So the last time I blogged was the day before the big flood. All the kids missed it! Menomonee Falls recorded 6.5" of rain in less than 2 hours that Thursday, July 22nd. Jeff called me from work at 5:30, saying he was going to be late. I was in the basement with Theo as the tornado sirens were going off. I said "You cannot drive in this!" It was not even sprinkling by his work near the Zoo. Jeff did leave within a half hour only to see the dark clouds as he drove north and soon was in the thick of the torrential rain. He immediately was tending to the sump pump when he got home and we were both outside arranging the sump pump hoses to empty as far away from our house as possible. The creek behind us swelled higher than it's ever been. But it did stop. We did not experience any damage.

Friday Jeff and I drove downtown Milwaukee to Gallery Night where many art galleries are free and open to the public. It was a beautiful night and quite relaxing.

Saturday morning Bryn arrived back from Kansas City raving that this was the best Mission Trip ever. I think they liked working on reading skills with the kids. The Welcome Back Luncheon put on by Bryn's group was plentiful and delicious as always. So nice to have the kids come back to that and be able to share stories with their families right away. Paige came back from Pennsylvania later in the day. Needless to say, both of them were super tired and had very smelly laundry.

The following weekend (July 31st) we spent up north at the Cabin. Just a nice, relaxing weekend with no plans. Abby and I went with my Mom to the Shawano Farmers Market to pick up fresh corn on the cob for dinner. We were all able to get some swimming and boating in. Abby's friend, Amy (from UWL), met us at the Cabin driving directly from her camp counselor job. She then joined us back at home the whole next week.

We stopped in Appleton at Jeff's Mom's/Terry's for dinner on Sunday evening and to pick up a couch that Paul had found for Abby's house. The couch is forest green leather, which matches perfectly with the glider/rocking chair that Meg had given her the week before! So perfect. Then were treated to a yummy cookout with leftovers!

Just this weekend, Abby went to a wedding in Eau Claire for a classmate at UWL. She drove up to LaCrosse in Amy's truck on Friday. They packed up the couch and a shelving unit Abby got from Hallmark. Then drove with to the wedding in Eau Claire on Saturday. Jeff drove up and back today to get her, but also to work and clean a bit on Abby's new living quarters for the next schoolyear. Jeff brought up the kitchen table and chairs we got from our neighbors, the glider/rocker from Meg and a dresser from Mom and Dad. Jeff was able to install a shelf and rod for a makeshift closet along one wall of Abby and Amy's shared bedroom.

I accompanied Bryn to a Carroll Preview Day where Bryn was able to walk her class schedule, get in to see her dorm and room, meet her roommate, and just get reacquainted with the campus. The week before, Bryn was switched out of her triple room and assigned a new roommate who's from the area as well. As you can see, Bryn's room seems large for a dorm room and she has a great view! I took Bryn dorm shopping today - she's getting pretty excited.