Despite the smell, evacuees happy to be home in Fort McMurray

The romaine lettuce sitting on the Andersens' table had turned, now pretty much aliquid, leavingNicole to describethe smell as "sour milk and diapers."

"It's better than I thought, though!" said herhusband Rob.

"Oh God, but it stinks," she replied.

The Andersens were just one of the many families allowed to return to their Fort McMurray home today. Nicolesaid that cresting the hill that takes you downtownwas the toughest part of the return.

"Coming down that hill, reliving those memories, that was really hard on me," said Nicole.

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When they opened the door to their home they were overwhelmed by two things, emotion and the smell.

"I know our house only smells because of the rotten food and stuff, but it's just overwhelming being back," said Nicole through tears.

"I'm so happy."

The coupleruns a catering business called McMurray Meals. They tried to offer the firefighters the food waiting in their walk-in freezer in their backyard, but the process was just too complicated.

So the many frozen pre-made meals spoiled in the heat.

But the freezer wasn't the worst. It was the fridge. She could barelyopen the door for a few seconds.

The fungus growing on the pork loin was visible and the stink was palpable.

'Better smellingsmoke'

Despite the smell,the Andersens were impressed with the state of their home and their town.

"It's a lot nicer looking than I first anticipated," Rob said."It's not nearly as smoky as I thought it would be."

The Andersens' three childrendid not comealongandwhile Rob will stay, Nicole will begetting back to thekids when she can.

But not before she adds a little of her own "better-smellingsmoke" to the air.

"I'll be up and cooking hopefully in a couple days," said Nicole.

"We're going to get the smoker going and get smoke some meat."