A Post-Christmas Gift

"Wow" is about all I can say about events following Christmas, New Year's and the hullaballoo of the holidays. I arrived home to my apartment Monday evening to find that while we'd been gone a pipe had frozen and that the subsequent thawing had somehow caused raw sewage to back up all over our bathroom floors and into our bedrooms. When I arrived home to unexpectedly find this, my mouth opened and closed a few times before I called Mandi to rescue us. Thanks Mandi! The Squirt and I camped out at Mandi's the next day (as I started classes amidst calling management companies and plumbers to get the mess cleaned out) and by the time Derrick had arrived home from his business trip the cleaning up process had been well under way. I must say, though, that the management company has been wonderful throughout all this.

The damage was pretty extensive. Everything (and I mean everything) had been soaking into the carpet for about 5 days. They've had to tear out the carpet (I mean, obviously) and even had to take out some of the sheet rock because it had soaked into the walls. Nasty.
We've even been put up in an extensive stay hotel by the HOA When we came to check in last night Derrick said, "I think I'm going to be sad when we have to leave" (about a week, so they say). Lynny has even agreed to come here to take care of Squirters and let me take her car to class, thank heaven for her. Now for a sneak peak of the accomodations...

Our oh-so-lovely front room

Our classy dining room/bedroom

with the modern kitchen hiding from view.
Needless to say, we're coping. We've even gotten used

to living out of a suitcase, no big deal.
And apparently we aren't the only ones who
are happy with this new arrangement.

Now on to some real news.
The Squirt is a master
sitter-upper. Just look at her!
So we had to celebrate by taking
some adorable bath pictures.
Such pictures might have been
awkward before, especially since I always
took my bath with her until a few months ago.