Hurricane Harvey was AWFUL!

Kids went back to school on Monday after Hurricane Harvey shut our side of Houston down for over 2 weeks.  It was a very stressful and sad time for many of our friends, as so many flooded after the storm passed.  We spent time helping as many people as we could in as many ways that we could.  Laundry, purchasing supplies, moving, unloading boats, delivering meals, setting up apartments and rental homes.  So much kindness and good shown by so many people in such a devastating time.  Here are a few pictures...

 Grocery stores were scarce in food and water.

 This was a joke that I thought Brian made up, but yes, pop tarts are one of the things to sell out.

 Lines miles and miles long the day before the storm hit.

We had some quality puzzle time!

 Gwyn's sponge rollers came out amazing!

 Gwyn made cinnamon rolls for all the neighbors during one rainy day.

 Post storm dinner out with Jason...who was a trooper and took 6 kids for a day out to a movie and lunch so that Brian, myself and our friends could go help our friends.  This was such a treat as we had pretty much left 6 kids and a dog by themselves at our house for days while helping as much as we could.

 Swimming with friends and hanging out with friends whose homes were flooded.

 Gwyn had her first soccer scrimmage, photos by Annie:

 Annie came home with homemade play doh, so we made a bigger batch the two of us when Jacob was gone to football and Gwyn was gone to soccer.  Love my time with this sweet, fun kid!

 A little monkey hanging!  They look like trolls with hair upside down!

 Annie really wanted pictures of her pushing her big brother!

 This cool cat will have his first tackle football game on Saturday.

 Girls got to play a little soccer on a college field before the storm.

The Start of School and the End of Summer!

 We survived the first couple of days, Jacob in 6th, Gwyn in 4th and Annie in 2nd grade.  The kids were excited and Annie overcame a stomach bug just in time to make it to the first day of school.  Jacob is in middle school....slow down time!!

 The 6th grade boys met for breakfast and carpooled together on the first day so they walked in with a crew...so fun!  The boys were nervous!

 My new color suduko game, I had to have after visiting Emily's...my new obsession.

 KIDS LOVED their last few days of summer, swimming, riding bikes, staying up late and hanging with friends!

 Gwyn made the library website:

Annie won a coloring contest at Brian's work!  She's my little artists!

 We are enjoying every last minute of summer around here.  Annie is one spunky, awesome kid!  I told her if I was going to 2nd grade, I would want to be her BFF!

 Enjoying the new swing!

 Brian and Gwyn made the Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls, 5 hours later and 2 dishwasher loads we had 24 rolls.  They were amazing!

 This boy is playing football for the Hawks!

 We got toiletpapered again...this time from boys in Gwyn's grade...Jacob is planning revenge.

 A last minute day trip to Galveston with some friends, such a fun day!

 A night out to see the Broadway show The Bodyguard...so fun.  The dancing and singing was amazing, Whitney Houston had some great songs!

 A one night pick up in Dallas visiting Emily, Nick, Grace and Sadie...the kids were on their way back home after spending a few days with grandparents in Tulsa.

 A rare couples night out...so fun!

 Brian cooked me dinner one night while the kids were gone...this should happen more often!

 Meet the teacher was the Friday before school, all went well until Annie threw up in one of Gwyn's classrooms! We made a quick exit after I cleaned up, and Jacob stood in line to get pictures of Gwyn with her teachers.

 One last picture, me and Dani with Deborah Cox who played Whitney Houston.