Flushing in the New Year

In our family, we just can't seem to go the conventional way!

We set out to the family cabin to ring in the New Year

 ... turned out we would be flushing it in instead.

It all started when The King was found in Grandma and Grandpa's cabin bathroom having turned on the hot bath water and holding a toy cow in his hand.

Pretty normal behavior for an 18-month-old.

He was banished from their room right then and there

(mostly to protect himself from scalding himself in the hot water that he can turn on all by himself).

The next morning, however, their toilet started backing up - YUCK!

Then we realized that The King had been found with only ONE animal in his hand last night. And no toddler with two hands walks around with only one animal - right? 

A quick animal inventory showed that the long-horned steer was missing!

Uh-Oh!

Bert and his Dad set out in search of the steer (or whatever was blocking the toilet).

They took the toilet outside to give it a good, powerful flush!

(all I can say is be glad the photo is fuzzy)

After working on it for a long time and NOT being able to figure out what (if anything) was lodged in those twisting tubes, it was decided it was time for a new toilet!

Tools were pulled out and the installation began.

And there it was ... ahhhhh!

Fresh new power flushing, high-capacity porcelain goodness!

And Grandma gave the inaugural flush!

So, everyone was happy!

And a few hours later, the long-horn steer was located in the downstairs!

Ahhhhh ... the joyous look of the exonerated!

 (Unless there is a missing pig!)