Jack can say a handful of words. The majority of these words have to do with transportation.
He first fell in love with the Cars cars when he saw my nephew Johnny playing with them. There is something about those animated eyes on the cars that can't be replaced. He is crazy for cars, even more so than Lilly was for princesses. Disney has some kind of hold on my children.
We had movie night tonight and I thought I would record Jack's first reaction to the Cars movie. He had no idea that cars were on TV until now...
Friday, September 23, 2011
Miracles
This summer we have had our share of heartache. However, the heartache almost seems cancelled out by the outpouring of love, support, and miracles.
When our basement started flooding my neighbor and friend rushed over and helped carry every single last item they could lift out of our basement. We saved 95% of our things (toys, books, movies, TV, sewing and craft items,)!
The missionaries showed up just in time to help carry the washer and dryer outside (which were already sitting in 6 inches of water). Once the water was gone the missionaries showed up again to help carry the washer and dryer back downstairs. (They also helped rip out walls and many other unpleasant tasks.)
We had friends bring us meals and do our laundry. The only reason we ate or had clean clothes that week was because of our friends.
The fire department pumped out our basement 3 times. The insurance agent estimated that we would have had 6-8 feet of water if we had not been pumped out. These fire men all work full time jobs, many on the night shift, and spent that week saving people's homes from water. Did I mention they are all volunteer fire men? None of them are paid and they spent many sleepless nights helping their community.
Our neighbor and friends spent countless hours watching our children so we could make sense of everything. We were able to put our lives back together, organize the top floor, and even take a minute to help other friends who were in worse circumstances then we were.
The following Sunday our bishop cancelled the last block of meetings so church members could spend that time helping. We had even more help that day. Friends came and helped me organize our living room and bedrooms.
Just last night a bunch of men and their sons showed up to tear down walls, insulation, baseboards, and haul them out in trash bags. Our house is on it's way to recovery.
Bloomsburg Carpet is donating carpet to flood victims and we are one of the chosen to receive such a generous gift.
The local shelters and charities are overwhelmed with donations for people who lost everything, they cannot accept any more donations.
We have had so much help and so many miracles we cannot count them all.
We are so grateful and have happy hearts.
When our basement started flooding my neighbor and friend rushed over and helped carry every single last item they could lift out of our basement. We saved 95% of our things (toys, books, movies, TV, sewing and craft items,)!
The missionaries showed up just in time to help carry the washer and dryer outside (which were already sitting in 6 inches of water). Once the water was gone the missionaries showed up again to help carry the washer and dryer back downstairs. (They also helped rip out walls and many other unpleasant tasks.)
Laundry Room
We had friends bring us meals and do our laundry. The only reason we ate or had clean clothes that week was because of our friends.
The fire department pumped out our basement 3 times. The insurance agent estimated that we would have had 6-8 feet of water if we had not been pumped out. These fire men all work full time jobs, many on the night shift, and spent that week saving people's homes from water. Did I mention they are all volunteer fire men? None of them are paid and they spent many sleepless nights helping their community.
Fireman and his TWO pumps
Our neighbor and friends spent countless hours watching our children so we could make sense of everything. We were able to put our lives back together, organize the top floor, and even take a minute to help other friends who were in worse circumstances then we were.
Just last night a bunch of men and their sons showed up to tear down walls, insulation, baseboards, and haul them out in trash bags. Our house is on it's way to recovery.
Bloomsburg Carpet is donating carpet to flood victims and we are one of the chosen to receive such a generous gift.
The local shelters and charities are overwhelmed with donations for people who lost everything, they cannot accept any more donations.
We have had so much help and so many miracles we cannot count them all.
We are so grateful and have happy hearts.
Happy
He scored some once-in-a-lifetime box seats with catered food, leather couches, and the works. On top of all that he caught a foul ball! At Fenway Park! Did I mention Fenway Park?? Fenway Park. Boston. Once in a lifetime opportunity!!
This is by far THE best thing to happen all summer.
Speaking of summer...it's finally officially over. Fall is here!
We have all the ruined drywall, insulation, baseboards, and carpet ripped out of our basement and sitting in our drive way. We have finally acheived white trash status.
It's really hard for me to look at my basement right now. It's hard to see all of our hardwork ruined. However, we are moving on and we have seen so many miracles throughout this summer. We have had more people reach out and help us than ever before.
We had at least 6 men at our house last night ripping out walls.
We are so grateful. Crisis and tragedy really can bring out the best in people.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Penns Cave
Our town is slowly moving towards normalcy after being trashed by the flood. The schools were closed for 5 days and reopened on Thursday. The middle school was severely damaged by the flood and might not open again. Right now those kids are spread out amongst the elementary schools and everyone is adjusting. Lilly and Jack have been spending a lot of quality time together now that our house has half the living space it once had.
On Wednesday I decided I needed a break from the flood and my ruined basement. I took my children over the hills and through the woods to Penns Cave. It is "America's only all-water cavern."
The only way to see the cavern is by boat. Before the tour of the cave Lilly convinced me to pan for gold. It was actually very fun.
During the boat tour they talked extensively about flooding and how no one can live in the cave because it floods and people would die. Not exactly the break from flooding I was hoping for....
I thought Lilly and Jack would love it, but they were scared out of their minds. My super active toddler who will not sit still for anything was frozen on my lap with his finger in his mouth. Lilly curled up in a ball and got as close to me as she could and didn't move. The tour lasted 52 minutes and those children didn't move a muscle. Lilly made a few comments about the stalactites and stalagmites and mostly about how scary it was.
Can you see the fear on their faces waiting to get on the boat??
The tour guide talked about how the water was 38 degrees and if you fell in you, your body would go into shock and you would die very quickly. Thanks tour guide for that new fear you instilled in my children.
Lilly is back in school and Jack and I are once again trying to get back to normal.
p.s. I am SO ready for this summer to be over. Next Friday is the official first day of Autumn. Hurray!
On Wednesday I decided I needed a break from the flood and my ruined basement. I took my children over the hills and through the woods to Penns Cave. It is "America's only all-water cavern."
The only way to see the cavern is by boat. Before the tour of the cave Lilly convinced me to pan for gold. It was actually very fun.
The tour guide talked about how the water was 38 degrees and if you fell in you, your body would go into shock and you would die very quickly. Thanks tour guide for that new fear you instilled in my children.
Lilly is back in school and Jack and I are once again trying to get back to normal.
p.s. I am SO ready for this summer to be over. Next Friday is the official first day of Autumn. Hurray!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Second tooth
Even amidst the flooding of our town and our home life marches on. Lilly lost her second tooth on Saturday. She was thrilled. The tooth fairy was scrambling to find a dollar amidst all the flood destruction. but was successful in the end!
One day last week I fed Lilly pop-tarts for breakfast and she said "Mom, I really don't think this has enough protein for us." I laughed and laughed. Although, she did make a good point.
She also asked me if Wolverine was real in the 80s. Not sure how she knows what either of those things are. She keeps me laughing.
We have seen a tremendous amount of love and support this past week from friends and family, especially our local friends who have helped us out immensely. We are very grateful!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Catch up - Labor day weekend
We went to visit my mom last weekend. We went to the temple, shopped, and a had a good time.
Jim and I were also able to visit the new Martin Luther King memorial in DC. It is quite impressive. The memorials were very crowded. More so than the normal holiday crowds.
We didn't think to bring our cameras...but here is a picture of the memorial.
Jim and I were also able to visit the new Martin Luther King memorial in DC. It is quite impressive. The memorials were very crowded. More so than the normal holiday crowds.
We didn't think to bring our cameras...but here is a picture of the memorial.
Flood of September 2011
We are cleaning up in our small little town. Cleaning up from the major flooding that you might have seen on the news.
Lilly and Jack at the soccer fields. I would like to pretend that Lilly is grumpy because she can't play soccer for a few weeks...but that's not the case. She was pouting about something and I can't remember what...
Below is the Susquehanna on Thursday. The rain slowed down and we could get some pictures. I don't know if you can tell but at this point the river is already out of it's banks.
Here is the river on Friday. The river came right up and into the houses that lined the street. You can see the trees are the same in each picture, only we couldn't get close on Friday because of the water levels.
Here is the view from our friends front porch. Their basement filled with water but it miraculously did not reach their first level. On an even better note the water levels have gone down this morning and they are able to start cleaning up.
We checked out a couple of the flood spots this morning and the water is starting to slowly recede.
Jack is checking out the view of the flooded middle school and CVS. The middle school was under a lot of water and it is unsure when they will be able to return to school. The school district closed early Wednesday and remained closed Thursday and Friday.
Here is a picture I got from facebook. It is an aerial shot of the middle school.
This is another photo from facebook. A picture looking into our town. The flood gates are keeping all that water from getting further into town.
Jack (this morning) at the soccer fields. The water levels are slowly going down.
Lilly and Jack at the soccer fields. I would like to pretend that Lilly is grumpy because she can't play soccer for a few weeks...but that's not the case. She was pouting about something and I can't remember what...
Below is the Susquehanna on Thursday. The rain slowed down and we could get some pictures. I don't know if you can tell but at this point the river is already out of it's banks.
Here is the river on Friday. The river came right up and into the houses that lined the street. You can see the trees are the same in each picture, only we couldn't get close on Friday because of the water levels.
Here is the view from our friends front porch. Their basement filled with water but it miraculously did not reach their first level. On an even better note the water levels have gone down this morning and they are able to start cleaning up.
Jim caught some video of Chris kayaking over to his neighbors house to try and shut the door for them. (You can hear Jack saying "Go go!")
We checked out a couple of the flood spots this morning and the water is starting to slowly recede.
Jack is checking out the view of the flooded middle school and CVS. The middle school was under a lot of water and it is unsure when they will be able to return to school. The school district closed early Wednesday and remained closed Thursday and Friday.
Here is a picture I got from facebook. It is an aerial shot of the middle school.
The water levels are coming down and the sun is shining.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Lost Tooth
Lilly lost her first tooth yesterday. I think this growing up thing is happening too fast. First kindergarten, now a tooth! What is happening to my baby?
She lost it on the bus ride home from school. Her friend, Cara, came screaming off the bus saying "Liz, Liz, Lilly lost her tooth!"
Lilly then climbed off the bus holding her bloody tooth in her hand (gross).
She showed it to me and then dropped it on the road. Her friend picked up the tooth and put it back in Lilly's hand (double gross - why do kids think it's ok to touch bloody teeth?).
We went home and promptly put it under the pillow for a tooth fairy (wrapped in a paper towel). Lilly was very upset that she didn't have any tissues in her backpack. She insisted that we go to the store and buy her an individual pack of kleenex to keep in her bag for the next time she looses a tooth on the bus.
The tooth fairy came last night and left one dollar under her pillow.
Jim thought a dollar was too much.
Inflation.
She lost it on the bus ride home from school. Her friend, Cara, came screaming off the bus saying "Liz, Liz, Lilly lost her tooth!"
Lilly then climbed off the bus holding her bloody tooth in her hand (gross).
She showed it to me and then dropped it on the road. Her friend picked up the tooth and put it back in Lilly's hand (double gross - why do kids think it's ok to touch bloody teeth?).
We went home and promptly put it under the pillow for a tooth fairy (wrapped in a paper towel). Lilly was very upset that she didn't have any tissues in her backpack. She insisted that we go to the store and buy her an individual pack of kleenex to keep in her bag for the next time she looses a tooth on the bus.
The tooth fairy came last night and left one dollar under her pillow.
Jim thought a dollar was too much.
Inflation.
Penn State
On a whim, I joined Jim at Penn State last Friday. He is only on campus for three hours on Fridays and I decided to tag along with Jack.
Jack and I toured campus while Jim had class. It was very surreal to walk around campus with my son. The campus is filled with memories. Some things have changed, but most things are still the same.
I took Jack to the Nittany Lion and to other landmarks on campus.
We had a great time.
Jack and I toured campus while Jim had class. It was very surreal to walk around campus with my son. The campus is filled with memories. Some things have changed, but most things are still the same.
I took Jack to the Nittany Lion and to other landmarks on campus.
We had a great time.
Now that Jim is working towards his PhD at Penn State we might have more opportunities to visit.
I think it must be very strange for Jim to go back to the same school 8 years later.
I know it would be for me!
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