We get to go home!!!! I called home around 1:00 p.m. today and was absolutely delighted to hear the sound of my own voice on the answering machine. Chris went home to get the water turned back on and make sure that everything was in order. I instructed him to call me as soon as he got there to confirm that we did indeed have power. He called from his cell phone, and said that it was a pretty cruel trick for me to play on him. Ha ha - don't toy with me!!! He reported that the furnace was running, and the refrigerator was cooling. The only thing that doesn't seem to be working is the computer. It seems rather insignificant right now. We are under a water boil advisory. I guess the water pressure dipped below acceptable range, and parts of Janesville were without water. So now we have to boil the water until they can get it tested and verify that it's safe. Again, it seems rather insignificant. We will all be so grateful to be home and together. AND we are so grateful to Roger and Diane for their hospitality to us - they were wonderful!! AND we are grateful to Jackie for agreeing to provide emergency shelter for Sugar when/if it became necessary. So now - on to pick up the girls and some bottled water and food and then HOME.

Elliott has pink eye. I'm heading to Diane and Roger's for the second night of their hospitality. The girls have spent the day with them. I hope we don't wear out our welcome - there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Sigh...

I am blogging from Roger and Diane's house tonight. We have been without power in Janesville since about 3 p.m. yesterday. It sounds as though it may still be a few days before it is restored. The girls and I decided to trek into Cedar Falls, and Chris has stayed home with the animals to hold down the fort. School has already been cancelled for O tomorrow, but I am hoping to make it into work.

This shows the ice build up on the porch windows.











This is the view from the porch.













The icicles on the garage roof are getting longer.














Icy trees.

We had a lovely little taste of pre-spring earlier in the week. It seems a million miles away now as the harsh hand of winter bears down on us again this weekend. The storm started last night with sleet, thunder, lightening, rain and freezing rain.

I had plans to join Jackie at her company outing - dinner at the Broom Factory and a play at the Oster Regent. I fretted all day, watching the forecast. I wouldn't have minded spending the night with her in Cedar Falls, but the forecast was such that it appeared if I didn't make it home Friday night, I would be there for the entire weekend. Although I would have enjoyed spending the weekend at Jackie's, I wouldn't have gotten any work done at home, and I would have missed my family.

So, after all of my fretting I decided to go. I packed an overnight bag - just in case I got stuck. The trip there was slow going with sleet accumulating on the highway, and a brilliant light show in the sky. Fortunately with Jamie gone, I was able to park my car in Jackie's garage. We had a lovely dinner at the Broom Factory - we were in the upper level, so we had a perfect view of the river and the lightening. The play was enjoyable as well. Instead of joining her co-workers at the stuffed olive after the play, we decided that we had best call it a night. We had about a quarter inch of ice to scrape from the car windows. Thankfully, a few of the guys that were leaving at the same time helped us out. There was a good half inch of sleet build-up covering the roads, but it wasn't all that slick - the pebble-ness of the sleet was good for traction. The highways however, we not quite as good. I think my top speed on the way home was 40 mph. It was not terribly treacherous, but I was awfully glad to get home.

After I got home, the rain really started. This morning we have about 3/4 of an inch of ice covering the ground, and it's raining again. At least if we have to have this blast of winter, I'm glad that it happened on a weekend. We are looking forward to watching movies, playing games, and giving the stinky dog a bath. I just hope that we're not doing it by candlelight, and that we don't end up with too much tree debris as a result of the wind and the ice. Ah mother nature!!

I am delinquent!! Please accept this attempt to catch up on current events at the Waller house.

Elliott had a great actual birthday on the 29th. She chose ravioli and creamed corn for her birthday dinner, and had three candles in her hostess cupcake.

Chris went on the burr ride this weekend - although I understand that there was not a whole lot of bike riding going on. For those of you in this part of the country - I don't have to explain why. For the rest of you, it had something to do with windchill - which unfortunately has carried on into this week.

Olivia and I were a little sad that the Bears lost the superbowl. I'm sure it wasn't from any lack of cheering on our part. She did ask who Prince was during the halftime show. Is he supposed to be like some kind of Elvis. Yes - I did feel old.

My boss Mike and his wife Angie welcomed their third little girl on Monday. Alice Grace weighed 8 lbs. and 12 oz. She is a perfect little dolly!

This morning we are headed to Roger's retirement recognition at Deere's. He hasn't worked since Christmas time and I must say that retirement looks good on him!!

I finished my 4th book for the year. Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen. I always thoroughly enjoy her work.

Pretty big nutshell - but that's it for now :)