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Friday, June 24, 2016

Give Me a Brake!!

6 Years, 7 Weeks.



This was a pretty short week, or a long one, depending on how you look at it.

We celebrated Father's Day on Sunday, my 9th.  I enjoyed waking up to breakfast in bed, watched my family help in doing some yard work, got a haircut with Kohlden, and then took the kids to go see a movie, Disney's The Jungle Book.  It was a very nice, very relaxed day.


Clip from a Father's Day video they showed at church on Sabbath.

It's like having the weight of the world on your shoulders!


On Monday I took the van in for an oil change and brake check, as the van was squeaking every time I came to a stop.  I had just replaced the pads and rotors a few months back, and had taken it back when the squeaking started, only to be told that my front calipers were old and sticking, thus making the squeaking sound.  It was going to be a couple of hundred dollars to replace, so I went ahead and asked them to do the brake check when I went in for the oil change this week.  I had left it there for the day, as there were a couple of other things I had wanted them to check, when I got a call later in the afternoon with some good and bad news.  The good:  they saw some hot spots on the brake pads, and since they were still under warranty, they went ahead and replaced those pads and the rotors with some new ones free of charge.  The bad:  when they were conducting a brake bleed to check pressure, something happened and they lost all pressure, with the brake pedal going all the way down to the floor.  They couldn't maintain any pressure in the brake lines so they called to get a master cylinder to be shipped in the following day, on Tuesday, hoping they could get it done by then.  Tuesday came and went, with us going to pick it up in the evening, only to be told that it still wasn't holding the pressure, so they went ahead and ordered a new brake pump, to be shipped in on Wednesday.  Wednesday came and went, and they still couldn't keep the pressure, so they ordered another master cylinder, to be shipped in on Thursday.  I kept my cool, as I appreciated that they were ensuring our safety with brakes that would be in good working order, as well as the fact that the store manager had ensured me that this would all be on their dime, labor included.  We finally were able to pick up the van Thursday evening, with over $1,200 in parts and labor coming out to a final bill of $67 for me.  Awesome!  It had been a little inconvenient having just one vehicle all week, but we were able to make it work out.  I delivered a box of doughnuts to them on Friday as a small token of my appreciation for them taking care of me and all the work they put into the van.  They were genuinely shocked and very appreciative of my gesture, and let's just say, I know I'm in good hands if I ever need anything worked on the cars again.





Here was the rest of the week:


Helping with some yard work.

They enjoyed VBS week!

Friday evening performance at Markham Woods to end VBS.

Braelyn made it up on the big screen!

We joined several families for Sabbath on the beach to celebrate Father's Day.

Maddy and Addison enjoyed digging in the sand, while 

Kohl jumped the waves and

Big Sister caught some!

The adults chatting and catching up.

But our day would be cut short by those ominous clouds overhead...







All the dads soaking wet after we broke down camp in the deluge!

Kohl was wiped out!

Some of us reconvened at the Z's home for supper and games.

The kids enjoyed supper on the patio.

Played several rounds of Dominos Mexican Train and the Z's cleaned up the house, winning all rounds!!

Waking up to breakfast in bed!

Freshly baked banana bread?!  You really didn't have to!

The eldest wanted to share in my breakfast!

Maddy helping to cut the branches as 

Mommy clips the hedges.

Great teamwork everyone!

Shaggy boys getting a little trim.

Free Father's Day upgrade to MVP treatment, hot towel during shampoo and then neck/shoulder massage!

Looking good bro!

Sporting our new do's!

Tangie and her team at work attended the vigil Sunday evening at Lake Eola with over 50,000 people!

Brothers calling and wishing each other a Happy Father's Day!

Pooped out, they couldn't stay up to see the last basketball game,

which Cleveland won, much to our disappointment.

Monday we joined some classmates to celebrate Alyssa's birthday at Rebounderz.

Pizza lunch afterwards.

Everyone had a grand time!

Back to the library to stock up on their weekly reading.

Maddy working on her piano lesson.

A visit to the dentist Wednesday, followed by

an ice cream treat!

Kohlden testing out his new selfie stick with Mommy.

And Madelyn.

They opted to sleep one night under their beds.

Didn't look too comfortable with all of her toys!


Book Worm:


She's averaging anywhere between 8 to 11 chapter books a week.
Her current series is the Boxcar Children, which she absolutely loves.

Her favorite reading position, always with Tux by her side.

See what I mean?


Randoms:


Yes, we experienced those storms!!

Drove by the area of last Sunday's tragedy and they still had the road blocked off.

The entrance to Orlando Regional was covered with flowers, notes, and candles.

Some gentleman from Illinois made 49 crosses and drove down to make a
makeshift memorial for the victims.

Sleeping?  Or wrestling?

Beautiful sky on the way home.


Have a great weekend!!