Panic Button

Our new home has a nice, fancy alarm system which we didn't hook up. It was just one of those things on my "To Do List" in the midst of December craziness of trying to get the house finished before we had to be out of our rental, relative visits, school events, Christmas, two daughters birthdays and moving that got a pretty low priority ranking.

Right after we moved in the carbon monoxide alarm in the basement went off. I called the company who had installed the alarm but since we had not yet contracted them for monitoring they were completely unhelpful. The guy on the phone said it was "probably a mistake." I told him I wasn't super comfortable going to bed with my kids while a colorless, odorless, tasteless, fatal gas could be filling the house. He told me if I was worried I should call the fire department - which I did. As soon as they saw the name of the alarm company (on the sticker on the control box) they groaned and told me that alarm company is terrible. I asked who I should go with instead and they said "Anyone but them." (They cleared out our carbon monoxide issue and left.)

I did some research, got some quotes and we had the alarms all hooked up and ready for monitoring. As the guy was leaving he handed me a small device that looks kind of like a garage door opener. "What's this?" I asked. He told me it was the "panic button" - something I could press even if I was far from the key pads, the alarm wasn't armed, etc and it would automatically set off all the alarms.
 I instantly thought what a dangerous thing that is to have in a house full of kids. I decided NOT to even tell the kids it existed but to squirrel it away where I would have access to it and they wouldn't ever even see it. That was Friday at 5pm.

On Sunday I was in the kitchen when suddenly the alarms started to go off and the loudspeaker repeatedly blared "INTRUDER. LEAVE IMMEDIATELY, THE AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED."

Yep, Jacob.
We didn't even last 48 hours before he found it - and what else do you do when you find something with a button on it?

Tuesday night as I went to bed I told Rick "The alarm is on, remember to turn it off before you leave in the morning." 6am the next day the whole family woke to the alarm going off again. Brother!

Maybe we are not the right family to have an alarm system.

More Aquarium Drama

The little / loner Fire fish died today.

I'm not sure when. We found him when we went to feed them tonight. I took him out & saved him on a piece of toilet paper. Jake wants to bury him. It prompted lots more sadness and tears and Jacob saying he wished we got a freshwater tank because he thinks those fish are not as fragile :(

Poor little dude (my son, not the fish.)

I think he was OK by the time he went to bed. It definitely helped to have him see the fish dead in the water & approve me taking it out and them to examine it dead on the counter.

On a possibly related note - the top rock and some of the sand is very green. I just noticed this today too. I think it is probably not the cause of little "Fire's" death and is being caused by too much sunlight. I'll put towels up in his windows tomorrow to reduce the light until we get blinds. We need to talk to Randy and see what to do to fix it. Are we also supposed to have something rotting still in there? There isn't any salmon left.

We gotta keep on top of this. Aside from the monetary investment that we could lose, our son's little heart will break beyond repair!

Cub Scout Craft

I got a new calling at church two weeks ago. I had secretly hoped to go back to Primary (I love it there) but am actually pretty excited to have been called as a Cub Scout leader. I know NOTHING about the Scouting program and I am really looking forward to learning all about it and being more prepared as Jacob becomes a Cub Scout. I think it's going to be a really special thing that he & I can do together.

Tonight they made some crafts and I snapped a picture of a few of them. Jacob's is the one with the taller multi-stripe hat, second from the right. They then wrapped them to be able to give them as a gift.

{iPhone photo}

They also made wooden door stoppers out of cedar and rubbed them with linseed oil (smelled so good) and made some cards for when we sing at the Elder Care Center next week.

I think I'm really going to have a lot of fun in Cub Scouts!

Thankful Turkey

I was at the elementary school and passed the wall where Jacob's class had posted their "Thankful Turkey's." I smiled and started to read the sweet sentiments of being thankful for family, friends and homes. A few even said electricity (not surprising after all the issues we had in our town recently.)

I looked for Jacob's ....

{iPhone photo}

Yep, topping his list of thankfulness -

TV

tows (toys)

food

mune (money)

Perhaps we need to work on helping him realize the blessing the relationships in his life are.

(Little turkey!)

Google, You Tube and Jacob.

I have a pass code on my computer - well, I did. We're not sure what happened but Grandma came to stay while Rick and I were gone and it hasn't worked since (not that I'm blaming anyone Mum, but the evidence is pretty clear .....)

I keep meaning to call Apple and get it set up again and figure out why it still goes into "sleep mode" like the hot corner is still set up but with no pass code to bring it back. Darn my lack of technological ability!

Anyway, the biggest reason I have the pass code is so the kids can't use the computer unsupervised. It was a preemptive move for my younger 3 but I really need to get it set up again because Jacob's new found reading skills now mean he can get to Google and You Tube himself and I don't want him accidentally coming across something he shouldn't see (like when my nephew wanted to know if you can create your own Lego man and searched "naked Lego guy" or my friends daughter accidentally entered Web kittens, instead of Webkinz. Oh boy.)

So, it's on my to do list for this week but I will kind of miss coming downstairs in the morning (that boy gets up way earlier than anyone else around here) and seeing these in my search bar -

wat do turkeys sawnd lik

BeyBlade moovees

Pokemon moovees

sea worms

star wars

He said that the little cut-out from church that I have near my desk that says "I am a Primary Star" helps him because he copies the word star into the search bar and it drops down with Star Wars. I am slightly distressed that he doesn't know how to spell "sound" or "movies" but can easily come up with Pokemon and remember the second B in BeyBlade is capitalized!

The Day My Son Became a Republican.

Today went to sign the kids up for soccer. It was in the big park in our town, (where the dog park is) but other than going with Millie I hadn't really explored the area. The guy on the phone had told me that the rec department was "in the mansion."

He was not wrong.

(Internet photo's, sorry about the poor quality.)

As we walked up I said to Emily "Wow, I guess we found where all your wedding receptions can be." It really is just beautiful (these pics I found online do not do it justice.)

Anyway, as I filled out the soccer registration forms (3 times) the kids kind of bounced around and thumped up and down on the floor. I asked them several times to settle down when the lady at the desk said "It's OK, it's just us up here the rest of the building is empty." I asked what it was used for "Oh, weddings, Bar Mitvah's, corporate functions, filming."

Then she told me that the entire estate (which now has several soccer fields, the dog park, the town pool, two water towers, a retirement home, the High School, paddle tennis courts and 300 acres of woods, ponds, fields and trails) was donated to the town in 1967 and had been used as a private house until that time. I said "Wow, that's quite a donation." We finished our forms and headed out.

As we were driving away Emily asked "Why would someone ever donate that? If it was mine I would keep it." I explained to her that sometimes even if the land is owned heirs of an estate can't afford to pay the property taxes or upkeep of a place like that. So they donate it instead.

Jacob (who usually does not pay attention to anything I say) asked what "property taxes" were. I explained that it's money that you have to pay the government when you own a house or land or any property.

"WHAT?" He asked incredulously. "THAT IS SO MEAN!"

I explained they use that money to run the schools, fix the roads, pay the police and firemen. He asked how much it was and I told him it was different from place to place but where we live it was a lot and where we used to live it was really a lot.

"THAT IS SO NOT FAIR!"

Emily added, "Jacob it's not just for your house. You have to pay taxes for the money you get at work too." I explained further - Jacob when Dad goes to work and earns money he has to pay a bunch of it in tax. Also, when you buy clothes or shoes or food or gas you pay tax on it.

By that point he was just horrified. I tried to give him an idea of how much income tax we pay by explaining the portion of the week that Dad goes to work to cover taxes. My kids don't see Rick through the week and they know he works a lot. Thinking that so much of the time he was gone was to hand money over to the government - Jake was speechless.

The rest of the car ride home I followed up explaining some more of the good things that taxes are used for. Then he asked if everyone pays the same tax (like everyone pays the same tithing) .... taxes were getting harder to defend.

It was kind of interesting to see taxes through the eyes of a six year old.

Maybe we should have a few more of them creating tax policy.

Last Saturday

Today marks the start of our last week in our house. Each day we will be able to say "This is our last ______"

At this point, with the mess and piles of boxes, not buying any real food because I want to use up what we have and all the trips I am making to Connecticut for the building of the house - I just want to get it over with and be moved already!

I do know that as soon as we are settled, I'll miss it here - so I am trying to soak in the things I have loved about our house and our neighborhood as we go through our last week here.

After Swim Across America we came home to get some stuff I had to mail, and tile samples, etc. We left the 2 big girls to their own devices & took J&J. Jane was still repeating "I don't want to go look at tiles!" as we put her in the car. Sorry kiddos, today is just about getting things done!

We bought Rio for the iPad and they watched it on the way up. Thank goodness for technology and the boredom killer it is.

We first went to the granite place to look at a choice for the kitchen counter tops & island. We like the one named "Tiberius" that will please my Dad! I want to consult with the kitchen designer before making a final decision, so brought a sample of that and a few others we liked home. Then, we were on to the tile place a 45 minute drive away, so stopped at Subway for lunch.

I liked the first store for their selection and the nice way it was organized but the builder told us another place was cheaper. I like this marble basket weave. I'm thinking of it in a gray in our guest powder room.

We went to the tile place the builder had recommended.  Rick describes it as "a beautiful tile store ... after an earthquake" It is a jumbled mess but they do seem to have everything - once you can find it. It's cheaper for the same tile, so worth figuring out! Jake entertained himself on the iPad. Jane just drove me crazy. We need two iPads.

Then we stopped by the house to give the builder a check. Before starting the building they scraped all the topsoil into a mountain and weeds have grown all over it. The kids think it is the BEST play area ever, and really needed blow off energy by the time we got there, so I was thankful for it.

The stonework is almost finished on the chimney's.

Rick at the far end of our backyard. (See the little blue figure in the woods?)

They started putting on the roof and it's fun to be able to get more of an idea of what it will look like when it is finished.

And the windows have been delivered.

The second best play area is the sand pile at the house. Who would have though that construction sights are so much fun??

It's great to be able to actually see rooms now and get a sense of flow from one room to another.

I love the dormer windows!

As we headed home it started raining. We got home and ordered pizza for dinner. Then it was baths & bed for everyone. I could barely keep my eyes open and fell asleep lying next to the kids. I only got up long enough to take out my contacts & put on pj's & get right back into bed.

Toothless

Jacob lost a tooth about a week ago. "Lost" is probably an exaggeration, I pulled it out. It had been really loose for so long and it was 1/2 way twisted to the side and was kind of creeping me out but he would not let me near that thing! Finally, one night I begged him to let me just have one shot at it. He agreed, I tugged, my hand slipped, it didn't come out and he swore I'd never touch it again. A little lot of bribery later and he let me try it again. This time I got it in one quick tug. We rinsed his mouth out and put the tooth in a cup to save to show to Dad ... then kind of forgot about it for a few days.

Low & behold the next thing I know the gap was bigger. Jacob had pulled out the loose one beside it himself. I guess he didn't want me getting another crack at one!

The night we came home from Mystic we put them together in a little cup under his pillow. It's our family tradition to put this pillowcase on your pillow if you have a lost tooth. We've had it since Bek was little and they love to use it to let the tooth fairy know to look under there.

It reads

"Dear Tooth Fairy,

When this pillows on my bed,

you'll know a tooth's gone from my head.

I know you'll take it

while I sleep.

Just leave some cash that I may keep."

How cute is that little six year old smile?

I could freeze him and keep him just like that forever!

He thinks it's super cool to stick his tongue through the gap!

Getting ready to hide them under the pillow.

He was pretty stoked to find $2 ($1 per tooth) under his pillow in the morning.

Mystic Aquarium

Since we're moving this summer we aren't taking a "real" summer vacation. Instead I planned a few weekend trips for our family close to home. One of our favorite aquariums is the one in Mystic, CT because they have Beluga's!

It's a great size - perfect to fill one day. They have the Beluga's (for Em) and a Ray touching pool that Jacob could spend hours hanging over. Actually, his fingers are usually all "pruny" by the time we drag him away from there! We often use this aquarium as a stopping point when we drive to Bar Harbor. We leave early in the morning - spend the day at the aquarium, have dinner in town (often at Mystic Pizza) and then let the kids sleep for a bit in the car until we got to Boston, where we spend the night. The next day the rest of the trip to Maine isn't so long. I guess once we move it won't really be worth doing that any more - but we'll still take trips to the Aquarium because we love it so much.

Emily has loved Beluga's since before she could walk! They used to have some at the Brooklyn Aquarium but they sent them down to Georgia for a breeding program a bunch of years ago. Belugas take a long time to be accepted into the pod, so they pretty much will never come back. Probably better for them, because they had a very boring tank in Brooklyn.

See. Just a big circle. Boring.

 

 These pictures are of Emily & Maya in 2005. Seriously, I can't believe it was that long ago - seems like just last week.

The set up at Mystic is pretty nice.

I was happy to cram a few last "family road trips" in before Rebekah left for BYU.  I know the kids complain about them sometimes (especially that teenager) but I also know that the time we spend as a family alone - without the interruptions of friends, team sports, practices and routines are the times that build memories and cement our hearts together - they are the times that carry them through when we aren't together.

Jake is the reason we make a bee-line for the touch pool but we all get a huge kick out of feeling the velvety soft rays and having them slurp those little fish out of our hands.

After lunch we let them have a turn driving the boats - which meant nothing more than trying to ram each others boats :)

Then we headed over to the penguins and had fun finding the camouflaged frogs (or are they toads, I can never tell) and spotting giant tadpoles in the pond.

Jane got to see her beloved "Pwengwins."

Then we went over the the "Australian" exhibit there - we couldn't miss that!

I used to see big flocks of yellow and green Budgies and distinctive Galah's flying in the fields behind our house when I was growing up. Their noisy song would wake me up in the summer. We'd go on hikes and see Rosella's ....

Seeing these birds and my children enjoying them made me so happy. Like bringing a piece of my childhood to them. Almost.

Back to another touch tank for crabs and sea stars.

And one last visit back to the ray touching pool (I think our 3rd for the day.)

After the aquarium we headed into town for a little while to get ice cream at our favorite spot on the water and let the kids browse though "Mystical Toys" - they have lots of Playmobil, so they always like to explore there (even Bek)!

Then headed south and had dinner at a great spot in New Haven and then to the hotel to sleep soundly!

Last Summer Meet

The "regular" last meet of the summer (before we enter Counties & Conferences) for our team was against Westchester Country Club. I love to go there for meets because the facility is lovely and because they tend to be in the evening when the light is so beautiful.

Jane and her friend Avery had a blast playing in their kid pool.

Jane has several friends who's older siblings are on the team with Jake & Emily and it makes it nice for her to have friends to play with when we are at the (eternally long) meets.

They were seriously in this pool for hours. I was still calling them out of one end of it as the lifeguards starting cleaning the other end!

They also alternated between the beach and playing in Long Island Sound.

 {iPhone photo}

  {iPhone photo}

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W.C.C has a bunch of fast swimmers. Our kids were ready for battle! It's one thing I love about being on such a big team - the older kids really watch out for the little kids, get them pumped for meets, teach them the team cheer, etc.

Emily swam freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and the free relay (you are only allowed to swim 3 strokes + relays per meet.)

Jacob swam free & backstroke.

He also swam the boys freestyle relay. After that he got to relax, eat and enjoy the beach area too.

Emily was swimming against one of her friends from her winter swim team in her 50yrd breaststroke.

She came in second - to her friend. Here she is laughing and saying
"You told me you weren't fast at breast!"

Then they high fived. It made me so happy to see. I like to see good sportsmanship. I think it's something I see a lot in swimming - but could see more of.
Most of these kids swim through the winter where there a fewer teams and often they travel a bit to get to them. In summer swimming there are many more teams and they usually swim for the team closest to them or whichever country club their parents join. I like that Emily has competed against kids she knows and that there hasn't been animosity between them. I think it's healthy for them to keep it that way!

I am becoming obsessed with getting the perfect fly picture of Emily. These were close (and I love how she looks swimming this stroke).

I'm looking for arms level, face up getting a breath, water droplets flying, perfect light .... keep swimming Em!

The meet was exciting. We were a little behind going into the relays. The team had been undefeated to that point. W.C.C had lost one. The division title was on the line. We ended up tying the meet! Amazing if you think just how many variables go into scoring (the team president said she had thought it statistically impossible.) The tie meant that we won the division title and all the kids were thrilled!

It was a totally fun night and everyone went home happy and looking forward to Counties & Conferences.