y"IKE"s!!!! It looks like a hurricane came through here!

So-- I will take it from the beginning. 3 years ago when Rita was threatening Houston we took our jet skis 2 vehicles the cat AND a boyfriend on a leisurely drive to visit family 241miles away in Marshall TX. Because we were so smart and left early we beat the traffic and it only took us 16 hours. The night the storm hit Marshall (oh yes Rita FOLLOWED us) Danielle was riding on the back of a four wheeler driven by the afore mentioned boyfriend -in the dark, no shoes, no helmet when they decided to race down the hill. You guessed it CRASH Dani's head split open and a hot metal bolt burned a 1" deep hole in her ankle. She also received some lovely bruises. Then to top it all off we were W/O power for 3 days while our neighbors in Houston had the power back on within 1/2 a day. For these reasons (and also because our mayor Bill White did a great job of telling people who should stay and who should get out quick) we elected to fight our urge to go play and stay to face the storm.

IKE-We were without power for about 3 days but had a generator to keep fans and refrigerators going. We all spent the storm in the master bedroom with mattresses up against the window (a great comfort very time the wind shook those windows like a throw rug). A couple of neighbors had trees on their houses and MANY trees snapped off or uprooted. A large pine blocked the street but was quickly removed by neighbors working together. Our neighborhood really took care of each other. When our power went on on Monday night our neighbors across the street still had none. The rest of the neighborhood spent nearly another 2 weeks without power. We saw several extension cords across the street! I guess most people we know were well prepared because as we offered help many times people refused our help. The cool front we got shortly after the storm DID help. All frozen foods were missing from stores for about a week and for the first 4 or 5 days staples like bread were absent. The kids enjoyed playing outside together while adults worked.

For those of you I haven't talked to in years (and also those that weren't listening) here's the scoop

We are in Spring TX (a Houston suburb).
Kevin has been a chain store Pharmacist for the last 3 or four years with a brief stint at a mail order pharmacy. Yesterday we drove to Waco TX (not far from the "Western White House" in Crawford), where he has accepted a job in a hospital Pharmacy. It will allow him to do some clinical work and he is very excited about that. The rest of us are staying in Spring for at least the school year while he commutes (2 1/2 hours means he'll stay there during the week) and that should give us plenty of time to figure out what we want to do for the summer. How does living on a houseboat on lake Waco sound? So one month and 3 four wheelers later his career as craigslist addict takes a back seat to Pharmacy once again. photos pending
Ginger I am supposed to be home by myself for the first time in 24 years of raising children because Brett just started Kindergarten. But Kevin has been here with me and now Vicci joins the ranks of the unemployed so I'll let you know how that is when I get there! I spend lots of time by the pool gardening and in my laundry room washing, folding, mending and listening to talk radio. I have taken up motorcycles and enjoy riding my 250 Honda Rebel to do errands and occasionally pick up or deliver kids.
Vicci 24 was loving her job as a leasing agent and activities director at a seniors only apartment complex until corporate decided to hire the manager from @*##. She is living at home and all of us are enjoying her talents in the kitchen. She got the ultimate compliment on her updated version of Nana's chicken roll recipe (improved with the addition of ----Vegetables!) from Ty "Mom these are better than yours!"
Danielle 20 is at BYU for her second year. She is studying English and expects to be a teacher. Between her job at Legends grill and a demanding load of classes she and her room mate Julia manage to squeeze in a little fun. We had a great time with her this summer and she misses Texas more and more as the temperature in Utah drops.
Rori 17 is sneaking up on her senior year at Klein Collins. She followed Danielle into the Cosmetology program and especially loves coloring (both hair and coloring books). This summer she spent time lifeguarding at a local waterpark and is now a tutor at Jr Kumon. She plans on attending a local junior college (in other words NOT leaving Texas).
Ty 14 has just started High School! He is on the debate team and also taking Latin. He still loves to take things apart and has been a huge help to his Dad in all handyman and mechanic activities. His love for reading has not been abated. He reads and re-reads all his fantasy favorites (currently Twilight). After the storm he and his cousins spent a couple of days doing volunteer clean-up in the neighborhood followed by a few days running a debris removal business.
Braelynd 7 is in the 2nd grade. She thoroughly enjoyed the week+ off from school. She spends as much time as she can get outside playing with friends.
Brett 5 began Kindergarten this year. he loves school, ice cream, swords and is lots of fun.