Happy Valentines Day!

Today was a normal but weird day and certainly not what many people would consider an ideal Valentines Day. I think it's more fun as a kid holiday. Certainly any excuse to go on a date and spend time with my Sweetheart is a good thing, but Valentines isn't usually an excuse we use. Now that Henry is getting older, it is fun to make it a special day for him.

Today my grown up Valentine got drugs to help him get over his strep throat. I didn't take a picture because I wouldn't appreciate the documentation if it were me. I took off work early to take him to the doctor and pick up his prescriptions and sickie needs. Now that he's on an antibiotic and has a super-duper cough syrup, he should start to feel better soon. It's been a couple weeks, so I think we'll all be excited when the healthy days come. Hopefully none of the rest of us will catch it!

I think Henry had a fun Valentines day! He spent the morning having Valentine fun at his Grandmas. He came home with all kinds of fun treats and cards. He got his card from G.G. yesterday and insisted that it go on his wall in his bedroom. His new cards had to join his G.G. card. While I was trying to get him in a picture, he decided he should get in some push ups.



In an attempt to keep Henry busy and let Nate rest, Henry and I made Valentines rice crispy treats. I dyed the marshmallows pink and everything. After supper we cut them into heart shapes and attempted to cover them in sprinkles. We made a treat bag up for Daddy. Henry was very excited to take his Daddy a bag of treats. He gave him his treats and a kiss then we came back downstairs. He is a sweet, considerate little boy.

Atleast it's over (hopefully)

It is sad how closely you have to watch out for people trying to steal your money.

Please look past the poor grammar and incoherency that is about to come out of my mouth/fingers. I'm venting.

Background: We recently switched insurance companies and banks in an effort to save hassle and money and until now have been pleased with both.

Today: Because of a glitch with my insurance companies website, I ended up with $40 in bank fees. I get ticked when people try to spend/take my money without my permission, so I followed up. When I first told the insurance company about the possible glitch, I was pretty much told that it wasn't their problem because it wasn't an error that had ever been reported before and that I needed to take it up with the bank. I was very irritated and confused with this response but did not push it because I didn't have all my facts yet (ammo) and I was trying to keep my cool.

So, I call my Credit Union.

I was already irritated and probably caused some of the jerkiness that came from the other end of the line, but still. He told me that I had to have not put in the complete account number, which would direct the withdraw to my savings and not my checking. We went back and forth for a while, but the jests is I told him I put in the account number straight from my check and what I heard (implied) was that I was either lying or dumb. I eventually told him off and hung up. The only people I ever hang up on are telemarketers that won't let you hang up on them politely.

I then called my kind husband who let me vent 'til I stopped crying. I was feeling completely defeated. I HATE feeling defeated by my own efforts.

When I got home, where I had access to my check book, insurance information, and everything online that I needed, I decided to go talk to the Credit Union in person. They were amazing. They confirmed that I had used the correct number. They also reversed the fees, even though it was not their fault. They're just amazing like that.

The Credit Union phone experience was the first time I have at all been displeased with them. It was probably just a combo of two people having bad days and ending up on the phone together at just the wrong time. Or maybe it was just me having a bad day and, despite my best efforts to conceal my frustration, taking it out on the guy on the phone and him reacting like I would react to someone yelling at me.

So, I come home and call the insurance company. As it turns out, the website error that caused the whole mess WAS a reported problem. I told the new lady on the phone about the fees and what the first lady on the phone said and she did what she could to make it right.

Now that it's all over, hopefully, I'm not upset with either company and it actually all seems kind of silly. I feel better about my efforts to save hassle and money. I feel much less defeated than I did earlier this morning. I love our selection of bank! And the insurance company at least made an effort to make things right.

I am the only one that stuff like this happens to? Does anyone else feel like they have to keep on top of everything to keep from being taken advantage of? I feel like I'm doing it all the time and it's exhausting.

Working Backwards

As I was uploading pictures, I founds some that I forgot to share. Working backwards:

Last weekend Dibodee (Emily) and Ee-o (Ian) came to visit. Henry loves it when we have company! Ee-o had to go back up north for school on Monday, but the rest of made Valentines cookies after church on Sunday.



Henry especially liked this cookie. It has his name on it and a crude drawing of a "choo choo". He licked his name right off.


We've started watching Merlin. Henry likes the sword fighting scenes. He found this make shift helmet that isn't really a helmet, so he has to hold it up with his lips. It's a lot of work to hold up your helmet with your lips and sword fight (with couch pillows).


Henry made his first Amazon purchase. Catching Fire showed up in our mailbox one day. We knew it was coming. He got caught in the act, but not fast enough to get to him in time to stop it. I'm still not sure if I want to return it or hold on to it for a funny story later.



Henry likes having pictures taken. He found the camera, brought it to me and said "cheese?". This his what we get when he's in the mood to have portraits taken.

Sickie Weekend

Our weekend was spent with staying home. Nate got all kinds of sick and I've been trying to make trips to the "city" when I need stuff or when any of us are so sick of being home that we need a sanity walk around the mall. Since there was nothing we needed that couldn't wait for February grocery shopping day this week and Henry and I were both doing okay with being home, we just stayed home and watched tv. Excellent parenting, I know. It's pretty rare that Henry will sit for more than a few minutes and actually watch tv. It's becoming more common, but it still doesn't happen very often. I think "The Little Engine That Could" has replaced "Tangled" as his favorite movie. I even put it on today so that I could take a nice long shower. Again with the good parenting. I am very aware.


I got this picture while I was getting ready to mop the kitchen. It really is rare that he will lay down to watch a movie. Especially for the whole movie. Hence the picture taking.

You might note the sheet wrapped on the couch, along with the pillow sitting on the arm. Nate was in bed for all but a few hours this weekend and would fall asleep under a bazillion layers of blankets, right in the middle of the bed. So, I let him sleep. Plus, I REALLY don't want what he has, so I stayed away and slept on the couch. It was actually kind of fun. I felt like I was 10 again, having a sleepover. Only without the friend(s), games, popcorn cheesy powder, and with a lot more sleep. It was lovely.