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After the Flood

So this is how you feed two kids when the entire downstairs of your home is off-limits.
Honestly, we survived the flood better than I ever thought we would.
My mom watched the kids for two days while we cleaned up. My in-laws watched them for two more days while I glued myself to this computer and cranked out my paper for class.

My dad and Jim accepted the challenge that was put before them.
They worked from 8:30AM to 11:30PM getting these boards placed. It is definitely a two man job.

The boys were very happy to be able to play downstairs once it was all over.

The day after Thanksgiving, I gave the house a COMPLETE cleaning. It needed it-- there was dust and junk everywhere. That afternoon, a family came to see it and ended up putting an offer on it this week. Right now we're in Attorney Review. They want to close in two weeks. And no, we haven't found a new house yet. So stay tuned...

We Elfed Ourselves, 2010, Dude

The Flood of 2010

And this is what it looked like when I walked into the house at 10PM, an hour after getting a frantic phone call from my neighbor, four hours after water started seeping through the wall and into his house.
And this was where it was coming from. Faulty connection between the water filter and the hose.

And this is what the floor looked like when the sopping wet carpet and padding was removed. Yep, that's sand. From YEARS of tracking it into the house.

And that is what it looked like after we cleared everything out, laid down baking soda, and decided that we're redoing it with laminate flooring. If anything, should make it a better selling point for the house.

And THAT is what the end result was. Luckily, we got huge fans in there to dry out the walls, cabinets, etc. All in all, we escaped with minor injuries. I have to thank our parents for watching the boys for the last four days while we deal with the house being completely upside down.
Hopefully I can post on Wednesday night some pictures of our new floor.
And then someone can put an offer on this place...

Uncle Len's Rugby Game

Traveled down to outside Philly to watch Len's quad rugby game the other week. They play with intensity, for sure.

Len loves playing and is pretty darn good at it. We love cheering him on ;)

Trenton's Soccer, 2010

Trenton had a lot of fun this season during our town's rec soccer program.
Each Saturday they'd play a different team. Lots of 4 year olds, big shirts, enthusiastic parents.


T much preferred to hold back and play defense. Oliver found ways to stay busy.


Fantastic coaches, great weather, and neat trophies.

Interactive Read-Alouds

I encourage you to check out a blog that I created as part of my Educational Literacy Theory course this semester. I chose to research and explain Interactive Read-Alouds to parents of preschoolers and toddlers in my blog.
You can find the site here: www.interactivereadalouds.blogspot.com
I really enjoyed creating it-- especially filming myself and the boys as we read together.
I hope it can help some of you parents create a richer reading experience at home with your children.