Cooking Dinner

I usually cook dinner with an apron on. Gwyneth got one for Christmas, and she runs to get hers when I cook. Sometimes she even wears her chef's hat.

Tornado!

This past Friday (May 31) an F3 tornado went through our neighborhood. We did not get hit by the tornado, but it was close enough to cause some damage.

We heard the sirens and headed downstairs. The last time this happened was 2 years ago, and a huge tornado bounced over our house (Literally. The news reports said if you live in our neighborhood to take immediate cover. It landed not too far on the other side of the river.) and tore through Maryland Heights, so we take this kind of stuff seriously. Just like last time, you can see the line of damage. Things could have been worse.

We took phones, wallets, keys, computers, shoes, snacks (eating lessens the fear), diapers, small radio and headed downstairs. (We had a few minutes to prepare.) Since the boys love to play with flashlights, we struggled to find ones that worked. We angrily reminded them that this is why we tell them to play with their own flashlights and leave our alone. After that set back, and two working flashlights were located. After being down there for about 3 minutes, we took cover in the far corner of the basement, the part furthest underground by the play area. the electricity was out before we were even there. Kevin and Gwyn were the most upset, and Kevin was getting Colin scared. Gwyn just clung to me the entire time and wouldn't let me put her down for anything.

We could hear the wind getting stronger and, much to my frustration, Kevin kept going upstairs to check on things. At one point when we were all down there we heard something very loud fall. But it sounds much worse than it really was. We could hear things, but nothing was very close. The boys were scared, but I kept reminding them that it is easy to be safe if you are smart, and the sounds were not close to us.

We couldn't have been down there longer than 15 minutes when we went up. The tree in our backyard was down, and there was debris everywhere. We thought that was really the worst of it. Then Kevin went up in the attic and found a leak. By then, the clothes in my closet were getting wet. Things were starting to get a bit crazy. Kevin needed tarps since we had shingles blown off, the kids were scared and in the dark, the house was getting stuffy and hot, and water was dripping in. So I put the kids down in the same room. (Gwyn would not let go of me at all until I asked if she wanted to sleep in her brothers' room. At that, she finally let go. I moved her whole bed in so she would feel safer, and a bit more normal than just sleeping on a mattress.) Kevin called his dad for tarps. Then I got my clothes out of the closet, throwing wet ones in the bathtub, and everything else on our bed and floor.

Kevin got up on the roof and started hammering up tarps. A couple neighbors stopped by since he made everyone nervous. That side of our roof is 3 stories up, it was dark, very late, raining, slippery, and more storms were on the way. There was still a tornado watch for those storms as well. But he did not want the ceiling to collapse in. (A friend of ours had hers collapse in, so it was a smart move, but still very dangerous.)

At about this time I decided we were going to stay at his parents house. Kevin had turned down their offer at first, but it was after 11:00 and the kids were hot and scared. I needed them to feel better. So we all headed over where there was electricity, familiar beds, and normality.

The next morning clean-up began, and thankfully K1 had a gas-powered chainsaw. (And a friend kindly offered to help.) Driving around I even saw a trampoline in a tree! Thankfully, the grandparents took the kids (Gwyn was VERY excited about her trip to DTG's, and the boys got a night Cardinals game.) Saturday evening so we went out to dinner and relaxed.

As of now, it is Sunday night. We got electricity back last night, but there are still downed power lines not too far. There are piles of branches and tree-parts lining the streets, waiting for pick-up. The streets and houses are still covered in leaves. There are tarps up on roofs. The fridge and freezer are restocked. The house is a mess with my clothes out of the closet, leaves dragged in the house, ladders out, and beds in the wrong rooms.

At some point you just need to laugh.  We kept instinctively turning on light switches and then cursing. When we drove around we kept saying "Ooh, free siding! Free shingles! Sweet!" It sounds so much more dramatic than it really was. And we could have been worse. The houses up the street that really got hit have ripped-off chimney and garage doors, missing walls, and holes in roofs.

We have been asked about the siding Kevin put up. No damage! (It is designed to withstand winds up to 150 mph.)

After some clean-up.

This Weekend

We had a very eventful weekend. My graduation was Friday night. I graduated from Lindenwood University with my Masters in Art - Reading. I really was not that overly excited, but I wanted to make a big deal out of it for the boys. I had them go to the ceremony. I think it is important to see me walk, and to see Kevin walk next week. Talking it up to them got me more excited, though.

I am wearing black shoes and waving.

Saturday Kevin had his second baseball game. It is machine pitch this season. He was much more focused this game. It might have something to do with the chart he made up for himself. (After 20 checks he gets something. We don't know what it is - he made up the entire thing himself.) We told him if he watched the batter instead of looking at his shadow he could get a check.

Saturday evening we had family over for cake and ice cream for Colin's birthday. (He had his friend party last weekend.) On Sunday morning we had the "Make Tracks For The Zoo" run. Kevin and I ran the 5K and the boys ran the 1 mile race. Kevin placed 8th overall and 3rd in his age group, which means he got a medal at the awards. We were so proud of both boys. Kevin ran with Chase , and ran the entire time. Colin ran with daddy. He was tired but never stopped running. Near the end, daddy told him to "run like a Jedi," and he threw his arms back and did a faster run! Adorable.

Kevin, Chase, Colin, Gwyn, and Parker

After the race, the boys headed to the Cardinals game with Pappy and Grandma, while we took Gwyn home for naps. To end the weekend, the boys got mohawks after dinner.

Of course if the boys take their shirts off...

It was quite a weekend!

Colin over the years

In honor of his birthday, here are pictures of Colin.

 

Colin is 5!

I am going to post with pictures about Colin's birthday, but Kevin is taking his (last) online test for his class. I will do it tomorrow. But I don't want to be accused of forgetting!

I can not believe he is 5, and will be starting Kindergarten in a few months. I am looking forward to our summer, with practicing letters and numbers and getting all ready!

Mother's Day

I didn't get any pictures of today, but it is still worth blogging about. My day started with three kiddos jumping onto bed to say good morning, and then followed with my favorite breakfast. (Kevin (son) explained to someone the other day that it was going to be bacon, eggs, and biscuits. He was right!) I even got a few presents. The boys each picked out a ring for me and Gwyn got me a bracelet. But the best part was the cards and gifts they had made. Colin had a long strip of paper with his hands at the ends that said "I love you this much!" He had written all the letters and traced his own hands. Kevin had made a book about me at school. There were 5 pages, and each page was something different about me. That kid pays attention to things! He wrote that I love to read, that we play Kerplunk together, and even that my favorite food is Mexican, and included my exact order with what comes on my food! Those boys are amazing.

Then all 5 of us headed to the zoo. I almost chose a bike ride, but we did it last year. I wanted to go to a local sculpture park that was having a festival, but I didn't know if the kids would like it, and I know Kevin (hubby) wouldn't. So on Friday I made up some scavenger hunt cards for the family. I told the boys that who ever found all the items would get ice cream after dinner, so they were very determined and found things right away. They both stopped and read every sign until they got all the letters. The items were the first letters of our names, animal poop (this cracked up the boys), a wheel, a sleeping animal, an animal with a tail, flowers, a leaf bigger than their hand, and something Cardinals. My intent was for it to be the baseball team, but Colin found an actual cardinal. He was so excited, and adorable. Of course, everyone earned ice cream. :)

After naps for four of us while daddy grocery shopped and ran, we had dinner and then ice cream. Afterwards, Gwyn got out paper and markers and we spent some time writing and drawing together. And at bedtime, Kevin asked that I come listen to when daddy read Harry Potter at bedtime. I lay on the floor while Colin climbed on me and Kevin snuggled next to me.

The only thing I wanted today was to spend time with my husband and kids, which I got. I know it is weird, but I am not really a giant fan of Mother's Day. Yes, I love the hand-made gifts, and teaching the kids to appreciate others, but I don't like what it has become. I get so annoyed with commercials about buying expensive things for moms, and pretending it is from the kids when the dad did everything. But I guess that is because I always feel loved and appreciated. I don't only have one day of the year without cooking, or where I feel like I get to choose things. I wanted to make sure that the day wasn't only about me, that is was about our family - the family that I am a mother to. And today was perfect. No, my husband did not get me a gift - and he should not have. It is one more day in our lives where we get out of the house and do something fun and relaxing with the 5 of us together, learning how to laugh, treat others with respect, and recognize those in our lives whom we love.

I hope your day was as wonderful as mine. ;)

And yes, I talked to my own mother and wished her a Happy Mother's Day!

Hobbits

My kids are hobbits. When they use and know the terms "First Breakfast" and "Second Breakfast" and "Breakfast Lunch," they are hobbits. I told my husband these terms, and he sent me the above picture.

Gwyn Turned 2!

Yes, this sleeping beauty turned 2 this month! (In the above picture, she was waiting on the bed for someone to snuggle with and fell asleep waiting.) Her birthday was April 3, but we didn't have her party until last weekend. It was just family, but for us that is a lot of people! We had 4 grandparents, one great-grandma, my 2 brothers, 2 uncles, 1 aunt, 4 great-aunts, 2 second cousins, and the 5 of us.

Here a a few pictures from the party. 

Kevin worked most of the day on this home-made cake. (Not even cake mix from a box!) One wind was vanilla, and the other was chocolate.)

Colin led everyone in singing. Of course Gwyn was scared, so I had to be by her side.

Eating leftover cake the next evening.

 She is 36 inches tall, and weighs about 33 lbs. She is talking up a storm, and regularly uses 2-3 words together. One of my favorites is when she turns around and puts her hands out and says "Back!" to let us know she will be back. She also loves books, (Current favorites are The Nose Book and Hand Hand Fingers Thumb) brothers whom she calls Bubby and Colin even though Kevin wants her to use his name, running around the house making us cheer her on, walks, milk, playing with friends at school, and basically trying to do anything her brothers are doing. She is getting quite bossy, and sometimes pushes at school, but that is because she is trying to wrestle. I have told her brothers that she is too young and doesn't know she can't wrestle other kids at school, but they love playing with her. She drinks from normal cups, walks up and down stairs without railings, jumps, draws, and takes care of her baby. She says "rock baby" when she rocks it to sleep. She also loves for us all to sing to her when she gets put down for bed. We all have specific songs we sing. The boys sing the songs they made up for her. She doesn't get to hear us all sing every night, but that doesn't stop her from asking! She likes purses, bracelets, and lots and lots of snuggles.

 Here are two pictures of her from when she turned 1. Her hair is so much longer now!