Lightning...

never strikes twice...or so they say.

Our house got hit last weekend for the second time.  Our first lightening strike was about three or four years ago....we woke to lights flickering on in Brett's office and a broken stereo.  This time....we woke to a horrible popping noise followed by almost immediate cries from Sophia.  We jumped out of bed and heard a number of alarms going off but not knowing where they were coming from.  I immediately ran upstairs...Sam was fast asleep....Sophia was screaming and Joseph was laying in bed wide-eyed.  I flipped on Sophia's light....but there was no power in her room or J's.  We did not smell smoke....and immediately the alarm company called our cell phones.  They wanted to send fire trucks, but  B searched up and downstairs looking for signs of fire...and turning off smoke alarms and checking switches in the basement.  We checked the attic but thankfully there was nothing smoldering.  We were lucky....extremely.  The hours following...appliances that were not already not working...slowly started failing.  We lost a few tvs....the stereo, the garage door openers, the treadmill, the dishwasher, the central vac, the stove, all the phones, the alarm...and the list keeps growing.  Apparently the water heater flu at the top of the roof (located near Sophia's room)  was what was actually struck.  We found it mangled in the yard the next morning.

Every repair person and his brother have been to our door so far this week ...and every single one has been amazingly nice...and none could understand how we escaped fire....must have been God looking down on us...

Before this week.... I don't think I appreciated my appliances enough....I sooo miss having a dishwasher...and really missed my vacuum....But we are slowly getting things repaired and are just grateful that we still have our family and our house!!!

We've had to hang around the house for all the repair work but have still managed some summer fun.

This pic was from last week....when we had a dress up party with a few fun friends.  Don't you think blonde is his color??

I snapped this the other day of my soon to be 5 month old...he was eyeing his Big Sister...he simply ADORES her every move.

Today....we pulled out the paints for a project I hope to finish with the kids in the next few days.

Can you see Missy's BRIGHT red nail polish....we've been having fun playing beauty shop too! Sophia also started tennis lessons today!  She is a lefty...but apparently prefers playing with her right.  She played sooo well for her first lesson.  Her instructor swore she had taken lessons before:)  I have to brag a bit...b/c I am sooo proud of her!

And this little guy just likes to be dirty!  He just wanted to paint himself:)

And finally, while I should be out buying new phones and tvs, etc.... I purchased some mini donut pans instead....definitely a necessity...don't ya think?

We made it over the hump....Happy Thursday!