To wii or not to wii

I was at Mary's and Dean's this last weekend and was introduced to games on a harddrive. They had tons of wii games but none of the cases. After talking a bit I was told the wii had been hacked and that it was easy. Tutorials were on the web and I was assured they were plentiful and easy follow. With this idea planted - after all wii games are so very expensive- I started to look online. I found some easy how to videos and followed them to the "t". All was going well. Then came trying to hook up the Hard Drive. Yeah that part was a bit of a nightmare. Two days and $150 dollars later I now can save my wii games to a hard drive and play them. Luckily I will be able to recoop some of that money when I return a game and extra hard drive. With any luck it will have only cost me two days and $29.

A new use for Fabreeze

Callie spent most of this last week at Sean's parents house because of my work schedule. The first day Callie went to school after spending the night she got picked on a little because she smelled like smoke. Well I told her that because grandma smoked she would smell like smoke if she spent the night or spent time at grandma's and grandpa's house. I then asked her if she wanted to go back. She assured me that she did. The next day she came home smelling alittle funky. Not like smokey the bear but more like a really old ladies lotion, but no more complaints of smelling like smoke so I ignored the smell. Tonight I picked up Callie again and she again smelled funky. While we were talking in the car Callie mentioned that Grandma had "sprayed her down with this stuff she sprays on her couches to get rid of the smoke smell." Wow! My mother in law fabreezed my child. I guess that's one way to get rid of the smoke smell. I myself would quit smoking but that's just me.

Red, Yellow, Green and Blue

Like most posts from around this time I must comment on the start of school. Callie is now in first grade and seems to really enjoy it. Here is a run down of the first few days:

Day 2: Callie's teacher reminds all the students to have their mom and dad come to Back to School Night. Callie promptly raises her hand and tells the teacher "My Daddy died" and goes back to coloring. Yeah I should have given the teacher some warning but I figure after almost 4 years I wouldn't have to. Oops.

Back to school night went without a hitch I filled out all the necessary forms talked to the teacher about behavioral expectations etc. Green is good, Yellow is warnings, Blue is multiple warnings, and Red is sent to the office and a note home. The teacher assured parents that only in extreme cases would kids get a note home.

Day 3: Callie came home remarking her card was moved to red, she had to go to the principal's office to think about her misbehavior. . . . and yes I got that dreaded note home saying she was disruptive and not trying to behave. Nice.

Callie had to then call Ponka to tell him what what had happened. She was very very upset by it.

Day4: Callie came home with a green. . . That's right folks and the best part is that she has been green just about everyday since. Nice job listening and following directions.

How old are you Mommy?

Callie and I were on our way to Salt Lake this weekend when she started talking about her birthday and then when my birthday was. She, in her innocence, asked how old I was. I told her I was old and she persisted to know what number I was. So I smiled and asked her how old she thought I was. She thought for a minute and said she didn't know. I asked her to think of a number she thought was old and I would let her know if she was right. She came back with 18. Yup I told her I am going to be 18 yrs old, laughing since well I will be 31 this year. She proceeded to ask me how old her grandmas and grandpas were. I asked her to once again think of how old she thought they were. Her response was 35. So Mom, Dad, Bill and Darcia you can thank me for cutting off 25-30 years off your age. You are now in Callie's eyes 35 years old. This however doesn't make me too happy as I will soon be as "old" as my parents in a couple of years. I love how little kids think.

I forgot how . . .

Callie and I were at the bank the other day and she started complaining she had to use the bathroom. I was at the teller so I asked were it was and determined it was right next to were I was standing. Since I could see the door from where I was I told her to go take care of business while I finished my banking.

She went in and came out I promise 30 sec later saying "Mom I didn't wash my hands because I forgot how to."

Yeah the teller started cracking up because not being able to reach the sink is one thing but forgetting how? Come on kid you have been washing your hands at least once a day for the last 6 years. How do you forget something like that . . . Anyway once I finished my banking we went back to the restroom so I could once again show her how to wash her hands.

Fighting to go green

I just had the most interesting conversation with a gentleman from the company that holds my car loan. Apparently if the payment hasn't posted within a few days you get a reminder call just to let you know you are late. Confused by this first call since I had sent my payment off promptly I called right after work. I talked to a young woman who explained the payment hadn't posted on their end and was willing to take my payment now. I told her nicely when I got home I would check with my bank about the payment. I logged on to my account and saw that the payment was in process but hadn't yet cleared. So I called back the company. The conversation went something like this:
Customer Service Rep: Thank you for calling (insert name of loan company) may I have your account number?
Me: (account number was given and all information verified). Hi I talked to a young lady earlier and she said that my payment hasn't been made but I am showing on my account that the payment is in process as of today.
Customer Service Rep: oh good that means it will post for tonight.
Me: ( asking various questions about online payments)
Customer Service Rep: If i take a check over the phone is will be a $10 fee
Me: a $10 fee? That's nuts what about if I do it online?
Customer Service Rep: That will be a $5 fee.
Me: You're kidding. So you want my payment faster but are going to charge me fees?
Customer Service Rep: Well its not us but Western Union.
Me: Really and there is no way around it?
Customer Service Rep: nope
Me: That's crazy (me going on a little rant about how companies are going green so why can't they and have free online services and save some money and paper.)
Customer Service Rep: Well you can go online and not get the paper statement (then the guy starts chuckling) but you would still have to print it out and send in a check to avoid the fee.
Me: defeats the purpose huh? What about Paypal? Who do I write to or talk to to suggest this Paypal doesn't have fees. (continuing on my little rant about how much money could be saved by using Paypal since it is automated and wouldn't need too many people to run it.)
Customer Service Rep: (Laughing now) well I have a meeting next week and I can raise my hand if you like and suggest this.
Me: yes please do and make a note that if they want payments faster then they should not charge fees to use instant payments (I am also laughing) After all if eBay can use Paypal why can't you.
Cusotmer Service Rep: I will definently bring it up (still laughing).

Finally we said good bye after I of course promised that my payment would be sent "on time" in the future. I don't think anything will come of it but should the company decide to use Paypal to make payments I would consider it my own personal victory. Till then I guess I will need to send the check in alittle earlier or pay the (gag) fee.

Another one bites the dust . . .

Yeah my weightloss New Year's resolution hasn't gone so well. In fact all of my New Year's resolutions have been a bust. So now six months into the year I am attempting once again.

Goals:
1. Lose weight - I joined weight watchers so thats a step forward, right?
2. Have family home evening - Does having callie sleep in my bed count?
3. Read the Scriptures - I am using the articles of faith handout Callie got at the tabernacle as a book mark. That must count as it look at it everytime I open and close my book.

Seriously though by revisiting my goals six months in I am hoping I can actually achieve them :). Wish me luck!

Onstar

I used Onstar the other day and Callie was tickled pink that the lady on the radio knew my name. Callie then proceeded to parrot every direction. Good thing I don't have to use Turn by Turn directions everyday or you might find me in a straight jacket.

Why oh Why oh Why oh did I ever leave Ohio?

This weekend I painted the playroom. It was a much much bigger project than I anticipated requiring several trips to Home Depot and Lowes to pick up more supplies (ie blue tape and paint). Yeah I didn't realize the room was a big as it was and figured one gallon for three walls one quart for the walls next the windows and a gallon for the ceiling would be enough. . . . two additional gallons and mixing the excess whites together has created a brighter prettier playroom. In addition to the painting I added some shelves and painted the shortwalls with magnetic paint for fun. The magnetic paint though isn't as strong as I hoped so a few more coats will be required . . . This of course means another trip to Home Depot or Lowes.

Callie was good for the most part during this painting adventure. She didn't paint anything she wasn't supposed to from Friday through Sunday. Today however the good streak died when she was getting ready for her bath and decided to paint the bathroom wall with drywall compound. Then to add insult to injury she decided to wipe the excess off with one of my good towels.

I am not quite sure what I am going to do with her. She is funny and cute however when she is naughty and I ask her why she made the decision that got her into trouble her response is the same "Because I wanted to." I am not sure how to get her to understand that doing things just because she wants to is not always a good thing. It's a good thing I have light hair or I'm sure you would see alot of grey these days.

Bath time

This have have to share before I forget . . . Tonight when I told callie to take a shower she came back and asked "Can I wear a bathing suit in the shower?" Ummm no I think that would somehow defeat the purpose of the shower or bath.

New Year's Resolutions

It is the new year . . . January 2011 a time for new goals and dreams . . . a new beginning. As I ponder what I want to accomplish this year (yes I know I am half way through the month but it is still January and who said resolutions can only be made January 1st) I obviously want to get control of my weight, but I would also like to this year read the Book of Mormon. Funny I have never read it completely. I am also working on reading the scripture stories to Callie. So far she she is enjoying it and has lots of commentary on the bad behavior of Laman and Lemual. My other goals are going to the temple more frequently, and doing some sort of a family home evening once a week. I will keep posting my progress and with hope won't feel like such a slob this year.