Sheila, Dan, Steven and Hannah's Blog

First, let me say that I am shocked and in disbelief at the devastation in my hometown of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina! Second, all of my family members are fine and have been accounted for. My mom Cathy, sister Michelle, nephew Julian, Aunt Laurie and Uncle Jimmy evacuated in time and are safe. Nana (Helen) stayed in her home, and it fared well compared to the rest of New Orleans. She is in Bellemeade subdivision, Gretna/Terrytown, Lower Jefferson Parish, and not affected by the levee breaches (thank God!). I talked to her last at 1130pm central time Monday and she told me her neighborhood flooded up into the yards, but not the house. She lost some shingles off the roof and part of the garage was severely damaged, collapsing the garage door down onto her car. Today I have not been able to reach her, or the neighbor across the street who also stayed. I think (and hope) the phone lines are down and nothing else happened. I will update again when I have any more news. Last, Dan has signed up as a volunteer to go to New Orleans and help with Coast Guard operations. We doubt they will pull from Alaska, but if they do, he will go. I love that brave hubby of mine! God help New Orleans!

STEVEN STARTED KINDERGARTEN TODAY! Here are some pics of him before school started this morning. 

Steven poses on his first schoolday with his breakfast, a blueberry jelly waffle sandwich! 

Steven walks up to school 

Steven and his teacher walk down to his classroom 

Steven puts his things in his locker. 

Here is Steven and his locker! 

Steven sits at his place at his table 

Steven's classroom part 1 

Steven's classroom, part 2 

Well, we are finally back from vacation! We had a great time in Savannah, drove to Jacksonville, FL to visit Nana and Joey, then flew to San Francisco to hang with Dan's family for a while. Then we stopped by the Alaska State Fair on the way home! Now we are happy to be home, and back on our routine. There are 48 pics posted here from vacation! Steven starts kindergarten tomorrow morning, and I will be sure to get pics to post! 

Steven, Michelle, Sheila, Julian, and Hannah 

Mimi (Michelle) and Hannah 

Michelle lets Hannah stand on the beach for the first time! 

Hannah gets sand in her toes. She didn't like it! 

Nanaa and Hannah  

Steven, Nanaa/Noonie, Julian, and Michelle jump the waves together 

Steven and Julian play in the surf on Tybee Island. 

Nana finally got to meet Hannah!  

When we got to River Street in Savannah (about a half hour from Tybee Island), we opened the door and it looked like Hannah had had a ring party in the back seat! I love the one around her wrist! 

Hannah loves to share ice cream! One lick and she was hooked! 

Hannah has a messy ice cream face! 

Dan walking Hannah on River Street 

Top row: Cathy(Nanaa/Noonie), Steven, Julian, Aunt Diane, Sheila, Bottom row: Michelle, Hannah, Dan (Not pictured is Uncle Joey, who was also there) 

Steven, Hannah, and Julian 

Steven looks out the front of the monorail to the rental car pickup at SFO. 

Daddy tosses the little girl in the air, to her delight!