The Weekend Lens
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This was one of those weekends (and part of last week) where absolutely nothing went as planned.
Actually that's not entirely true, we did go see The Lego Movie. And you better believe that Simon loved every single minute of it and has asked to go see it again multiple times each day since we went to the theater.
In the middle of last week my furnace died.
Not the kind of death that could be brought back to life with a repair, but the kind that requires a whole new unit for the cost of a new small car.
On Thursday my computer monitor died. And then the toaster.
And the temperature in the house was just too darn cold (see Katie above all bundled up at her desk on Thursday when we were laughing so hard at the absurdity of the situation I found myself in).
I packed up the kids on Thursday night and headed to a local hotel when it felt like it just couldn't warm up with the space heaters. It was a good choice for that night.
We had hoped for a replacement to be installed on Friday but got a snowstorm instead and a call that they wouldn't be able to install the furnace for another week. I cried.
Snowstorms aren't the norm here. We had one last December (which resulted in the kids missing a week of school) and pretty much everything stops. This one ended with freezing rain and ice over everything which made it that much more dangerous and challenging.
We returned to the house on Friday mid-day and after leaving the bathroom heaters on the upstairs actually felt cozy. I called the furnace installer again to see if there was any way they could come out here before late next week. I got a call back later in the day that they were able to move some things around and if the weather cooperated they would be able to come out Monday morning vs. Thursday or later.
I was thankful.
On Friday evening we ventured out into the freezing rain and sleet to see The Lego Movie that we'd purchased advanced tickets for last week as part of Simon's birthday present from last month.
Saturday was spent in my bedroom, watching movies and having meals delivered upstairs on trays (by me). Between movies the kids played on and off in their own rooms while the world outside continued to freeze and branches and trees began to fall with the weight of the ice.
I don't remember ever spending that much time in my bedroom over the course of a few days in this house. It was actually really, really nice.
Anna's big school auction was cancelled for Saturday evening.
Sunday morning we finished reading Charlotte's Web out loud all cozied up in my bed. I cried.
On Sunday we had planned a 5th birthday party for Anna at my house.
She asked for a rainbow party with all kinds of fun decorations and colorful goodness and rainbow cookies to decorate with her friends. By Friday it was obvious that a very cold downstairs was not going to work for a gathering of 5-year-olds so we called a local pizza parlor and reserved some tables for Sunday afternoon.
The weather ended up being more of the issue than the lack of heat in my house as many families were stuck in their homes due to downed trees or power outages.
We took the awesome rainbow poms I'd ordered from PomLove along with us and the cake from local favorite Sweet Life Patisserie was a hit.
The kids were able to run around on the play area at the pizza parlor and get some of that extra energy out after a couple of days inside.
It all worked out just fine.
And as I type this out on Monday morning I can hear the installers downstairs putting in the new furnace.
Here's to another week of adventure ahead!
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61 comments
Yikes! We are serial water-heater-replacers in houses we've lived in. pffffffbth
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I remember 20+ years ago when I was in nursing school. During clinicals (actual nursing and not classroom/book work) whenever our professor said "come with me. I've got a great learning experience for you." Well, let's just say no one was turning cartwheels and jumping for joy. It usually meant some seriously challenging, can I really do that, is she for real kind of thing. Our 20 something selves always forgetting she wasn't going to leave us alone to harm or yikes kill someone. But when it was over, there was always this awesome sense of accomplishment. Yes, I did it. And no one died. Not even me! The blessing of difficulty is the look back on the other side. I which you and your kids fond memories of "do you remember the winter of 2014??????"
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A tough time, but as stated above, what memories you will all have of this great family time that resulted! Those colorful decorations and cake were perfect to "warm" things up a bit at the end. Much WARMTH and COZINESS to you all as this week begins.
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Charlotte's Web was our first read aloud chapter book. We watched the movie this past week for movie night and there were many tears involved...
Hope you're warm by now!
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Love Charlotte's Web. My son read the book in school, then I let him see the movie. He said he liked the book better because it had "deleted scenes" in it. :) Sounds like one of those weeks you'll never forget, and over time, look back on and smile.
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Happy Birthday to Anna. Love that rainbow cake. Up here in your former neck of the woods we finally got 2 inches of snow. Thankfully it happened on Saturday and now its mostly gone. Happy to hear your furnace is up and running.
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Im so sorry that you go through lot last week and weekend. It happened to us last year January when our heater has problem with dust stuck inside and we had gas company tested and turned out it is dangerous for us to use heater. So We called our complex manager to get it fixed but he is no where to reach so we was freezing whole weekend. Finally he called back on Monday and had guy came to see what's the problem then said need to order parts which mean we have additional days wait for it. But Manager decided to replace Whole system instead of waiting for parts. Im sorry that few of your thing dead on you around the same time. Hope this week will be better for you!
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This reminds me of a week I had last year! I live in Arizona, we had just returned from a birthday party that night around 8 pm to a sweltering house. Our A/C unit broke, to make matters worse my back had seized up and I couldn't walk, sit or lay down without constant pain. My teenage son called a friend and was welcomed into his home for the weekend. My husband and I along with our two dogs lived in our bedroom for the weekend after my husband drove to Lowe's to purchase a portable A/C unit at 10 pm that night! Good times! Glad to hear your sweet little family is warm again!
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That was an Adventure! It's amazing how things fall into place. I always remember Bob Marley's song, "everything's gonna be alright".
The Rainbow party looked great...loved the cake!
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Wow, Ali, what craziness! And a teachable moment, I'm sure. :) Glad they were able to come earlier and install the new furnace and that you guys are warm in the house again. :)
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Yikes! My brother lives in Tigard and I hear some similar tales....but the electromagnetic energy in your house was way off! I'll bet the kids will remember those adventures forever - and so happy you got your new furnace :)
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What a week and what a weekend! Here's to a less adventurous week ahead! LOL
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Oh Ali, for three years in a row our furnace had konked out every time Blake went hunting... and for three years it had been during a snow storm when it happened... Now? We have a new furnace & we come to Florida!Thanks for sharing a "we will get through this" moment... we always do :o)
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Congratulations on getting through the weekend! It sounds like you adapted so well and although I'm sure there were some "UGH!" times, these will be fun memories. Enjoy the new furnace and the smell of heat starting up.
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Love your sense of adventure!
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OH BOY when it rains it pours...right? Been there. I kept thinking about Simon when I first seen the Lego movie being advertised. It looks like it would be so cute. Glad he loved it. I gotta say you really made the BEST out of misery, and how cozy for you and the kids...just kinda makes ya slow down, read, and simply enjoy!!! Hoping by now your new furnace is close or done, and your warm and cozy!!!
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it always happens in threes. furnace, monitor, toaster.
You should be good for awhile! :)
Thanks for sharing your REAL life.
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That sounds like a lot of awful with some good sprinkled in. So sorry you had to go through all of that weather and cold and $ hits. :( Hope this week is much, much better!
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I had an experience like that except that it went on for two months, garbage disposal, dishwasher, dog died, water heater, heater for house and then the age difference it was cheaper to get and air conditioner, the heater went out the day before new year's eve. Temperatures were below zero. They came the next day and put in a new heater and air conditioner. Air conditioner has hooked up later with fluids. What a head ache. So I sympathize with you. It will stop.
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Oh man - it sure happens all at once!
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The weather definitely has been challenging this year. I hope everything gets back to normal. But on the other hand, what is that anymore? That birthday party looks fabulous. Michelle t
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