Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day we went to visit my parents in southern Missouri. We hadn't been to see them since last October, Ally had grown quite a bit and they hadn't met Jacob yet. My brother, David, originally set up the weekend since he wanted us to go and help my Dad with some projects he has going on around their property. Dad will be 69 this year. Isn't that crazy how your parents grow older? Anyway, Dad is too old to be climbing around on barn roofs or clawing through underbrush to install a fence.

The weather didn't cooperate quite as well as we'd hoped. We arrived late Friday night so tried to get started on the work Saturday morning. However we were greeted with rain all morning. This meant that younger and sprier guys (Ernest and David specifically) also couldn't go climbing around on barn roofs. So we all got to hang out and visit. Mom and I took Nicholann, Aleana, and Morgan into town to go shopping, leaving Ally and Jacob with the guys. Mom bought all three girls (plus Trinity, Allyson, and Jacob) clothes. It was quite interesting going shopping with them. I haven't done anything like that before!

We left the store and got in the drive through at McDonald's. I told the girls we couldn't go in because I had to get back to feed Jacob. So, we get in the l-o-n-g line and are 1 car from the speaker when Aleana pipes up and says she has to pee. Oh, Mom's face was funny. I pulled out of line, parked under the tree and left the car running, and Aleana and I went in to go to the bathroom and pick up the food.

We spent a lot of time visiting and playing. The guys did finally get to go outside and help dad with some projects, though they didn't get as much done as they wanted. We got to go to church with them which is always nice. Jacob had a great time playing with Grandma and Grandpa, and was full of smiles the whole time. The whole week leading up to our trip Ally kept talking about going to see Grandma and Grandpa (gets a little tricky because she says them both almost the same). She had fun with the kittens, puppies, chicks, chickens, horse, and goats. Along with walks along their road and going down the spring, picking flowers and helping pull weeds. And showing off her "shake" when she was wearing a skirt. Even a couple of weeks later she is still talking about all that she did that weekend and when we are going back.

My Best Friend

I've been pretty tired lately and not able to catch up on sleep.  After Jacob was asleep last night I was sitting in my overstuffed chair trying to talk myself into putting Ally to bed.  It takes a lot of work to get her to sleep.  Luckily she had already had a bath, brushed her teeth, vitamins, and was in PJs.  So, while I'm arguing with myself, she goes and gets a blanket off the couch and lays down on the couch, saying that she wanted to sleep with Mama.  Ernest tried to get her to go to her bed, and she just snuggled tighter into the couch and cried.  I told her she could come put me to bed, so she came back with me.  She climbed into our bed and laid her head on my pillow, and told me that my spot was there next to her.  Ernest went to get in her toddler bed, trying to get her to claim what was hers.  She wouldn't do it.  I laid next to her, thinking that I would get her calm and relaxed and then put her in her own bed.  Cute little girl.  She laid right next to me, stroking my arm and patting my shoulder.  I started to fall asleep.  One thing I did hear before I fell asleep was a little whisper - "My Mama....Best Friend."  I fell asleep with a little girl in my arms and a smile on my face. 

Tornado Alley

Anyone who has lived in Kansas for any length of time will inevitably hear the "We're not in Kansas anymore" joke, or another along those lines.  After working on the phones in customer service for several years, you heard them A LOT, especially during the spring and summer, which is the height of tornado season. 

I've lived in Kansas for 30 of my 31 years, and have never seen a tornado (clouds in moving in a circular pattern once or twice, but that's it).  I had also never been in a tornado or new anyone who had been.  Until a couple of weeks ago.  It was a near miss, but much nearer than I wanted it to be. 

First, Saturday, May 21 came and went like most any other day.  Then that night, just as I was getting ready to go to bed, the tornado sirens in our area went off, which indicates a Tornado Watch (tornado activity spotted, not just favorable).  I grew up in the country and we didn't have tornado sirens.  When severe weather threatened, we got the TV or Radio on and stood on the covered porch and watched and waited.  Sometimes we'd go to the basement, sometimes we didn't.  Now that I live in town though, the sirens are supposed to let us know.  So, the sirens go off.  I didn't take them as seriously as I should.  We turned on the TV and got on the Internet, and sat watching, wondering if we should take the kids downstairs to our horribly cluttered and messy basement. 

The sirens went off.  And then the came back on again a few minutes later.  Ernest went downstairs and began preparing a place for us to go, I gathered up pillows and things for the kids, and we started to go get them.  And the sirens stopped.  About this time a severe storm was blowing by my brother's trailer down by Ottawa.  I called them to be sure they knew.  They were up, and trying to find out what was going on.  They got all of the kids up and drove East, away from the storm, and then went back 45 minutes later after the worst of it had passed.  It stayed quiet the rest of the time for us up in Shawnee.

Sunday, May 22 in the evening.  No major storms in Kansas City - but a horrific set of tornadoes tore through Joplin, MO just to our south.

Fast forward to Tuesday, May 24th.  Joplin still on everyone's mind as the death toll and survivor's stories continue to rise.  We are at work and it's a normal day, until 11am.  The tornado sirens at work went off.  We couldn't hear them in the building.  Most of our folks go to lunch at 11, so a couple of people that were on their way out came back in and told the managers.  We sounded our internal alarm and helped guide people to the tornado shelter (our inner hallways and conference room).  Since it was lunch time, several people refused to come back inside and others argued a bit before leaving the break room (which has a solid wall of windows).  All I could think about was what had happened in Joplin the weekend before.  Their sirens went off too, some of them just minutes before the tornado struck.  This is serious.  So many times we are passed over, but sometimes, like pictured above, the worst strikes.  (Picture below was Kansas City about noon).

I got a text from Ernest saying they were under a watch.  I replied back that we were too and in our shelter, and asked if they were under cover since I had heard the storm was worse in his area.  Nothing was happening at our place, other than the sirens.  I, along with everyone else at work, was trying to get weather reports.  I finally got one that said there had been a touch down 2 blocks from where Ernest works.  I admit, I got shaky then.  I continued to try and text to him, but I kept getting failures.  I called Jane to check on the kids and let her know I was trying to reach Ernest.  Ally had a great time in the basement, by the way, since it was full of new toys and books to explore.  I continued to try and get more information and find out if any damage had been reported.  We were in our shelter until 12.  Eventually the storm moved on north to downtown Kansas City.  Around 12:30 I got a text from Jane, saying that Liz had gotten a text through and a response back from Ernest and he was good.  I got to talk with him around 1:30.  Even though I knew he was safe and there was no damage, it was so good to hear his voice. 

(picture of tornado that was in Overland Park, near Ernest's office) 

So, that was our scare and adventure.  Since that Tuesday, we have cleaned out a room in our basement and have pillows and blankets set up there.  We have food and a 1st aid kit for our 72 hour kit (still sitting on the kitchen shelf, but at least we have it now).  We also have an emergency plan put together with copies for key people.  We both know the emergency plans that are followed when we are in the office.  We have talked with each other and decided that the next time the alarms go off - regardless of time, we are going to the basement with the kids.  In one of the interviews with Joplin survivors, one gal said, "I will never ignore the sirens again."  I agree.

Some things I currently like

OxiClean Max Force.  This stuff is great.  I discovered it about 2 years ago.  It takes out nearly anything.  Spit up, poo, blood, and other unidentified things.  It has saved several favorite outfits.


Suave Kids Detangling Spray.  Ally has long fine hair, and it is constantly tangled.  It is so fine that it slides out of her ponytail or barrets, so is always getting tangled up.  Brushing her hair used to be a nightmare.  Using this before brushing has really helped both of our nerves.

  I LOVE saving money.  It is so fun to see what I can get for less at Aldi.  If you haven't yet, check it out!

 Creative Memories Digital Scrapbooking.  My sister surprised me with the software last year, and I am having so much fun turning all of my pictures into photo books.  Similar to what you can do on blurb or shutterfly, but with more options and customization.


Jacob is now over 4 months old, so we started him on cereal in the evening.  Out of a spoon, not a bottle.  He loves it.  And I love it because I think it is helping him to sleep more at night, which in turn helps me sleep more at night.