New schools for all 3 kids this year.   Today was Nadia's turn.  She is attending United Community School, which is 1/2 way between Boone and Ames.  A nice convenient location for Me.  We meet her teacher last week and was able to visit the classroom yesterday.   Nadia was very excited and showed very little nervousness.  She announced that she had a great day when I picked her up at lunch time.  Here's a few photos of her first day. 

Today was the start of the new 2010- 2011 school year here in Ames.  The boys were not really to go back,but I think they were getting a little bored with summer.  How can that be?   First, the heat and humidity after the floods have made it almost impossible to play outside.  Second, the smell.  everything is wet and rotting.  Ames smells a little unpleasant at the moment.  Third, they are sick of each other.  Each knows how to push their brothers' and sister's buttons.  I must say, it's driving me a little nuts. 

Both the boys started new schools this year.  Ben graduated to the big new middle school. He did not seem worried about all the new things.  He told me, "it's just school"   His bus picks him up at 7:25, which was a little early for everyone.  We should get used to that.  He arrives home earlier, which is nice to have the extra homework time before dinner and sports. 

 

Grade 6

Exiting the bus

Ethan transferred to Fellows Elementary.   Due to our house move last year, he needed to switch to our neighborhood school.  He rode his bike this morning with our neighbor Ryan and did not look back. 

Grade 3

Off to school

I hope and pray it's a great year for both of them. 


Nadia starts her new preschool next week. 

For months I have been thinking and brain-storming about creating a mini album as a memorial to my Grandfather. I finally finished it just in time for the Iowa State Fair. It won a white ribbon. I am very happy with how it turned out.

If the slideshow is a little small, you can view the album here: grandpa

Several Summer storms over the last week have brought record amounts of rain to Ames over the last few days.  With record rain, comes flooding.  Most North and South Routes in Ames are closed.  13th street was closed for most of today.   Andrew was able to get to work, but not get home for lunch.    It looks like he will be able to get home this evening. Getting home was a bit more challenging than we thought.   13th street was still closed, so Andrew went North to the Roland exit, then over to Gilbert and finally south.

  Interstate 35 is also closed South of Ames and Sections of Highway 30 are inaccessible. It really is quite a mess.  

Just to add to the chaos, the city has recommended that we boil our water.  The store shelves has been emptied of bottled water.  Ethan and I biked to Wal-Mart for school supplies, which by the way was a big mistake.  Since Target and Super Wal-mart are under water, everyone north of Lincoln way came here for bottled water.

For curiosity, the kids and I biked to the new pool.  Here's what we saw: 

The bike path is completely covered and the new pool is surrounded by water. 

Such a Bummer with only 1 week of summer left. 

The Des Moines Register sent an ariel photographer and here's some of the photos. 

Highway 30 

  

The pool... there was some controversy about building it in the flood plain. 

This is Duff ave.  in front of Super Wal-mart and Target.  You can see the Red Pizza hut roof. 

Super Wal-mart. 

Thankfully, we are safe and sound with a dry basement.  That's more than many people can say.  I have water boiling on the stove as we speak.    Pray for sunshine, but a little break from the heat would be nice.