Try2 = More Pics

I guess I am in love with the cooler colortone look!!

And More Pictures!!

Picture Time Cont...

I chopped off the top of his head. Does that matter?


Mister Goofy!!

Picture Time!

Please Vote!!! Or leave feedback -pointers something!!







More pictures to come - they just take tooooo long to upload. I think the bokeh is too distracting in these pictures - maybe? FYI - those eyes are all natural!! (Grahms in the group picture are not - I had to steal them from another pciture - you never get all 3 to look)!!

A Form of Identity Theft!!

I recently had a disturbing encounter with Identity Theft and thought I would share what happened and how you can prevent it!!!

Two months in a row my phone bill had been $15 higher than before. The first month I ignored it because I was too busy to delve into it and assumed I had a promotional rate on my Internet that had expired. So the second month I took the time to look over my bill. The only strange thing was a new entry called Enhanced Services Billing, Inc. I thought what the heck new service is this, I did not sign up for anything.

So, I called AT&T (ignoring the number under the charge). I was told that I had authorized some kind of charge from an outside company to piggy back on my phone bill. I was surprised to hear this. Basically I can have other services bill me on my phone bill instead of sending their own bill. Well, I knew this had not happened and explained this to the agent. I was told that I would have to call the number I had ignored to fix the problem.

I called the number and after entering in all my phone number I was transferred to the company where the bill originated. It was an e-mail service. I explained that I had not signed up for a service. They informed me that I had or who ever did assured them they had authorization from me to do it. They had signed up from one of those Internet surveys where you can get a gift card if you fill out the survey and then subscribe to one or more services. I explained to her that my husband and I view those like we do viruses - we don't touch them!! She offered to refund only the last months charge. I said fine. I was sent a confirmation e-mail.

After reading it I was irritated to a whole new level. The only thing they asked for was my name, phone number, and birthday. This is all available on the Internet, easy, easy to find. When you call AT&T you have to have a Social, so why are they not getting more information? I checked the location of the IP address - somewhere in North Carolina. Why didn't they check? So I called back and talked to a supervisor who refunded me the other months charge as well.

They said the refunds could take up to 2 billing cycles - so I am still waiting to see. Once I have the refunds I will then call AT&T and tell them to mark my account as not accepting of outside bills on my account.
So - call your phone company and make sure your account is protected!

More Pics of Northern Wisconsin!

More pictures from our hike.

I think Grahm caught 3 or 4 toads - yuck!

This is the pile of treasures the boys collected. We have fungus in many varieties, pine cones, moss, acorns, leaves, twigs, birch bark, flowers, feathers and more...

Fall in Northern Wisconsin!!

The first weekend of October we were invited to go north for the weekend to enjoy the leaves changing color. It was beautiful.

The first morning we went for a boat ride!!

Then a nature hike - gorgeous!!

Then the boys went for a swim - did you notice the jackets and sweatshirts - YIKES!! Count the ribs!!

Sunday morning I was talked into a dip in the lake before church. Jason went right in and under! We girls took our time getting all the way in (I was not washing my hair - that would mean I would have had to pack blowdryers and curling irons). Side note - I have done the Polar Bear swim in RI - so I am not a complete wimp.

Lament

Oh - I wish... I wish I could....

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. . . .Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty. . ."
~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Sometimes, I just feel ready to burst with something. I feel like there is something original inside of me, that I can make and share... but - it is stuck. So, I copy..

Love that quote.

Consequences of Red Velvet? You Really Don't Want to Know!!

Have you ever enjoyed too much Red Velvet Cake or Cake Pops?

Grahm called me for assistance the evening after his party. He quickly informed me that he had "had way too many cake pops".

I could only agree and reply "Yes, You Did!!"
(And worry about the other mothers reactions while I chuckled)

Grahms Birthday. Part 2

The Friend Party - A Harvest Party



We invited a few of Grahms friends from church and younger siblings of kids on Jayce's soccer team. All week I stressed about rain, the night before I couldn't set up because of the rain. That morning I nervously watched the rain clouds hanging over us, I crossed my fingers. The rain held out for us, we had one little sprinkle that I started to worry about.





As the guests arrived we played the old game of a cotton ball on a spoon. I have learned from previous parties that it is very hard to get children that you are not around that often, boys, and young to listen and actually play games. They are too easily distracted. So I had them line up, handed them their spoons and cotton balls and told them to run to the fence. They ran back and forth (I had to give them new cotton balls, because when they fell on the wet grass they would stick to the spoon - Cheating!!!).

After everyone was there we decided to bob for apples. I used warm water because we had a chilly fall day. Grahm went first and grabbed the apple by the stem (oops - I forgot). Charlotte appreciated the stems!!! After that I realized I needed to have a brave boy show them how it is done, so Jayce stepped up and stuck his head all the way in to get his apple. The other boys ended up a little wetter. Grahm was determined to get wet and do it right, except he does not like to get his ears wet (or his face). So he kept dipping his face in for a few tries, he was so determined!!




Next, we painted mini pumpkin gords. I used washable crayola paint. I squirted different colors into the bowls and gave them their paint brushes. I was invisioning pumpkin faces. They decided mixing the colors and painting them solid black was better - Boys!!


Then, we bobbed for Doughnuts. This is my boys favorite thing to do. You get to eat doughnuts, get messy and be silly. This time they actually stuck to no hands for awhile. I helped the little ones by holding the string still close to their doughnut, so they could get one bite before they used their hands. These are my favorite pictures.






Finally, we played pin the face on the Pumpkin. I had them draw their own faces on paper. I cut it out - blindfolded them, spin, spin, spin and handed them the pieces for them to assemble the face. They got a kick out of it.



Then we opened presents. Drank more hot cider, ate candy corn, and enjoyed Cake Pops. It was almost time for parents to come, so I had them play another old game to keep them busy. You stand on a chair - in this case a hay bale. Hold a clothes pin to your nose and try to drop it into a container. I had to get smaller mouthed containers after a minute - they were hitting it every time.



I sent everyone home with a popcorn ball, apple pie caramale apple, stickers, and their painted gord all tied up in a bandana.

This was such an easy laid back party, fun games, yummy food, and happy five year olds!!!