There was an eclipse, school started, and our house almost burned down

Well, this week was all kinds of exciting. Yesterday someone started 7 fires along Redwood Road, and one of them happened to be in the field next to our house. We were all at church and had no clue. Fortunately, someone in our ward was sluffing church to make strawberry jam (her story, haha). She said she saw smoke at 1:30, by 1:35 the whole field was on fire, and by 1:39 the fire department was there and had it mostly contained. Whaaa? She sent texts to the bishop and others to tell us to get home- I wondered as I was leading music in primary why Nils was standing there staring at me. Anyway, he left before I was done, and when I stepped out into the hall to see what he needed, our neighbor said, "you need to get home, there's a fire right by your house." Someone got Anders out of class, and he and I rushed home, and by the time we got here, it was like the picture below. The firefighters had it under control, but it was surely a strange sight. Our neighbor Karlene took this picture. That's our roof, and you can see the top of the club house in our yard. B-a-n-a-n-a-s.

No word on who or what started the fires. There's speculation that a vehicle was dragging a chain and sparked all of them. I'd like to think it was accidental, and not some nit-wit doing it intentionally. Anyway, we're thankful that we still have a home. The firefighters were amaaaaze-balls!

photo cred: Karlene Edgel

photo cred: NilsyNils

So how about that eclipse, huh? Pretty neato! Aani and Ava made their way up the street to view it with some friends, who had actual glasses. I did make them the sweet cereal box projectors, but clearly the glasses were better. Anders and I looked at it through a welding mask. I was a little scared that we were all going to go blind, but we all have our vision still. *fist bump* Addie was at 7th grade day at school, but got to watch it in the class she was in. They did the pinhole in the paper thing, I think. Nils watched it at work. 

Addie's first day of Jr. High! This was at the bus stop with some cute friends. We have a bus stop right by our house, now! For the last 2 years it's been a half mile away, so this is much better. Maybe Anders will actually bring his french horn home to practice and clean now that he doesn't have to lug it all that way.

First day of school for everybody. Why is time flying by? Anders 9th, Addie 7th, Aani 5th, Ava 2nd. 

Here's hoping for a banner year for everybody! Make good choices, children!