A shout out for Angie's List

We've known it's out there and always thought we might use it... someday. Finally got around to it because we've been looking for a painter for our doors & trim, signed up for a month. Cost $6. Andy needed a car repair, so he searched for a good mechanic near his work, found one with rave reviews, went there, the guy was a pleasure to deal with, saved us $200 (50%) on the original estimate for the repair, and now we know where to go the next time the car gets sick. So completely worth $6 for Angie's list. Wish we had done that for a roofing contractor.

Summary of the past 2 months

Thanksgiving in MN, girls got frilly dresses, which they modeled for us. We got a little snow. Kids liked it. Trim is off around all the windows, insulating behind the trim is half done, new doors and trim ordered. Spent christmas week in Hilton Head Island, SC. It was a little chilly, but we enjoyed a bike ride, a day at a great little children's museum, and a short hiatus from illness. Stopped in Virginia on the way home to see Andy's side. I got the stomach flu on the road, 3 hours from home. Not real fun, but I'm not whining too much because it negated my holiday weight gain. Now here's a few snapshots.

2 year olds with a vocabulary crack me up.

Keira can't say her 'r's, so the other morning at breakfast she made the following declaration:
"I don't need a bib. I'm just the gail who doesn't get sywup on hew showt." Her poor tongue can't keep up with her grammar.

Old houses are full of excitement. Like frantic fridge shopping with 2 kids in tow.

Our electrical box looked like this (after the electrician peeled back the melted breakers):






and my fridge now looks like this:

Lesson Learned: If light bulbs are burning out relentlessly, have an electrician check the power coming into your house BEFORE it zaps your fridge.

Change your mind and say, 'Yes'.

I hear this conversation (or some variant) multiple times a day.

Elder: "You be the baby, and I'll be the Mommy, 'kay?"
Younger: "No."
Elder: "Change your mind and say, 'Yes'."
Younger: "No."
Elder, increases volume, shrill-ness, and shows first signs of a hissy fit: "Say, 'Yes'!"
Younger, calmly: "Yes."
Elder, in a happy, sweet voice, "Ok, now you cry and I'll give you a bottle, 'kay?"
Younger: "No."
Elder: "Change your mind and say, 'Yes'."