Long time no post

Hello! We have had an interesting few weeks. Last weekend, which seems like forever ago, we were to be in Kansas for my cousin's wedding. The week leading up to it was full of rain, and flooding. Our downtown was flooded out, and all the bridges across the river were closed. We were loosing power and told not to use the water, other than to drink. We had planned on just driving to Kansas and back in the same day because we could not afford the hotel stay, but thanks to my Mom and Tom paying for our room, we got to stay. As Friday progressed, and so did the flood, it was clear we needed to leave town Friday instead of Saturday if we wanted to get out. They were closing our route out of town Friday at 6! So, within 10 minutes, we called Gerrick's mom, packed the van, and were on the road. Two hours later we were at Jackies, and able to shower!!! It was the best shower EVER!!! Jackie bought us some pizza, and then we hit the sack. We had to leave at 7 a.m. to be able to make it to Kansas in time to get ready for the wedding, and we had no idea what was waiting for us in DesMoines. The flood was slowly covering roads there as well. Luckily, however, we made it through DesMoines without having to find an alternate route!!! We made it in time to get ready and make the wedding. It was beautiful!!! I was so happy to be there! The kids were so well behaved, especially for being in the car for 10 hours of the last 20!!! We had a good time dancing, especially Dax! Apparently he has a knack for break dancing!

Unfortunately we had to leave early because Gerrick was a little under the weather.......I would be SICK if I had driven as long as he had!!! We got to swim a little that night, but that was about all the "vacation" that we had. The next morning it was back in the car, and back to Cedar Rapids to see what was left. It was ugly!! The bridges remained closed, as well as the interstates. The whole downtown is gone. Today we drove through again and were amazed at the amount of stuff and homes that are just garbage now. Business are gone, people are gone, and stuff is piled taller than the buildings to be taken away. It is sad. It will be a long time before our city will be up and going again.

Here is my "garden". Don't think I will be making home made salsa this year!!!!

My week was considerably negative. (That is the main reason I have not posted, I haven't had a nice thing to say!!!!) On Monday, my usual 40 minute grocery trip turned into a 3.5 hour hell ride! We were turned back by national guard twice, and stood in traffic for an hour!!! Then, of all things, I forgot a quarter for the stupid carts at Aldi, so I had to take money out of an ATM and buy a coffee for a stinkin quarter, then Keghan lost it!!!!! Needless to say, I was ready to just go home, and would have if I hadn't sat in traffic for an hour to get there!!! So, after getting the groceries, and sitting in traffic for another hour, we went home!!!

Tuesday I had to take Reagan to the doctor (again, she was there Monday for a re-check of a bad ear infection) for a giant red bug bite on her arm. It was getting redder, bigger, and hotter by the day, and it concerned me. Well, she had a bacterial infection that required antibiotics for the week!

On Tuesday we also had a hard rain. While I was in the kitchen, the celling began to leak. That was nice. Here's what the rain did to the trees in the back yard. On Wednesday Braydon broke my front door, nice, again. On Thursday I went to take books to the Half Priced Book store (mainly to get out of the house) only to drive all the way across town to be told that they would give me $.50 a book, but only with a government issued ID card. WHAT? I was selling books, not rocket fuel......and of course had not brought my ID. So, I drove home....with my books. On Friday The kids were sooooooooooo sick of being in the house with "nothing" to do they were driving me NUTS!! You see, the pool had been closed for the week because of water restrictions. SO, the passes that we bought to entertain us were worthless!

By Saturday, I was ready for Adventureland, and so were the kids! We left early in the morning, and didn't get home til after 11!! They had so much fun! Keghan, Braydon and I even rode the Tornado! The weather was pretty good. The morning and early afternoon was hot, but then a torrential downpour in the early afternoon left it cooled and pleasant. We rode the water rides, which was a little scary for Rea, but she soon got used to it! There was even a rainbow after the storm! It was really a great day.

Today, FINALLY, the pools are back up and running, and we can even shower at home! Things are looking up!

I hope everyone is doing well. Thanks again to Tom and Mom for the hotel room. It would have been too much for Gerrick to drive home that night!