Humble Pie

I made a run to Wal-Mart today. Was in a bit of a hurry so I got in the 20 items or less line, with only one woman ahead of me. "I'll be in and out, " I thought. But the woman in front of me had on ipod earphones that she didn't take out while purchasing her stuff, cowboy boots with fringe on the back, and a really ugly sweater that I have no comparison for. So I should've known it wasn't going to be quick. She then tries to use a gift card that rang up as having a zero balance. She tries over, and over, and over again and the checker's growing irritated while the line is growing longer. I do my little exhale, as does the man behind me, hoping to have our irritation noticed by this weirdy. She then pulls out a receipt to show the checker that the card MUST have money on it. So he runs it again. Nothin'. By this point I'm rolling my eyes and looking at my wrist with no watch on it. The man behind me is loudly commenting on the fact that he's in a hurry. The woman finally pulls out some cash and is on her merry way. So I unload my crap onto the conveyor belt, bag it, all the while thinking, "That woman was such a pain." I open my purse to pull out my wallet and pay, only to realize I've left my wallet it in the car....Pretty sure it was Heavenly Father's way of serving me a piece of humble pie. I'm sorry Ipod Lady, wherever you are. And your sweater was actually quite lovely.

Bragging

It's time to brag about Wes. He'd probably die if he found out I was posting this, humble man that he is, but Wes has been promoted at work. It's a temporary assignment that we hope will become permanent. He really deserves every single blessing that comes his way. He works so hard and puts so much into learning, and preparing for the type of management position that he's being entrusted with. He's really enjoyed his time at the Gas Co. and is in it for the long haul. My whole family is just so proud of him! Love this guy.

VIDEO...and he can do a killer hand

stand. He's a renaissance man.

A few months ago I mentioned my blog would be going private....and then I got busy and didn't have time to add everyone who wanted adding. But it will be going private within the next month. Let me know if you'd still like to view it by emailing me at kanikkee@aol.com. Thanks!

Conversations With Wells Fargo Representatives

We're trying to remodify our loan, like everyone else in the world. And seeing as how millions of people read my blog, I feel it my responsibility to inform the masses of what this process is truly like. What you're about to read is not an exercise in creative writing like previous posts. It's the actual conversation. Names and loan numbers have been changed to protect the innocent.

ring, ring, ring

WF: Thank you for calling Wells Fargo. Please enter your loan number, followed by the pound sign.

Me: 122***99932 #

WF: Thank you. Please enter the last four digits of your social security number, followed by the pound sign.

Me: 34** #

WF: Thank you. Please be advised that any and all information given can be used to collect a debt. (Translation: We don't really give a flyin' poo about you and your house. We want our money.)

Press 1 for English. (gurr)

Me:1

WF: Press 1 if you're calling about your WF home mortgage.

Me: 1

WF: Thank you. Please enter your loan number, followed by the pound sign.

Me: 122***99932 #

WF: Thank you. Please enter the last 4 digits of your social security number, followed by the pound sign.

Me: 34## #

WF: Press 6 for loan counseling.

Me:6

ring, ring (Getting excited that I might actually speak to a human.)

WF: (Still not a human.) Thank you for contacting the WF loan counseling department. Please enter your loan number.

Me: .....but I already...ugh, fine. 122***99932

WF: Thank you. Please enter the last 4 digits of your social security number.

Me: ... but I already....ugh, fine. 34**

WF: Please hold. A representative will be with you shortly.

CUE ON HOLD MUSIC IN THE FORM OF PHIL COLLINS.

Music: Su, su, sussudio. Oooooh........There's a girl that's been on my miiindd. ALLLLL the time! Su, su, sussudio.

2 MINUTES LATER

WF Rep: (THICK South Carolina accent) Hi! I'm Roberta. Can I have your loan number please?

Me: (SERIOUSLY!!???) Ugh, 122***99932

WF Rep: Thank you. And the last 4 digits of your social security number?

Me: (You've gotta be kidding me.) 34**

WF Rep: Thank you. And please note, any information you share during this call can and will be used to collect a debt. (WF doesn't give a flyin' poo. Again. I got it.)

What can I help you with this evening Mrs. Poo-lard.

Me: I've faxed in forms to remodify and was calling to check up on the progress. It's been 2 months, and we haven't heard back from anyone. I've called a few times and have re-faxed forms repeatedly, and still no response. Any idea when it'll be finished?

WF Rep: Well, these things take time. About 90 days on average. Your account says it's pending.

Me: Could you give me any more specifics?

WF Rep: I will see. Please hold.

CUE ON HOLD MUSIC. STILL PHIL. APPARENTLY IT PLAYS ON A LOOP.

Music: Su, su, sussudio! Oooh! If I just say the WOOOORRRRDDD!...

WF Rep: Hi. Thank you for holding. I don't see that you've sent anything in for a remodification.

Me: I've been going through this for over 2 months now. I've faxed in forms left and right. Would you mind checking again? There's got to be an error on your end. (Bad choice of words. I can now hear her getting pissy.)

WF Rep: I'll check again. Please hold.

Phil: AHHH! If she'd call me! I'd be there. I'd come running. All my life....

WF Rep: Thank you for holding. It says in your file that the last expense form you sent in only had one signature and we need the signatures from both borrowers to accept it. If we don't have the proper signatures and paper work sent to us every 25 days, you'll need to reapply for the modification all over.

Me: I sent that 2 weeks ago. Was anyone planning on contacting me about this so I wouldn't need to reapply and start from scratch?

WF Rep: No, ma'm.

Me: Of course not. Well thanks Roberta. I'll go ahead and fax newly signed forms over tomorrow.

WF Rep: Is there anything else I can help you with tonight, Mrs. Poo-lard?

Me: No, that'll do it. Thanks.

WF Rep: Thanks for calling, and have a great night.

click

Is it just me going through this? It seems like WF has every idiot in South Carolina working for them and against me, as it's come to feel. I go through this every week with them. Calling to get some sort of news on my loan, and getting absolutely nothing. Stay tuned, for future installments of "Conversations With Wells Fargo Representatives." I'm sure they'll prove to be as useless and frustrating as this one.

......

If you give a kid a camera.......

....she might take 437 pictures. That's right. A year ago, Nana and Grandpa Bruce bought Taylor a Fisherprice camera. I think they bought it around the time Corinne was born. Sort of a, "Sorry, your world is being turned upside down," sort of present. I thought they were nuts. What's a kid ganna do with a camera? Well, Taylor loves it. We've brought it on quite a few outings. And after sorting through her shots, all 437 of them, I've narrowed it down to a batch that are pretty good. She took a million self portraits, quite a few pics of the back of my head while driving, and a slew of pictures of me in the morning (deleted). But it's sure fun to see the world through little Ms. Tay's eyes.

Mommy

Our driveway

Our grass

Minnie

Grandpa

Her Karaoke machine

Sister

LA Zoo last week

View from her carseat

Dork

Nana on Wednesday

The albino snake at the L.A. Zoo

Crabby Abby in the backseat

Daddy

Naked bum

Her potty. Empty, thankfully.

Grandpa

Home Goods at Halloween

View from the front porch

Nana

Daddy posing

Kitty Cat

Gidget or Lilo. Not sure which.

Happy Birthday Baby

It was a year ago that Corinne was born, but it really seems like yesterday in a lot of ways. That first year is crazy. It goes by so fast. It really amazes me how much change happens in those first 12 months of life. We're so glad our Heavenly Father entrusted us to take care of her and be her family.

Here are some facts about my one year-old baby girl:

She's always been EXTREMELY mobile. She crawled at 7 months and started walking at 8 1/2 months. She started climbing before she walked, and is infamous for trying to climb into the dishwasher while I unload, as well as the dryer. She climbs on everything!

She loves Tay. Adores the kid. And they are good friends when they don't have an audience. Taylor plays ring around the rosies with her everyday and they both fall down laughing.

She's a love bug. She gives the best little baby hugs, and leans her head into you when she wants you to kiss her forehead.

She eats anything and everything, including vegetables. She's our little vacuum, and puts anything small in her mouth which has been a challenge.

She loves to dance and it cracks me up. If there's a song on the TV or music in the room, she bops and sways.

She can say Ma Ma (but rarely does), Da Da (she always does), Tay Tay (sounds more like "day"), Na Na (says it pretty demandingly), Grandpa (No kidding. Loud and clear. I have a witness.), and Dog (her all time favorite).

She waves to everybody. We were crossing the street and noticed people stopped at the light were laughing. We looked down at Corinne who was waving and smiling at them. She's a social butterfly.

She's tough. She can really hang with the big kids and isn't at all intimidated. She's not shy or reserved. She walks around primary like she owns the joint. We just assumed she'd be timid like Tay used to be. Not the case. She's a spunky kid.

She's advanced. No, really. She's been throwing tantrums for a couple of months. Pretty sure kids aren't supposed to do that until they're 15 months or something. LOL.

....

At this age, I had a million pictures of Taylor. I have a lot of Corinne too, but mainly video since she just doesn't hold still and is always grabbing the camera from me. Enjoy.

VIDEO

VIDEO of Taylor, trying to convince Corinne she's a sleigh dog.

VIDEO of Peek-A-Boo