Ice Storm Survival

We had a major ice storm this week, leaving about 700,000 people without electricity. The picture above is my favorite from the week - the line for kerosene at the one gas station that could pump it. It has been quite a strain, although we were lucky since our electricity was down only for three days. Here are a few statistics from our house:

Number of days with no electricity = 3
Number of blankets on the bed Madeline and I shared = 3
Number of quilts on bed Madeline and I shared = 4
How Madeline and I felt under covers = like the Princess and the Pea
Hubby sleep location = couch
Number of hours Hubby slept each night = about 3
Number of times he checked heater and generator per night = 4 to 5
Heat source = Kerosene
Length of time I stood in line for kerosene = 1 hour
Number of people in kerosene line = about 50
Number of meals at Mom & Dad's = 6
Best hot showers ever = at Mom & Dad's
Best delivery received = pot of hot coffee from Dad
Amount of ice = about an inch or inch and a half
Value of time spent with family = priceless
Blessings Received = inumberable
Days out of school = 5 so far
Days out of work = 2 1/2

We are blessed - our electricity came back although it is predicted that many local people won't have it back for 7 to 10 days. We had a generator so that we had heat and refrigerated food. We have a gas water heater so warm water was available. We own a kerosene heater, so we had warmth. We had carbon monoxide detectors to keep us safe. We have a great marriage and flexible child, so we didn't fight or argue. We have our health so we didn't suffer physically from the hardship. Many, many people did not have those things. Thank You God for all that we have in the face of adversity!

We tried to share our benefits today by having many of Steven's family over to provide them a warm bed, warm food, warm showers and laundry services. I didn't get the best pictures, because I didn't want to leave the house! (Hense the deck photography) Here are a few:

Hot Tubbing on a Freezing Cold Day

It was freezing cold outside today, but Madeline didn't care, she was inside in our newly repaired hot tub!

There is nothing like floating on a pink tube in a warm tub while it is snowing outside!

Sometimes I wonder why the previous owners of our house built a strange little hot tub room, but on days like today it all makes sense....

Classic Madeline

This is classic Madeline - the video was taken during her Christmas Play - I love how she is totally getting her groove on, while at the same time she was stoking the top of her dress, which was velvet. Too funny! I forget how little she really is since she looks so big to me now. The group she is with is all of the girls in the first grade at her school. The quality is poor, and there is not a real purpose to the video, except this is Madeline in her true form :-) (Which form I happen to love above almost all things)

This is my sweet Grandma singing - she and my Grandpa are the reason that Bluegrass is close to my heart. It was the cutest thing that day - she kept saying she didn't want to sing, when she was clearly loving it! What a wonderful Grandma :-) (It reminds me of the crunchies she used to save for me special when she made fried chicken, and the time we laughed until we both laid down on the ground outside her house and cried over a door we couldn't get to close, when I used to insist on sleeping between her and my Grandpa, and the fact that she could tell the scariest stories EVER - funny how people didn't worry so much about scaring a kid then, but that is off the point) I LOVE MY GRANDMA!

Video Archives

I've got a whole year of videos that I haven't uploaded because I didn't know how. Thanks to Dad, our family technology expert, I have now got them ready to upload, and you'll see a few. This first one is our cutie niece Sophia laughing with Steven on Thanksgiving. Too cute!

Saturday

It's been a few days since I posted a picture of Madeline - here she is doing her favorite thing, playing with Littlest Pet Shops. You'd think by now she'd be tired of the little guys, but she still loves them more than any other toy. We also got her hair cut today and had her friends over to play, so it was a good day overall. Hope you're enjoying your week-end!

It's Almost Here!

Yes, I realize that this has been an historic week full of lofty pursuits and important events. I should be posting about how proud I am to be an American, or how much I love a High Stepping Marching Band like Grambling State in the inaugural parade (which I am am and do). However, the thing that has me the most excited this week is.... you guessed it.... the return of LOST!!!! Nobody call me tonight please :-)

Random Things From Our Life

Shiney, Lucy and Goldy enjoying the evening meal.


Our current favorite family pass time - this is one that Madeline and I constructed.



Daphne is still happy and with us after two years - she's awfully fat for a "dwarf" hamster :-)



The beloved Shark

My new addiction...

OK, I have to admit something. After worrying that I shouldn't buy Madeline a Nintendo DS because she might play too much I have grown completely addicted to Soduku on Brain Age! I may need DS rehab....

Export

Many of you know that I have been searching for a way to back up the blog. I just found that Blogger added an export feature, so you can download to your hard drive. Just go to Settings, then Import Export. It isn't the best - the images aren't there, but the posts are all now on my hard drive. Check it out!

A twist on twister

No, I am not sending you an obscene gesture, I'm showing you why I can't type! Serious Christmas tree injury...... I know, leave it to me!

Isn't she a beauty? :-)

Madeline and her buddies (offending tree still up in background) had fun playing "Mouse"