I Did It!! He Did it!!

So because this is my blog, written by ME, I'm going to toot my own horn first. I DID IT!! I fixed the dryer!!!

Our dryer has been slowly dying. There are 3 heat cycles... 'timed heat,' 'permanent press/normal' and 'knit/delicate.' Well, the first died out awhile ago. We were going to call a repairman, but I tried another setting and it worked- so we canceled the repairman. Then the next burned out. We've been using 'delicate' for awhile now and sometimes I have to run it twice... so it was obviously dying too.

I think it was mom who mentioned that we probably needed a new heating element and they weren't that hard to fix. Another friend said her husband fixed theirs, and learned how via a youtube video. But really, we want a new and fancy washer/dryer. Lee even said last week, "let's just get a new one." And we really thought hard about it, but when push came to shove, we were unwilling to part with that amount of cash. Eventually we will, but we just aren't quite ready to commit yet.

So the only choices left were to a) by new, cheap dryer b) buy a used dryer or c) fix it ourselves.

I was determined to do "c." I watched a video on youtube on how to replace the heating element, and decided if a professional can do it in a 4 minute video, surely I could conquer it too. Plus, my sis-in-law Ashley fixed their a/c. I'd never attempt that! But a dryer? I was willing to try. I ordered the part from their website (it was the cheapest there) and it came the next day. The only other thing I had to buy was a hexagon screwdriver (or whatever they are called).


I took the heating element out.... gee... I wonder which one was broken?? (in case you aren't sure, it would be the black, fried one)

I put the new one in, connected everything and it was ready to go.

I ran it for a cycle, and even sat right next to it with a box of baking soda, in case it caught fire or something. Nope, it worked perfectly! The cycles that were burned out now work and I am a very happy Mama.

So- to break it down:

• Cost of a new dryer (the one I want)  $700
• Cost to repair old one:  $75 for serviceman to come out and look at it. $50 for the part (without their markup) and probably another $75 for labor = at least $195
• Cost to fix it myself: $45

Thank you youtube!!!

So onto Lee.... he got his diploma in the mail!! He is 100% officially Dr. Wade now! It's scary how much that tiny piece of paper costs! haha. He was so excited!! We all were! Now to just get it framed so he can display it proudly. You deserve it, Lee! You worked so hard for our family. We love you so much!

In child news....

Will got new shoes. I'm usually not a fan of "character" apparel, but he saw these, and there was no turning back. I actually think Lee was looking for them in his size too. When Will wears them, he starts jumping everywhere. I couldn't figure out what he was doing. Then I realized it was because when he does, the eyes on the bottom of the shoe light up.

Good buy, Mom!

Last week was bear week at school. On Friday the kids made these bear hats. It was cute seeing all the kids in the pick-up line, wearing these hats. They also made puppets (goldilocks and the 3 bears) that Amy is proudly displaying.

Saturday was really a nice day. I had bought waterguns on clearance and Lee and the kids had a blast running around with them. A few neighborhood kids couldn't resist them either.

Since our neighbor so kindly always mows our lawn, we tend to forget about it. Our edges were awful. Sometimes the neighbor will trim those too, but we are just thankful that he mows it. We don't want to be too picky or demanding. So we finally got our own weed eater. Another neighbor let us borrow her blower. (We have one, but it's a super sonic one and needs some gas/oil mix, her's is small and electric). Will had fun blowing off the driveway.

And yesterday I made GAK with the kids after school. It's a goopy kind of thing... glue, borax and water. Lee worked late last night, so I needed something to help kill time.

Then I remembered it was also Relief Society night at church. So I hurried them up, fed them and got to church to make these block crafts while the kids played with their friends in the playroom.

And since he's not feature yet.... here's our Ty-Ty... just looking cute.