Accidents will happen
It was quite the weekend in the Baby Squared household. On Saturday morning — warm and sunny — while I was hanging out with the girls, Alastair was downstairs in the basement doing some cleaning and organizing, good man. Alas, he made the fateful mistake of trying to brush a bit of the rust off our old dinosaur of an oil tank. Next thing we know, black gold (well, it was actually sort of pinkish) starts spurting out of the thing like someone just took a machine gun to it. And of course, the leaks were happening right at the bottom of the tank. And, of course, the thing was 3/4 full.
So, Alastair’s down in the basement like the Dutch boy with his finger in the dike, I’m running around trying to get him rags and buckets while simultaneously calling our oil company and trying to explain to the girls that, no, we are not going to go to the playground as planned, because mommy and daddy are trying to deal with a problem, and they need to stop asking about the playground and stop asking for juice and stop fighting over where on the living room rug your baby dolls want to sleep, I will get you your juice in a minute, we just have a bit of a crisis, and mommy and daddy are a little bit tense. Do you know what tense means? It means we are a little bit scared and a little bit sad and angry because something bad is happening — but no! Not too bad, you don’t have to be scared. Just please. Please stop asking to go to the playground. And please, Clio, please stop taking Elsa’s baby. And no, Elsa, please do not come down into the basement. Yes, that’s very nice that you want to bring daddy a paper towel, and I know you’re trying to help but just…please….
Household calamities involving flammable liquids + two three-year-olds = really not a great mix.
After half an hour and two calls to our oil company with no call back from a service person, I said screw this, and called the fire department — which I should have probably done in the first place. A fire truck pulled up in front of our house approximately 30 seconds later. It was just a few guys at first, but then the deputy fire chief showed up, and then another whole truck. I think there must have been eight firefighters there at one point. They did a lovely job, helping to slow the leak and clean up the oil that had spilled. But there was also a lot of just standing around and chatting and laughing and asking us questions about our house (so, who did that roofing job? really nice!). I think they were all really psyched to get out of the station on a warm, sunny Saturday, and were in no hurry to leave.
Of course, it was entertaining for us, as well. The girls and I hung out in the backyard, escaping the oil fumes and watching the action, playing in the sandbox, eating PB+J. One of the firefighters was very sweet with the girls. He asked them how old they were, and Elsa said, “Actually, we’re three.” (“actually” is a popular word with them these days. Though they don’t actually use it correctly all the time.) Then she added: “And actually, we’re twins.” This was, actually, the first time we’d ever heard either one of them make overt reference to the fact that they’re twins. Very interesting!
Seeing all the fireman – toddler bonding that was going on, I asked the firefighter if maybe I could take a picture of the girls with him. He suggested that I take a picture of the girls on the truck, which was what I was hoping he’d say (heh heh). So, I got this choice pic of Elsa driving the ladder engine. Clio did not care to have her picture taken on or near the truck. But, if you look carefully, you will see that she is, in fact, visible in the photo. (Totally a happy accident. A little cute, a little sad.)
Eventually the oil company showed up and pumped out the old tank. God knows how much this whole fiasco is going to cost us — not to mention the cost of a new oil tank. (If we don’t end up switching to gas, that is.) I don’t even want to think about it. But it could have been a whole lot worse — like, the tank could have busted open and leaked all over the place without us knowing it had happened, and it would have been a nightmare.
And speaking of the other sorts of leaks that have been happening around here — namely in Elsa’s pants — things sort of came to a head a few days ago. She was basically not asking to use the potty at all, just peeing and pooping in her pants constantly. We started getting very serious about watching her body language and bringing her to the bathroom when she started doing “the dance,” and we reinstituted a sticker chart, like in the potty training days of yore (i.e. October). We are not out of the woods yet, but at least it feels like we’re doing something.
The moral(s) of this story: replace your old oil tank, thank your local firefighter, and never underestimate the power of stickers.
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I’m sorry for your disaseter, but the “Actually…” thing cracks me up!
I know very well that sinking feeling involved in house repairs. I wish you luck.
I’m learning that potty training is a process that takes place over many months. Just when you think it’s done, it’s not.
I know very well that sinking feeling involved in house repairs. I wish you luck.
I’m learning that potty training is a process that takes place over many months. Just when you think it’s done, it’s not.
great post!!! so funny
Oh, I am so sorry about your oil tank. that is a horrible thing to happen. I was just telling a friend today that we really need a new washing machine (busted about a month ago and laundry for 5 is hellish at the laundromat with 3 kids in tow: 5, 2 and 2 ) and then as of yesterday a new garage door opener. Why is everything breaking down all at once? And thank the heavens, knock on wood, that it stops with this.
My favorite language phase yet was the “actually” phase. Kayla did that at around 3 too and it is so cute. Cracked us up for about a year. Now, at 5.5, there are other, less cute phases. But hey, the little ones are 21 months and they are starting to talk and they are really cute. So I guess it balances.
And finally, I love the photo. Elsa is so adventurous and Clio in the reflection is priceless. Blow this one up and hang it on the wall! A great photo op came out of a cruddy situation.
Actually, this was hilarious!
Yikes! Quite the adventure. We had a fun one too – involving burning plastic in the kitchen (not my fault!) but alas, no cute firemen were called. I had to rush the girls out into the backyard (while they asked me 3 million questions) and air out the whole house in COLD spring Seattle weather for like 2 hours.
The picture made me laugh. It totally captures the quintessence of twins – sometimes, it feels like their birthday is the only thing they have in common! I have a similar photo of my girls where Tristyn is sitting at the top of a slide grinning and Jaeda is at the bottom of the steps screaming in anger.
What TV show uses the word “actually?” My nephew does it too! “Actually, Kelly, this is a LEGO guy. And, actually?… he has a hat.”
Wow! I’m sure they will remember this day. When I was little our oil company pumped 400 gallons of oil into our 200 gallon tank. It was an adventure I’ll never forget!
Actually that was hysterical, not the oil tank but the chatter. LOL
actually, the use of the word “actually” by toddler/preschoolers is one of my biggest pet peeves at the moment! we have a 4yo friend who is forever “actually”-ing us with all kinds of serious attitude. Like, “Actually, this is OUR house.” ugh. now my 3yo has picked it up and can get me with it anytime he wants! ugh….
and re the oil tank? that suuuuuuucckkkkkkssss…… hope it works out ok!
I have been debating the switch to gas because I hate the idea of using oil. And oil furnaces just seem dirtier. But I am friends with someone who lives in PA where they do a LOT of natural gas mining, and it is destroying their environment, making their well water undrinkable, and generally making life awful for them. So the environmentalist in my head is wondering which is the lesser of two evils, and can anyone run their house 100% on solar power in New England? Probably not. Hope you get everything cleaned up and working again soon and for not too much money.
oh my oh my oh my
I have this mental picture of your Alistair stuck down a basement plugging up the leak, unable to get anyone to hear him!
That must be an absolute mess.
Actuallly.
love the photo –
Jane…have you tried that “Potty-kit” that I gave you? Maybe it’s a waste of time, but I just thought I’d remind you. Elsa at the wheel of the firetruck reminds me of another little girl at the wheel of a big yellow van. Hee hee!
I’m going to thank my local firefighter at home tonight.
I’m glad it was one of the mostly fun interactions with the fire department, and that everything will be ok (if, unfortunately, a bit expensive)
Wow glad you guys are okay. Does your community do “Touch a Trucks”? Our town has one once a year where all the trucks in the community park out in a field and kids get to sit in them and talk to the drivers. Big fun event! If your community has one I suggest you take the girls since they like the big trucks! My boys love it and we go every year.