The family did the traditional Flag Raising breakfast on the 4th.  Sadly, there were no good cinnamon rolls because Sister Burton and Jo Tapasa were not able to bake this year.  Good thing we had great treats at home.  Then we headed to the curves to watch the big parade.  We made our own shade. We sat by the Jessops and John Hatch and his family joined us.

 Then we headed to the river for the fireworks. Lanae and Chad took Lilli to the rides… (I’m a lame mom and only had enough cash for one ride, but it’s better than nothing and Lanae and Chad were nice enough to take her)… we met up with all the Tapasa girls.  Fia was in heaven.  Not only were there babies… theses babies were family.  Look out Mo.  Before you know it we will be cooing over YOUR babies.  It was fun to see Fia get to catch up with McKay.  They have been best buds for a long time.

Chad and Lanae worked on checking off Lanae’s Summer Bucket List before she went into the MTC the last week of the month.  Apparently, it included make overs.  Chad did Lanae’s make up.  She did Chad’s make up… ummm… Son, you were not cut out do be a make up artist.

 On the last day of CET I got a small break to run home for a minute.  I was just about to tell the girls to get in the car to return to CET when the phone rang.  Chad did not sound like himself.  Something was definitely wrong.  I had just seen him and Lanae minutes ago.  “Mom, we are in a car wreck on Riddle Road.”  “I’ll be there in a minute.”  I threw the phone at my bed and ran out the door yelling at Hannah to call people to say I was going to be late and to find a way for Lilli and her to get back to CET.  When I drove up to the scene my heart sank.  It did not look good and both Chad and Lanae were still in the car.

I parked and ran up the street.  Chad got out and said Lanae was pretty shaken. She had been in a really bad wreck in the spring and this was hard.  I told him to put Lanae in my truck and to come right back.  A little while after that the police and fire people came with an ambulance.  Both Chad and Lanae did not need treatment at the scene.  What a blessing!  They were sore for several days after that.  This is what I can piece together after talking to the other driver, witnesses, police and Chad and Lanae:  Chad and Lanae were driving north on Riddle Road, like they were heading to Dallas.

 At the intersection of Riddle and Hoffman roads, a lady turned left, across traffic off of Riddle onto Hoffman Road.  The witnesses said she wasn’t looking, that she was looking down.  She said he was in her blind spot. (how? I don’t know since he was on coming traffic and that should be in the big window).  Chad didn’t have time to stop and to avoid her.  He couldn’t turn to the left because there was a line of cars behind her.  He couldn’t turn to the right because there was a line of cars at the stop sign.  All he could do was hit her.  The witness said she saw both Chad and Lanae scream and Lanae reach across and honk the horn.

I got all of the other driver’s information from the police.  She avoided talking to me and to Chad.  Sadly, it turns out that she didn’t have insurance.  She had just bought the car from someone that said they would carry the insurance, but the insurance company says they don’t have a customer nor policy numbers that match what we were give.  In fact, we got two different companies and policy numbers from 2 different police officers.  Good thing we have uninsured motorist insurance.  Meanwhile, it looks like the BMW is a goner.

  Chad sees the chiropractor.  John and I got a new-to-us Honda for Chad and Hannah to drive.  I sure hope we can get some of those expenses back from someone.  The lady got a couple tickets… one for careless driving.  I had John call the police officer to report the insurance information as false.  She may be getting a bigger ticket now.  Who knows.  Chad didn’t receive any tickets.  It was clear that the other driver was at fault.