What a MESS

Posted by Yavonda on January 27, 2012

Sometimes being a homeowner really bites. Right now is one of those times.

Yesterday, the toilet in our main bathroom decided it didn’t want to work anymore. Now it had been acting up for some time — it just didn’t want to stop running. But on Thursday, it took it to a new level and overflowed. It was quite the flood. I was not amused.

I mopped up all of the water and put a fan in the doorway to dry everything out. Then I called my husband as I rushed to work and filled him in on the problem. He had originally planned to fix the constant running on Friday night. He now had a Thursday night project.

So my husband went and bought new parts for the toilet and started working on it. He thought it was fixed and then it started leaking. A flood occurred. His dad came over to give him a hand — the leak continued. And you guessed it, more water on the floor.

It turns out that the seal valve between the tank and the toilet bowl has disintegrated with time. It also turns out the universal parts that are commonly sold at big-box hardware stores don’t fit our toilet. Umm, not good.

So today the men are searching for the right-sized part. Otherwise, I see toilet shopping in my future this weekend.

And the bathroom, well it is a mess. Once the toilet is fixed, the clean up can begin. I’m actually looking forward to being able to get in there and mop — trust me, I rarely look forward to housework. But I don’t dig the mess.

The black stuff is the remnants of the rubber seal that has just died.

Our bathroom -- it isn't usually this messy (or dirty!)

 PS. It’s Freebie Friday time again. This week Arkie Mama is giving away three cookbooks with recipes for babies and toddlers. Go here for a chance to win!

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And the winner is …

Posted by Yavonda on January 25, 2012

And the winner of our $125 gift certificate from Bedford Camera and Video is Tara Gardner. Congratulations! Send me an email at ychase@arkansasonline.com so I can get your mailing address.

Thanks to all of you who entered the contest. I’m sorry you couldn’t all win, but I hope you all have fun with your cameras anyways!

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Wordless Wednesday

Posted by Yavonda on January 25, 2012

I love it when Alaina gives me kisses and snuggles. It just makes my day!

Is there anything better than kisses and snuggles from your little one?

Kisses for Alaina :)

Posted in Alaina, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Trip to the farm

Posted by Yavonda on January 23, 2012

During our trip to Australia, Matt and Nana took Alaina to Collingwood Children’s Farm. The whole purpose of the farm, according to their website, is to provide “country experiences for city people.”

I was pretty worn out so I didn’t go, but judging from the photos, my family had a great time!

Matt and Alaina down on the farm :)

Nana and Alaina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. You still have time to enter to win the gift certificate from Bedford Camera and Video for 4 Introduction to DSLR I classes. Go here and leave me a comment!

 

Posted in Alaina, animals, Australia | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Song for Saturday

Posted by Yavonda on January 21, 2012

In light of Etta James’ death, I thought it fitting that one of her songs should be my Saturday song post. Since I figure everyone has been playing “At Last” since the news of her passing, I thought I’d offer a different tune. Rest in Peace, Etta.

W-O-M-A-N by Etta James

P.S. Don’t forget about the great Freebie Friday giveaway from Bedford Camera and Video. Go here for all of the details and to enter.

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Freebie Friday

Posted by Yavonda on January 20, 2012

Calling all shutter-happy mamas (and daddys, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) have we got a Freebie Friday for you!

This week I’m giving away a gift certificate, valued at $125, for an Introduction to DSLR I (4 classes) at Bedford Camera and Video. The certificate is good through the end of the year so you have plenty of time to sign up for the classes and get valuable tips on how to get the most out of your fancy digital SLR camera.

Leave me a comment about who or what is your favorite subject to photograph and I’ll draw the winner on Wednesday. Good luck!

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More animals from Down Under

Posted by Yavonda on January 19, 2012

Here are some more photos from the Healesville Sanctuary near Melbourne, Australia. Besides my beloved koalas, we got to see kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, a wombat, a duckbill platypus (no pictures worth showing, sorry), a guy throwing boomerangs that he made, and lots of cool birds. About the ONLY thing we couldn’t really see that is definitely Australian was a Tasmanian devil. He was sleeping away from the viewing areas. About the only thing you could see of him was his um, posterior region. :)

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Koala time

Posted by Yavonda on January 13, 2012

Cool animals are one of the first things I think of when someone says Australia. I just LOVE koalas, kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils, penguins, etc. So its is no big surprise that I wanted to see the furry creatures during our trip to Melbourne. So one of our first sight-seeing excursions was a trip to Healesville Sanctuary.

It was awesome! I wish I could show you ALL of my pictures, but between me, Matt and Branko, we took 300+. Even when I break out the BEST ones, there are still too many for one post, so I’ll spread them out for a few entries. Besides, who doesn’t want to look at cute beasties for a few posts? :)

First up are the koalas. I just love these little guys. I keep telling Matt I want one as a pet, but he points to the really razor-sharp claws and assures me its not a good idea. I guess he’s right — sigh. But they’re still stinkin’ adorable!

Handsome fellow, isn't he? -- photo by Branko

P.S. Its Freebie Friday time again. Go see Emily over at Dys-Located for a chance to win a Good Housekeeping Cookbook that retails for $29.95.

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Wordless Wednesday: Christmas in Australia

Posted by Yavonda on January 11, 2012

Once we arrived in Australia, it was time for Christmas No. 3. I think Alaina enjoyed herself, what do you think? :)

 

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Jet lag

Posted by Yavonda on January 9, 2012

I hate jet lag. I really do.

Our family did really well beating the jet lag while we were in Australia. Chris and Branko kept Matt and me up until a reasonable bedtime on that first night and we managed pretty well. I think I went to bed earlier one other day, but for the most part I adjusted quickly.

If only that were the case at home. The first night back I dropped like a rock. I hadn’t slept on the long leg of our journey from Melbourne to LA because we left at 11:30 am, Melbourne time. I was wide awake all 14 hours of that flight. I dozed off on the shorter travel legs (from LA to Dallas and from Dallas to LR) but that isn’t real sleep. So by the time we arrived home on Friday night, I basically fell into bed.

The second night I fell asleep pretty easily but woke up at 3:30 am. I Facebook’ed for a while and managed to go back to bed, although I tossed and turned until morning. Matt and Alaina didn’t fare as well that night. Alaina fell asleep about 5 pm and woke up at 10 pm, right as Matt was headed to bed. She didn’t go back to sleep until 3 am. Needless to say, poor Matt (who can’t sleep in to save his life) was pretty wiped out.

So you would have thought we would have all slept well last night, right? Nope.

Alaina went to bed at 8 pm or so when we got home from Grandpa Glen’s. I headed to bed soon after her because I had a headache. I tossed and I turned and got back up about 2 am to find Matt sitting on the couch. He was too wired to sleep. I tried to go back to sleep and then gave up. So in the wee hours of this morning Matt and I watched The Bourne Ultimatum for the umpteenth time. At some point, Alaina woke up because she was wet and hungry. She ended up eating a bowl and half of oatmeal before we could get her back to sleep.

I finally got sleepy about 6 am and went back to bed. Thank GOODNESS I took today off from work to give myself a little more recovery time. Matt went into the office on absolutely no sleep. Poor guy.

Here’s hoping  jet lag releases us all from its evil clutches tonight and we get a good night’s sleep. I could certainly use one!

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