Sunday, March 30, 2008
Adventures in Swalbergland
Hi everyone! Well, another week has passed, and more fun pictures of Bradley and Evelyn have been captured.
Evelyn had a major accomplishment last night. She had gotten into the routine of waking up at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and then 8:00 to have some Momma's Milk. She didn't actually need the milk, because before she got into this routine she was sleeping through most of the night just fine. So it's just been a "Oh, I think I should wake up now and have a treat" type of thing.
So last night I decided that I would break the routine (this is Justin talking). When she woke up at 12:11 am, I went and wrapped her up tight and gave her a pacifier, but she of course rejected it. She doesn't like pacifiers or bottles; she only accepts the Real Thing. But I can trick her by giving her one of my fingers to suck on. That only worked for a little while. I finally moved her to the bathroom in our bouncy seat and turned the fan on. After bouncing her a little bit in her seat, with the fan going on full blast, she was out. All of this lasted about a half hour. She found her own hand to suck on, and she went right to sleep. Bethany and I expected her to wake up at 3:00, but she didn't wake up until 8:00 am!!! Wooo hoooo!!!!
We'll see how tonight goes.
Anyway, here are some new pictures:
The Wonderful Bouncy Chair 
"What are you looking at?" 
"Probably at how cute I am, right!"
"Momma, Daddy's stories are horrible"
Evelyn had a major accomplishment last night. She had gotten into the routine of waking up at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and then 8:00 to have some Momma's Milk. She didn't actually need the milk, because before she got into this routine she was sleeping through most of the night just fine. So it's just been a "Oh, I think I should wake up now and have a treat" type of thing.
So last night I decided that I would break the routine (this is Justin talking). When she woke up at 12:11 am, I went and wrapped her up tight and gave her a pacifier, but she of course rejected it. She doesn't like pacifiers or bottles; she only accepts the Real Thing. But I can trick her by giving her one of my fingers to suck on. That only worked for a little while. I finally moved her to the bathroom in our bouncy seat and turned the fan on. After bouncing her a little bit in her seat, with the fan going on full blast, she was out. All of this lasted about a half hour. She found her own hand to suck on, and she went right to sleep. Bethany and I expected her to wake up at 3:00, but she didn't wake up until 8:00 am!!! Wooo hoooo!!!!
We'll see how tonight goes.
Anyway, here are some new pictures:
Bradley The Head Stand Monkey
Mmmmmmm Ketchup!
"Sorry Momma, I guess I wasn't as hungry as I thought"
The Wonderful Bouncy Chair
"What are you looking at?"
"Probably at how cute I am, right!"
"And that, my children, is the true story of the origins of the decomposition of substitution and income effects as they relate to Marshallian demand curves, particularly in their application to the study of the artificial demand for stuffed bears"
"Momma, Daddy's stories are horrible"
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter Egg Hunt
HAPPY EASTER!
We sure had a great Easter today. I got to sing a hymn in church in Spanish with 5 other men and translate the sacrament meeting into Spanish for a couple of people. It was a lot of fun! Bradley also stayed in nursery the second half all by himself without crying. And Evelyn is happy and smiley as always!
Operation Find-The-M-n-M-n-M-n-M-ahs
Bradley and Evelyn Love Each Other
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Professional Mechanic
Hi everyone,
I tried to upload a new video of Bradley and Evelyn, but Blogspot was giving me some problems. I'll have to try again later.
I had another adventure in car repair today. My last project, you'll recall, was changing the power window motor and regulator on our 2002 Dodge Caravan. Today's project involved our 2002 Mercury Sable. I really wish I had pictures, because I know reading text is boring. I forgot to take pictures though! I still have the old parts; perhaps I'll take pictures of those so you can at least get a feel for what I'm talking about.
Last time I took my car in for a $21 dealership oil change and safety inspection, I was told I needed a new ball joint on the left side. I had the right ball joint changed about a year ago, so I was not surprised to hear the left one was bad now. I had the dealership change it ($201...mostly labor), and then they said that an alignment was necessary (another $100). I told them to go for it (even though alignments are normally only about $60...I didn't want to have to take it somewhere else; I waned it done right then).
So the left ball joint got replaced, but when the mechanic tried to do the alignment, he found out that the inner right tie rod was too lose to get a proper alignment. So they called me up and said I needed a new inner tie rod on the right side: another $180, plus tax on the part. I told them to not do the alignment or the tie rod.
After my friend Ken gave me the confidence to tear my door panel off and replace my window motor and regulator, I thought, "Heck, why not a tie rod too?" So I did a lot of research and talked to mechanics at three different auto parts stores to get a good feel for what I was in for. It's actually a pretty simple procedure. I went ahead and changed both the left and right inner and outer tie rods at the same time, because I knew if the right side went, the left wasn't far behind.
The inner tie rods connect to the steering gear box. Often the inner tie rods are simply called "tie rods" or "inner tie rod ends." Another part, the outer tie rod end, connects to the end of the inner tie rod. It's an l-shaped shoulder joint part that connects into the steering knuckle (the wheel). Here's a great video of an inner tie rod:
My tie rods were both floppy like the one in the video.
Here's a great video on the outer tie rod end:
The inner tie rods cost $26 each, the outers $20 each, and the new rack boot hose clamps $4. So I only spent $96 + tax on the parts. I also had to buy a floor jack and jack stands ($60 total), a grease gun ($12), and blue LocTite ($4), but I'll use those on future projects/oil changes/tire rotations. So for about $100 in parts, I was able to change both sets of inner and outer tie rods, compared to $180 at the dealer for just ONE inner! Do the math. I figure I saved $350-$400 (not including the rip-off alignment), plus I didn't have to have my car stuck at the mechanics, and I learned a ton and had a great time.
The hardest part was getting the rack boot back on. Once I got the hose clamps, however, it was easy.
I went to Murray's Discount Auto Parts and borrowed a special inner tie rod removal tool (for free!). The job would have been nearly impossible without it.
I'll take the car in to Goodyear for a $50 alignment on Monday, and we'll be good to go.
I tried to upload a new video of Bradley and Evelyn, but Blogspot was giving me some problems. I'll have to try again later.
I had another adventure in car repair today. My last project, you'll recall, was changing the power window motor and regulator on our 2002 Dodge Caravan. Today's project involved our 2002 Mercury Sable. I really wish I had pictures, because I know reading text is boring. I forgot to take pictures though! I still have the old parts; perhaps I'll take pictures of those so you can at least get a feel for what I'm talking about.
Last time I took my car in for a $21 dealership oil change and safety inspection, I was told I needed a new ball joint on the left side. I had the right ball joint changed about a year ago, so I was not surprised to hear the left one was bad now. I had the dealership change it ($201...mostly labor), and then they said that an alignment was necessary (another $100). I told them to go for it (even though alignments are normally only about $60...I didn't want to have to take it somewhere else; I waned it done right then).
So the left ball joint got replaced, but when the mechanic tried to do the alignment, he found out that the inner right tie rod was too lose to get a proper alignment. So they called me up and said I needed a new inner tie rod on the right side: another $180, plus tax on the part. I told them to not do the alignment or the tie rod.
After my friend Ken gave me the confidence to tear my door panel off and replace my window motor and regulator, I thought, "Heck, why not a tie rod too?" So I did a lot of research and talked to mechanics at three different auto parts stores to get a good feel for what I was in for. It's actually a pretty simple procedure. I went ahead and changed both the left and right inner and outer tie rods at the same time, because I knew if the right side went, the left wasn't far behind.
The inner tie rods connect to the steering gear box. Often the inner tie rods are simply called "tie rods" or "inner tie rod ends." Another part, the outer tie rod end, connects to the end of the inner tie rod. It's an l-shaped shoulder joint part that connects into the steering knuckle (the wheel). Here's a great video of an inner tie rod:
My tie rods were both floppy like the one in the video.
Here's a great video on the outer tie rod end:
The inner tie rods cost $26 each, the outers $20 each, and the new rack boot hose clamps $4. So I only spent $96 + tax on the parts. I also had to buy a floor jack and jack stands ($60 total), a grease gun ($12), and blue LocTite ($4), but I'll use those on future projects/oil changes/tire rotations. So for about $100 in parts, I was able to change both sets of inner and outer tie rods, compared to $180 at the dealer for just ONE inner! Do the math. I figure I saved $350-$400 (not including the rip-off alignment), plus I didn't have to have my car stuck at the mechanics, and I learned a ton and had a great time.
The hardest part was getting the rack boot back on. Once I got the hose clamps, however, it was easy.
I went to Murray's Discount Auto Parts and borrowed a special inner tie rod removal tool (for free!). The job would have been nearly impossible without it.
I'll take the car in to Goodyear for a $50 alignment on Monday, and we'll be good to go.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sister Skinny's Newest Member
I was talking to Evelyn recently, and she said that she wants to become a regular poster on www.sisterskinny.com in an effort to help her shed a couple of baby pounds.
Justin's Power Window Project
The driver-side power window in our van recently died. I really didn't want to shell out $250-300 to have it fixed by a mechanic. I talked to a good friend of mine at Ford who used to work at Lear, a major part supplier. This friend, Ken, is an expert in body interiors and told me exactly how to rip off the door panel to get at the motor and window regulator. I ordered the window regulator and motor online for $102, shipped straight to my house. It was a pretty easy installation. I'm now an expert at power window repair!!!
The new motor and regulator, all installed!
The door, all back together again!
Bradley Loves His Sister
Bethany and I are convinced that Bradley is the most perfect child ever created. Not only is he well behaved, adorably cute, funny, fun, and handsome, but he also is an awesome big brother. He (almost) never gets jealous of Evelyn. He really loves her and loves to hold and kiss her.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Bradley The Ring Bearer
Bradley was a Ringer Bearer at a wedding this past November. The wedding pictures were recently published online. He made it down the aisle flawlessly. I may be a little biased, but I think he was the star of the wedding!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Let It Snow
We've sure had a bad winter this year. We've had at least 10 good snow storms I think. The snow has melted shortly after each one, so we don't have a large accumulation. I took Bradley out in the snow yesterday to build his first snowman. He loved it! He doesn't yet understand the concept of a snowball fight though, because every time I threw one at him, he just looked at me with a confused look, as if to say, "Dad, what the heck are you doing?"
I haven't had any MBA classes this week because it's "Spring Break." I don't understand why they call it spring break, but I've enjoyed not going to class in the evenings.
Anyway, here are some more pictures and a video of the kids.
"Bradley, where'd you go?"
"HERE I AM!"
Snowball Fights 101
The Perfect Snowball
"Dad, you're crushing me! Enough kisses already!"
Yet Another Hat!
Look Momma, no hands!
Two Too Handsome Men
Yummm!
I realize I need to put more pictures of Evelyn on here. I'll take some soon!
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