Sunday, July 3, 2011

Too hot for anything but blogging!

As the heat index goes well over 100 today in Omaha, and with both kids asleep its time to hit the computer. I've been filling nap time with other activities, some less frivolous than others, but after a few requests for more Mason pictures, I find I've run out of excuses not to blog. Why do I drag my feet so much? I'd say our upload speed is about half of what I'd like it to be, not that I don't like updating everyone on what we've been doing.
The Flood: it has been an all consuming topic around our neighborhood lately. The "Mighty Mo" has been on a constant rise since winter ended, and now we are finding ourselves in its path (sorta). Most of our ward In Council Bluffs is already seeing lots of water in their basements, but we are on far higher ground here in Omaha, so we are in no immediate danger. The river would have to flood about 100 feet vertically before we would even get worried. However, we have been busy getting our emergency preparations in order, like water and purification systems and food, and yes, Ryan bought a shotgun. I don't love it in the house, but he calmed my anxiety by also getting the most cutting edge safety equipment. The safety's on ole bessie.
So while our ward has been moving everything from their basements, we've been helping people get their things out from below ground, and a few families have been moving completely as well. Ryan hardly ever comes straight home from work anymore, as it seems like there's always someone needing assistance. I'll post some pictures of things that have been affected by the water already. Rachie, bring your gumboots!

Our usual road out to church, but not where we drive. It's closed now. The thin strip above land is the railroad, and the highway is to the right.

A casino entrance that is right on the river. I don't feel all that badly because it's a casino. Ryan saw this and said it looks eerie, like the Titanic, but less grand.

But I digress. I haven't blogged about my trip with the kids while Ryan finished up finals at the end of April. I took off to go to Heather Low's wedding and see family, and also got a chance to go back up to Calgary, and then down to Arizona so we could bless Mason with as much family as possible present. Basically that's the trip in a nut shell, so I'll let the pictures do the talking. I wish I had taken more pictures at the actual wedding, but with two kids I felt like I was barely able to keep track of all our stuff, even with all the help I had. The flights over to Salt lake went as good as I could hope for, traveling with a toddler and an infant alone. I received many piteous stares, but for the most part people were very helpful and nice. There was one point that I was nursing Mason while holding the air sickness bag out for Sadie, but that was brief. That girl is just not meant for travel. Thanks again Laura and Ben for being Sadie's best trackers in Utah!

At the reception in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. I know I should stop her, but she was having so much fun, and she wasn't the only one, and the damage was already done. Yikes, rhymes.

The black and cream trio, all unplanned. Mom and Laura, surely one of you has a better shot of us?

Dinner in Provo at cool pizza place. We look extremely un-hip compared to the rest of the diners there.

Blessing day (and Mother's Day) in Mesa. Sorry, no pictures of our time in Calgary :(

The family portrait now! I think there was a fingerprint on the camera lens, so every picture has a foggy, 80's softness to it.

Back in Omaha, Sadie and Mason in my mother's day gift: a double stroller! Going to the zoo is a breeze now!

Ryan and Mason bonding over NBA finals. I think there's a very similar picture of Ryan and Sadie watching ball too.

I have way more videos of Mason than I have pictures, but they're all pretty boring for you guys, so I'll just have to be better at snapping pics. Hope everyone had a very patriotic Canada Day, and a good 4th of July too!

1 comment:

Jenna Lee said...

Karen,
Sadie is getting so big!!! and Mason is cutie! I hope when you come to canada I can get a chance to meet your little guy!