4 Years, 2 Months and 5 days!!

4 years, 2 months and 5 days is how long it took for us to get our oil tank removal completed. On the 16th, we finally got our letter from the State of New Jersey saying that no further action needed to be taken in regard to the removal.

We had the tank removed on December 11, 2008. At that time, they found a leak the size of an eraser head in the the tank. It required soil remediation. Then, they had to put in a well, which meant taking samples for a certain period of time and submitting those to the state. The engineer's report was submitted after the state changed the "acceptable residual levels" so we had to have it dug up and remediated again. At the end of that dig, the levels were zero so then it was just paperwork with the State.

Imagine the excitement I had the other day when I opened this letter. Our "ordeal" has ended ....well not yet. The company still has to come out fill the well and level the land. At least, if we needed to do anything with the house we have the paperwork that shows we have done our part. Never, did I think it would take this long......so happy it is finally over!!!

Mr. Bernice's Bucket

This year it was hard to decided what to do for Emily's teacher for valentines day as he is a younger man.

Light bulb - another idea from Pinterest.

Emily filled a bucket with M&M's and then decorated the outside with glittery heart stickers. With the bucket goes a poem "My Magnificent & Marvelous Teacher". To make it a little more personal, I asked Emily to write out the poem.

Sadly, due to her strep throat, she wasn't able to take it to him today but she will take it when she returns to school. I am sure he will like it.....after all, who doesn't like M&M's.

Curtains of Love

I've been trying to do "different" things this valentines day. My biggest resources has been Pinterest.

I purchased some sticky backed hearts. On the sticky side, I placed scrapbook paper and on the other side I wrote reasons why we love Emily and Matt.

Last night while the kids were sleeping, I placed the curtain of hearts in their doorway - the paper side facing out and the "love notes" facing in their rooms. The idea was in the morning they would wake up and when coming out of their room they would see the reasons they are loved.

With the remaining hearts, I made a "curtain" in the pass through between the kitchen and the dining room. On the side facing where they eat breakfast, it says "We love you" and on the other side the white sides have valentines stickers decorating them.

Sadly, my "surprise" didn't go as planned. First, Matt was taking forever to go to sleep. Once he was finally down, Dave helped me hang the ones that go in their doorway. A little bit before 11 we thought we heard someone. Sure enough, Emily had gotten up to use the bathroom. She saw the hearts in her doorway. I explained that they have reasons why we love her on them and said "go to bed". LOL!!

What was the sweetest was in the morning I heard Emily explaining to Matt what the hearts were about and how they had reasons why we love them.....and then they read them aloud. Mind you neither of them had ventured out of their rooms to see where Dave and I were, they were truly caught up in the moment.

I'm so glad that I did this.......now, I just have to do it every year. Hmmmm, what have I started? :)

Later today, they will get their love jars and I'm curious to see their reaction to those. Hopefully just as good as the "Curtain of Love".

Love Jars

I got this Valentines day gift idea from the site Pinterest. I love that site!!

I made Dave, Emily and Matt a jar that holds little notes inside telling them reasons why I love them - making them "love jars". Technically I should have done a note for all 365 days of the year but I just ran out of time. Sadly, I did not stick to my "schedule" of how many notes I calculated must be written per day when I originally decided to make these jars. So, I am going to tell them they can take one each day or when they just need a reason to know why I love them. I also figure I can add to the jar as time goes by.

I am excited to see their reactions - somehow I think the kids will wish they had gotten a toy instead. Oh well, maybe next year. :)

A Gift for the Teacher

This year we have been trying to make more of the gifts that we give to the kid's teachers. Valentines day is perfect time for a made gift.

This is a chipboard album that I bought at Michaels. I decoupaged paper on to each side of the heart. The cover shows "I love Mrs. Tronza" using stickers and another piece of chipboard that forms the "T".

On the first page it says "because she is" in stickers and then each page has a colored heart where Matt could write things he loves about his teacher.

The book reads as follows, "I love Mrs. Tronza because she is nice, powerful (love that one), good, fine, kind and pretty. Each page Matt decorated with other stickers I had.

The back cover reads "love, Matt". We are hoping Mrs. Tronza loves her gift.