March 21

This afternoon Mark couldn't figure out why the dogs were carrying on so.  He kept walking into the hall but couldn't figure out what the deal was.  Eventually Chloe wouldn't stop barking and was sitting in Kell's bedroom doorway.  As Mark walked toward her, he noticed something on the floor.  She's a big fan of dragging many stuffed animals around but somehow this didn't look like one of them.  Turning on the light, he realizes it was a black baby bunny (dead of course).  There is no doubt that the Princess is the one who proudly brought it in and delivered to her mother's doorstep!

March 17

Because he has to work next weekend, we celebrated Ryan's 19th birthday last night. Because the house is still a war zone, we went to Oggi's for dinner then home for the traditional chocolate satin pie.  No candles you notice?  They are packed away somewhere in the garage so no proof this is his 19th!!  He was very thrilled with his new knife set which Mark picked out for him.  We had to do his pie/gift giving in grandma's room as the noise level is intense not to mention nowhere to sit in the main house.  We enjoyed a fire in the firepit for the rest of the evening.  He had to get up early this morning to head home as he started work at 9:00.

Kell had her riding lesson today and got thrown off again but no trip to ER was needed.  She'll be very sore and has some nice bruises to show for it though.  This is the same horse who threw her last time.  He got spooked by a pony and, despite her valiant efforts, she couldn't hold on.  Her friend came home from church with us so she could watch her ride and on the way there, Kell jokingly said "wouldn't it be funny if I got thrown today since you're coming" ... ugh ... NeVeR say those words!

March 15

Who knew a simple shower could lead to this?  I chose to go in later to work than usual so, while Mark was taking the kids to school, I took a quick shower.  While I was drying my hair, he came in and said the downstairs was flooded.  Water was everywhere - coming out of light fixtures, air vents, floor was covered in water, bubbles were expanding on the ceiling, shelving in the pantry had collapsed, etc.  While I called our flood company, he shut off the water and started damage control.  Within ten minutes Accutek was here and shortly thereafter cabinets were emptied, ovens removed, carpet pulled back as leaked through dining room wall, wallboard removed, then discovered the upstairs shower wall and surrounding carpet and walls were wet as well.  So the moving of all my stuff in the end of our closet began (with a few remarks from the guys about it resembling Imelda's closet ...).  Because of the dryers we had to move Newton's tank into the dining room so that was no small job.  Turns out the neck of the shower broke off inside the wall while it was under pressure.

The garage is now full of table, chairs, all china cabinet and kitchen cabinet contents, living room has the china cabinet and mess in it - it looks like a war zone.  Guess that bathroom remodel we were putting off will now be happening!

Here are a few pictures from today ...

I will say that the Behr kitchen paint was amazing as it was almost like a cartoon as it just kept filling up and the paint kept expanding with it!!

 

 Look how big the bubble is getting compared with the first picture!

 



 

Where the kids' picture was hanging in dining room...

Mark deals with the turtle tank while one of the guys and I empty the china cabinet as the wall and floor were soaked behind and under it ...

Time will tell if the wallpaper starts peeling off as the wall was wet ...

Kitchen cabinets were emptied, ovens came, and bottom shelf and kickboard removed as water was laying underneath ...

Back side of the shower where they capped off the broken pipe and carpet being dried ...

And the contents of that end of the closet now adorns the bedroom ...

Last but not least, the garage ...

Let the drying process begin ...

Guess I will proceed with my plan to purge which I hadn't planned to begin now  :o(

March 14

I guess it's official.  Ryan doesn't want his mom to visit his new home as he has a new pet, Bella ...

As my friend said, it's not a pet if they sell things specifically to kill it at Home Depot!

March 13

I can't help but think of my dear friend for over 30 years, Peggy, whose birthday is today.  She passed away unexpectedly last year and I continue to be reminded of her in so many ways each day.  She will always be missed.

Today also brought news of the newly elected pope from Vatican City.  Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires was named leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.  He will be known as Pope Francis I.  The 76-year-old Jesuit - the first non-European pope of the modern era - was introduced from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.  He reportedly came in second during the 2005 balloting that ultimately elected Benedict XVI.  Smoke billowed from the chimney on the second day of behind-closed-doors voting and marks the beginning to a new era for a church combating scandal and internal strife.

March 10

Mark and I set out the new patio furniture which arrived Friday.  It's been raining so today was our first opportunity.  It's definitely bigger than what we had but really nice!  (I'll have to try and take a more flattering picture of it since this came out rather blurry.)  Chloe approved as well.

March 4

The many Chloe's ...

Beautiful Chloe (after her spa day) -

 

Dirty Chloe -

 

 

Playful Chloe -

 

Sunbathing Chloe -