Well, we finally moved into our house on Friday September 5th. We actually had a very successful day. All of our furniture was in our house by 2 that afternoon and the cable/power and phone were all hooked up without a problem. It is probably the smoothest move we have ever had. Chuck's mom and sister came down to watch our kids and my nephew for Brad and Wendy and us to go to an employee dinner with Chuck and Wendy's new company. We went and had a wonderful time. 
I would say that about Monday we were really starting to watch this weather system named Ike that looked as if it was going to emerge into the gulf and head our way. Now, we have learned very quickly that no one around here really thinks that a hurricane can come this way. If you mention to anyone that it might head here they are quick to tell you that "everything will be fine it won't come here". So, we watched and waited and got all the updates we could-even from Chuck's company. Then on Wednesday, I left work for my lunch and I checked my phone. I had a message from Chuck asking how much gas was in the car because he and Brad had decided that Wendy and I needed to leave- the storm was coming right for us. They wanted us out of here by the next morning. Well, that sent me into panic mode. Here we are in this new house with boxes still all around and I have to try and pack clothes not to mention anything I might not want to lose. So needless to say, we packed up all we could, we boarded up our house (this took until 
midnight) and we left at 4am Thursday 
morning headed to Fredericksburg,TX where Chuck grew up and his mom and grandma still live. We took clothes and needed paperwork along with Brad, Wendy and Aaron with us. We made it to Mama's (Chuck's grandma) house about 10 that morning very tired and weary. Once we got settled in we proceded to watch The Weather Channel for the next two days. It is very hard to describe the feeling you get when you have to leave behind everything you have worked for not knowing if when you return it will be there. We felt for several days like we were in mourning because we didn't and couldn't know what would happen or what had happened. We did manage to make the b
est of our situation and with the help of our children-who can lighten any mood- we did end up having a good time. We were very blessed and fortunate to have a place to go to. I don't know what we would have done had it not been for Chuck's family. Not only did they house all of us- his grandmother who has a bed and breakfast cancelled her visitors so that we could use the B&B as well as her house. Chuck's mom went to the store when we called her that we were coming and she had snacks and food for the kids already there when we arrived so we wouldn't have to go to the store. We didn't have to buy a single meal for the entire time we were there. So, we are home now. We came home to a house that is fine (except our fence) and we had power/water/cable when we got here. We definately dodged a bullet as the eye of the storm went right over our neighborhoods. While this was definately something we had not experienced before I hope we never have to evacuate again.
midnight) and we left at 4am Thursday 
morning headed to Fredericksburg,TX where Chuck grew up and his mom and grandma still live. We took clothes and needed paperwork along with Brad, Wendy and Aaron with us. We made it to Mama's (Chuck's grandma) house about 10 that morning very tired and weary. Once we got settled in we proceded to watch The Weather Channel for the next two days. It is very hard to describe the feeling you get when you have to leave behind everything you have worked for not knowing if when you return it will be there. We felt for several days like we were in mourning because we didn't and couldn't know what would happen or what had happened. We did manage to make the b
est of our situation and with the help of our children-who can lighten any mood- we did end up having a good time. We were very blessed and fortunate to have a place to go to. I don't know what we would have done had it not been for Chuck's family. Not only did they house all of us- his grandmother who has a bed and breakfast cancelled her visitors so that we could use the B&B as well as her house. Chuck's mom went to the store when we called her that we were coming and she had snacks and food for the kids already there when we arrived so we wouldn't have to go to the store. We didn't have to buy a single meal for the entire time we were there. So, we are home now. We came home to a house that is fine (except our fence) and we had power/water/cable when we got here. We definately dodged a bullet as the eye of the storm went right over our neighborhoods. While this was definately something we had not experienced before I hope we never have to evacuate again. Here is what the kids did while
we boarded up/packed.
Here we are at a gas station along our way.
These next pics are just of us hanging out with the kids and watching the weather/football.
Here is Laney playing too!!
I think we really tired everyone out.
All in all we faired exceptionally well and we had fun in the process. It goes without saying Family takes care of family.
