by her mother.  It is an inspiring tale of the rise and fall of a skeleton's soul.  Enjoy your haunted reading....

            (click on any image to enlarge)

{My Little Bookaneer}

As soon as we get out the door, not one second later, I see her muster up the angriest spoiled-face she can, and yell at the top of her lungs, "I  WANTED  TO  READ  ON  THE  COUCH!!!!!!!!"  She stomped her foot and firmly placed her hands on her hips with the sassiest 3-year-old look she could muster.  Apparently the pirate code for whispering at the library does not extend to any other public place. 

{Brecken-ism)

B:  Hey, mom!  I want something to chew on. 

K:  You can have some gum in my purse.

B:  No. That means I want something to eat. 

{Braid(s)}

Brecken insists on having braids, or should I say a braid, every morning now.  As you can see, she doesn't have much to work with.  She is looking forward to the day she can have 2 of them.  Notice the nice scab in the bottom left corner of the photo.  That is from swinging on the "uneven parallel bars" (bar in the closet)in Addie's new room.

{Wahooooo...oooh? Humph!}

Yipee, today is the day, 2 years in the making....we have a finished basement!!!!

 

NOT! 

 

The installers unwrapped the 2nd roll of carpet to finish Saylor's bedroom and stairs, and it was the completely wrong color.  Not just a dye lot difference, a completely different color, chocolate brown.  No moving into their new rooms for another whole week, at least!   

P.S.  I wish this were the real color of Saylor's walls, but no...they are much more NEON that this!

{Gary Takes a Bath}

Gary was lost, or  so we thought.  Ryan looked a little closer and saw that Gary had burried himself in the mud.  He finally decided to come out late last night (FYI:  Snails are nocturnal) and he was covered in mud and snail poop.  Gross!!  No one will touch him, and so we had to resort to spraying him off with a squirt bottle full of water. 

{Funny French Fry Fettish}

I had a discussion with my neighbor, Liz, yesterday about good homemade french fries.  You know, the good, homemade ones.  I happened to mention that Iceberg Drive-In must do something extra special to their fries, like dip them in batter or double-fry them, because they have an awesome crunch on the outside.  I didn't think much more about our conversation, but later that night while I was studying in my room (and craving a study snack), her son Carter came to the door with a gift for me, Iceberg french fries!  My kids were baffeled, why was their little friend bringing french fries to their mother?  When I saw my crunchy little friends, I started laughing so hard tears came to my eyes.  My french fry treat hit the spot, and my funny bone.  Thanks for the fun suprise Liz.  I have great neighbors. 

{Meet Gary}

That's right, we have a pet snail.  Miss Collett gave Addie a snail to take care of while they study living things in science.  Right now Addie is responsible for making sure Gary stays alive, but stay tuned for updates on future science projects involving our new pet.  My only request to Addie is that I don't get a letter from our Gary like this one.....

"Dear Spongebob: These last few years have been some of the best of my life, but I must move on. Don't come looking for me. I know I'll probably have found a new owner who actually remembers to fill up my food bowl every now and again. Sincerely, Gary--or, at least until my new owner renames me."  Have You Seen This Snail?, SpongeBob Square Pants, Season 4, Episode 3

If this thing gets out into my home looking for food, Addie is going to get a crash course in another science project, CPR!

 

{Poster Child}

A big thanks to Grandpa Steve for sponsoring a golf tournament to raise $$$$ for the Utah Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  Saylor was so excited to see her face on this poster.  Knowing that Grandpa cared enough to help all kids with diabetes find a cure made her feel very special. 

As a parent, I never thought one of my kids would have a reason to be a "poster child."  But here we are, dealing with diabetes every day.  I am so proud of Saylor.  She is a great example to people with diabetes and just an all-around great kid.  Over the past year she has learned so much about taking care of her body and keeping it healthy.  She is a pro at bolusing (dosing insulin) on her pink pump and checking her blood sugar everytime before she eats.  Now, if only we could get her to eat her veggies ;)