We tackled a project today a long time in the making, that being going thru and getting rid of stuff from the girls' toy closet in the basement. This mainly included Barbies and Polly Pockets, but there were also a few other things, like boxes and a couple of old coats.
It was sort of sad seeing all the old toys that the girls used to play with being given away. Kris and I let the girls keep some of the about 30 Barbies they had, but they needed to get rid of a bunch (I think it had been about two years since a Barbie doll had seen the light of day). I made the girls come down and pick out the ones they wanted to keep, and to get rid of the ones they didn't much care for. It was funny watching them go through the dolls, picking out the ones they liked and hearing them reminisce about their dolls. You would have thought they were thirty and remembering the good old days.
After about an hour and a half we were done and then had to get things put back together. This is just the first step. We have a lot of other stuff to go through and get rid of, but at least it's a start.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Screwed at the Gas Station
Sunday during all our running around, I had to gas up the cars, which is not really out of the ordinary. I started with Kris's car. I took it to the car wash first, then stopped at the gas station before driving home to park it in the garage. Kris likes gassing up her car at the BP station down the road because she thinks her car gets better mileage with gas from BP. And I have to say, it seems that she will get about an extra .5 mpg when I fill up there. I think it has a lot to do with the city driving she does.
But after parking her car, I had to run out the Home Depot, and a couple other places. On the way home, I stopped to fill up my car at the Speedway station. I usually just gas up and go without even looking at the price. However, this time I had to do a double take. I put the nozzle in the tank and started filling up and glanced at the pump and thought I was putting in the wrong grade (I always fill up with the mid-grade variety). The price was $.15 less per gallon than what I just paid to fill up Kris's car. But I was right, I was filling up with mid-grade. I asked Kris to double check the receipt from BP and it was right, $.15 more per gallon.
Boy, did I feel stupid. So while the car was filling up I had Kris get out her iphone and look for an app that checked gas prices so I could make sure I am not getting screwed. Obviously, BP must have just jacked their price and Speeway hadn't caught up. So now, I will be checking prior to going to get gas which station has the best price. When I'm spending $60 a tank, $.15 per gallon makes a big difference.
But after parking her car, I had to run out the Home Depot, and a couple other places. On the way home, I stopped to fill up my car at the Speedway station. I usually just gas up and go without even looking at the price. However, this time I had to do a double take. I put the nozzle in the tank and started filling up and glanced at the pump and thought I was putting in the wrong grade (I always fill up with the mid-grade variety). The price was $.15 less per gallon than what I just paid to fill up Kris's car. But I was right, I was filling up with mid-grade. I asked Kris to double check the receipt from BP and it was right, $.15 more per gallon.
Boy, did I feel stupid. So while the car was filling up I had Kris get out her iphone and look for an app that checked gas prices so I could make sure I am not getting screwed. Obviously, BP must have just jacked their price and Speeway hadn't caught up. So now, I will be checking prior to going to get gas which station has the best price. When I'm spending $60 a tank, $.15 per gallon makes a big difference.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
End of Summer
I realized today that summer vacation is over for the girls, or at least for Sarah for the most part. She started cheerleading practice on Monday, and will have practice in some form or fashion (cheer or tumbling) until the start of school. What ever happened to having three months off for summer vacation?
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Parade Day
As always, we have our parade on July 3rd, and it was hot! When we left it was about 95°. I think it was five years ago when we were wearing winter coats because it was only about 60° so I guess I shouldn't complain. It was also nice to have some adults to talk to for a change.
Alison got lucky because one of her old friends from Riverside ended up sitting with us. We weren't sure if they were going to come or not, but Paulette called Kris Sunday night and they ended up sitting with us. I think that we've sat with the Oskarssons and the Clintons for the last four years now.
The parade started at 7:00 but by the time it got to us it was about 7:30. Everything was going smoothly, and then about 15-20 minutes in there was a large gap. We were all joking about the parade being quick this year, and then we saw why. The Governor, Scott Walker, was walking the parade route. This was a surprise because he was not on the schedule of people in the parade. People were walking out of the crowd, to shake his hand, thank him, and have their picture taken with him.
Alison said she wanted to get his picture, and I told her that if he slowed down, to run out and I would take her picture. This is what I got. Ali's friend, Olivia, her mom, Paulette, and Alison.
We actually had all the Republican candidates for the WI Senate seat that is up for grabs this fall too. And we were able to show Alison the previous governor, and probably the most popular governor in the state's history Tommy Thompson.
The Falls cheerleaders were a little past halfway in the lineup. They were all very hot and sweaty by the time they got to us.
I didn't take any pictures of fireworks this year, mostly because by the time the parade was done, I just wanted to get everything ready to go as soon as the fireworks were over because Kris had to work on the next day. We got lucky and were out of the parking lot and home about 10 minutes after the fireworks ended. For some reason, it didn't seem as crowded this year either for the parade, or for the fireworks. If it were like the every year, I wouldn't mind going to the parade, well except for having to sit and wait to stake off a spot to sit. but I will say, if I could get that same spot every year, I would be a happy camper.
Alison got lucky because one of her old friends from Riverside ended up sitting with us. We weren't sure if they were going to come or not, but Paulette called Kris Sunday night and they ended up sitting with us. I think that we've sat with the Oskarssons and the Clintons for the last four years now.
The parade started at 7:00 but by the time it got to us it was about 7:30. Everything was going smoothly, and then about 15-20 minutes in there was a large gap. We were all joking about the parade being quick this year, and then we saw why. The Governor, Scott Walker, was walking the parade route. This was a surprise because he was not on the schedule of people in the parade. People were walking out of the crowd, to shake his hand, thank him, and have their picture taken with him.
Alison said she wanted to get his picture, and I told her that if he slowed down, to run out and I would take her picture. This is what I got. Ali's friend, Olivia, her mom, Paulette, and Alison.
We actually had all the Republican candidates for the WI Senate seat that is up for grabs this fall too. And we were able to show Alison the previous governor, and probably the most popular governor in the state's history Tommy Thompson.
The Falls cheerleaders were a little past halfway in the lineup. They were all very hot and sweaty by the time they got to us.
I didn't take any pictures of fireworks this year, mostly because by the time the parade was done, I just wanted to get everything ready to go as soon as the fireworks were over because Kris had to work on the next day. We got lucky and were out of the parking lot and home about 10 minutes after the fireworks ended. For some reason, it didn't seem as crowded this year either for the parade, or for the fireworks. If it were like the every year, I wouldn't mind going to the parade, well except for having to sit and wait to stake off a spot to sit. but I will say, if I could get that same spot every year, I would be a happy camper.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Staking Off A Spot
Once again it is that time of year. That time where I have to sit out in the hot sun for 4-5 hours so I can sake off a spot for the Menomonee Falls Independence Day parade. We were hoping that this year we could skip the parade, but since Sarah is a cheerleader, they are walking in the parade so we figured we'd have to be there to drop her off and pick her up anyway. Plus, some of the other cheer parents wanted to all sit together, so I said I would go sit out again.
This year I managed to snag a large spot right near the end of the parade route. It's nice because once the parade is done, we just have to turn our chairs around to see the fireworks. There will be no worrying about having to go look for a good spot to see the fireworks, because we'll have one of the best spots already. Bonus!
This year I managed to snag a large spot right near the end of the parade route. It's nice because once the parade is done, we just have to turn our chairs around to see the fireworks. There will be no worrying about having to go look for a good spot to see the fireworks, because we'll have one of the best spots already. Bonus!
Guitartown - Waukesha
We were looking for something to do last Sunday afternoon since our schedules were pretty much free for a change, so I asked Kris and the girls if they wanted to drive out to see the Gibson Guitartown displays. Gibson Guitars is sponsoring an art project this summer in Waukesha, Les Paul's hometown, that will feature 30 painted guitars that will be on display for the next three years. There will be 10, 10 ft. tall displays outside in Downtown Waukesha and then another 20 playable guitars at various business in downtown Waukesha.
Playing the guitars would be cool if I knew how to play them, so we decided we'd just drive out and look at the displays they had around town. I printed out the map to drive around and find them all, but in the end we only saw 7 of the 10. I have no idea where the other three were, but they weren't where the map said they were. We could have driven around more, but it was 90ish degrees and all the starting and stopping was a little annoying. Normally I would have just parked and we would have walked through the downtown, but like I said, it was just way too hot.
The girls liked the "Gilded Garden" and "The Founder" best, followed up by the Hummingbird one. It's amazing the cool things that are right in our own backyard.
If you want to see all the guitars, even the playable ones that are housed inside business around downtown Waukesha, go to the link above and click on their Flickr page.
Playing the guitars would be cool if I knew how to play them, so we decided we'd just drive out and look at the displays they had around town. I printed out the map to drive around and find them all, but in the end we only saw 7 of the 10. I have no idea where the other three were, but they weren't where the map said they were. We could have driven around more, but it was 90ish degrees and all the starting and stopping was a little annoying. Normally I would have just parked and we would have walked through the downtown, but like I said, it was just way too hot.
"Carlos y la rana Azteca"
"The Gilded Garden"
"The Founder"
"Meow, Meow, Moon, Meow"
"Red Hot Red"
"Harmonious Heronymouse Bush of Beasts"
"Hummingbird"
The girls liked the "Gilded Garden" and "The Founder" best, followed up by the Hummingbird one. It's amazing the cool things that are right in our own backyard.
If you want to see all the guitars, even the playable ones that are housed inside business around downtown Waukesha, go to the link above and click on their Flickr page.
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