Ike is visiting Texas right now. We have family throughout Houston and it is pretty bad from the reports they have been sharing with us. Most of the family has been without power for a day now and there doesn't seem to be hope that it will be back on for days. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you who are directly in the path of Ike and for everyone who has family they are concerned about.

What do you do when there is a Hurricane nearby? Well, Sam has decided that it is best to experience the "environment" so that he can have something to share with GG & Grumps and Kev, Bec, Grace & Finn. Today will be forever known as Backyard Water Park Day @ the Potter's house.

The winds are blowing with some force but no trees or fences are down yet. We've been watching the skies as we make homemade salsa, outlandish nachos and sit in amazement at the creativity Sam and Luke have shown. Pounding down the stairs as he laughs, Sam had on his swimsuit, swim shirt, and crocs. He wanted to play Backyard Water Park! It's raining (not lightening, yet) and it's windy. There is lots of green grass, 3 wild baby bunnies snuggled in a nest, two trampolines, a swing-set and fort and two little boys in swimsuits. It's raining, and raining, and raining. It's north Texas and we starting to experience the outer edges of Hurricane Ike right now.

What happens when a 3 year old and a 7 year old realize more water can = more fun? The water hose comes rolling out across the yard. The drenched boys have decided the tall slide coming down from the fort must become their personal water slide. The teamwork started with Sam suggesting the Backyard Water Park and together they went upstairs to find Luke's swimsuit. Together, they found Luke's swimsuit and swim shirt and got him dressed. Now, Sam is dragging the hose over while Luke is climbing the gang plank up into the fort. They shout directions to each other to create the best possible water slide known to man. The rain wasn't getting the water speed fast enough to catapult them off the slide.....the hose would do the trick.

In a short time, there are mud puddles and water pooling everywhere. There were some muddy bottoms but the speed at which they flew off the slide was more interesting than mud stuck to their back end. Next came the adventures of rain, water hose, and trampolines. Yes, this could be dangerous. I am not recommending you do this at home. These guys were having the time of their life. I started filming and the next thing I know...Angie is out in the rain, holding the water hose and creating a water fountain for the trampoline jumpers. The boys thought it would be great to have Mom try out the water slide.

My three most favorite people in the world are laughing outside in the rain as they take turns sliding down our homemade water slide. I'm sitting here with laptop and camera capturing this entire event in real time. The memories are priceless. The Mom who will kick off her shoes, run straight outside in her clothes and not think twice about getting dirty or messing up her nails....that's my girl, that's my best friend...that's my beautiful wife!

I'll let you know if it's the rain, the wind or being waterlogged that sends this crew inside!