Grand Rapids Flood 2013

Yesterday Matt and I were lucky enough to go out alone for an hour or so and take pictures of the flood here in Grand Rapids. (It would have been pretty insane trying to bring our two wild things along!)  It's a pretty crazy sight in our city, to see so many things under water, also one that we probably won't see in our lifetime again.  There were people everywhere downtown, out sightseeing and checking out history in the making...

We were out from around 4-6 and the Grand River hadn't yet crested.  I believe it ended up cresting at 10 pm last night, a little lower than anticipated at almost 22 feet.

The Rockford Dam.  The bridge has been closed due to concerns of safety.

The stairs leading down into the river under the Dam.  There is usually dry land down there to walk on.

My favorite house on W. River right near the intersection of W. River and Northland.

The park on W. River.  Matt usually puts the boat in here to go fishing.  No dock in sight now.

Same park on W. River.  The dock is to the left of the road closed sign, somewhere.

Rockford High School's boathouse on Jupiter near W. River.  I bet they never guessed they'd be able to row right out of the garage.

The fence along Jupiter right near the boathouse.

This house can be seen right from the bridge over the Grand River on Jupiter.  Water up to the middle of their lower floor windows!

Right next to the Jupiter Bridge.

A view of the Jupiter Bridge from the street that runs down to the river houses.

Riverside Park, the parking lot across from the Veteran's Home.

Riverside Park, the trail that I usually walk on.  Everything is under water.  Notice the height of the water compared to the signs in the background.

This train has been parked over the bridge (and filled with salt) to keep the bridge from being swept away by the strength of the river.

Another view of the train from Matt's work.

The sandbags at Matt's work.  Their building is right along the river and they were trying to keep it from flooding should the water make it that far.  Their building is flooding from the foundation though, the elevator shaft was completely full on the bottom level and had to be pumped out.

The Fish Ladder.   These are the steps that you use to walk down to the river to look at it...

No more dam in the Grand River.  If the fish could swim through the current in the water they'd be very happy to easily make it up stream.

The Fish Ladder...

Currents next to the deck on the Fish Ladder...

6th Street Bridge.  Look at how high the water level is compared to the bridge!!!

"In between" birthday party...

Since Adri and Sam's birthdays are exactly two years and two week apart, we always use the week in between to have a family birthday party, that way the party doesn't fall on either of their birthdays and take away from the specialness of the day for one of them (or have them getting presents on the other one's day).  On their actual birthday we have a special dinner and cupcakes/cake for that child with just the four of us.  This year Adri's birthday fell on Easter, so she had an extra special one of a kind day that won't happen again for awhile.

Since Sam's birthday (and his receipt of many cards in the mail) he has been going out to the mailbox to see if the "mail" has brought him more cards.  :)  Each day he tells me "Mommy, let's go check the mail, maybe it brought me another card."  He and Adri both love receiving mail and get extremely excited to open cards that came in the mail.  (Matt and I have decided that next year we'll just send their birthday presents through the mail, that way receiving them will be extra special.)

I attempted to combine the birthday themes so we could order a smaller cake.  So, you get a unicorn/Thomas the Train theme...  :)

Yes, you will now see many pictures of our cat, Oreo.  I love this cat and think he's the most beautiful cat in the world, so you have to just suffer through it.  :)

Yes, another Oreo picture.  As you can clearly see here, he is very happy to be trapped and loved on by the five year old...

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Sam Man!

April 14 has come and gone, and little Sam Man has turned the big 3!  Our sweet little peanut is now a little man and continues to remind me of this every day.  "No Mommy, I do it!" he'll tell me when I try to help him with something.  He is starting to go to the bathroom on the potty (when he feels like it) and aspires to be just like his big sister; wild and ambitious.  :)  He and Adri are the best of friends, and he looks up to her in every single way possible.  "Agee, you play with me?  Agee, we play cars?"  And ending every sentence with "Right Agee?", as if she has all the answers. 

Although Sam still loves to be carried around (and cling to you when you carry him), he has decided that Mommy kisses are icky, and wipes them off with a huge "Yuuuuuuck!" whenever I kiss him.  :)  Each morning and night he has to have his Mommy kisses and huggies though, begging me to come and give them to him.  He is also quite the cuddler, snuggling as much as you'll let him.

Sam is an exact replica of his Daddy; same physique, same quiet thoughtfulness, same sweet and gentle way about them.  He follows his Daddy wherever he goes and begs Daddy to play games and cars with him all the time.  One of his favorite things to do is do puzzles on the floor with Daddy.  I have a feeling Matt will have him fishing and hunting in no time.  :)

Here are some of the pictures from sweet little man's 3rd birthday...

Here is his little birthday cake...

Sam wants everyone to know that his pants hang just like Daddy's.  :D

This picture is pure Sam.  Sweet, little, comedian.   

A very happy Easter (and 5th birthday!)

We are now the proud parents (and little brother) to a very happy, quirky, funny, spirited, and extremely artistic and athletic 5 year old!  Adri was very lucky to be able to share her birthday with Easter this year and reminded us every single day during the previous month that her birthday was very special and would be on Easter.

I'm really not sure where the past five years have gone.  I can remember being in the hospital waiting for her to make her appearance like it was yesterday, and now here we are, about to embark on Kindergarten round up next week.  I don't know where the time has gone, but I am reminded every single day to stop and and enjoy what I have today because it won't be long before they change.

If you can't tell, Oreo is extremely overjoyed to be being held, especially in a strangle hold.  :)

Ask for a funny face and you shall receive, Sam-style.

I don't ever want him to lose this innocence!

Yeah, no words.  :)

And a wink, Adri-style.

 Caught both of them looking!  (and hugging-a rarity!)

Cutest mouse-thingy, ever.  Adri would live in animal costumes if you let her.

Big boy can ride his bike!

Have to test Mom, does no really mean no when it comes to mud?  :)

Easter Egg Hunt at school...

And this is how we do eggs in our house...  :)  (I like it much better when the Spring brings warm weather and we can do the eggs outdoors!)

What little boy wouldn't want hanitizer in his Easter basket?  The Easter Bunny is very thoughtful and practical when it comes to the kids' baskets.  

Adri "reads" Sam's birthday card for her.

Best part of the present, getting to put a bag on your head!

Adri's favorite presents, stuffed animals.  No dolls for this girl!

Arrrrgh!  It's a really large spider!

Happiest 5 year old ever!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Is it almost my birthday Mom?

Adri gets Daddy!

Critter Barn!

Look at the sweetness of this little boy!  Some girl is going to be lucky to have him for a husband someday!  :)

Yes, the goat got Adri's hair!!!  :)