Ohio

Yesterday we packed up a rented van and drove 7 hours to Southern Ohio. This morning we are waking up at Scott's childhood home for our annual summer visit.  I think that is all I will say today.

Have a great weekend. 

Inconvenience

The plumber came yesterday afternoon and diagnosed a leak in the pipe leading into the house. (No surprise since that is what we expected.) Unfortunately, he will have to work from outside the house, which means that digging is involved. Sigh. This is going to be a huge (and unexpected) project. 

Until the issue is fixed, we are only turning on the well pump intermittently. A few times a day we are turning it on so that we can wash dishes, take showers and flush the toilets. Other than those times, the water is turned off. Talk about an inconvenience! 

I keep trying to remind myself that, in the scope of the world, we are fortunate to have leaking pipes and water issues. So many people in the world don't have running water. For too many, my inconvenience of having to turn on the electricity to the pump would be a pure luxury. I'm trying to keep my perspective on my frustrations, but I have to admit that it isn't easy.  

It still stinks!

My Clean House Sprung a Leak

 Because yesterday was rainy (again) and we were stuck inside, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to thoroughly clean and declutter the house. I am not an individual who enjoys the process of cleaning. In fact, if I were to rate my housekeeping I would land squarely at a 5. I don't lack the skills, but I certainly lack the motivation. 

Every once in awhile the mood strikes me to thoroughly clean everything. Yesterday was one of those days. While the boys busied themselves with their computers and television, I spent the afternoon scrubbing, purging the junk and organizing. I was exhausted when I was done, but the satisfaction of sitting down in a clean house is amazing.

Unfortunately, my clean house vibe didn't last long. I went into our basement to locate a prosthetic foot and discovered a massive water leak. I don't know how long the water has been flowing because we haven't been in the basement for several days. The water was leaking long enough to cover 3/4 of our basement garage.

I felt like crying. I felt like hiding. I felt like screaming. None of these reactions would have helped the situation.

Instead, we rallied and got to work. Robby picked up the water logged papers and assorted items to trash. (He ended up filling three contractor size trash bags.) I mopped and used the wet/dry vacuum to remove as much of the water as possible. Scott worked to locate the source of the leak.

The water seems to be seeping through the cinder block wall directly underneath the well water intake pipe. We are hoping beyond hope that the leak is in the L-joint pipe that is directly above the oozing block. Of all of the repair options, replacing that joint will be the easiest and the cheapest. 

This morning I am waking up in a clean house with no water. (We cut the electric to the well pump to stop the leaking.) We are waiting for the specialized plumber who promised to make it here sometime today. Until then, we are in water damage triage mode.

Splash

After waking up early and working through lunch, I was eager to log off to play for a few hours. Thankfully the weather was hot and the sun was bright. It didn't take much coaxing (or any at all) to convince Timmy to join me in the pool. 

We played and swam for three hours. I didn't think my little water bug would ever tire, but eventually he agreed to come inside. It turns out he was more hungry than he was tired. After chomping down two cheeseburgers, he was ready to hop back into the pool for an evening swim. 

I think this is going to be an awesome summer!

Summer Break (official)

After a not-so-stellar end to the week, this past weekend was exactly what I needed to recharge and recenter. The weather was hot (finally) and we didn't have rain. We had a great time just splashing and playing in the pool through the afternoon. It felt wonderful to be able to unplug and just have fun in the sunshine with my kids. 

Yesterday was Father's Day, a holiday which always feels awkward since my Dad passed away. I miss him all the time, but his absence feels more profound on holidays and during special events. Even though my heart felt felt twangs of grief throughout the day, I did my best to make Scott feel both special and appreciated.

In the morning I helped Timmy prep a special breakfast for his Daddy. Robby grilled the steaks for dinner and I took everybody out for ice cream for dessert. Scott was showered with gifts, love, attention and affection throughout the day. I hope that he felt appreciated because, although he frustrates me at times, he is an awesome Daddy.

Today is the first official day of the boys summer vacation. Both kiddos finished some lingering projects over the weekend, so they are officially done with school. It is hard to believe that Robby wrapped up his freshman year in high school and Timmy is now a kindergarten graduate. I feel relieved to have survived my first year with dual cyber school students.

With everybody now on summer break, I find myself up early and working in the solitude of a quiet house. I know that the day will become loud and hectic when everybody wakes up. Although I'm not a morning person, being able to knock out a few hours of work before the chaos begins makes rolling out of bed worthwhile.