BIG

Some kids are getting a bit too big for my liking.....

So because her hair is AWFUL I am considering bobbing it again in a pixie cut. What do you think?
Always the HAM.

The Aquarium

Looks a little bare in here as we ripped down the Christmas decor, but didn't put anything back up....

So, I guess the aquarium deserves an update since it is consuming my life pretty much. I've been pretty depressed about it, so I haven't said much....

So we waited about 5 days after filling it and got the water tested by TWO different fish stores. We were told- water looks great! Two stores mind you....Now I will preface by saying that I had read the tank needed to be cycled either with or without fish before it was truly safe, but my eagerness got the best of me and I trusted the stores. I had also read that you need to test your own water, but when I questioned BOTH stores, they both cautioned me against it saying I should just take them my water instead. Well....I should have trusted my instincts. I took the kids to pick out their decorations- Mira wanted the "Bolcano" and Griffin got the Alligator head. I put the bubble stones in and the tank was all ready. The kids went and showed me the fish they preferred and I went back later to pick them up. I spent over an hour getting them ready for their new home- floated them in the tank, slowly added our water to theirs, etc.....12 hours later. DEAD. All of them. DEAD.

Now I am an animal lover....for real. ALL animals.....this was devastating to me. I pretty much cried the entire way to work over our six dead fish and the disappointment the children would face over it. Awful. I will NOT do that again. So I got them out of the tank and got to researching and reading again about cycling the fish tank to ready it for fish. This process is known to take anywhere from 1 week to 6 weeks. GAH! I do not want to wait, but I will NOT kill my fish again.

I know there are MANY of you who have had fish in your lives and you'll say, "I never cycled anything!" and, "All I ever added was that dechlorinator stuff and my fish lived!" Well so I'll get on my soapbox and tell you....you CAN cycle the fish tank USING fish....BUT even if the fish live, it shortens their life span immensely! Simply because some of them live, doesn't mean they aren't harmed. So they probably should have lived, but I think they were just small fish, maybe not the hardiest fish, and it was just too much for them. Also, this is a large aquarium, not a small bowl....it's a little different.

So what to do now?? Well....I started by adding my ammonia (the byproduct of fish) (ACE brand). You simulate fish by adding household pure ammonia to a certain level. Eventually the bacteria needed for the tank will form to take care of it. It's a big waiting game. FINALLY yesterday I saw some nitrites in our water (the bacteria that forms to take care of the ammonia). WOOT! I was starting to get skeptical. So the nitrites eat the ammonia- see...you need the nitrites in there BEFORE you have fish, so that it can eat the ammonia the fish produce and the fish aren't killed by their byproducts. So we are on our way. The 3rd byproduct are nitrAtes....which we don't have yet. So I am waiting for the nitrites to eat all the ammonia and then form nitrates that eat the nitrites all in 24 hours- until then I keep adding the ammonia to keep it at a certain level....it's sortof complicated, but anyway- when the ammonia and nitrites are finally zero at the same time I can do a partial water change and again add fish- the tank then safe for them. I am dying for that day....

So eventually this tank will have fish in it....eventually. I really don't want the aquarium to be a big deal in the long run, so hopefully by doing this the right way, our fish will live and be happy. The kids seem ok with the whole process- Mira understands that it will take awhile until we can get some more fish. They loved watching them swim around for the 5 or so hours we had them....For now I am testing the water daily and making the necessary changes....and researching what kid of fish I want for it. YES it's a pain in the ass....but hopefully it'll be worth it. It is really a beautiful set up.

More Christmas....

I mean, he is SO CUTE when he's playing with his train table.

Doing a puzzle with Grandpa.

Opening presents. Thomas?! Really???
Showing Grandpa his new train table.
Right after they walked down the stairs. Griffy was in heaven!
Really? How cute is that??

Christmas Eve

Well, Saturday night all the Smith adults went out for a nice dinner for Lana (Grandma's) birthday. It was a FANTASTIC dinner, however just as I was getting ready Griffin puked all over the carpet. GREAT. I had totally thought we dodged the puke bullet that was going around. Boy was I WRONG. Grandma Sarah came and stayed with them so we could still enjoy our night out.

I was up with him pretty much all night, although he was done puking, his tummy was a mess and he was up a lot. By the next day he was still sleepy but much more himself. We all maintained basic health through Christmas eve...

Christmas eve working a puzzle.

Taking a bath.
Getting his jammies on. He's such a ham.

Eating popcorn and watching Christmas Vacation.

Doesn't she have the sweetest face! I know everyone thinks she's me, but those are Smith ears and a Smith nose. McGinley eyes I suppose.
Who couldn't love this kid, I mean, REALLY?!
Writing her letter for Santa and getting the cookies ready.

Xmas eve everyone came over here. I had to work but got home a little after 7. We had soup and treats and watched Christmas Vacation and then got to work setting up the aquarium and the train table. Christmas day I got Griffin's puking and pretty much stayed in bed ALL day. :( That night about midnight Mira started up to ruin Sunday too. It' s not been the Christmas we dreamed of, but everyone got just what they wanted and they're happy.

These pics are from my new camera. It's great!! I am still having a bit of trouble figuring out why I get blurry pictures because when I look up the name of the camera and blurry pics, everything says that NEVER happens. haha. User error I guess.

More xmas eve and xmas morning pics to come....not many because of the illness....the main excitement for today is the aquarium we just got fish for! It's awesome!!!

Sad News

So- apparently there is something wrong with my memory stick for the camera and I'm unable to get pictures off of it. Therefore- I am done taking pictures until Christmas when I'm supposed to get a new camera. I know this is devastating to you!!! It's only 5 days. We can make it!

Not too much going on- we went to see Brooks' extended family this weekend for their Christmas celebration. It was a good time- it had been a really long time since I had been able to go back and see everyone. The kids had a blast, of course, with all of the kids that come along with a huge family. I'm blessed with social children. We were all really tired when we got home and went pretty much right to bed. The kids are at school today so hopefully I'll get Christmas presents bought and wrapped!! We'll see!

Tonight B and I are going to the pet store to pick out our new aquarium that Santa will bring for the kids. I'm actually really excited!! It's been a long time since I've had a pet to dote on so I'm looking forward to taking care of the fish :)

Fun

Painting- beautiful. They love to paint. Watercolors aren't too annoying...

Mira actually does pretty well!
She got some stick on earrings and stick on nails in her advent box. Gorgeous.

Program

Friday night they had their preschool Christmas program. They looked really cute. It was in the auditorium at the police academy and it was pretty intimidating for them I think. Mira did absolutely nothing during her dance part which was disappointing to me...but they didn't get to practice on the stage so I guess it's understandable. Griffy did sing a bit of his songs with his class and dance around some and Mira sang hers. It was cute regardless...

Afterward.