2011 Christmas Photo Shoot

Many new changes and some pictures!

So we have experienced many changes as we prepare for new baby girl's arrival. I realized I was expecting in July and I resigned from my wonderful job in the beginning on August. I miss my work friends, my school and my students but I'm thrilled with this slightly late chance to mother another child. We couldn't believe it when we learned the baby is a girl. That will be a real change around here! We are still working on names but I will share some fun new family pictures. Our amazingly talented niece took them for us and I think she did a great job.

Extended Warranties

And now, on a totally unrelated topic, I want to talk about extended warranties. You may or may not know that we have a surprise bundle of joy coming in February. One thing that I have needed for awhile is a new washer and dryer. Mine are on their last legs and this seemed like a good time to take care of that transaction. So, we recently bought a new washer and dryer. You think it would be a rather uncomplicated process? NO! We carefully selected the brand, model, store and price that we wanted. We went to Sears Outlet and completed the purchase. It was a lot of work but we had no idea what was in store for us. The amazing high pressure techniques that have been used to get us to purchase an extended warrenty have shocked me.

I judge no one that buys extended warranties, but for me, I generally don't. I feel that I save money by not buying them and then once in awhile if I have to call a repairman, then I think it's less than the cost of all the warranties that I might have bought and never used. Clark Howard recommends against them:

http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clark-howard/shopping-retail/skip-extended-warranties-appliances-these-tips/nFJyK/

And I won't lie, it irks me that they ask me to buy a policy against the brand new product they are selling me. The warranty covers the period of time when the item is new, and it's highly unlikely that you will need service in the first 2-3 years of a product's life. OK, so I am tipping my hand that I think that extended warranties are a scam. However, I digress.

If I was on the fence as to extended warranties, this extreme approach to trying to sell me one would totally push me off the fence. We were asked in the store if we'd like to buy it for $300. We said no thanks. We politely gave our reason. OK, a few minutes later the salesman offered us the same extended warranty with free delivery. We considered it and still said no thanks. I went out to the car while Ken completed the work and he was asked 2 more times that day. Am I crazy or is that excessive?? Then the dryer didn't work so Ken had to go back to the store to work on changing the dryers out and guess what was brought up again.

Today I was called on the phone to be asked if I wanted the same warranty at a reduced price. I was polite but I told they guy why I don't agree with warranties and why asking me repeately is becoming tedious. He seemed confused and I suspect that what I said didn't come up on his script. He actually, then, asked me if he could call back when I had a chance to discuss it with my husband. I couldn't help it, I laughed.

Then I went to Sears.com and made a complaint. I feel as if I am on the streets of New York City and some shady guy in a trench coat is following me with imitation designer watchers lining the inside of his coat. "Hey Lady, ya wanna buy an extended warranty for $300, how about $225....OK, OK how about $175...Lady, Lady........"

OK rant over! Now I will upload some cute new family pictures!
Becky

Time Flies when you are having fun...

Well, we are at the end of another school year.  Brian has completed this year and is now on summer vacation.  He did well in his classes and has a busy schedule next year.  The downside is that he is unable to take band next year so he can take his desired AP classes as well as his Building Trades and Engineering Academy classes.  He plans to return for his senior year.  Kevin has done well this year, too.  He has a few more weeks of elementary school and then he promotes to middle school which is 7th grade here.  He has great friends and they will be joining him in middle school.  I think he's looking forward to the change.  I'm not sure how they have become so grown up!

Ken and I continue to work on the house.  We are working on our lower floor bathroom.  It's about halfway finished.  I'll post pictures when it's complete. 

I am working on completing my mormon.org profile.  When it's complete, I will post a URL and you can view it.