THE TRAVELING GARDNERS

Moving from Utah to California, we thought we were escaping the white stuff sticking to the ground. No, we didn't get snow. But the cold rain soon turned into hail. And within 5 minutes our backyard was covered with hail. The boys stared out the window screaming, "It's snowing!"

The last Saturday in August, we decided to make a day of it. A picnic at the pool! The outside pool on base has a water slide. It might have been built for kids. But that did not stop Dan and I from going on it. So fun! We had a "only in Arizona" moment that day. We were in the pool for about 10 minutes when the dark clouds rolled in, the thunder boomed, and lightening showed its face. The lifeguard blew the whistle. The down pour of rain began and we left. We were gone for a few hours and ran some errands. Then headed back to the pool. The lightening and thunder was gone. And we jumped right back in the pool. .............Only in Arizona could it have a monsoon rain storm along with flash flood warning, and be back in the pool within a few hours!

It's just about midnight and we are just getting home. Ben and Dan are both passed out asleep. I still have some energy, so I'll give you an update on our night. First, our power goes out from the blizzarding weather outside. But, the main whopper is that we had to go to Urgent Care for a spider bite on Ben's leg. Even with winds gusting and throwing drifting snow at us. Usually, when walking out the door and not being able to see 2 feet in front of you, you would turn around and go back inside. However, Ben's spider bite from about a week ago had gotten really bad. It wouldn't stop bleeding, and was black and purple. So off we went to the DR. And I am so glad we did! I just had the mommy intuition and I am glad I followed it! Ben's spider bite had to be cut open, drained, and had packing put inside so it could drain. The infection of the bite had spread to his lymph nodes in his groin area, and he had a fever. We have to go back on Friday to have it re-packed. ...