738 dollars and 68 cents

When we first bought this house I heard from several people how much it would cost to run the house - electricity, gas, water, etc. with a pool and everything. I was really scared out of my pants about what our bills would be. I have to say though, I have been pleasantly surprised. The bills have been much lower than I anticipated and I have felt a big sigh of relief the past few months...until yesterday when I opened my electricity bill. The bill was $738.68 dollars!! My heart dropped to the floor when I saw the bill. I started envisioning a month of eating Ramen Noodles and having to delve into my food storage since my grocery bill would be going to electricity. After the initial shock, disbelief started settling in. I mean how could it be possible? The bill was double what we paid at the peak of summer using our AC everyday and we were even out of town 1 week of January.

I decided to call the electric company and beg and plea for some answer to what appliance I had that was sucking so much electricity and how my bill could possibly be this high. I explained my dilemma to the customer service agent and she asked me if I knew where my meter was. After a little bit of searching I found it and she had me read her the meter. She asked me to hold for a minute and then came back..."Mrs. Erard, it looks like your meter was read improperly. We will be sending you out a new bill in the next few days and you can disregard that bill". "huh?" is all that went through my mind. How does one misread a meter? Isn't that the only job a meter reader has? To read meters? Is it really that difficult. If there are any meter readers out there please explain. Anyway, she was unable to tell me what my new bill would be but she said it would be substantially lower and even lower than my last months bill. I thought last month my bill was high but I wrote it off to Christmas lights and extra baking...now I'm wondering. Apparently they can't go back in the records to correct past bills.

I'm glad they were able to correct the problem but now I'm wondering how often am I being billed incorrectly for things. If I hadn't called and just paid the bill no one would have ever known. It's the fleecing of America I tell you! Keep an eye on your electric company and if something seems fishy, don't hesitate to call.

By the way, some have wondered what ever happened in our plumbing episode. Luckily Dave was able to get it all fixed the next day. I had to spend a night and a day without a kitchen or bathroom sink and my kitchen sink plug doesn't quite work anymore... but at least everything drains and there are no leaks! whoo hooo, you have to love home ownership.

And I Cook Dinner Because??

I tried a delicious Cooking Light recipe that my friend Leigh recommended tonight.
Well, I thought it was delicious anyway. Nick refused to touch it, Gavin threw it on the floor, and Ryan ate half and then told me it "tastes like something yucky". I can't remember a weeknight where Dad was home to eat with us, so basically I spend 30+ minutes cooking a hot dinner that the kids won't touch and I might get a bite or two of standing up while the they are in the bath. I know that there are three of you out there whose kids eat everything you serve them, congratulations, your kids probably do everything they are told and learned how to read when they were 2 also. While I love to cook, dinnertime has turned into a dreaded hour at our house. But this recipe really is very tasty, if you ask me and not my kids!

I'd still pick you

Driving in my car, thinking about as imperfect as we both are, I have an amazing husband.

Pick up cell phone and dial him at work. Ring ring, ring ring.

Me: I'd still pick you. Even after 10 years and all the men I've met or known, I'd still pick you.

Him: I'd still pick you too. {Long pause} Did I forget our anniversary or something?

I have to write something!

Blank I tell you...my mind is blank. For at least a week now I've been trying to think of something to blog about but my mind is totally blank. I start feeling guilty, breaking out in a cold sweat, and have a little panic attack when I think that it's been at least a week since I blogged. ( a little bit of exaggeration but still...) Is my life really that boring? Things are just moving along as normal. I try to get things done while the kids un-do them. Emma goes to school. Ben takes a nap. Jacob talks back (Jacob yes Jacob! Four does not suit him well) I check my email and update my Facebook status (I really don't know why but I do) BTW I think Facebook is becoming a little bit stalker-ish... but that's another story for another time.

Maybe it's because all my favorite shows have started up again. Does Lost just totally blow your mind because it does mine! Has anyone been watching Idol? I love that show.

Maybe it's because I've been so dang tired (and lazy) lately.

Maybe it's because the weather has been so nice and we've been spending time outside.

I don't know. I just wanted to check in and say hi. No funny stories. No quippy antecdotes (I have no idea how to spell that and apparantly neither does blogger). I guess sometimes it's good for life to be boring. I'm happy, the kids are happy. Sometimes vanilla is just the right flavor.

Laundry PostScript

Me transfering the pee sheets from the washing machine to the dryer: "What the!"

Yep, I washed the leaky pull up too. Dang it!

Back in the washer.

Evil Laughter

When I was making my bed this morning, I thought to myself: "This is the first day all week that I don't have a load of laundry to do!"

Then the laundry gods tilted their heads back and roared "Mmmmmuuuuuuuaaaaaahhhhhhh!"

Ryan woke up with a leaky pullup and a crib full of PJs, sheets and blankets that needing washing.

Oh well. It was a nice thought.

ISO: Shower in Peace

Smart moms out there, who is going to patent a device to keep your shower doors locked, free from little hands sliding them open so you don't have to take a one-handed shower (when you GET a shower that is!)

The Christmas Recap

in pictures...

Benjamin on his new swing from Grandma

Decorating the tree (before the disaster)

Making Gingerbread houses - the whole kit was 4.99 at Trader Joes, candy, frosting and everything! And super easy to make. Loved it!

Opening Presents. Emma with her new American Girl Doll - Kirsten

Ben with his new truck for outside.

Dancing in the kitchen to Mom's new Ipod speaker.

Trying to get a picture of all three kids under the tree. I don't know why that last line is underlinded but I can't fix it so sorry.

We went up to Sacramento for New Year's and I didn't take one picture! We we had a great time playing at Grandma's house and visiting family. The kids got to play unlimited Webkiz with grandma and loved it of course. I got to sleep in until 11:00 one morning and loved it of course. Grandma's are the best!

December Huh?

I can't believe December has come and gone and we're already a week into January. I keep freaking out that I haven't posted our December happenings but then I think - Is it totally narcissistic of me to think that people are actually interested in what I did in December? Like...who really cares? Then I remember that this blog is my journal so although I do enjoy having readers and reading others blogs, it's really a way to record my history for my kids. With that said...I should start with Jacob's birthday in the beginning of December.


Poor Jacob, not only is he the easy going "middle" child, he also got stuck with a birthday in December. Two things he can use against me when he grows up for why he had a troubled childhood. He really is such a good kid and so easy going that he does get overlooked much of the time with the drama his sister is continually spinning. Sometimes he tries to copy her drama tantrums. He'll storm down the hallway and stomp his foot and put his hand on his hip in the same manner she does and it looks so hilarious Dave and I just try not to laugh. Somehow a boy doing that just doesn't look the same as a girl. Anyway, let me tell you a little bit about Jacob so at least he'll know when he grows up how much I truly love him.

Jacob had a great 4th birthday party (although I've no pictures to show since I forgot to put a memory card in the camera, yet another thing he can use against me). He got a spiderman bike for his birthday which he LOVES and rides around everywhere, and it sure beats riding Emma's pink princess bike around. There are many things that make Jacob (he only goes by Jacob now - apparently he's outgrown nicknames) so endearing, but a few of the things I love best about him are his gentleness, kindness, and the way he always thinks of others first. I love watching him play with other kids because he always wants to make sure they are comfortable - have a snack, get a turn etc. It's especially humorous with little girls. Whenever Emma's friends come over Jacob always makes sure they are taken care of - it's really cute. He's really a little gentleman. He also loves to snuggle and always tells me he loves me. He really gives the best hugs ever - we like to call them squeezy hugs. He has the cutest little grin and he loves to think he's funny. He'll try to tell a joke by saying "knock, knock" who's there? "piano" and he'll just bust up laughing like he said the funniest thing ever. He is the funniest though when he doesn't even mean to be. He asks me some questions that are so out there I just crack up. I wish I could think of something he said lately but I'll have to remember those for another post.

Although the past few months he really has blossomed into a little boy, getting a little rambunctious and even rebellious at times, he is just a sweetheart and I'm so thankful for my mellow middle child who brings me peace in the world of chaos his brother and sister create! I don't know how he got smashed in the middle of two crazy kids but I'm sure it was meant to be - at least for my sanity. Happy birthday little buddy (I can call him that here even if he won't let me do it in person anymore...in his words "I'm just Jacob").

Where's Daddy?

Everyone's entitled to a little bragging now and then. My husband is one hard-working guy and my google alert on his name is freaking out this week while he's out in Vegas for CES (no, Mormons, he does not work for the Church Educational System). He's no stranger to the press in the tech/Econ world, but I think it's fun to see his name in the bigger journals. Click here to see what he's doing while I'm home with three kids who keep asking when daddy's coming home!

UNO and the Power of God

I felt like my attempts at Family Home Evening tonight were a total failure as the kids wrestled and whined all the way through all 5 minutes of my lesson ("We don't like to hear you sing!" "When can we play UNO??"). Somehow Nick must have paid a little bit of attention because I later found him flipping through the Bible, trying to find the story about Jesus as a baby. "WHAT are you doing?!" I demanded, annoyed that after an hour and a half wind-down, FHE, several games and story-time, the kids had their lights on and clearly not going to sleep. Remember my husband left town for a week today, which started out with the baby screaming his head off from 4-6am.

"Oh." Nick says "I'm just trying to learn more about the gospel like you said. You know, about baptism and the power of God."

Okay.... Guess I'll let it slide this time. I need to give those kids a little more credit than I generally do.

Getting Started Somewhere

I have a million other things I should be doing right now instead of sitting at my computer, blogging. I'm behind...oh yes, waayyyy behind. My house is covered in piles of laundry and not an ornament has been removed from my seriously dead Christmas tree. We just got home from Sacramento last night and I spent most of the day defrosting from a week of cold toes and recuping from late nights spent with friends and family...oh yeah, and crying sick babies. In fact, my blogging right now is a diversion meant to keep me from going in and picking up sick, crying baby at this moment. There is some serious bedtime protesting going on lately and I'm not sure why. And poor Ben, there is no grandma's lap here tonight to sit on and play computer games ,so nobody is rescuing him from bed.

I figured that since I'm behind in all areas - including my December blogging, I might as well start here - laundry can wait.

Well, crying sick bedtime protesting baby is on my lap now so I guess I'll stay behind in blogging one more day...

What Ghost?

Overheard while the boys are in their room, waiting to be "rescued" by dad since they are sentenced to bed by mom:

Nick prays and then tells Ryan: "The Holy Ghost told me that Dad is on the highway. That means he'll be home really soon."

Ryan: "Ghost? What ghost Nick? Outside?"