We have been having trouble with our power for about 6 months now. Apparently we are on the oldest power grid in the city and as such, the power goes out off and on. In August it went out for 4-5 hours one evening while the kids were in the bathtub. That week it went out 4 different times for 2-5 hours each time. FUN! The day after Christmas it went out for 4 hours in the evening again. Through this process, we have discovered that we have a lot of candles! The first time the power went out, our neighbor came to the door thinking we had power because the house was so lit up.

So...on the evening of January 28th, while Wendy was on the phone with Brandon (on his way home from work) deciding what to cook for dinner, the power went out yet again. Wendy went around lighting candles. Brandon called back. We decided going out to dinner was the only solution. So, Wendy and the kids went around blowing out candles, then went to meet Brandon for dinner. After dinner (about 8pm), Brandon came home, threw his leather briefcase on the counter and we went about putting the kids to bed. Then we went to bed. At 5:20 in the morning, the smoke alarm started going off. Wendy woke up Brandon. We got up saw there was smoke in their room and went to get the kids. As we passed the stairs, we saw the whole downstairs was also full of smoke. We got the kids took them out onto the front porch. Wendy went in to get blankets as it was cold outside. Brandon saw flames in the kitchen. He called 911 and the fire department came with 3 engines blaring and 2 cop cars. Wendy took the kids to Amah's house.

Apparently, there was a candle on the counter still burning that low blue flame that is barely visible and Brandon had thrown his briefcase right over it. The polished leather of his briefcase prevented the flame from igniting for a long time, but it smoldered all night long, filling the house with smoke. The flames had eventually found something to burn and were just getting started when the smoke alarms went off. The actual fire damage looks relatively small. We had to have the whole house cleaned top to bottom, air ducts, everything. Our insurance agent tells us that they are more than likely going to have to replace all the cabinets, countertops, and flooring (the firemen dropped burning bits on our wood floor and there are burn marks) as they probably can't match them.  Wendy had always wanted to re-do the kitchen, but not exactly like this!

So, the bad news is that we had a fire and a scare. The good news is that everyone is safe. You know how you always plan what things you'll take from your house if there's a fire? We always said we'd take the kids and Molly first (of course!) and then get our computer hard drives and scrapbooks. Funny...all we got was the kids and Molly and didn't think of anything else. Just goes to show ya'...........