Last weekend was a first.  The kids are spending a full month in Illinois with Nonnie and Poppie and here and there with their aunties.  It's been a full week and thus far they've been so busy that they've had no interest in taking the time to speak with either of us but are having such an amazing time.  Given that they've lived the bulk of their lives in the worst drought in history the first weekend was truly an experience. After they ransacked the house they made they're way outside.  They ran around and played, reconnected with the neighbor boy, jumped on the trampoline, had a swim in the pool, and then the storm started to roll in.

 

They've heard stories from me about watching the storms come across the field and they got a big one for their first.  Auntie Jen Jen and I took them to the back garage and they hung out on Poppies boat to watch it while we set up some chairs in the garage to kick back and watch the show.   

They stepped outside on occasion to watch it the massive lightening show frightened them a bit so they stayed undercover.

This storm marked the beginning of a full week of rain and when that occurs often times the flooding follows it.  The first storm blew in fast winds that caused furniture to go flying and some branches to fall but kids will be kids and started playing in it right away.

 

 

 

The night wound down with pizza and a trip to the ice cream parlor and some new books.  We thought this, as the first day would be hard to beat but had no idea what was in store the next day.

It rained all night and flooding increased.  The next morning the kids awoke up were dying to get outside to see it all so we let them run in it in their pajamas. But then it happened, they discovered that worms come to the surface when it rains and it went downhill from there.  

 

 

Believe me, this video is worth watching.  If you don't see it below, click on the following link.  Flooded Worms

Then the spray down of all the worm guts with the garden hose before being allowed in the house for breakfast.

We have an amazing girl, Kaitlyn, who helps us with the kids throughout the week and she left them with the best notes on their last day that they saw her prior to the trip.  They sum up our awesome kids wonderfully.  It's been a strange week not having them around but this will be part of their memories forever.