Buggy Art

LIESEL has discovered MS Paint on Dad's laptop.

Toddler Chic

EJ decided to define his own style that is contrary to social norms. EJ has lately been choosing his own clothes and dressing himself.

Dad is indifferent about his son's fashion sense inside the house. However, when they go out into public, boys wear boy clothes and girls wear girl clothes.

Future Post: Hanging a Towel Rack (or Other Item Onto Drywall)

HERE is the first Future Post for the Twins. It is about hanging a towel rack. It is not a do it yourself (DIY) step by step instructional post. Other resources on the web do that well, much better than Dad could do in fact. What it is, is a supplementary knowledge base of Dad's experience. It is analogous to a bOOk's appendix. It is intended to be augment basic skill set. So guys, go research a how to guide like this one then come back here for more information.

Future Post: DIY Tips for EJ and Liesel

LONGTIME readers will have surely noticed that the scope of this blog has expanded from its tight focus on the Twins during the first 6 months of their life. Food posts are a great example.

It is about to expand some more.

With all of the projects that need to get done, Dad has taken myriad pictures of his projects in progress. Unsure why, other than to document his progress and satisfaction with Getting Stuff Done, he pondered it for awhile.

Then it hit him, this blog documents the New Family with a primary focus on the kids, but also a focus on their life as a family for the purpose of entertaining and informing the kids later in their life when they can look through it and enjoy it.

Moreover, Dad has lots of knowledge and experience to share with them at the appropriate age, so why not get it documented on the blog now?

Going forward, Dad will share his K&E with posts titled "Future Post." This signals to EJ and Liesel when they are older that this post was created with them in mind as the primary audience.

You are welcome to read them too, and if you find anything useful or helpful, please don't hesitate to comment below or email Dad.

Fall Walk

NO Dad is not nearly done with projects, but all work and no play make for crabby two-year-olds. So Dad took a break and went for a pre-nap walk.

Dad needs to mulch some leaves, but now is play time.

EJ wanted ride underneath.

Yogurt Face

Update: It's Morning Again, in America

Voters went to the polls yesterday to send a message. Pundits will debate what that message was, but clearly there is massive dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.

Dad is reminded of something the President said recently, "I am not on the ballot this fall. Michelle’s pretty happy about that. But make no mistake: these policies are on the ballot. Every single one of them."

That is sufficient explanation for Dad. 

Donna please tell Heidi there are new posts up :-) .

BTW, the post's title is reference to this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-IBF8nwSY

The Twin's New Bunkbed

THE kids got into the towel closet and decided it was time to play "sleepy."

Dad helped stage the photo a bit. Liesel didn't pull the towel over herself. EJ crawled underneath his.

Dad dryly noted that they left their home in Wheaton in part so that the Twin's would have spacious individual rooms. Yet they seem content with each other. In the closet.

Donna please tell Heidi that there is a new post up.

Weekend Projects

DAD neglected the yard work this weekend past to focus on some inside projects.

Despite the size of their new home, there is a lack of storage. So at Mom's direction Dad bought and installed a 4' x 8' storage rack that makes good use of otherwise empty space overhead in the garage.

A good place for overhead storage.

Done!

Having finally obtained all of the parts necessary to install the reverse osmosis water filtration system, Dad installed that as well.

Almost Done!

Their are always complications when doing home improvement projects. This time was no different.

Dad, having installed an RO system before that resulted in disastrous consequences, it leaked and destroyed their new floor, decided to install a drain line adapter instead of using the included drain saddle that came with the system. Well, that presented additional complications. The DLA cannot be used in conjunction with a disposal on a single P trap configuration. So Dad decided to put the disposal on a separate P trap.

After all of the aggravation and time spent installing it, Mom probably wants to know why Dad did not just renovate the entire kitchen. Seriously, this took four hours to complete including the time spent on the multiple trips to the Big Orange store.

3/8" Drain line adapter (DLA) won't leak like a drain saddle could.

 

DLA will replace the sink tailpiece.

Here, a Tee ties the disposal into the drain. Dad identified two problems with this, First, the accordion style flex hose is a sloppy DIY fix done by a previous owner. Second, there is the possibility that while operating the disposal, that waste could go up into the DLA, or even back flow into the sink above rather than down through the P trap so Dad decided to separate the two and put each onto its own P trap. The water trapped therein should provide enough resistance to disposal forced waste to go down the drain rather than up.

Dad is not a plumber, doesn't pretend to be one, but has enough experience to know what can happen with a single P trap configuration and an RO system.

Done!

Good enough for DIY.

Dad decided to install a three way wye instead of a two way wye. The third outlet can be used in the future for clean out or other currently unforeseen purposes. Moreover, the difference in price was minimal.

Once the drainage issue was addressed, Dad then began the RO install.

Not Done!

On testing, Dad found a leaking slip joint under the right sink. PVC cement took care of that. Next, he discovered the RO system malfunctioning. While it made all of the usual gurgling noises on start up, after three hours of filling, it would not dispense water. He will follow up on that issue later.