Updates of the past week

It's been an interesting week and a bit over here...always something going on!

For starters, our hot water tank broke. So, no hot water. We used our kettle a lot! Thankfully we were at my parents' house for a few of the days (pics on those to follow) so we could shower there.

We visited the Agriculture Museum...the kids really wanted to go. I thought it was a bit redundant since we were at my parents' FARM! but oh well.

They loved it.

A really old tractor simulates what a tractor ride was like without tires.

They had a whole exhibit on bees as well...

When we got home we found this fun little guy in our front yard...digging up our grass. 

I also came downstairs last week only to find a snake at the bottom of the stairs in our hallway!!  A real life snake!!!  UGH!!!!  Yuck!  Now I'm not even safe INSIDE the house. :)

This little man is pulling himself up all the time and standing all the time.  He loves "driving" the window, as in trying to make the handle for the window turn.  Crazy boy...

Our pool drama continues.  A small venting session follows...

First it took a month (30 days) to get our pool clean.  It cost a lot of money which thankfully the previous homeowners paid without any further fuss.

Second, our pool man came sometime while we were gone for holidays and left our hose on...drained the well!  Thank goodness for the safety feature on our well which signals that the well is almost empty and shuts off.  If we didn't have that, we'd be looking at a huge bill right now.

Thirdly, our pool guy shows up late ALL THE TIME.  He was supposed to come at the beginning of July to repair a patch...the last thing on his list of things to do for us.  Now it's the end of August and after repeated calls to him, he finally showed up...still late.  Then he tells us that will be 75 dollars for the service call...SAY WHAT!  No, it was supposed to have been done way back in July!

Fourth, he showed up without the patch!!!!

Fifth, pool man has pool guys who work for him.  We've never seen them.  Ian's done the brunt of the work.

So, we don't recommend this particular pool company.  I won't mention any names but if you're interested I will tell you who it is and definitely tell you NOT to go with them.

Overall, we're thankful to have a pool to swim and cool down in.  It makes up for all the hassle involved with it this summer.

 

I'm getting ready for the new school year.  I'll be teaching Mason the same way I taught Megan and Austen...kind of a preschool thing...learning the alphabet.  Plus, the kids love the routine of the calendar and weather so we're doing circle time and incorporating all of that.  I'll be taking in a few kids for daycare too so it'll be a great time!

Ethan's learned his first word too.

Yesterday I gave him a chip to try.
He reached out his hand, took the chip, studied it for a second, then grunted out loud, frowned, let out a frustrated yell, and whipped the chip on the floor.  Then he glanced down at the discarded chip, looked at us, and said "Uh oh."

(This wasn't the first time he said it.  He says it all the time when he drops something.)

Never a dull moment around here!