Mice and Chipmunks and Leaks, Oh My!

I welcomed in one year of home ownership with a few problems. LOVE the home, not so sure I love the ownership part.

A few mice thought that my house was VERY quiet and decided that they would move in and eat my hot chocolate- packets and all. I got back from a weekend away, opened my cabinet and there he was, staring back at me like HE owned the place and I was the intruder. So, I did what any sane woman would do. I slammed the cabinet, screamed as loud as I could, ran to the living room, stood on the couch, and reached for my blackberry to call for help. Luckily, my neighbor Rachel came right over to help me go through my cabinets and set traps. She was awesome at holding the broom in case one came running out at us...
Every nervous breakdown needs to end with a Target run. I bought lots of traps, poisons and added to my airtight container collection. The food is all nicely sealed and my cabinets look fancy. Miraculously, the mice are completely gone. Here's hoping they stay away FOREVER.
After the mice were cleared out, I decided to go through and fill some holes around the house with steal wool. I read all about it in my hours of googling how to keep the critters out. Of course, google forgot to tell me to make sure that you don't trap large rodents in with steal wool! Yesterday, I heard a chipmunk trying to eat and claw his way out from under my living room floor. You should have seen me on the porch trying to remove the steal wool and insulation foam so he could get out. Remember that scene from Christmas Vacation? I thought for sure he would attack me like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdiXSsFp29s

Oh, and my roof is leaking. I thought my bathroom ceiling would cave in on me any minute. My dear dad has helped me with so many home repairs. I'm so blessed to have a dad that will drop everything and demo the bathroom to find a leak! We've discovered that the leak is beyond our skill-set. Time for the professionals....I'll take referrals!
I just did a quick run-through of the house because I heard a noise. Turns out it is the dripping, not a rodent. Ahhhh! Wish me luck!

Posted in: Family,Home Ownership