The Craziest Day of My Life!

11:00 p.m...you would think we live in the city with all these people trying to get home
Same location after the storm...this is typical for traffic out here
Ila checking out the shutters
Us Hanging out in the candle light!


Well it all started the night before. I got a phone call at about 8:30 p.m. from a friend telling me that my Shutters had arrived and they wanted to come in the morning to install them. Hooray! So I was sure to take a shower that night so I could have Cora ready for preschool on time and ready for the installer to come.

Well, Wednesday February 13, came and it came like a storm. The guy showed up an hour early! AHHHHHH! I had no bra and was not ready at all. Did I mention I had stayed up late making Valentines with the kids and putting together the treats for Cora's class party. So, I ran and got dressed, let the guy in, got Cora ready barely in time and called Will a million times asking him questions about minor install problems.

Then Cora came home, and in the middle of going through her Valentine treats I got a knock at the door. I opened the door to a blizzard and two people on my door step. The health department wanting to check my water for bacteria. I was bewildered but I let them in, and they proceeded to tell me they need one sample from every city and I was the only one that opened the door. (they meant to check the local elemetary school but couldnt find it) How random.

Then Crystal comes home and the blizzard starts getting worse and worse. I looked out my iced windows and could see all these cars stuck in the snow bank and all over the road. Then the power went out and I could hear sirens going by over and over. The blizzard continued all night. Luckily I had a gas stove and was able to make dinner and we ate by candle light. However, me and the four kids were getting sick of no electricity. I finally got them all in their pjs and socks and we sat around in the candle light and camp lanterns for most of the evening.

The power finally came back on about 8:15. Well, by the time I put the kids to bed and the house quieted down, I realized how bad the storm was. The roads to our house were comepletely shut down, there was a 16 car pile up, and an uncountable amout of people off the road. People ran out of gas waiting to get home. Others waited at fast food resturants for 5 hours plus. Everyone was stranded everywhere. Many buses were also stuck in the mess. They ended up taking kids BACK to school after a couple hours in traffic. Kids spent the night at school because their parents could not get to them.

This was a terrible storm. I saw it's after math first hand. Their were cars lined up for miles trying to get to Eagle Mtn. I was on the phone with my friend for 50 minutes and she only made 2 miles of progress. I am so glad I stayed home. What a night.

Our Adventure to Liberty, Utah

The Adventure Begins...

Bleach blonde, red convertible, top down, mountain air......

......frozen Pineview lake!

....snow banks taller than the road signs

....where are we?

We Made it!

Yes, Taylor and Shannon live in a true Mountain Home in the Ogden Valley. It has amazing views and is surrounded by all kinds of wild life. We had fun visiting and seeing Rosalun doing so well with her new family. The turkey enchaladas were great! Thanks Guys!

Will's Water Tank Email

(Hey Tara. Here is a little water flow problem we were called to today. I know the dates are off on the camera. There was huge potential here for more than the silt and rocks that washed down the hill and the busted roof. The water was shooting out of the roof of that little pump house as high or higher than the tank.

On the other side (downhill and to the right) was an elementary school playground. I went to talk to the principal to get the kids moved back. He thought they were back far enough. He told me, "If the tank fails we will run." I said, "Well if you think you can outrun thousands of gallons of water. Go ahead. You will probably feel it before you hear it (I was trying to scare him a little at this point because of his ignorance). And then we can take a couple hundred kids cold, wet and hypotherthmic to all the local hospitals."

He murmered, "OK," and suddenly the lady with the loud voice blew her whistle and yelled, "MOOOOVE BAAACK!" And just like that they moved. Smart kids. Luckily it was just a regulator on the main feeding the tank, and not the tank itself.

Love your cute little firefighter Will. )

A little more on this incident---This is up on the East bench just above Skyline High where Pop went to high school and lived. I think the day was Feb 5. It was a nice day and I was on the rescue (paramedic suburban) not the engine so we went and grabbed my camera. After we got back and took pictures the kids were out for recess. That is when I was assigned to go get the kids back. Some people sometimes. I tell you what.---Will

The silliness continues.....

I know everyone wants to know the silliest thing of all. It is: Silly Tara told me her silly little username and password. I guess she forgets that I am an elephant and NEVER forget!! What will I do with this newfound silly fun. Well for starters some captions but next....who knows. This could get interesting......Love you Tara.

The Big Banquet

We went to Will's Award Banquet on Saturday night. All that work to dress up...I wasn't going to miss getting a picture.

Will's Photo Shoot

YOU MUST RESPECT MY AUTHORITY!!!
I look pretty good. If I could only afford the pants!
In the Navy....
Yes this is a Naval Officer's uniform adapted.
While the kids were in the bath, I kept sneaking photos of Will trying on his uniform. I couldn't help myself. He was being so silly about his uniform.

How funny that two people so close interpret the same situation so differently. Tara thinks something is silly and I am totally irritated. "No more pictures" sounds so silly sometimes. Maybe I would be a little more silly if I could get a decent haircut from a gay man. OK so I was being silly.

Bath Time