Emma & Nannie, 8/14/05 

Emma & Grandmother Rutledge, 8/20/05

Grandad & Grandmother Rutledge, 8/20/05

Emma & her giraffe, 8/22/05 

Mommy & Emma getting ready for bed, 8/23/05 

Evacuation Hot Fudge Recipe

As requested by my friend Pearce

Evacuation Hot Fudge

1 Stick Salted Butter
2 Cups Dark Brown Sugar Not Packed
2/3 Cups Special Dark Cocoa
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
2 Pinches Sea Salt
1/2 & 1/2 until desired thickness
-------------------------
1. Over low heat, melt butter
2. Add sugar and stir
3. When sugar disolves add cocoa & stir
4. Add salt & vanilla & stir
5. Add 1/2 & 1/2 slowly until desired consistency is reached.
6.  Serve warm over your favorite ice cream

9 Month Checkup

Emma had her nine month checkup yesterday. She is 28" long and weighs 19 lbs. 10 oz. Other than her continuing allergy problems she is doing great. She is crawling and pulling up to standing, but has not figured out cruising yet. We expect that it won't take her long to figure it out.

We are back home, and have been for a couple of weeks. We got to watch Hurricane Rita come and go under our house. Only two feet of water, not the 4 or so that Katrina pushed through. We didn't even lose power. It was just a little difficult to get out of the house for a couple of days. (I should get a pirogue.)

Below are some pictures from our evacuation to Joan and Neil's place in Frankston, TX (The Pond). I have some pictures from before the evacuation that I have not gotten to, that I will get to eventually.

Emma & Joan 

Emma & Grandma 

Emma & Daddy at the Pond 

Emma Crawling! 

Emma With Her Turtle 

Just Relaxing 

Emma's First Time in her Pool 

Emma Playing in the Pool 

What's That? 

Grandpa, Mommy & Emma 

My mom's house came out ok. Two trees came down in the back yard. 

A couple of trees hit My mom's laundry room. Looks like it's mostly roof damage. 

Checked in my house

My dad and I drove back to Mandeville on Friday to check on our houses. There are pictures below. Both of our houses are fine. Plenty of trees went down, but those will be cleaned up within the next week or so . Susan and I were really lucky. The two biggest trees that went down in our yard fell away from the house. The big oak, which was right next to our house fell straight south. The root system bent our carport just a little. We already have a tree service to take the trees out next week.

My dad's house had a lot trees go down as well. Unfortunately, one of them hit his boat, one of his cars, and my company car. His boat is repairable, his wife's car is repairable, my company car is totaled. The trees were being cleared from his property yesterday, and the cars should be accessible now.

I have also heard that the company I work for will be opening temporary offices in Baton Rouge, and I would expect to be back at work next week. I am just waiting on the word from them.

I have been taking pictures of Emma while we have been evacuated, and will be posting those sometime soon. It has been a little stressful taking care of her in a new environment, I'm sure she can sense the stress we have been under, and she has not slept as well as she sleeps at home. Even with that she is the bright spot in our evacuation. It is amazing how her smile can make you feel.

Also lost the pine right next to my back porch. 

The big oak took 3 trees and a power pole with it.

I lost my biggest Oak tree.  

I lost a tree in the from yard of my house. 

My company Explorer didn't fair so well. 

My Stepmom's car wasn't damaged to bad. 

Dad's boat didn't do so well. 

My Dad's House was untouched.