I thought that we were done getting pounded on by the rain. Apparently I was wrong. This last week we have been pounded again and there was not room in the garage to park my minivan (because of the two torn apart motorcycles that Peter has been working on) so I have been going out in the down pour about six times a day to drive kids to school and pick them up. The drainage ditches in our neighborhood were filled up with rain water and Lake Superior once again took up residence in our back yard. While driving Isaac to preschool one day this week I had to drive down a road that was completely flooded. The next day I couldn’t get the minivan to go into reverse when it was time to take Sydney to school so she got to carpool with some neighbor girls. Peter came home and took care of the problem – apparently the brake pad or something had become rusted from driving through the flooded street.

Peter was very nice and cleaned out the garage on Thursday night so I got to park the minivan in there for two nights before he started the motorcycle project again. He does not have work tomorrow so hopefully he will be able to finish with one of the motorcycles so we can sell it! I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PARK IN THE GARAGE!!!!! You Utahns don’t know what rain is!!!!!

After this last week and our experience a few weeks ago with Tropical Storm Hanna I think it is about time I invest in some decent rain jackets and rain boots. What have we been doing all this time without them?

Peter and I have both been on a reading kick this week meaning that we both had a couple of days that we were terrible parents and got completely nothing done except finishing our long books. Peter finished reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and I finished The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (check out my Dizzie Lizzie Can Read blog this week for a review – also come check out my new poll and help me decide what to read next!).

Isaac learned that great rhyming song that goes “Isaac Isaac bo bisaac , banana fana fo fisaac, me my mo misaac, ISAAC” in preschool a couple of weeks ago so both of the kids have been singing it over and over and over and over and over subsitituting all of their friends’ names into it. Would anyone like to adopt a couple of kids for an evening or two? The good thing about it is that Isaac has discovered rhyming and is making some practical connections.

I ordered a couple of excellent Christmas solo books and have been playing to my hearts (not Peter’s) desire! I just got the DVD Rejoice and Be Merry with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and featuring the Kings Singers. I heard from several people that this had been their favorite Mormon Tab Christmas concert so far so I had really high expectations and although I thought it was really great and I enjoy watching it, it was not my favorite so far (I LOVE the ones featuring Audra McDonald and Sissel). I can’t wait to find out what singer/group will be performing with the choir this Christmas!

Sydney has been trying to decide what to do for a science project (yes, the 3rd graders are required to participate). So far her choices have been to make a real mummy (yes, this was one she really wanted to do), put flowers in different colors of dyed water and watch the flower petals change colors OR to try putting water in different kinds of cups (plastic, aluminum, etc) to see which kind will keep that water at it’s starting temperature the longest.

Sydney has a little scientific mind (which she gets from the Johnson side of the family). When I was in the 3rd grade I wrote down on an assignment that when I grew up I wanted to be a beautician or a cashier. I remember my dad’s response to this – “You don’t have to settle for one or the other; you can do both!” (Now imagine that said with the Gardner family sarcastic tone and you’ll get a better picture). Needless to say, we are still trying to help Sydney decide on an interesting project – I assigned Peter to be on the Science Project Committee.

We are excited that Peter’s mom Janice is coming out to visit this week. Unfortunately Peter will be out of town the first couple of days she is here but I’m pretty sure we can keep ourselves busy. I think that the kids might just have to be “sick” this next Friday so that they can spend some quality time with their Grandma!

*About the poll for this week – I hope that the single vote for NOT voting in next month’s elections is from my brother who is not old enough to vote yet. Shame on you if it was anyone actually old enough to vote! I am not a huge fan of either Presidential canditate but I do know who I will be voting for – I feel like I have to choose from the best of two evils. There is a Marriage Amendment on the Florida election that is very important to have my vote on (I will be voting in FAVOR of marriage being defined as being between one man and one woman).

Anyway, that all folks… Sorry no pics this week…