Almost Built an Ark

Yes, we are still alive and almost floating away. Last night we got 5" of rain and plenty more today. Adam didn't go into work, although he did do some work from home and checked a site near home. I did not go to work either. I manned the house and made sure the pump was working and did some pumping with the wet vac. At 6am Adam headed to Roch to buy a pump while I took the boys to daycare. The pump is small (although expensive) and isn't doing the trick fast enough. So, this afternoon Adam headed back to Roch to get another pump only to learn that he couldn't get to Roch - there was not a road that wasn't closed (that he could think of). So he turned around and headed to the cities. The bridge that was just opened last week in town is now closed as water is over the road near it, the detoured road is also closed due to water, and the next closest road is also closed! One school district closed early today due to the flooding! We are suppose to get more tonight and I hope the end is in site. We are very thankful the basement was empty and the new flooring is in (for the most part). It is drying nicely so I am happy we went with the tiles we did! Anne just stopped by and is picking up the boys for me so I don't have to leave the pump running as that makes me nervous. I think I'll be able to make it to work tomorrow if Adam is successful at getting to the cities and back. I'm not sure what he's going to do tomorrow, hopefully something will be open at that point (assuming it stops raining long enough). Who would've thought we'd get this much rain in the fall, about a month after the last major rain! Even though we are getting pretty good at cleaning up wet basements, we are not going to do it for a living! We have a plan how to remedy the situation and hope by spring we can take care of it all (again, assuming no more major rains before then!). We are sick of doing house projects and want to take a break before tackling the next one.

We are very thankful it wasn't worse as nearby towns are in real trouble with the Zumbro river rising! They are asking for volunteers to help sandbag in Pine Island and as much as we'd love to help them out, we could use some sandbags around our own house! (not really, we just need to finish getting the water out of the basement). 

Just thought I'd update you for all of those watching the weather and noticing it is pretty green around our area...

Gerrit-isms - Sept. 2010

Tonight when I was talking to Anne on the phone, Gerrit interrupted me demanding to talk to her (or whoever was on the phone). So he said hi to her and then wanted to talk to Luke/Paul. Next thing I know, Gerrit is asking if he can go over to their house tonight after 'lunch' (dinner). I learned quickly after talking to Paul, that Gerrit had invited himself over to their house. Lucky for him, it worked out that he could play there for a bit after dinner.

I picked him up and when we got in the house, Gerrit said to me: "you're weird". Guess I should expect comments like that when I let him hang out with older boys! He didn't really know what he was saying but thought the look on my face was funny.

Bedtime routine: Gerrit knows that at bedtime he needs to stay in his room which he usually does and plays with his toys. The thing I love is that we always know when he is settling down and going to sleep: he puts on his CD player and listens to one of his Go Fish cds.

Fat Tire Festival Weekend

Last weekend we headed to northern WI with most of Team Beat. Here is a snapshot of our weekend:

Starting at the top left and going clockwise: Emmit enjoying some mamma time, Paul finishing the short and fat race, Gerrit enjoying an apple and pulling down on the barrier so he could see the racers, Emmit and I walking up the hill that Gerrit had just rode his bike down and crashed at the bottom (pretty steep ski hill!), Dave finishing the long race, Adam assisting Gerrit early on in the day - Gerrit is walking his bike down, Paul helping Gerrit ride his bike up, Paul and Gerrit going for a ride at the cabin, Emmit and those 2 teeth (he's getting 4 more on top), the boys checking out the ducks on the dock at the cabin (very friendly ducks), Gerrit enjoying more food at the race, Gerrit and Luke riding down the hill (this time he made it down, still a pretty steep hill, Adam yelling 'break', I closed my eyes, and the crowd around us cheered loudly when he made it to the bottom!), Emmit in his 'cage' - my way of Emmit proofing the cabin, the cabin we stayed in.

It was great to get away and not think about the basement or the mess in the rest of the house for once! The weather was awesome and gave us a taste of fall. The mosquitoes loved Emmit during his nap in the stroller (poor kid looked like he had chicken pox!)

The next bike race we go to will be Adam's....

Another Big Step

We gave Emmit finger food Monday night. He was pretty excited to play with it and it kept him busy while we had dinner.

Once he finally found his mouth, he choked on it! (It melts so there was no need to worry)

While We Were Out...

of commission, I still took some pictures:

Gerrit put Allen in the Bumbo seat

Emmit sportin' an outfit from Max - funky aviator overalls

Before Emmit was confident on his feet, I put him on the bean bag so he could still play. How about that smile?

What Emmit has been hard at work learning

And Gerrit is learning...what being a big brother is all about! He is protecting his 'stuff' from Emmit. The other night he picked up all of his toys because he didn't want Emmit to get them - that is one way we can get him to pick up his stuff!

Progress...

Labor Day weekend was a family and friends kind of weekend

I wrote about the weekend but didn't post the pictures...

Fixated

Last Sunday after taking a walk, Emmit fell asleep so I decided to pull a few weeds and let him sleep in the stroller. Gerrit wanted to help but became interested in something else:

this bug! He did a great job of just looking at it and not touching it (or killing it like he asked).

Back in Business!

I'd like to say the reason I've neglected the blog is because I've been busy chasing after this:

but its because my iphoto wasn't working. I'm turning into a iphoto snob and didn't feel like dealing the the photo program on our pc so I havn't posted any pictures. Sorry. But, today I got it fixed and am back in business. Unfortunately, you will have to wait because I have open house tonight and won't be able to upload pictures etc. But you know they are coming sooner than later, so sit tight and check back soon! I promise!

Bathroom Humor

I really should keep a notebook with all the things Gerrit says while he is doing his business in the bathroom. He cracks me up! Tonight for example...

Gerrit: why don't we pee on our shirts, mom?

Mom: because that is icky, concentrate...

Gerrit: (pushing) Holy Crap! This is going to be big! I think like a french fry!

Mom: are you done?

Gerrit: yep.

So I help him off and clean him up. We then take a few minutes to assess his success in the toilet only to see its a little terd! The way he was talking, he made it sound like it was huge! I couldn't help but laugh. Oh, to have boys! By the way, Gerrit usually describes his poops in funny ways. If only I could share the duty of assisting in this area I would! :)

LABOR Day Weekend

We 'celebrated' the holiday weekend by doing LABOR rather than taking a break from it! {I'd post pictures but when my computer was 'updated' my iphoto was messed with! I am not happy but was relieved to hear that this is a common problem, I just hope it is fixed soon!} Anyways, Friday night Adam and the guys road to Roch. where the families met them for dinner.

Sat. consisted of going through Emmit's clothes as the weather has turned cooler and his cooler weather clothing in his drawer were all 3-6 months - not quite going to fit him! Adam finished pouring level stuff to get the basement ready for tile. I took a break and went to Nunsense put on by our local theater group. A few women from book club were in it so it was that much more enjoyable! Dinner with Rockne's at Dahlen's Sat. night - I made pesto which was very tasty!

Sunday was a rest day - Adam went golfing with a few guys. Then he grinded a seam in the floor with the assistance of Travis and Langley (who had the tool).

Today was a busy day! I watched the kiddos (which tends to be the case with the basement project) and Adam, Langley and Travis laid tile. We are a few short so will have to order more tomorrow and hope it comes sooner than later so we can get the basement back in business! I love the blue floor. Yep, its a dark blue tile. I think with a fun rug it will look pretty cool down there. Pam and I went 'shopping' for rugs and craft storage on line and in catalogs as the guys were working on the tile. Langley's treated Team Beat to pizza for dinner so I quickly cleaned the main floor and made brownies for dessert. We ended up with 16 people in the house for pizza and beer! It was a fun quick dinner and tomorrow it is back to reality for me. Kids show up for the next 9 months! Eek!!

Little Sneak

This morning Gerrit wanted to take a game to daycare along with his 'bank' (blanket). Usually we allow him to take 1 thing with him to minimize him loosing stuff and potential fights between kids etc. We told him he couldn't take the game because Julie had similar games he could play with and this way he wouldn't loose his.

As Adam was putting Gerrit in the car, he took bank to set it down and felt something hard.

Gerrit had wrapped up the game and was hiding it in his bank! If he's doing this at 3, we are doomed at 13!