Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Worst Day Ever!!!

So it all started at about 4 am when I woke up because of the storm. The kids, of course, had woken up and were scared because of the storm. So we went into the kids rooms to go back to sleep.
Then I got up around 7 am and started getting ready for the day because I had a dr. appointment this am. I left my house around 9 for my appointment (alone, thank goodness). It was pouring rain outside. As I started driving I noticed there was a lot of standing water on the roads. The rain gutters were full and so water did not seem to be draining. As I approached one intersection there was so much water that everyone was turning around and going another way....I did the same. I then called Skip and told him the roads were really bad and I was nervous driving. Like he always does he reassured me that I would be fine. So I kept driving. I had driven past the YMCA and the Zoo on W38th Street for those of you who know where that is. I then was going down the hill to Glenwood St. There was standing water in the intersection, but other cars were going through it so I thought it will be fine. I waited up higher where there was not as much water and was waiting for the light to turn green. ****There were a few things that I know now that I didn’t know then***It was pouring rain and the visibility was really low. The river just next to this intersection had begun overflowing on to the streets and was getting really bad really fast. As the light turned green I just barely started to go when water rushed up and over the hood of my car. The engine/windows/lights/ etc. all immediately went out.
I was kind of panicking because the car had stalled so I call Skip...I was only on the phone with him for a second before water started rushing in at my feet. I told him to call 911 (funny that I called him and told him to call 911, I don’t think you think very clearly in situations like this, he told me to hang up with him and to call.) I called 911. One scary thing is how long it took them to pick up. I guess all of Erie was flooding and there were tons and tons of calls pouring into 911. I tell them that my car is not working and is flooding. I was told to remain in my car....scary....The current was really strong and so they told me to no mater what stay in my car. By this time there is an unmarked cop car, with a light thrown up on top, up on higher ground and he is waving to me. I am trying to figure out how this is suppose to make me feel better having this cop who is so far away waving at me....What is he going to do when my car is completely full of water. 911 tells me fire trucks are on there way...I am totally freaking out at this point. Water is to about my knees, while sitting in my car. The firemen get there and have to put all there safety measures in place before coming after me. About five firemen then get to my door. They have to get the car door open because windows and nothing else is working. Finally they get my door open....as water is rushing in to fill the car....they grab me.
I am then taken to the fire truck on higher ground. They leave me in the truck to go rescue other people. There are five cars in the same situation in the same intersection. They had gotten me first because my car was filling the fastest. Other people were then brought to the fire truck. One interesting thing is that while I was sitting alone in the fire truck I could hear the radios the whole time.....it was things such as "man attempted to exit car at this intersection...is now completely in the water, other cars flooding, houses flooding", etc. etc. When the firemen got everyone that was in immediate danger out we were taken back to the fire station.
It took Skip about an hour to get from our house to the fire station, which would normally take 10 minutes. We have since spent the day dealing with our flooding basement and our insurance company. Skips car still remains submerged at that intersection. They have to let the water go down before they will allow tow trucks into the area. Our insurance company has basically told us that our car will be totaled but they have not gotten the car out or inspected it. This has truly been a horrible day.

Reflection
I am so incredibly thankful that I did not have any of my kids with me during this experience. I can not even imagine trying to think through having to save my three kids with rushing water filling the car. It also would have taken way more fire men to get four people out of the car because they have to grab you all at the same time because once they opened the door the water rushed in quickly. I also need to tell myself that I am very fortunate because I am physically okay (emotionally not so much) and that it is only a car that is ruined.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Gymnastics

The boys have been taking gymnastics classes through the YMCA for a couple of weeks. I have been really impressed with this program and the boys love it. Here are a few pictures (sorry they are blurry our camera does not do a good job taking pictures of a moving object).






Saturday, June 20, 2009

Playing Ball

Casen has been playing ball with the Fort LeBouf League. It has been fun to watch the games. They have two games a week so it has kept us pretty busy. I think Casen has learned a lot this season and he seems to really enjoy it.

The Team

Starting with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The kids alternate what position they play. Here is Casen playing second base.

Casen hit the ball and made it to first base.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Update on Cora

Wow, time is flying. I can not believe Cora is 10 weeks old today. She is getting so big and her personality even bigger. She does not even seem like a newborn anymore. Once Cora started smiling, a few weeks ago, she has been full of them ever since. Her smile melts my heart, it is so sweet.

Ready for Church!

We just got Cora this bumboo chair, that everyone swears by. It is fun to see her sit up in her chair, truly makes her seem old. (PS she is smiling at her dad who is standing next to me).

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Our trip....Washington DC

We have spent the last couple of months planning a big trip for when Skip was on this last break. We have been so excited and were thrilled when it was finally time to go. The next couple of posts are a recap of our trip. We could not have fit more into 9 days if we tried. We were really lucky and were able to have Grandpa and Nana fly in and we went to Washington DC, Hershey, Baltimore, and Gettysburg. During our trip we stayed at a rental at Laura's parents house. They were great hosts and helped to make our trip fantastic.
Washington DC


The first thing we did when we got to DC was to go to the Smithsonian Museums. Grandpa and Nana took Casen and Jace and went to the Air and Space Museum while Skip and I went to the Holocaust Museum. This museum was definitely not a place for kids. It was very educational but also very very graphic. I can not believe that anyone could do such crimes against people. This was very sad.

Here is a picture of us in front of the Washington Monument. My dad had to lay on the ground to get this shot.....the monument is so tall (Thanks Dad).

Lincoln Memorial Monument

Arlington Cemetery

Here is the family in front of the Reflection Pond. As you can see we have two sleeping children (Jace and Cora). We had worn them out by this point.

Grandpa, Nana, and the boys in front of the White House.

National Aquarium in Baltimore

One of the days on our trip was spent at the aquarium in Baltimore. We were able to go to their dolphin show and see all of the exhibits. For those of you who know me really well you know I love love love dolphins. Growing up I always wanted to be a dolphin trainer, part of me still wants to.




Hershey

Hershey is such a fun place. It is divided into two parts...Chocolate World and Hershey Park. Chocolate World is all about the chocolate. You can take a tour ride on how chocolate is made, help make/ package chocolate, shop, etc. Hershey Park is a huge amusement park. We spent two half days and one full day in Hershey. It was a ton of fun.
Chocolate World

Here we are at the entrance to Chocolate World. We are soooo excited. Anything with chocolate has to be great!

After our tour on how chocolate is made the boys decided to test out their skills. Here is Casen working with the Hershey kisses.

Jace hard at work.

Both boys learning how to package the kisses.

Our youngest Hershey Factory Worker.

Hershey Park
Here is the family at Hershey Park (sorry the picture is so dark).

Grandpa, Nana, and the kids. This is where you measure how tall you are and then you have a candy bar assigned to you (this helps determine what rides you are tall enough to ride). Casen was a Hershey bar. He is our little dare devil.....anything they let him ride, he will ride. He rode several roller coasters, some of which went upside down and everything.

Here is Grandpa and Casen Followed by Skip and Jace.

Pure Joy!!

Gettysburg

While on our trip we stayed in Hanover, PA. This is about 15 minutes from Gettysburg. Because we stayed so close we were able to go to Gettysburg a few times. Skip loved this. He really enjoyed visiting all of the sites and learning more about this battle.


Here is a couple of pictures of the family at the Pennsylvania Monument. This is one of the most grand monuments at Gettysburg (If you look really close in the first picture you can see us standing at top of the monument)

Here are the boys trying to figure out how the cannon worked.

Here is a picture of Grandpa and the boys at Gettysburg.