Doggie Door Fun

We went over to my Uncle's house the other day to celebrate some birthdays and we were all out on the deck.  I turned to look for Brecken and found him doing this::

Coming back through::

We were all laughing hysterically at him, which only encouraged him to keep doing it.  Only Mr. B...

Petting Papi :)

Post Family Farm

We had a rare day to ourselves and I wanted to do something fun with the kids so I thought of Post Family Farms.  I told Adelyn and she was sooo excited to go.  When I had her get her shoes on she came out with sandals and I told her to get shoes on because it was cold AND because we were going to a farm.   She proceeded to scream and cry for about 20 minutes because she didn't want to wear shoes.  She tried on every pair of shoes in the pantry and there was something wrong with each of them.  During her tirade I put shoes on Joelle and she proceeded to scream for because she wanted sandals on as well.  I got Brecken all ready and amidst all the crying and screaming I decided we weren't going because I didn't want to deal with Adelyn all morning.  Then I decided that wasn't fair to Brecken and Joelle so I told her we were going but she had to sit in the stroller the whole time because of her attitude.  She got in the van without shoes on and away we went.  I decided to let B and J try their hand at walking and was planning on committing social suicide because of it.  They actually did really well and listened.  When we got there Adelyn got in the stroller and was, generally, happy as a clam.  The only times she got irritated was when we were in the barn and she was waiting outside while we pet the baby animals, while we were petting a cat and when I told B and J we would go get donuts.  She got REALLY upset when I told Brecken and Joelle we were going to get donuts because she thought she didn't get any.  She was screaming "I want donuts! I want donuts!"  Anytime she complained I ignored her and this time was no exception.  We walked out from getting our donuts and a lady said to me "Oh I see she got her donuts."  I'm sure she meant it as a joke or just was commenting but I wanted to say to her "Do you know what I had to go through to get these donuts?!?!"  Instead I smiled and walked away.

Pretty little lady petting the goats.

Pretty much her face the whole time.

Petting the baby cows.

Feeding the goats

Ooo look at the kitty!  My little animal lover.

 Riding the tire horses.

 

 All in all it was fine.  Other than me being frustrated that she didn't seem to care about her "punishment."  Argh.

Pure Silence. Literally.

Eric was golfing tonight, so he wasn't home.  We brought a friend a couple meals so we didn't get back until 6.  I had nothing made for us and no leftovers so I decided to stop at McDonalds instead of having sandwiches (again).  I can, quite literally, count on one hand the number of times I have fed my children McDonalds.  We have one in our neighborhood so sometimes it is extremely tempting.  I avoid it like the plague.  The germs in the play land scare me and the food is the opposite of healthy.  I knew that the kids would love it because who doesn't love nuggets and fries?!  I sat them down with their plates and all I could hear was the sound of gnashing teeth.  I am not joking.  Dinner is never that silent at our house.  They must have been feeling lucky.

Yes they have to be seated like that.  If Brecken and Joelle are next to each other, like they used to be, Joelle HAS to have her chair touching Brecken's.  Touching, I know.  Not so touching when he steals her food and she gets SUPER pissed.  Even if I have them on the same side but as far away from each other as I can, she will pull herself along the table until she is touching him.  And then he steals her food.  And we listen to the angry monster noises.  So they all sit separated. 

Apple Picking

It's a terrible year for any kind of picking but when I got word that Cranes would be apple picking for the weekend I wanted to take the kids.  I was hoping to purchase some Honey Crisps as well.  When we got there the line was a mile down the road to get INTO Cranes.  Haha.  I think not.  We went across the street to Gary Cranes and picked there.  They were picking Golden Delicious, Ida Red's and Jonathon's.  The lady said that the Golden Delicious were the best pickings so we started there first.  I am not kidding when I tell you there were, at most, 5 small/bruised/ok/TOO small apples per tree.  We got about half a bag of those and then moved on to the other varieties.  The Ida Red's had, maybe, one small/too small/bruised apple every other tree.  The ones they had were at the top of the trees.  We got a handful of those.  The Jonathon's were the same as the Ida Red's.  So pretty much overall picking was terrible.  And the apples are small.  When we left there wasn't a line on the road at the other Crane's any more so we headed over to possibly buy some Honey Crisps.  Yeah right.  We pulled up and the line to check out was winding through the orchards.  They were selling Honey Crisps in 10lb bags for $20.  No line just for Honey Crisps either.  We left.  No Honey Crisps for us this year... :(

Love this cutie.  And her dress!  Thanks Heather ;)

Chheeessseee!

Such a pretty girl.  With some amazing eyes.

Stinker boy.  He's saying cheese...

     No one likes to look at the camera...                                                              ...or sit still.

 

 Again.  Either not smiling, not looking or trying to escape.

Ha :)  Pumpkins+Apples=Fall! 

Even though picking royally stunk we still had fun.  And have THREE babies who LOVE apples..with skins on ;)

My zoo...at the zoo.

We went to the zoo with playgroup today.  What an entertaining trip to say the least.  First and foremost, I am ever so thankful Alyson decided to bring both of her parents AND Pappy and JoAnn.  Also SUPER thankful for friends who don't mind lugging my children around, offering their stroller for me to use or, perhaps, just pretending my chaos is not happening.  Pretty sure I would have NO hair left if they hadn't come.

Brecken and Joelle were pretty antsy in the stroller from the start.  So I had an inkling that I was in for a fun trip.  Luckily it was only about an hour or so that was absolutely terrible.  The first part and the last part wasn't so bad.  Just the middle.  It all started at the bird cage.  You know, the one were they can go in and feed the birds with a stick of bird food.  That you have to pay a dollar for.  Those ones.  Brecken pitched a serious fit when he couldn't get out.  Adelyn was inside so I was trying to get pictures of her.  B screamed and cried for probably about 10 minutes.  I got Adelyn out and I see her licking her lips.  Then I notice that she has bird poop all over her face.  And she is still licking her lips and her face.  Then I see that it's all over her hand.  So I am trying to wipe it off with a wipe and she is still trying to lick it off.  Believe me when I tell you that I was whisper-yelling at her to cut.it.out.  So gross.  The whole time B is still crying.  So I get him out.  Then Joelle starts crying because he's out but she isn't.  So then I get her out.  We head to the petting zoo.  It's closed.  That's awesome.  So my three monkeys are running wild and there is one of me.  At one point I couldn't find Joelle..then realized that Judy had her.  Thank you Judy!!  We corralled them over to the wooden train and they played there for a bit.  I constantly had to chase B away from the petting zoo.  We started to head for the bears and Tiff had Jojo, Adelyn and Sophia were in the stroller and B was walking.  As we are headed up the little incline by the turtles and the otters, a moderately large lady didn't see Brecken and plowed him into the ground.  Like his head hit the concrete plowed him over.  So he's screaming.  I'm running for him.  And left my stroller, with the two girls in it, on the hill.  You guessed it.  Next thing I hear is "Your stroller!!"  Not "Your kids!!"  But "Your stroller!!"  I guess it is a Maclaren after all...maybe they were concerned for it.  I turn around and there go Adelyn and Sophia rolling down the hill.  Pappy chased them down and offered to push them while I took care of Brecken.  We managed to view a couple animals before the next fiasco.  We were over by the baboons and I noticed Joelle munching on something.  She was right by Sydney and she had just ate something so I just figured she got it from Syd.  Haha.  I said to Leslie "Did you give Sydney some popcorn type of snack?"  She says "Umm noo.  I gave her goldfish and cheerios."  Awesome.  Joelle was picking popcorn off the ground and eating it.  My last straw was when we were by the lions.  Tiff had given Joelle Charlie's snack cup and Brecken had just realized he didn't get any.  Well Joelle wouldn't share and she was busy running away and making angry monster noises at him.  This happened a couple times.  Finally I threw them back in the stroller.  Then we got to hear a chorus of screaming from the two of them.  They wouldn't stop so I gave them their pacis.  Then they looked like the crazy three-year-olds who can't get over their pacis.  Because they are giant enough to look like three-year-olds. 

Pretty sure we are going to get the bird flu or some disease from the popcorn.  Or maybe we won't because I washed their mouths out with the antibacterial squrity stuff they have everywhere.  KIDDING.  Maybe.

After all that at least lunch time went smoothly.  Everyone listened to me and everyone ate.  Bonus.

The whole gang-of kiddos-that came today.  Mind you this is only 5 families.  We produce children well.

Pretty lady with the birds.

Mr. Owen trying to tempt a birdie.

Tiff and the kiddos

Sophia, Leslie, Sydney, Henry and Owen feeding the birds

Adelyn petting the cow.

Mr. B chasing a turkey.  Because HE is a turkey.

Adelyn showing me her "cool trick"

aanndd this is the face that everyone got to listen to and see today.  His sad face.  Argh.

Needless to say, while all this was going on, I was telling myself I would never go anywhere with all three of them, by myself, again.  The above is proof that they can be crazy and aren't so good all the time.  Thankyouverymuch.

Kaylee and Kaleb make 5.

Kaylee and Kaleb came to visit!  Their momma went to Shipshewana for the day and I offered to watch the kids.  Mrs. Rachael paid me in Amish cinnamon rolls.  I accept.  Rachael told me that Kaylee hadn't been taking naps so I was pretty determined to make sure that one DID happen.   We played hard outside all morning and we went for a walk.  She took a nap.  ;)  I was pretty amused that Adelyn isn't the only one that says random silly things.  We were eating lunch and Brecken put his plate all over his head.  I told him not too.  Kaylee said "It's ok Mister Nichole.  Kaleb does that too."  Haha.  Earlier in the morning I was doing a poop check before we went outside and Adelyn asked Kaleb if he had poop in his diaper.  He bent over and smelled.  I laughed out loud.  During nap time I spray painted some frames in the garage.  I went to get Kaylee from her nap and I walk in all happy like "Hi Kaylee!  Good job taking a nap!"  She says "Mister Nichole where you painting your pictures?"  I said "How did you know that?"  She said "My daddy does that."  What a little stinker.  After naps we headed out back to show them some hillbilly fun.

**No babies were harmed during this episode**

Kaleb and Joelle.  Right after popsicles ;)

            Some friendly smooches...                                                       ...and some sweet, sweet hugs.

 

                          Flying!                                                                                     Collision!

 

            Kaylee having a blast ;)                                                 Even thought it's out of focus...it's hilarious.

 

 Please get a good look at his face. 

I'm so mean.  In order to get this little half smile I told him I saw his mommy.  Haha.

Mister B getting a drink out of the hose.  Sometimes he choked.  Maybe because he would stick the whole thing in there.  Life lessons I tell ya.

 

Everyone is always amazed that I will take on extra children.  Once you have had three toddlers at the same time, what's two more?!?!  Our back yard is fenced in.  It's like a big hamster cage.

Dissapointment At It's Finest.

**Let me start by saying I don't believe in slandering someone publicly.  This is why I haven't used her name/shop name in all of my conversations.  I have had people privately ask and I have told them but I don't think I can publicly announce who has done this.  It wasn't something that happened multiple times, just an unfortunate incident.** 

The above was typed this morning.  As of this evening I will tell you that it was Petunias.  She should not be allowed to get away with such disgusting customer service and not have any kind of repercussions.  Even if it it just little old me and very few of her clientele read my blog.  Our exact conversations are included.  Copy and pasted straight from Etsy or my email.  I am in pink.  She is in black.

I recently got a really cute skirt from one of my favorite people on Etsy.  I have never had an issue with her stuff before and it is SOOO adorable.  We had a photo shoot with said skirt on Wednesday and we all got pretty dirty.  I threw all of the clothes in the laundry and washed them Thursday morning.  I pulled the stuff out to put it in the dryer.  Oh man.  I pulled Eric's shirt out first and I thought what's that shadow?  I start inspecting it and realize it's yellow.  I start pulling more things out and realize his shirt, my white button down, B's white button down, B's blue shirt with white sleeves, B's blue/gray/white plaid, J's white ruffle skirt and her purple/white striped shirt all have some degree of yellow on them.  The all white stuff was terrible.  I was pretty certain it was all from the skirt because it was the same yellow gold as the skirt.

I sent a message to this person, on Etsy, just to inform.  Like I said, I've never had an issue with her stuff before and she is such a sweet person, in person, that I wasn't mad, just irritated.  I had the stuff soaking in bleach and figured I would only end up with 1/2 ruined shirts because those couldn't be bleached.

This was my exact message::Hey I just wanted to let you know that the yellow/gold colors on the large skirt I just got bled HORRIBLY. I washed it this morning with a bunch of other stuff and I have 2 shirts that are *probably* ruined and 4 white shirts that I am bleaching right now (1 was a cream colored sweater and might be ruined). I have never had any issues with your stuff before so I don't know if this was fabric from a different line, wasn't pre-washed or what happened. Just wanted to let you know in case you use it again.. If you have any tips for getting it out other than bleach that would be great!

Her (initial) response::That is very strange as all of my skirt fabric is prewashed and I didn't have any problems with it.  (Yes.  That is it.)

Then a little while later I got another one::Was it this skirt:***
I know this fabric is prewashed and I have a ton from this line of Joel Dewberry fabrics. Several darker fabrics than this one and I have never had one run. I'm sorry to say, I don't think it was the skirt that bled onto other clothing. (Now I was starting to get really irritated).

My response back::Yes it was.
The white shirts are the exact same color as the skirt. I had a pair of dark jeans, a dark jean skirt, 2 pairs of khakis, a pink pair of pants, a gray and pink shirt, a gray sweater, a pink/white/blue shirt, a blue and white shirt (the arms have some of the yellow on them), a blue/gray/white shirt that has some yellow on it and then the 3 white button downs and 1 cream sweater...and the skirt. Everything except for the skirt and my white button down has been washed multiple times before. I don't really see what else it could be..
Do you have any tips for getting it out of even the plain whites? They have been soaking in bleach since I sent the first message and still yellow. Does the RIT dye remover work better?

Hers back to me::I'm sorry, I am 100% sure it was not the skirt. One of my girls even has that same skirt fabric and I never had a problem. I was at least 7 loads of fabric a week and in my entire life have only had about 2 pieces of fabrics ever rub off. That was a navy and red and even then it was only slightly where they rubbed against something else.  I'm sorry, I don't have any tips for washing. (Now I was super ticked.)

I had bleached everything and it didn't touch the yellow.  These pictures are AFTER I bleached them.

The ruined clothes.  And the culprit.

All of the laundry...nothing else was the same yellow/gold color.

  

I took pictures of the clothes and posted them on FB with this message:::I need some opinions::I recently bought a skirt from someone I have spent hundreds buying custom clothing/bows/etc. I washed the skirt with a ton of clothes (which I have always done before and never had an issue) and it turned 4 shirts and a skirt yellow (prev white) and partially ruined 2 other shirts that had white in them. I sent this person a message and told her just as an fyi in case she used it again, not expecting anything but perhaps an apology. She sent back that she is 100% certain it was not the skirt and pretty much nothing else. No apology, no nothing. While I was mildly irritated before, now I am PISSED. PS. I have bleached all of the clothes and they haven't changed a bit. I am going to try the Rit dye remover next... What should I do? 1.about this person. 2.any tips for my clothes?!?!

The responses I got back were absolute amazement.  Everyone was appalled that I did not receive an apology and told me to never shop there again.  I'm not going to lie this is my favorite response "OK lets see if I can help.. 1. Donate 5$ to the elect Obama 2012 campaign be sure to include the persons name, email, and phone number. Hourly emails, and daily phone calls about moving our country forward in the same backwards way we've spent the last four years will help you feel much better. Just a thought."  Bahahahaha.  I laughed out loud.  I could never do that but, alas, it was my favorite response.

 This is the email I sent to her:: 
I just wanted to follow up on our conversation we had the other day.  I attached some pictures of the clothes that I took after they came out of the wash.  The first two are a close up of the ruined clothes and a picture of the whole load.  As you can see there is nothing else in the load that would have caused them to turn yellow and we do not have well water.  I am extremely disappointed that you didn't apologize for the incident.  I understand that it isn't "your" fault but you are selling the item.  I have been very pleased with all of your stuff until today and, quite honestly, didn't want anything from you other than an apology.  I also understand that you have never had a problem with that line before.  However, there is a first for everything and it happened today.  I was going to try to recreate the incident by washing the skirt with a white washcloth but have been told by a couple people that make clothes, if it was already washed it probably won't run again.  I find it hard to believe that you can say, with 100% certainty, that it wasn't the skirt.  I do not think that you handled the situation well.  You have a lot of positive feedback on Etsy, you would think you would want to keep it that way.  All of the ruined clothes were clothes that we just used for family pictures and are very nice clothes and essentially brand new. 
I have since washed the clothes in the Rit dye remover and the white clothes are 100% clean.  I dipped the white sleeves of the blue shirt and that one is fine as well.  The only shirt that is ruined is the plaid.  The last picture is of the clothes after using the dye remover (missing the skirt because my daughter was wearing it).  By using the dye remover and it cleaning them, that tells ME with 100% certainty that it was definitely a dye that stained the clothes.  Not something else.  Like I said before, and the picture shows, the skirt was the only thing that color in the load of laundry. 
I have talked to many people about this situation (not using your name/business) and they all are appalled at your responses.  Several have encouraged me not to shop with you again and to also spread the word about your shop.  I haven't spread the word that it was your shop but I have had people ask me, privately, who it was.  Everyone can understand that mistakes happen, it's what someone does when that mistake happens that is important.  In a customer based business, the customer is always right.  A bad situation is going to spread a lot more than a good situation.  Something my husband said to me, that he says to suppliers, was "I find out how good of a business you are based on my first problem I have than I ever do when things go right.
Problems always happen.  It's not the problem that makes or breaks the situation/relationship, it's the resolution." I don't know, yet, what exactly I want to come out of this situation but a lot is going to be determined by your response back to me.  It would make me sad to never buy your clothes again because they are so cute and you have been the sweetest person, in person.  If this is the way you are going to handle things when there is a problem, though, I don't see what other choice I have. Please let me know your thoughts on this situation after reading all of mine and seeing the pictures.

 While I think it was mildly harsh I think I was extremely kind with the way I worded it.  Her response back to me::
I am sorry to say I am still 100% certain it was not the skirt. I have a ton of experience washing fabric and with this line specifically. I have not had a problem.
I am sorry you are unhappy but I cannot apologize for something I do not believe came from the skirt. If I believed it was in any way possible it was from the skirt I would let you know that.
At this point we will just have to leave it at disagreeing.  

I am beyond appalled.  How can someone be so blatantly ignorant?!?!  This is a prime example of rude customer service.  I forwarded emails to Etsy general support, emailed their blog and emailed their press support team.  We'll see what happens.

And these are the fixed clothes with the plaid being the only ruined shirt::