Signs around town

The Steelers are a BIG deal here. Sports here are huge. (I think it is because there is nothing else to do here.) Anyway, since the Steelers are going to the Super Bowl tomorrow, these signs have been popping up all over town.

This one was at Krispy Kreme, but I have also seen them at Home Depot and the grocery stores.

Pinewood Derby

Henry had his first Pinewood Derby today. He designed, sanded and helped paint his car. He also picked out the stickers and put them on. He won half of the races he was in. We had a lot of fun.

The red one is Henry's

Shoveling Snow

Yesterday alone we shoveled snow 3 times. We have gone through approximately 170lbs of salt...50 of it since Monday. Usually it's not too bad, but on Wednesday they had what they call "wintery mix." Wintery mix is basically ice sludge. It is like slush coming out of the sky, but then it freezes into this weird (and very heavy) ice mixture. Henry and I were out there for 1 1/2 hours getting it off the driveway...yuck. The boys come out and help us shovel. Sadie, however, always says that it is too cold. Ben got her out there yesterday though.

Samuel in the snow

Sadie refusing to wear gloves

Pirate Fest

Last Saturday Ben got VIP tickets to "Pirate Fest." This was a celebration for the Pittsburgh Pirates (baseball team.) We had a lot of fun. I guess they gave the VIP tickets to different companies in the area. We had a free breakfast, got lots of autographs and all of the prize winning games were free. If we hadn't had the special tickets each booth would have been $1-$2 each, which adds up. They got to go in the bounce houses too. Sadie loved that part. We won tickets to a Pirates game also. The kids won about 12 hats between them, stuffed animals, clocks, blankets, beach towels, etc. It was a great way to spend a Saturday.

Henry, Samuel and Sadie in the bounce house

Samuel and Henry with the Pittsburgh Pirate Parrot

Yeah!!!

Ben and I have been awaiting news on the ARM for our home in Florida. When we moved there we got a 5 year ARM figuring we wouldn't live there that long. I was right...we didn't live there that long, but as you know, we still own our home down there. We knew that our 5 years was up next month and wondered what the interest rate would change to. We have 5% on it right now and didn't want to have to refinance. Well, got the letter today...4%! Yeah. What a blessing!!