FLASHBACKS

Well, another seven or so inches of rain yesterday had us reliving the wonderful memories of last June. Our sump pump worked overtime, but kept the basement dry. Our neighbors didn't fare so well, especially since the water rose slightly higher than it did last summer.

early on

sandbagging...again

water on its way up the street

pitching in

this could be a picture from last June

volunteers appeared out of nowhere again

there goes the swingset/fort...again

the white pole marks the high point from 2008

eagle scout project: flood gauge
(interestingly we didn't see the
eagle scout at all yesterday)

currents stronger than last year

walking Zuki while the rain is stopped

neighbors got hit hard again

playset not set in concrete - but tied to the shed

irritating sightseers made themselves
at home in our backyards -
I took this picture from our bay window
notice the dry feet and clean clothes -
she wasn't there to help, just gawk.

floating swingsets

Harrison & Avery watch the water rise

water reached last year's peak during daylight
only slightly passed that mark at night

park by the pool across the street from
the park by the creek - those little poles
sticking out are the top of a public grill

greenery on the fence kept water out
of the pool area...almost

rain in the poolhouse may mean the pool
is closed for the rest of the season


pool itself full to overflowing


path to the pool flooded

house across the street and down
from ours - backyard flooded

backyard of the house directly across from ours

nightfall brought more volunteers from St. Pauls UMC
and the Cornell College football team

Improvised lighting came from our car headlights

football players at work

the smart way to sandbag

finally done sandbagging

8/25 - First Day of Middle School

Starting the new year with a loud dash of self-expression
"Mom! Doesn't this just scream 'I love video games'?"

Julio left late for work so he could
see his new 6th grader off to school

The whole family excited for a new school year

Waiting with Jaycie for her bus
(the school bus stops right in front of our house)

hanging out at the bus stop

traditional picture on Grammy & G-boy's porch

Harrison's new school

"sneak shot" by Mom
- don't let on that pictures are being taken!

Harrison and his "peeps"

8th Grader Emilee after school

"I gave Harrison a big hug when I saw him
- I hope he wasn't too embarrassed!" ~ Emilee

"I could get used to Emilee hugging me every day" ~ HD

6th Grader Dylan after school

6th Grader Bentlee (aka "Winthrop")

6th Graders Malcolm and HD after school

calling to invite Grammy & G-boy
to lunch at Ghengis Grill

HS Senior Emily (aka "Zaneeta") after school

Ghengis Grill for lunch

After lunch, we picked up Keigon (daycare kid) and took a short break until 2:45, when all the other daycare kids plus Jaycie, Maddie and Avery came to help set up for the Kids Carnival that started at 5 and lasted until 7.

Jaycie and Madison were in charge of admission,
temporary tattoos, face painting, crafts, the claw machine,
the candy jar guess, and the whac-a-mole tower game.

Harrison was in charge of the dive challenge,
diving board dunk tank, and balloon animals.

Games not pictured include: Keigon running the duck pond and lollipop pull, Piper and Avery running the bean bag toss, teddy bear bowling and cups game, Justice running the tether-ball bowling game, and Haley running the cakewalk and subbing for other "carnies" so they could play the games, too.

We also had some "All Play" games, including this relay
race to fill a cup with water using a sponge and
water from a decorated bucket.

We also played "Six Corners" - kind of like the game played at rollerskating rinks, but here we did it by having the kids swim around the pool and go to a corner when the music stopped. Then we'd roll a die and whoever's corner number was rolled, was out (the diving board and basket ball hoop were our additional two "corners"). The last 3 kids still in the pool won prizes.

for prizes, each game had candy and pinata filler,
or tickets that kids could use to enter a drawing
for one of our larger door prizes.

Julio got home from work just in time to help load everything up and take it back to the house. He took us to the Outback Steakhouse for dinner, because we were exhausted and starving in spite of the hotdogs and chips served at the party. It was a really great day, and Harrison is absolutely thrilled about Middle School. Thanks to spending the summer going to music lessons there every day, he has no trouble navigating the halls, and he has a friend from Kenwood, soccer, or cub scouts in every single class.

2009-10 promises to be a wonderful school year!

A Beautiful Day to Get Older

I got another year older as of August 1st.

Finally a Saturday when we had no obligations! We had a lovely relaxing day and the weather was beautiful: warm but not hot, not humid, just sunny and lovely.

We slept in (well, HD and I did - Julio rose unconscionably early to ready gifts and surprises for the day). Got up and dressed in time for an early lunch at Metro Buffet, where they gifted me with a lovely fan that I'm now using in the show, and a cute little snow globe.

Julio reserved a pontoon boat on Lake Macbride for early in the afternoon. I had no idea how fun and relaxing it would be - Julio, Harrison and I took turns "driving" the boat (Harrison spent the most time at the wheel) and Mom and Dad rode along and took photos.

We had dinner at the HuHot, a new Mongolian barbeque place in the nearby mall - lovely atmosphere, and service that made up for less-than-stellar food. Then we went home for birthday cake. Harrison gave us a harp concert while I unwrapped my gifts. He also made a "sculpture" from pipe cleaners that represents him and me with angel wings. As a final "ultimate gift", he wrote a song for me on his harp.

It was a beautiful day. When I think of all the friends and family we've lost the last few years, I am reminded to truly appreciate the blessing of growing older.