What we've been up to lately...

It's over a month since our last post... and for those who actually follow our blog I apologize. But here is a taste of what we have been up to the last month (maybe it will make sense as to why we haven't been blogging).

First off... I finally got my computer up and running thanks to my brother-in-law. He looked at it and I needed to reload Vista. Since I've done that it has been working great!

Next... one of the many joys of apartment managing is dealing with tenants who are CRAZY! About 2 weeks ago (on a weekday) we received a call from a tenant telling us that another tenant had the stereo up loud. It was 11:30pm and we were just heading to bed. After debating about who "got" to go, Danior took the honors. He came back and said that the tenant was passed out on their couch and after yelling her name, banging on her door, and calling her on the phone she was still asleep. He tried to reach the switch to the surge protector that we thought her stereo was plugged into with a broom (through a screenless window) but, alas, no success. He came back and told me he needed my help (we figured that if one of us was going to open her door and go inside, it was probably better I do it than him). So, we get the keys, cover Jonah up (who is still awake now at almost midnight) and head out there. Well, she had a latch lock on her door, so I could only get it open about 2 inches.... bummer. So, in my PJ's I moved her patio furniture, climbed in her window, and unplugged her stereo. But here's the clincher... after working on all this for almost half an hour, the tenant wakes up when I turn off her music. Go figure!

We finally get back to bed and I go out to check that the doors were locked and I hear something rustling behind our tv. I grab a flashlight... and this is what I see....

Rebekah's fork that had been missing for a couple days...
... and what lookes like rat droppings. I go wake up Danior, have him come check it out. Then he has to get dressed again... and go find some rat traps outside to put behind our tv. Two days go by and we don't catch anything. So we have the handyman come by and add more plexiglass to the bottom of our already plexiglassed-over fireplace.

Danior enjoying the kids... doesn't he look happy? The kids sure do!


Then, last saturday the handyman finally came by to investigate some mildew and leaks in our bathroom ceiling. I had been trying to get him to come and check it out for almost a year... can you believe it? So, he tears into the ceiling where the wet spots are and can't find anything. He decides to open up the entire ceiling above the bathtub to let the wood dry out before he does anything else. Well... in taking out the rest of the ceiling we made a shocking discovery. Not only was there water damage, there was mold, evidence of termites, and a huge rats nest. There was also a hole, made by the rats, leading to the apartment upstairs.

So, it is now Wednesday and I still do not have access to my bathtub or shower. We have had to use the one in the apartment next door, but that has been tricky since Danior has been waking up at 5am to go to training in OC. Let's just say... we are beyond exhausted, our mattress is on the floor in the kids room because the smell from the bathroom of the mildew and the filth from upstairs is too overwhelming, and I feel lucky if I get a shower! I'm hoping things will be back to normal by the weekend.

Here are my two precious angels. They have been such troopers with all the mess that has been going on the last month. I am so fortunate to have such wonderful children. They keep us up at night, they don't want to nap, they cry, they scream, but they are such a joy. Rebekah loves to be with her brother. She gets to hold him sometimes and squeals in delight when he touches her face or hair.

Now that the weather has warmed up we treat ourselves to Otter Pops sometimes in the afternoon. Today RL had to eat hers inside at the table so that Jonah could eat. She loves her "ice"... and surprisingly, she doesn't get that sticky!

I painted my nails today just for fun and RL decided it was her turn. While I painted mine she sat with me at the table watching saying, "Becca turn". I put a thin layer of polish on her nails and she was really good about not touching anything until they dried. Then the rest of the day she walked around the house saying, "fingernails, pretty, fingernails, pink. Look mommy, fingernails". It was fun. I don't know how long the polish will stay on her nails, but she sure looks cute.

So, that's what we've been up to this month. Hope you haven't missed us too much. We've had a pretty hectic month with lots of things that have gone "wrong", but we continue to look for the blessings through it all. There is always a blessing, you just have to dig for it... sometimes you have to dig a little harder than other times.