When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Go to Vegas

What some people don't know is that before the monster storm hit Columbia, it had already been raining for a week. Kids hadn't been able to go outside to play or for school recess for over a week. After the storm, we were even more home bound. 

My house looked like this.

And then we had to start boiling water before drinking, cooking or washing. The water situation combined with being shut in and having a broken refrigerator was making me stir crazy. 

But then I remembered that I had flight benefits and could jump on a plane and go anywhere. Why was I staying in Columbia? School was cancelled, which meant seminary was also cancelled so there was no reason not to go. David drove us up to Charlotte to the airport and he made arrangements to stay with colleagues in Rock Hill.

We only got bumped once and within a few hours found ourselves in sunny Las Vegas with safe running water and cousins to play with. And while I felt guilty for not being around to help with relief work, I also felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

The kids played in the pool while their cousins were at school. (The pool was freezing.)

Then we joined the girls on a field trip to Whole Foods.

Jalen and Lauryn on the city bus.

Baylie was pretty impressed with the chocolate display.

But she was significantly less enthusiastic with the veggies.

And the chicken feet about did her in.

The displays at Whole Foods are incredibly beautiful and make you hungry just to look at them. (Okay, maybe not the chicken feet.)

Clara and Baylie by the shish-kebabs.

Clara and fresh spices.

Lauryn and Jalen.

Afterwards, the girls went back to school while the kids and I had lunch. Jalen's pizza was bigger than his face.

The pool may be cold, but the hot tub is toasty warm.

It's been great to have this little get away, especially since we didn't expect to see family until next summer.

UPDATE:

One of the highlights of our trip was making sno cones. There was more syrup than ice involved, but the kids were in heaven.