Global Warming

Could this be the reason for our long winter, these frequent hail storms, and tornado warnings?  We have pretty much had clear weather these past few days, but today, another major hail storm decided to literally park over our town of Parker.  To make things a little worse, the minute the storm started, we lost our television connection.  I was pretty much freaking out, but couldn't let the children know it.  Thankfully, my neighbor still had reception and I was able to check with them if we were under a tornado warning, which thankfully we were not!  Here are a few of the pictures that I took and one from the TV (when it came back up) of the hail.  

Yet another day with Tornado warnings

This is just getting to be a little too much!  Monday our eyes stayed peeled to the sky. We saw some major storms overhead and when we turned on the tv it was confirmed, tornado warnings.  I walked into my bedroom and looked out the window, sure enough we could see a funnel cloud.  It was in Elizabeth about 20 to 25 minutes from my house.  We watched it as it touched down, what a horrible scary thing!  Luckily, no one was injured and it mostly stayed in open field.  Needless to say it was very hard to concentrate on scrapbooking that day, all I could think of was the Wizard of Oz.  So , guess what layout I have up this week?  :)  Here are a few of what is listed:

Jack and the Beanstalk, Beach Woody and of course, The Wizard of Oz.....  I may have to offer the characters as a set next week.

Seriously, I live in Colorado NOT Kansas

This is the 5th, yes FIFTH day in a row that we have been under Tornado warnings at some point in the day.  Last Sunday one touched down just ten minutes from our house.  Came out of nowhere and the only reason we knew anything was going on was that Brian had gotten a call from one of his guys telling him that they were going to close the store as there was a tornado behind it....

Well it was a pretty nice day today.  The kids chose to stay at home while I went out to grocery shop.  My first stop was at Target.  I could hear the thunder in the store and when I got out, it looked relatively dark and gloomy, but still looked far away.  I made a call home and asked Tyler to turn on the local stations and see if there were any warnings out.  He did and said "nope, nothing."  I told him I was going to go to Safeway and would check back with them.  I put the phone down on my seat, HUGE mistake, and drove to Safeway.  While in line I overheard the cashier saying that there were funnel clouds spotted over Stone Gate.....  STONE GATE!  That is right across the road from my house!  I reach for my phone, oh no, I left it in the car!!!!!  Then the hail starts and the sirens.... Oh no!  There is now a crowd of people watching from inside the store at what is happening outside.  All of them are talking on their phones, so I go over to customer service to use the phone..  Well NO ONE ANSWERS - I called 3 times..  I am in a panic now, I don't remember anyones cell numbers, they are in my phone, in the car, which feels like a mile away.....  I go back to the door and watch the river that was once the parking lot.  Then suddenly, I remember Brian's cell number, (DUH I call it 20 times a day) I was so upset earlier that it wouldn't even come to mind...  I call him and he is able to get in touch with the children.  Of course, I don't know this at the time, I don't have my cell and have gone back to watching the river.....  I just couldn't handle the uncertainty any longer, hand my cart over to the cashier and tell her that I am making a run for it.  I am soaked, my shoes are soaked, my pants are soaked....soaked.....  I get back to the door, load my groceries and call the children on the way home.  Guess where they were? Tyler was protecting his blueberries and Cat and Alexis were watching from the picture window.  Cat said that she heard the phone ring but didn't want to answer it cause it said "Safeway"...  Goodness, isn't that where I said I was going?

Needless to say, the funnel cloud did not touch down, but my yard is trashed.  We just spent a few hundred dollars on flowers and such and they are all damaged..  :(  Oh well, at least the children were safe.  

Here are some of the pictures I took of the damage.  I still haven't checked my car.  :(

SUMMER TIME LAYOUTS! :)

Well two of my three children are already on summer break.  Believe it or not, but it is my youngest Alexis that is still in school.  I guess I have to be happy that at least they are no longer on track and are following a modified schedule.  How do you explain that while it is so gorgeous out you have to go to school, but your brother and sister don't have to?  Thankfully she will finish school on Friday and so will the craziness that is the end of the school year.  Still wondering why they pack so much into the last two weeks of school....  Brian also had a business trip, yet again out of town, he has inventories next week and then finally a vacation - for him.  :)

This week I worked on some cheery summer layouts.   I really do appreciate a change of themes.  It is so fun to switch gears and do something new..  :)

Listing for the last week of May

It is hard to believe that summer is finally upon us.  Seems we didn't really have much of a Spring here in Colorado this year.  We had a couple of nice days, but it actually snowed more this Spring than it did this past Winter. We added a covered patio, and an outdoor fireplace last summer so we are looking forward to long warm summer days spent outdoors.  Yummy BBQ's and S'mores!

Here are some of my "summer" themed layouts that I posted last Wednesday. This week, I am working on more summer water themed layouts and maybe even a BBQ layout.  

Congratulations Alexis

We had an early morning today.  Up and out the door a little after 7 am. Today was a special day for Alexis and quite honestly we had heard tons about it all weekend.  :)  It was breakfast in honor of her, and several other children, being awarded the "Principals' Award".  I think the best part of her day was not only the dozens of donuts that she could pick from, but that she was going to be able to chew gum all day.  A special privilege give to children receiving this award for the day.  The simplicities of being young.  :)   Here is Alexis right after she received her award and one of her standing next to best friend London.  Yes, they are the same age!  :)  Can you tell both my husband and I are tall?!  :)

Congratulations sweet princess, I am sure you will be having many more...  :)