One more

One more picture from the Children's Museum. This wind-tunnel was a popular place for the adults- we all had to try it. The winds went over 100 mph!

I would never have posted this picture- it is awful of me, but Brinly is super cute. Shane made me:)

FOREVER

I know, I know, I am so behind in blogging! It has been a crazy month. Shane left for Denver the day after Thanksgiving and returned on Christmas Eve- all for his first rotation (basically a condensed residency). Both of my kids were sick when he left, and seemed to get sick every week he was gone--making it a super long month! We were definitely glad to be reunited!!
So, now for catch-up:) At the beginning of November, Shane's sister's family came to visit. While here, we went to the Children's Museum. It was expensive, but the kids had a good time. That's why we went. Here are a few pics.

This is Brinly pretending to be an airtraffic controller. It was cute b/c they had all these different stations of make-believe and the kids really enjoyed the pretending aspect.

Another make-believe station. I thought Shane looked pretty darn handsome in that fireman uniform! Brinly is adorable as well.

Cade loved this just b/c he could play in water- getting himself entirely too wet for a November afternoon. It was to meant to build waterways to teach current and flow, etc.

Now, these peaked my interest- large bubble making equipment. Brinly is standing inside a ring of soapy bubble-making liquid and she can lower and raise the ring to form an enormous bubble around herself. We actually never got this one to work, but she had fun trying.

Another bubble thing. This one worked well. Shane seemed to enjoy it more than Cade- he liked popping it though:) It was a fun day!

New Additions

So, a few things have been added to our family. Last Friday we added a 2008 Nissan Sentra! Hooray for two cars! It is a a nice one and Shane is happy to have a car, as am I:)

AND... we are adding another little life to our family June 8th, 2009. His/her first pictures were taken last Thursday. We are excited, an anxious to get this pregnancy on the road--I've been pretty sick for the first two months, but it's getting better and better as time goes by. Brinly was really cute after we told her. We explained that it was a secret for awhile, and a few days later she came up to me (while sitting next to Shane) and sweetly whispered with excitement, "Mommy, is it okay if I tell Daddy you have a baby in your tummy?". I LOVED IT! So cute. Of course I told her yes, that was fine:) Now, if I could just figure out what to wear that fits around this pudgy looking/feeling belly! This inbetween point of regular and maternity clothes is hard for me. I am almost 10 weeks...

Happy Pumpkin Play

We enjoyed carving our pumpkin a few days before Halloween. It is the first time we've actually carved a pumpkin in in a few years (we've painted them in the past...just easier and safer with the kids). Nonetheless, this was fun. It turned out better than I thought:)

Brinly and Cade enjoyed lighting our witch-on-a-broomstick-jack-o-lantern

every night prior to Halloween. Very fun!

Self Explanitory-Silly Kids

Hats...

So, Cade has really enjoyed hats lately...and this shot was so dang cute, I had to include it. He is wearing Daddy's hat, and looks just adorable.

Zion, Beautiful Zion

We had another unique camping trip this week...our first to Zion National Park. It was actually quite enjoyable. The kids slept well and the weather was just perfect. The mountains and scenery are breathtaking. Mom, Dad, Lynds, and Katie joined us for a drive up the canyon and were very satisfied by the experience. I think they'll go back soon.

We saw more animal life than we anticipated, including the turkey's above. We also saw a deer, elk, a ram of some sort, squirrels, and many lizards. Interesting.

We managed to complete one 1.2 mile hike up to the lowest of three Emerald Pools. It was interesting hiking with two small children...as you can see, Shane got quite the work out:) The entire hike took us about and hour and 1/2. It was quite the trek with these kids, but fun.

Afterwards, we found a large grassy area with an enormous shading tree to rest under. It was beautiful.

This is at the peak of our hike--the lower Emerald Pool and falls.

We utilized the free shuttle--we are waiting in the shade for it to arrive.

The famous arch in the canyon. The picture doesn't do it justice. Much of the canyon was just majestic.

Things Learned

So, as you know from my previous post, my sister and family have been directly hit by the effects of the latest hurricane, Ike. In her communications with me, it has reaffirmed my belief that being prepared is the only way to be...we never know when we will reap the rewards of that preparation, and even if we have a few days to prepare..many things will be out of reach.

Two days before the hurricane, she drove for an hour before finding a gas station with gas. Only days later, her neighbor explained how they waited in line for gas for 9 hours.
She didn't even attempt to buy boards for her windows, two days prior to Ike hitting, b/c the stores were mobbed and running out of supplies.

She explains:

"The camaraderie of the people in an emergency situation is amazing. Going into a grocery store and seeing nothing on the shelves in the produce, meat, frozen (anything requiring refrigeration) and bread sections is very humbling. Having certain things on hand are ESSENTIAL to survival….food storage is a must. Living in Houston without Air Conditioning is not really possible. We can live without electronics, computer, tv, and the INTERNET. Life is truly about family, not about where you live, what you have and how much money you make. 5 Gallon gas cans and generators are golden. We rely more on gas than you would ever realize until you don’t have it. And that is just to name a few."

Fortunately, they evacuated to a friends house 4 hours away and did not endure the horrifying experience a hurricane can be. Her neighbor described it as, "being in a tornado for 9 hours straight- it was hell." This neighbor and another affirmed their strong desire to evacuate the next time. Their house faired with minimal damage compared to many, but still damage that will take some time to repair (walls, doors, roofs with water damage).

In our area, we most likely will not ever see a hurricane, BUT any disaster would apply to the following list. This is a list put together by my sister, throughout the hurricane Ike experience. Many of the things listed, I would have never thought about--take note and PREPARE your own families: (these are in no particular order)

1. extra 5 gal. gas canisters- fill them up even if a hurricane comes remotely near; also propane (their neighbor spent $400 to run their generator for a week and a few days w/o power) (and their were shootings over gas cans) ***Gas stations CANNOT pump gas without electricity--even if they have gas--the ones w/o electricity w/ gas were running on generators



2. emergency binder with all important documents and identifying papers (identification, insurance policies, pictures of home, etc.)



3. generator- w/o electricity, life can be very difficult



4. have camping essentials- stove, grill, etc.- even if you are not a camper



5. food storage-- have essentials-- people were literally going hungry, and others were living on their food storage.



6. cash on hand ($500+)- b/c the electricity may be out for extended period of time--that means no debit, electronic transactions-though some stores would not take cash for some reason (probably security)--be prepared for both



7. pictures of property (normal conditions)



8. run disposal and take trash out before you evacuate!



9. Never leave whole bananas in your freezer w/o putting them in a bag (b/c if electricity is lost when you are evacuated, they are very messy):)



10. turn off water and gas before you evacuate
    
11. have a chain saw- people were literally stuck in their homes due to down trees in front of their doors, driveways, etc.



12. prepare boards for windows (this is an expensive feat- my sister quoted $500 for their 4 bedroom house)



13. a corded phone land line- your cordless phones will not work w/o electricity



14. hand wind radio and flashlights- b/c D batteries are impossible to find prior and post disaster



15. have gun and a dog-- Alarm systems do not work w/o power; and they slept w/all windows open b/c it was too hot.



16. keep every receipt that you pay for repairs, or extra expenses during the disaster- things that you wouldn't necessarily



17. keep extra produce on hand--that is the last thing to return to market



18. WATER-- have plenty on hand- the stores ran out before the hurricane even hit



19. always take your prescriptions and medical info- your Dr's office probably will not be open.



20. car charger for your cell phone, even though many people couldn't get through to anyone for three days, this was the main type of communication; at first the cell phone companies suggested to only text.



21. if you evacuate, leave a house key with someone