An ODD Experience

The kids before the Primary Program at Church today

This week started normal enough. On Monday for family home evening we made a chocolate haunted house (similar to a gingerbread house). The kids had a lot of fun and when we were done we put it on the piano. Whenever anyone comes to the door the kids run to show them the haunted house.

On Thursday the kids had parent teacher conferences. (It was good they didn't have school because everyone has come down with a really bad cold: sore throat, fever, runny nose and cough. Today Ashton, Jeremy and I are the sick ones.) It was fun to hear the raving reviews from their teachers. Matthew and another child in his class will be starting a special math program soon because they are both talented at math and finish well before the rest of the class. Katie is starting a special reading program that will challenge her more. It is amazing how two kids who pretty much have done everything together their whole life can be so different. Katie's teacher remarked on her very neat handwriting and artistic talent (especially drawing and coloring). Matthew's teacher said that she can only get him to draw and color for a couple of minutes, but he LOVES to look at Science books.

When we got home after parent teacher conferences at about 5:05 pm we discovered that someone had cashed a $1320 check on our account. We saw the check number, but couldn't access an image online at the point. We searched and searched our house, but could not find the checkbook that check had come from. The check was number was 523 or something and checks 521 and 522 had cleared over a year ago. They had been written two days before I spent a night in a hotel in American Fork. (I didn't rememeber that right then, but I realized it later.)

So, the next morning I called the Credit Union right when it opened. At first she thought that maybe the computer read the account number wrong, but once she retrieved an image of the check she called me back and said the signature did not look like Jeremy's and we needed to get down to the credit union now.

Jeremy came home from the farm and we spent the whole morning closing and opening new accounts, filling out new debit card applications, and talking with the police. The American Fork and Ephraim police are working together because the check was written to the very hotel I had stayed at a year ago which seems like an extreme coincidence. (Although with three houses under construction in our neighborhood right now, they wouldn't be surprised if it was stolen by one of the MANY strangers working in our neighborhood, either.) They actually expect to catcher the thief/forger next week.

Anyway... it was a very odd experience to be the victim of fraud. Unfortunately, we had our full names, DL numbers, etc. on our checks. We are supposed to follow up with Credit Union and get a credit report on Monday. It is really a pain. We have no checks or cards right now. I did remember that I had some cash someone used to pay for Usborne books. So I kind of embezzled from myself to get us through the weekend. On Monday, I will get some counter checks or cash or something. Anyway... so a word of advice: the Credit Union suggests that you only put your first initial and last name on your checks and no personal info other than address and phone number. That way if you do lose your checkbook it is very difficult to forge and/or steal your identity because they don't know enough about you.

The Utah State Fair and Kathryn

Not an amazing picture, but as good as it gets after a long day at the fair.

We've spent a lot of time the last two weeks preparing for, working at and visiting the State Fair. The kids had a blast watching a tiger show, seeing a sculpture made from a ton of butter, and looking at award winning animals and art and crafts. It was one of those things we probably wouldn't have done if it weren't for Usborne.

Last Thursday, Katie (who informed us this week she wants to be called Kathryn "because that's [her] name") and I met up with my Usborne supervisor and friend, Bobbi Giles and set up the Usborne booth. Katie and I then worked the booth for most of the next two days. Katie was excellent and extremely helpful. She did have her moments when she was bored and downright difficult, but she did a great job of passing out business cards and encouraging people to enter the free book drawing. Stacie and Kellie (thankfully) came and picked up her up both nights at dinnertime making it an even funner experience for both of us.

In her "down time" she made friends with the other vendors and found other ways to occupy herself.

The next Friday (two days ago) was school picture day and Ashton's Celebration of Life at preschool. Basically it is a very symbolic birthday party. (I think we talked about it in January on Kathryn's birthday.) Anyway... he was so cute as he passed out pencils to his classmates and listened to me tell about his life. As we were leaving preschool he said, "Mommy, thank you, thank you for coming to my Celebration of Life." Ashton knows how to tug people's heart strings.

Then Jeremy and I got the little boys' pictures taken at the school (I hope Will's turns out... he was being shy), we pulled Matthew out of school about 1/2 hr. early and we went up to the State Fair again. This time, Jeremy took the kids around to the shows, events, exhibits, while I worked in the Usborne booth. The booth was pretty busy and the kids had a blast so we consider it a success!

Carrot tops from "Carrot County"

Yesterday, they kept telling me things they had learned from the shows and exhibits and Ashton asked if we could go back to that "really fun Book Party!" I am so grateful for Jeremy and the kids. They were such great sports and supports during the State Fair.

In other interesting news this week, Matthew had several cold sores which we believe led to impetigo. So he (and I) missed church and he'll probably miss school tomorrow. I think he is going to have picture retakes.

And Will acting like the truly patient, well-behaved toddler that he is made an enormous mess with water colors and then ran into the bathroom and jumped in the bathtub without bothering to change his clothes.

Later that day, Kathryn and I had this conversation:

K: What is Will's wife going to call him?

J: I don't know. What do you mean?

K: What is his grown up name?

J: What is your husband going to call you?

K: (Exasperated) Kathryn. (Add a look that says, "Duh!")

J: Oh.

K: And Dad's grown up name is Jer so what is Will's grown up name going to be? Because "Willy" is a baby name and so is "Will." Willy and Will are BOTH baby names! (Add another exasperated look.)

J: I guess she'll call him William.

This conversation was immediately following the time she told me she now wants to be called "Kathryn" so I am assuming that Katie (who put on my mascara before we worked at the booth so she could "look her best") thinks that now she goes to school she is fully grown up. I always knew she was 5 going on 20.