Someone Broke Into Our House!

WE DID! I'm sure our neighbors enjoyed the entertainment as they watched from behind pulled curtains. I think it was rather funny how circumstances and laziness piled up into a lock out scenario for the Martins.

Here's the short version of why we ended up smashing through our basement door with a cinder block.

LOCK OUT CONTINGENCY
First off, we try to be prepared for the unexpected. At one time we had a hidden key that was loaned to our kind neighbor to check on our cat, Ruby. That key was never returned to it's hiding spot. It should have been put back but neither Wifey or I remembered when we had a chance to actually do this simple task.


DON'T YOU CARRY A HOUSE KEY ON YOUR KEY RING?
Good question. Normally (he he he) both Wifey and I carry a house key on our vehicle key rings. However, because Wifey does not drive the car much she doesn't carry a car key on her van key ring. The day before our lock out (Saturday) Wifey drove the car to Palmyra while I stayed home with Screamer and Spinner. I took her house key off of her van keys and put it on another ring with her car key.

Sometimes I carry my own keys to church even though we use Wifey's keys to open and start the van. This Sunday I decided to leave my keys on the key rack. Now it should be clear how we were able to get to church and home only then realizing...

"OH NO! All of our house keys are in the house!"

HOW WE BROKE INTO OUR HOUSE
Wifey and our three kids stayed in the warm van as I, bravely and resourcefully tried using our snow shovel to pry open our front window. We thought it might not be latched but after 15 minutes of persuasion the window withstood my assault and I retreated.

Not wanting to actually break any windows I walked around our house looking for anything that might help us get in to our Sunday chicken roasting in the oven. Arriving at the basement door I look at it and realize whoever repaired it last fastened the plywood to the inside of the door.

"Hmmm. That could probably be smashed through. That's not very secure!"

Quickly I scan for something massive that I could attack the door with. My gaze falls upon a cinder block. Perfect!

By this time the family was out of the van following me around the house. Hungry and anxious to see if Daddy could save the day.

"Back up kids." I warn in my best super hero voice. "I don't want you to get hit with flying debris."

I take a deep breath and forcefully exhale, pick up the block and...

SMASH... (the plywood came loose but did not break free)

SMASH!

Cheers erupt from my kids as I reach through the violated door to unlock it.

THE AFTERMATH
After a quick lecture about how unsecure Wifey realized she was in our house, we enjoyed our Sunday Roast Chicken. I spent the remainder of my afternoon and evening repairing the basement door. The plywood is on the outside now, fastened with 1/4-20 X 4" carriage bolts. Yes, the nuts are on the inside of the door.


TTFN