I must start out this post by saying that my husband is the Incredible Hulk. Or Superman. Or SOMEthing.

Exhibit A:  He broke down a wooden door this weekend.
Exhibit B: He snapped steel in half this weekend.

We decided to take a spur of the moment trip to New York this weekend to see my mum who was visiting Laney and Taylor (she made a pit stop on her way to NYC for work).  We couldn't resist going see Nannie Annie when she was only four and a half hours away! and whenever we get together as a family (or even when we don't) some sort of adventure MUST occur.  Our family is attracted to chaos and drama and exciting events.

Friday night we went to bed after some late chatting and ran into a problem. laney's place is an old Brick house built in the 20's or 30's.  Ike was sleeping in the guest room in his pack n play- and when we went to go to sleep in the same room- I couldn't get the door open. Kent tried- he couldn't either. My mom tried and then Laney and then Taylor- to no avail.  It was midnight.  The door knob was just turning and turning.  We decided we'd have to remove the knob- but finding a tool that would work was ridiculous.  Plus- Ike was sleeping in the room so we were trying to keep quiet.  Finally (now 12:30) we removed the ancient (glass, super heavy) doorknob on our side.  The other side of the knob went crashing to the wood floor. Ike still slept.  And the door still wouldn't budge. The little tongue (?) of the mechanism was jammed in the wall.  We tried carding it, more screwdriver jamming, etc- but still no avail- now almost one AM. Plus- Laney and I have already had a few giggle fits. Kent and Taylor tried  a few times to just knock the door in but it was THICK and HUGE and not budging.  I thought we should either A) take a sledge hammer to it or B) call the fire dept.  Kent and Taylor decided going through the window was a better idea.  The ladder wouldn't reach (2.5 stories up) but their office juts out of the house out back and they decided to go from one window to the other.  Here's a visual from the next day.

It's high up.  The board they initially found was extremely wobbly and dangerous so I forbid Kent from scaling over.  NO WAY was I going to be taking care of a paraplegic the rest of my life.  Luckily Taylor found an old bedframe to stabilize it.  After ripping out the screen Kent shimmied over and made it inside.

Once he made it over (now 1:30) our fears were cemented. He couldn't open it from that way either.  Luckily the hinges were in the room. Taylor grabbed more tools and shimmied over. After MUCH pounding through thick painted and rusted over hinges- they got them off. Unfortunately the door was still stuck TIGHT.  Now 2:00 AM and Ike STILL SLEEPS!  Kent came back into the house and (thanks to some pointers from a call to my dad) just started ramming the door as Taylor tried jamming it upward from the other side.  After MANY heaves and hits, the door crashed open (and splintered in a few spots). And then Ike let out a little scream and decided to wake up- now 2:30.  It was ridiculous.
The rest of the weekend In Buffalo was less eventful. We shopped and ate and rested.  We even got a babysitter on Saturday night and went to Panos- a fun Greek restaurant.  It was wonderful with no kiddos. Thanks so much for everything, Mum!!

The kiddos loved playing together and loved seeing Nannie Annie. Henry and Zeb especially loved the birthday presents (they both have bdays next week!).

These three little rugrats definitely look like cousins!

Henry talked about "the zoo! the zoo!" nonstop.  He and Zeb did really well together and I can't wait until they are a little older and even better friends!

Zeb LOVED this little car Henry has. Laney found it for FIVE BUCKS at a yard sale.  I was so jealous.

We decided to come back to Toledo Sunday after church and dinner.  Crazy adventure and Incredible Hulk exhibit 2 begins here.  Things were nice and uneventful with two sleeping children on the drive home until our tire EXPLODED while we were going 75.  Kent made it safely to the side of the road and we began changing the tire.  It was HOT and MUGGY and the kids were starting to cry while Kent and I were on the side of the Pennsylvania freeway.  Things were fine until the last lugnut on the tire. It would NOT come off. It would turn a little both ways but was totally stuck on the bolt. Kent pulled and pushed and tugged and I was no help at all.  I was starting to figure out who we was going to call for help.  After a quick prayer Kent gave it another hard pull and tug and the lugnut easily popped off. Or so we thought. Upon examination we realized that Kent had full on broken the bolt (that secures the tire to the car) off the wheel!    I called my dad (he has all of the answers about everything) and he said it was safe to drive home with the four remaining bolts securing the new tire.
Unfortunately monkey #2 got really crabby and the only thing to calm him down was a sucker. It was disgusting and worth every bit of stickiness.  He stole Zeb's, too.

We finally got home- later than planned- but all is well today. The trip was great and worth the drama! And the next time we see Laney she'll have her rugrat #2. We can't wait to see what it is!