Visiting Brandts in NC

We're on our way to NC! We had a great long weekend visiting with Mike's brother Patrick, Julie and their 3 kids-Samuel, Sarah and Jed.

Playing in their pool

Playing in the sand box at their house.

We had fun taking Patrick and Julie's conoe out on a lake right by their house. We also rented 2 paddle boats so that we could all go out at once.

North Carolina has some wicked bugs that I would not want to get friendly with!

Connor achieved a swimming goal-he put his whole head underwater, thus earning himself a pair of goggles in which to see as he goes underwater again!

Struck by lightning and other July updates

Okay, time to do the update for July before we go to the beach and get a ton of cute pics (that's my plan anyway!).

Yes, our house was struck by lightning on July 1st. It was a pretty bad storm that night. The boys had been out riding scooters and bikes when the clouds started to get dark so I sent them inside to get showers or baths.

I was helping the kids while Mike and his dad were looking at the hot water heater trying to figure out why the pilot light had stopped working. I had mentioned how much I enjoy watching thunderstorms to the kids as the storm got closer and the thunder louder. Then as Connor was getting out of the tub, there was an enormous bang-so loud it hurt my ears. It freaked us all out a little and I started looking out the windows to see where the lightning had hit (I thought it hit the Fairgrounds somewhere). Mike came running up the stairs and said "our chimney blew up." I ran outside in the pouring rain to see this...

bricks strewn across our yard- I kept saying "What happened, what happened?!" Meanwhile Connor was starting to get really freaked out so I decided to stay calm and sit on the couch with all the kids. After talking with some neighbors who actually saw it happen, we still couldn't believe our house was struck by lightning. In fact, it never occured to us to call the police or the fire department. I only thought to call insurance right away and take lots of pictures. Thank goodness a fire never started.

Afterwards I talked to Mike about what he heard down in the basement, and he said he thought he was dead. He thought somehow gas had leaked and blew up the house, but in reality what had happened was he was right at the base of the chimney (the point where the furnace and hot water heater are connected to release carbon monoxide)when the lightning hit and blasted part of the wall out.

Point of impact, the chimney. Most of the damage was the chimney, roof-because the force blew bricks right through the roof, gutter, the wall in the basement, our TV in our bedroom, and a part to the fridge. I am grateful that it was only that-it could have been so much worse. Now hopefully we will never go through that again and the kids will have a cool story to tell for the rest of their lives!

July 4th

In the past, the 4th of July has been one of my favorite holidays. However working retail (at A.C. Moore) has turned me a little-I have had to work the past two years. I refuse to work next year or I will quit (if I haven't already!).

The kids and Daddy had a fun day at my parents picnic and then having lots of family and friends over for fireworks (we live right by the Fairgrounds). This will probably be the last year for front row fireworks as long as we can sell our house.

Pool Days

We ran out of Swimmer diapers so I just used a regular one since she sometimes doesn't even get in the pool. She looks like she is wearing a bustle!