UNBELIEVABLE!!!

The tree crew showed up at my sister's at 8:50.

They filled up one truck with logs, and another with all the sawdust from the chipper - and at 10:20 they went to the dump. There were only a few more logs and half a truck of sawdust - 30 minutes more work - and they were done. Holy Cow! They were fast, efficient and cleaned up everything. They used a crane to lift everything off the house and into the street where they could cut it up for either the chipper or the log-truck.

They were amazing to watch - they worked so well together and everyone busted their hineys.

Storm Damage

Thursday night's storm was a lulu! What a light show! And I swear the wind was going over our house - never touched the ground. We only lost about 12 leaves off our little tree. Our vines stayed on the house. But it sure sounded like a train. I talked to the rest of the family - no power in Maricopa, M&D only got rain. Mom said to call my sister in Central Phoenix - Central and Camelback area. OMG! They had a pine tree in their front yard that they planted 32 years ago - their first Christmas tree in that house - snapped off at the base, and fell on the house.

Luckilly the corner of their brick house is holding it up - otherwise, it would have landed on my Brother-in-law while he was sleeping. What a mess! It is about 60 feet tall (long, now) and laying on their house. They are so lucky no one was hurt, especially since one of the branches came into their bedroom, bringing with it glass from a small broken window pane, insulation from the attic, and drywall from the ceiling. All that debris rained down on the bed on top of him. Huge branches have poked holes in their roof. And who knows what is under all those needles.

The tree guys are going to start removing this tree on Sunday. We'll probably be there just to see how and where they are going to start to get this done.

Memories

When we go places - we get a magnet to remember it by. Here are our magnets.

All the ones on the freezer are places we've all been. Maybe one or 2 where the girls weren't born yet, though. Those places, we had Jon with us. The ones on the frig part are places one, or two of us have been. See the animals with red or blue shirts on? Those are Morgan and Kendra's from different places, when we find them. Red for Kendra, Blue for Morgan. We've kept that theme their whole lives.

We also have the State magnets on the side of the frig. We, as a family, have been to 27 states (upper and lower penninsula MI) and the District of Columbia. Since we've been married, Dave has been in 2 additional, I've been in 2 additional, and he and I were in one other. We have those magnets too, but we remember which ones the girls have missed.

Week One Down...

We made it through the first week of school without much issue. Dave's classes are small, and he says the kids are really cool. Only the usual "mommy left me" melt downs, and not for long, at that.

Kendra's opinion - "5th grade Rocks!!!"

Morgan - much more easy going, thinks it's the BEST to be the oldest on campus again.

As for Sue, well, they're trying to make me have more of a role on a project at work, so will be working later nights, and maybe even giving up some of my Friday's off! I'm not so sure I like this new job! Kidding - it really is the direction I want to go, so I'll just have to deal with it and get my work done/caught up before that Friday off, so I can take it.

Until next time...

Back to School

The summer has ended and everyone has gone back to school. Morgan to 8th grade, Kendra to 5th grade, and Dave in PANDA.

The girls both went to Montlure this summer and had a blast! Every time they come home from camp, they immediately start talking about next year, and 'when' they go back, who they want to bunk with. We've been hearing camp stories all summer long - Kendra went right before our Washington trip, and Morgan went right after.
Then just last week, before school started, the girls spent a week in Overgaard with Grandma and Grandpa. Cool weather and rain was a nice break. Also, nice break for us - alone for a week! Kody was so confused, though. He kept looking for them. I went up on Thursday night to pick them up and stayed till Saturday. So nice to get away for a little while.
We've had a full summer of travels and stories. And if you feel the need to hear more, let us know…I'm sure we can fill your ears with all kinds of them!