Monday, May 19, 2014

And so, this has been going on....

...during the past few weeks.

No, we are not re-modeling.

The upstairs bathroom that's connected with Emma's bedroom had a flood. It seems that the toilet was stopped up (I can't imagine what little seven year old stopped up the toilet) and the handle didn't raise all of the way, so the water, well, flooded upstairs and then leaked downstairs into the hall way, the laundry room and the spare master bathroom and down the walls.

It was awesome.

Emma came to me, telling me that "There's water in da hallway, Mommy!". I thought perhaps my little Pickles pee'd but no, as Emma continues to tell me that "Yup, there's water comin' out of the ceiling, Mommy! Come see!!".

"Come see" indeed....

I wish that i had thought to take a quick pic of the water streaming out the ceiling or maybe even my face as i saw what my child was talking about, but i was too shocked to move when i saw the heavy stream on water that was landing on my hardwood floors. I yelled for Emma to help me get some towels and we lay down towels on the hardwood floors. Of course, putting down towels does nothing to stop the water that continued to stream out of the light fixtures and down the walls.

I run upstairs, and i stop in my tracks when i see that the bathroom is flooded and water is freely flowing out of the toilet. I grab more towels and lay those down before the water gets to the upstairs hall landing carpet. I shut the water off from the toilet, fix the handle so it stops the water to a slow trickle and continue to lay down towels.

"Wow, Mommy! You know how to fix eberything!" says Emma

I turn around and just stare at her, now realizing the interesting nature fact that some spiders actually DO eat their young,is probably true...

"Mommy, do ya tink we should call Dada? asks my little cherub.

"Holy Crap!" i think to myself. I have to call my husband, a plumber, the insurance company...i call the plumber first (because, of course, it's a Friday and it's after 5 pm) and make arrangements for him to come quickly. Then i make the call to the insurance company to report this little incident. And then, after a lengthy call to the insurance company, i realize that i really do need to call my husband because there is no way to fix this mess before he comes home. Perhaps i should just pretend that there isn't water on the floors, in the laundry room, in the spare master bath and streaming down the walls?

My sweet husband is under enough stress at work and i am worried i am going to throw him under the bus with this news.

So, i put on my happiest, cheery, fake voice and ring up the husband.

"HI, SWEETIE!! Almost ready to come home?" i chirp out.

"Isabel. What's wrong? I know when you use that fake, cheery voice something is wrong....."

Crap. I always forget that he knows me better than i know me. Crap, Crap, CRAP!

"DADA! THERE'S WATER ON DA FLOOR 'N COMIN' OUT OF DA CEILING!!" screams Emma.

Oh, i wish i was a hungry spider.....

"Isabel?" my husband asks.

"Yes, sweetie?" i answer in my still fake chirpy voice.

"What's up?" he calmly asks.

I begin to tell him in a rushed voice, hoping he won't figure out that it really isn't just "some water that over flowed from the upstairs toilet"....but my husband is a very smart man and he knows a line of bull when he hears it coming from me.

"Call the insurance company. I'm on my way home." he tells me.

The insurance company calls me back to tell me that a company who deals with water damage will be at my home shortly. They give me a case number and a contact number and tell me to please call back if i need anything.

I need a drink, that's what i really need. And i'm not even really a drinker.

The husband arrives home and takes in the scenery of our water logged floors, ceilings laundry room, spare master bath, and the upstairs area. He looks at me, and i know exactly what he is thinking "This IS NOT JUST 'SOME' WATER THAT OVERFLOWED FROM THE UPSTAIRS TOILET!", but he is kind enough not to say those words to me.

The plumber comes and does his thing. He takes my husband upstairs to talk about the toilet and what he did to fix it. I have no interest in seeing the upstairs bathroom as it is now setting in how much worse this whole situation could have been.

Then the Master Pro guy comes....who knew that there were procedures in place to fix water damage? Not me, that's for sure. After giving our Master Pro guy the grand tour, he quickly gets to work, setting up huge fans and dehumidifiers to dry out the walls and floor. It suddenly sounds like we are living in a airport hanger...

About an hour later, my husband gets a call from our insurance agent. I think that we are both stunned that he actually called us late on a Friday night and that he actually gave my husband his cell phone number in case we had questions, needed advice or decided we needed a hotel room. To say that i am grateful he spoke to Robert is an understatement--i could tell my husband felt a little better after speaking to him---> because after having me to speak to about this mess, he needed to hear a voice of reason, i'm sure.

So, we are now in the 're-building' state. The carpet upstairs in now dried, but needs to be re-installed. The tile in the upstairs bathroom has been pulled up and needs to be re-tiled. The laundry room walls/ceiling are dried out and cut into. Molding has been taken out and trashed; it will also need to be re-installed. Areas in the ceiling that had to be cut out also need to be re-done.

Hopefully, that work is being lined up and will start shortly. I don't even care what order it's done in--i just want my house put back together again and done quickly. I'm starting to get an inkling that it's not going to be done as fast as i would like it to be. I'm going to have to find some of that 'patience' stuff that i have so very little of.

Maybe i better find a lot of that 'patience stuff'....



Monday, May 5, 2014

A beautiful weekend.....

Really, the weekend was perfection. The weather was beautiful. Sunny and warm with the promise of more beautiful days to come.

There are only 12 more days of school left. This year, just like last year, has flown by. While i am ready to have a more relaxed pace, i like the daily routine that school provides. We have lots of activities coming up, like camp, swim lessons, a trip to Aunt Claudine's house and perhaps a much over-due family vacation...but none of those activities offer much of a daily routine. I guess i need to get on the ball and create one!

The flip-flop wreath photo is what i'm about to start working on. Very summer-like, eh?

Much to do today....

Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter 2014

.....a very nice and fun Easter for my little family. Most of the day was spent outside as it was simply a beautiful day. While spending the day outside seemed like a wonderful idea at the time, i'm afraid that the husband's allergies questioned our idea that spending the entire day outside was truly, in fact, a wonderful idea.

I had to smile at Emma--so very excited about her basket, her new stuffed pet, the movie Frozen, and the eggs that the Easter Bunny left behind. I don't think she truly understands what Easter is all about....the Jesus rising from the dead part bothers her a bit as she wanted to know why God couldn't raise Abuela from the dead. I'm sure that the understanding of Easter will come, but i can see how difficult it is to explain it to a little child.

She loves to say grace at our meals and yesterday's grace went something like this:

Dear God, we lobe you so berry much. Tank you for my fwamily, for all of da animals, for our Pickles and for da sunshine. Tank you for lwetting us all eat together. I lobe you, God. GRACE!

Emma says "Grace" instead of "Amen".

After a day outside, we spent time watching Frozen...

....and watching it again.

....and then singing to Frozen.

....and then watching it a.g.a.i.n.

By bed time, we were all more than ready to fall asleep.

Perhaps next year, we can spend Easter at the beach. I hear that sunrise service on the beach is something not to be missed. Oh how i would love to spend Easter near a beach!

Off to work....


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Spring?

Where are you?!?!


Thursday, February 27, 2014

Picture Day....

....is here again. I totally forgot to purchase the photos from Picture Day in the Fall, so this time, i can't forget! Class photos were also done--and i have to say, those are my most favorite photos. I love seeing all of Emma's classmates with their teacher. And this time, unlike last year, the photos will be done the "old fashioned way"; meaning that the heads of the children won't be added to the photo! I had no clue that the class photos were done that way....but photography editing has come a very long way!

I think that Emma is getting a bit antsy for Spring...in fact, i think we all are. The weather here has been very cold. While we are use to a few really cold days, this winter has been full of extremely cold days. I'm afraid my girl isn't fond of heavy coats, hats and mittens! Emma would much rather be on a beach, playing on the sand and in the water. Hopefully, we can plan a week or two at my sister's home where getting to the beach is just a few moments drive. Although i wouldn't want to live in FL full-time, i understand the pull. To not see the sun for a week or so can really be the worse. It means no time at the park, no time in the backyard, and Emma's run team doesn't run when it is under 25`. I'm thankful for places like Sky High Sports where Emma can run and jump off all of that extra energy by jumping.

So, here's to Spring! May you show up quickly!

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl.....

It is hard to believe that my daughter is seven years old.

It was a good day....we started the day with breakfast at Loveless Cafe. I think we ate our weight in their amazing biscuits. Our waitress was amazing and she doted on Emma. It was a perfect way to start the day.

Then off to Target to spend a gift card that was given to her by a friend....too many choices, but Emma had her heart set on a certain item that they didn't carry, so it was off to Toys 'r Us to track down the much wanted toy.

Then, off to the house to rest a bit....we had gotten up very early to beat the crowds at Loveless Cafe so it was indeed time for a nap.

After a too-short nap, Emma and i went to Sky High Sports for a few hours to play.

And finally, dinner out and then, the best for last:

Cake and ice cream along with our singing "Happy Birthday".

Time really does fly by, doesn't it?

Happy, Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!


Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day....

....roses, chocolates, hugs and kisses.

That is what makes Valentine's Day special.

It's a note from Emma that says "I love you, Mommy".

It's hearing her giggle as Robert chases her and Pickles thru our home.

It's cuddling up all together in our bed; telling stories and giggling.

It's Emma telling Robert "Dada, you lwook SOOO handsome!"

It's all of those things that happen daily that makes my life magical.


Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Oh beautiful.....

I know a lot of people are up in arms about the Coke Superbowl ad. Some are so upset that they don't realize that America the Beautiful is NOT the national anthem of our country. To those individuals, please take a deep breath.

My dear husband, who while not upset, has decided to take a break from Coke products as sort of protest of bad taste by Coke and their executives. Sort of half protest, half "I don't need to be drinking this stuff anyway." Yes, my husband is quite the rebel, isn't he?

His point, which I don't quite understand but still love him anyway, is that we collectively as a nation; corporate, individual, government, have step over the line too far in trying to push agendas. Or worse; we will use political correctness to generate "hype" for our business, both good and bad.

He as a business owner takes a stand against using anything, especially a beloved song of our country, to further your brand. That there is a line to good taste and common sense. And to some degree, I can understand that. But just for the record, let me just say that i loved the ad.

Oh, and i love Diet Coke, too.

And how brilliant of Coca-Cola to get so much attention out of the measly 4 million dollars they spent for this ad?!?!

So, I will be on watch to see how long it takes before he breaks his economic boycott. I'm willing to bet that my husband (aka: The Rebel without a Coca-Cola....) won't last nearly as long as he thinks he will last.


For all of you who want to do the same, here's a list of all the Coke Brands:

Aquapure
Aquarius
Bacardi Mixers *
Bacardi Premium Mixers *
Barq's
Barrilitos
Beverly
Bright And Early
Caffeine-free Barq's
Caffeine-free Coca-Cola
Caffeine-free Diet Coke
Cascal
cherry Coke
Chippewa
Citra
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Black Cherry Vanilla
Coca-Cola Cherry Zero
Coca-Cola Zero
Coca-Cola Zero Caffeine-Free
Cumberland Gap
DANNON *
DASANI
Delaware Punch
diet Barq's
Diet cherry Coke
Diet Coke
Diet Coke Black Cherry Vanilla
Diet Coke with Lime
Diet Coke with Splenda
Diet Fuze Tea
diet Inca Kola
Diet Master Pour
Diet Northern Neck
Diet Sprite
Diet Sprite Zero
Dr Pepper*
Evian *
Fanta
Fanta Sugar Free
Fanta Zero
Five Alive
Flavor Rage
Fresca
Fruitopia
Full Throttle
FUZE
FUZE TEA
Georgia
glacéau fruitwater
glacéau smartwater
glacéau vitaminenergy
glacéau vitaminwater
glacéau vitaminwater zero
Gold Peak
H2OK
Hi-C
Honest Ade
Honest Fizz
Honest Kids
Honest Tea
Honest Tea Zero
Illy *
Inca Kola
Java Monster*
Jericho
Kinley
Krest
Lift
Master Chill
Master Pour
Mello Yello
Mello Yello Zero
Mezzo Mix
Minute Maid
Minute Maid Enhanced
Minute Maid Fruit Falls
Minute Maid Juices To Go
Minute Maid Light
Minute Maid Orchards
Monster *
Northern Neck
NOS
Odwalla
Peace Tea *
Pepe Rico
Pibb Xtra
Pibb Zero
POWERADE
POWERADE PLAY
POWERADE ZERO
Red Flash
Simply
Southern Sun
Spring!
Sprite
Sprite Zero
Sugar Free Full Throttle
Sugar Free NOS
Sugar Free Sprite
Sunfill
Surge
TaB
Vanilla Coke
Vanilla Coke Zero
VAULT
Vault Zero
Vegibeta
Vegitabeta
Worx Energy *
Zico *


Now please excuse me while i go drink a Diet Coke.....lol