Praise the Lord!

Today, Monday June 28th, the insurance adjuster came to go over our claim. They covered all of the damages!! We were very blessed as most people are not getting covered. We are now able to replace ruined computers and replace the other ruined drywall. God was really watching out for us.

Intersting weekend

Well it has been a long fun and very interesting weekend. It all started on Thursday (I know that is not the weekend) when Sara and Brad came in from St. Louis. Sara is Andy's sister and Brad is her husband. They came in for Vicki's, Andy's mom, 60th birthday. Vicki did not know they were coming so I went and go them from the airport and took them to my house to hang out till our dinner that night. We all went to have dinner and at that point we surprised Vicki with Sara and Brad. It was a wonder full dinner and Vicki was pleasantly surprised.

Then on Friday we had lunch with all of Andy's family and then I can home and decorated Vicki's cake for Saturday. I also made the pulled pork for Saturday. Then that evening Sara and Brad came over to our house. Andy and Brad played with the boys and the wii while Sara and I had some things for the party on Saturday.

Saturday we went to the picot graph caves and lunch at Red Bobin. Then Sara made up a story to leave and we went over to Jean's, Vicki's sister, to get ready for the party. For the last two months Jean, Sara and I had been planning a big surprise birthday party. At 6 Vicki and Duncan came over for what Vicki thought was going to be a family dinner. We had some where between 30 and 40 people come to celebrate with us. She had no idea and was completely surprised. She later said that it was her best birthday ever.

Then Sunday came. It was father's day so Owen gave Andy the mug that he made him. Then we headed of to church. After church we went to my parent for lunch and to spent some time with my dad. Atfer a great time with my family we headed into Billings to see Vicki and Duncan, Andy's step dad. On our way into Billings a storm had started and we had a ston of hail, rain and really close lightning. We say lightning strik a telephone pole 100 yards from our car. Then about 1 minutes after we got the Vicki and Duncan's the tornado sirans went off. Sure enough ther was a tornado so we headed to the basement for shelter for over and hour. We came to find out that it hot in the Hights and did a lot of damage. It took the roof off of the Metra, leveled a few other buismesses in the Hights and did damage to more. Then there were flash flood warnings and masive flooding in the Hights and downtown Billings. So after the storm setteled we headed to our house to see if we had any damage. We found that our garage, Andy's office, had flooded. There was water that reached about 10 inches up the walls and we were left with a muddy mess. So we started the clean up with the help of Vicki and Jean.

It was a long weekend, but we loved all the time that we got to spend with our families. We just did not like that it had to end with the flooding.

Owen

Owen has been saying some very funny things lately. Just the other night he told Andy and me that he wants a Thomas the train tattoo when he is 24. Andy told him that he would be fine with that, but he could not get any other tattoo's or they would have words! He told my mom a few weeks ago that he was a big boy now. Then he posed for a few moments and then said "I am just short." He calls Tay and Brayden his friend cousins.

He is also doing a lot of new things. Owen is just like Andy and he thinks just like him as well. Owen is just under 3 1/2 years old right now and is starting to spell. He can spell his name, mom, dad, fox, red and robin. Those are the ones that he know of the top of his head. He is also starting to sound words out and recognizes some other words in sentences or on signs. He recognizes the words that he can spell as well as pop and pirate. He loves to play the "learn to read" games on starfall.com.

Owen loves to constantly be learning something new and loves to read some of Andy's old books. One of his favorites right now is "How things work". I do not know why a 3 year old likes to read this book because it is about a 6th grade level but he loves it. He also likes some science books that we borrowed from some friends. Even though he loves these books he does still ask for story books from time to time.

He also knows his name, and yes he can say Niemantsverdriet, and no he can not spell it. He knows his address and what city and state he lives in. He also knows left and right.

It is fun to see him growing up!