"The refine-ry blew up"

So , after a crazy day of vet visits (all's well with beau--he kept all his teeth and we await bloodwork results tomorrow) and an almost dentist visit. And I say almost b/c I had my friend watch the kids, went to the dentist at said appt time.....waited, and waited......45 minutes later after appt time dentist still nowhere near getting to me. I decided to reschedule ( a little angry but there was a dental emergency) and not leave my friend with 4 kids during the witching hour...that would just be cruel.
Now, after we ate dinner together, kids played well, everyone starting to get cranky...it's time to go. Power goes out.....another friend calls and says do you have power? , we don't have power either. I say, "I'm not home". Now , I am panicking.....dogs in the house, hate smoke alarms going off , any kind of clocks , phones beeping. I better get home before there is a disaster in my house (p.s. no disaster just shower curtains rustled, shampoo spewed all over the bathtub which is the new favorite place for one certain white dog and his black/tan compnion to "hide in" when there is any such beeping in my home)
As we are departing friend's house a stranger comes by and says and I quote (in my best redneck voice) "there is an explosion at the refine-ry , people are dead, could be days before we all get power back".
Now I am a grown adult with a graduate degree and know better than to listen to rumors.....BUT at the thought being stuck with two children by myself in a house with no power for 2-3 days I panicked, looked at my friend and said "see ya later, goign to find a generator". And thus begins the frantic calling of friends about where to get ice, generators, as we are driving around town telling where power seems to be on /off, etc. And as I am sprinting into Home Depot dragging my children behind me listening to the rumor mill swirl around me of the various scenarios of why we dont' have power.............THE POWER COMES BACK ON IN HOME DEPOT!!!!
My friend comes aroudn the corner as I am looking at the newly lit generators dragging her two kids too. We in turn call another friend who says , we have power, Kmart has power, Jack in the Box has power. Well, there you go. All that hullabaloo for nothing.....all because the refine-ry blew up . I am not making fun b/c accidents do happen and that would have been terrible but the way everyone was going crazy (moi included) is a little comical. I have been laughing at myself all night and how we all started dialing like crazy to get the word --power or not ? --how long?--what happened? Since I have small children that is pertinent information I do get it, but I really should not have jumped the gun and it was reminiscent of days in the south when a tornado goes by, or after a hurricane and all the hoopla surrounding that and how everyone calls to see what everyone else is doing. Part of it is curiosity I know. But the other part is to check on the ones you love and care about to make sure they are okay.
On a different note, G decided today that not only was she a master at walking with our Diego push toy she wanted to master jumping off the PB kids chair while pushing Diego....AND DID IT....Jumped right down while pushing that little thing. Fearless I tell ya. We are counting down the days. It's killing me and I am a nervous wreck!!!

WWF

So the last few days in my house have been like the WWF smackdown...LM is constantly trying to pin G as she crawls. She gets slammed or slams herself out of the PB Kids chairs. Not really slammed so don't worry she is fine but it's kind of funny. G is jumping from chair to chair and trying to hoist herself up on to the desk next to it. She is cruising and will be walking in no time I tell ya...she is letting go of things and standing until she realizes what she is doing and then falls down. The girl has no fear....like her daddy. But she has my attitude....this is going to be the reason for many many Rolaids and anti anxiety meds in my future ;)
She is cracking herself up when she does raspberries in your face which you can see in the video.
Today was a beautiful day where we actually got sunburned and enjoyed a picnic lunch at the park with friends. We could see the snow capped mountains all around us with such a clear day......probably one of the most beautiful I have seen here. I would post more videos of LM but he just runs away mostly at the sight of the camera these days.....starting early.....thought I had a few more years before that happened.

A hug from my kids....

can make everything seem better. The last few days Miss G has been quite snuggly and decided she likes to wrap her arms around my neck and rub my neck and back or pat me on the back. It's making me want to melt. As much as I am usually ready for a break when she naps or goes to sleep at night I haven't been wanting to put her down when she does that. I just hold her and rub her back and savor that moment b/c it won't last long. And today I got a double dose of sweetness when LM gave me a hug and a kiss for no reason and said I love you! Now, if you know nearly 3 yr old boys that doesnt' happen often. However, I was quickly reminded that Daddy is his best friend even though he did hug and kiss me. I guess he doesn't want me going to get any wrong ideas.

Our little flower hothouse is sprouting up nicely as you can see and he is enjoying watching the change in them every day. Miss G is taking to climbing! She thinks she is a mountain climber and has decided to climb onto the fireplace, riding toys, chairs, and even tried to throw her leg over the side of the bathtub while it was filling with water. Apparently I wasn't moving fast enough. She was ready to play NOW!!! It's so funny how different she is than LM. She climbed up on a couch cushion yesterday that I had placed on the floor for that sole purpose. Over and over she climbed up and sat and clapped when she got situated until she face planted a few times but she kept coming back for more....very determined. Hmmm, wonder where she gets that ;)

Had a great visit w/ Aunt K. Kids took right to her and were climbing all over he in a matter of hours. LM asked each morning if she was still here.....or did she go on a work trip like Daddy? Poor kid thinks everyone is always leaving him.....praying he will not grow up with an abandonment issue ;) It was nice to have an extra set of hands for a few days and so wonderful to see them playing with her and getting to know her. And I can clearly see we'll have to keep an eye on Aunt K or she will spoil them rotten .....if they aren't already :)

I have been reflecting on our orders situation lately and trying to understand why it is we are destined to never be together as a family to cherish all these moments....and why Daddy has to miss so much. It's been tearing me up emotionally, physically and spiritually. Then it dawned on me , it's not for me to understand or decide. He will provide the answers in His time. He will give us the time He sees fit as a family and if I will just honor that and have faith in that I will then see that there are better things to come.....I have to have faith in that. And in the meantime keep trying to explain to my little one when he asks if daddy will come home and visit that he is doing very important work and he will come home again soon. I will keep praying for guidance, strength and endurance through this process and keep coasting until we can be a family again. Prayer, Faith, Trust......all things I am striving to be better at......with His help.

Little Man's Garden

We planted during the past few days. We got this adorable little Veggie Tales garden kit but it's really going to grow flowers. LM helped plant the seeds and was excited to see the finished product. There are already little sprouts popping up in our windowsill greenhouse so he is very proud.


The prep work --gloves on , ready to go




















Marty, Melman and crew wait anxiously as we prep




















putting the seeds in

finished product

Miss G in front of the kitchen and "kitchen rug"

LM insisted on a kitchen rug

"I't's Sun-day in the sky Mommy"

Driving along a few days ago.....five to be exact b/c it's been that long since we have seen the sun..okay, had to get that off my chest. Anyway, so driving along LM says "Today is Monday, Mommy."
You're right buddy, and what's tomorrow?
You can imagine the rest of the conversation which turned into a days of the week lesson until we got to Sunday at which point he says:
"No, Sunday isn't a day, it's Sun-day up in the sky". Who can argue with that??

Miss G is clapping up a storm and wiggling her little body to music. A personal favorite of hers:
Move it, move it from Madagascar. She's our own little personal Gloria shaking it!
LM also notified me very matter of factly a few days ago that if he had to be respectful and obedient (and yes I do use those big words with my child) so did I and I must say Yes sir and No sir to him. Again, what do you say to that?? Seriously??

He's just so funny and my parents and I have decided he has an audio photographic memory capability and he could very well possibly be the next Jack Bauer or Jason Bourne. ;) Seriously, mind like a steel trap. Whatever he hears he remembers ......FOREVER!!!!
I haven't been taking many pictures these days and am looking forward to the sun coming out to take more pictures of my little ones in the sunlight. Been playing around with photoshop some trying to make a few things but limited time to do that so working one step at a time but it's awesome and I love it along with my handy-dandy guide which without it I would be so lost.
And in my small world of news : I got a Sonicare toothbrush. The dental hygienist scared me into it and I finally bit the bullet....some nonsense about your teeth falling out, painting a terrible picture of cavities and receding gum lines made me do it. No, just kidding she didn't say those things but you all know what I am talkin' about. I mentioned to a friend that I had gotten one. She says, oh yeah, it's great--you'll love it!!! What she didn't mention is you need a tutorial before using one of those things. Let me paint the picture: scoping out the new toothbrush, wet it , put the toothpaste on it and (stupidly I know) turn it on. Toothpaste EVERYWHERE!!! --wipe my face, reapply said toothpaste and try again this time starting in my mouth. AHH, we're good.....only to realize that same thing of foam spewing out everywhere happens when you open your mouth to get the back sides or front. Well, it's been a week and have only had minor foam spattering incidents thus far after the disastrous first use.
Can you tell we have been cooped up in the house all week in the cold rain b/c I am telling stories of my new toothbrush......we gotta get out more.
But wait, I forgot , there's more!!!! Last night the kitchen sink backed up from the dishwasher. Called maintenance. We can be out on Friday evening or Saturday. Because that's sanitary to keep nasty dirty water in my sink for nearly three days. Wait, mam , can you just wash your dishes in your sink?? Well, dear phone operator who didn't get a thing I am saying I could, but what would be your suggestion that I do as the water is spilling all over the floor of my kitchen b/c as I mentioned before: THE SINK IS CLOGGED , WATER NOT FLOWING DOWN THE DRAIN AT ALL!!!! So maybe not in those exact words and a little (not a lot) nicer . She sent someone out immediately at which point maintenance joe we'll call him comes over at 9:20 pm. Now usually Maintenance Joes' coworkers call before coming to see if your issue really does constitute an emergency, and I realize mine did not..so I was waiting for the call to say --no worries , see you tomorrow but I am not waiting til Friday or Saturday. Well Maintenance Joe is new and hasn't been initiated into the wide world of maintenance man communication and they hadn't taught him this trick....poor guy, just a newbie, probie, take your pick. He diligently shows up in the rain and cold. He was nice, let me say that and I filled him in on the little calling ahead trick for next time. He plunges, plunges some more. Gets a bucket to take pipe off. Phone rings, sweet neighbor checking on me and I hear "OH NO" and see water gushing in my kitchen. All over the floor, cabinets, my stuff under the cabinets (much of which I had already gotten out and / or didn't care about). We soak up the mess w/ dog towels (in my language those are towels that are used for dog issues, drying , puking, and other household issues the good towels aren't used for) He uses the snake --a very long air compressor like snake that does the job. Maintenance Joe is gone by 10:20 pm and amazingly neither kid woke up and not one dog barked although MJ did leave the front door open to get the giant snake compressor in and BT bolted like a rocket. I did not know the door was open and when I start looking for the dog realize he is in the front yard dancing in the rain and freedom but he came back luckily. So , to sum up....not too much going on except the occasional maintenance issue which makes me ever so glad I am not a homeowner while my husband is away and my kids brighten most of my days and crack me up.
Still waiting on daddy to get back , word on when he'll get back or something similar although not sure why b/c it's ever changing and about as reliable as the chance we'll get some sun here. But our brightest set in stone thing to look forward to is Aunt K's visit. She will be with us for the Easter holiday and we are really looking forward to it. Poor thing she doesn't know what storm she is walking into....this crazy tragic , sometimes almost magic, awful beautiful life! :) That was for you daddy!