Ready to Help

I feel like everything has been a fog these past few days. I have been overwhelmed with Facebook, al.com, msnbc.com, and cnn.com. I have been in constant communication with teachers from my school. Finally, I am ready to go out there and help. I am planning to go to Concord, tomorrow. They are still in need of so many supplies and I am hoping to bring some things. Also, teachers from our school are babysitting workers' children at the elementary school. I'm ready to do what I can.

I am thankful.

I am so thankful for the safety of my family. The news from my school community is tragic. Slowly, we are accounting for all of our students. Two of our students and their mother passed away. I know of, at least, four families whose homes are "piles of rubble". I'm sure there are many more.

I am also thankful to live in a time where technology has greatly enhanced communication. There is a Facebook page for Concord, AL people affected by the tornado. Our teachers are posting the names of their classes and people from Concord are telling us about the ones that they know are okay.

Last Night Text

Me: "What do you know? I keep hearing of Concord damage and fatalities in Pleasant Grove."

Holly: "Between Concord Highlands and Steves Grocery. Don't know about Pleasant Grove."

Me: "I don't think I received all of your text. Everything is okay between Steve's and Concord?"

Holly: "Not okay. Flattened."

This situation is horrible. The pictures from Concord are horrifying. Please pray for my students and their families. I am so worried about the ones that I know live in the path of this tornado.

Funny Story

Uncle David and Aunt Sarah sent the boys an Easter card. I have to admit that we got it while the boys were in Huntsville and I put on the mantel and forgot to tell them. Well, Holden started pointing at it, so I gave it to him....

Jack: "What's that mommy?"
Mommy: "An Easter card from Uncle David and Aunt Sarah. They are really good about sending you cards."
Jack: "They are really good at making cards!" (I'm not sure where that came from. They didn't make this one.)
then a few minutes later....
Jack: "But, who's birthday is it?"

Happy Easter

Jack and Holden went to Huntsville, on Thursday, because their school was closed for Good Friday. My mom did a good job wrangling the boys, all by herself. My dad left for work around 5am and didn't end up getting home until midnight. I thought they would abandon us and run away, when we arrived Saturday afternoon, but they didn't look too tired. We weren't in town very long, but spent most of the time talking on the driveway, while the boys played.

We just noticed...

Jack quotes...

"Mommy, where do ya'll keep your plates?"

"Will you read me this book. And, be sure to read all of the pages."

(I'm notorious for skipping pages on long books or I summarize the page. Obviously, I learned that one from being a librarian.)

50 Years

Every once in awhile it will amaze me that I have been out of high school for almost 15 years. So much has happened in those 15 years. I can't even imagine what my life will be like when I have been out of high school for 50 years. I sure hope it is as good as my dad has made his. My dad will be celebrating his 50 year reunion , this weekend.

Barbie Jeep and Severe Weather

Here are a few picture from our fun afternoon celebrating the birthday of Jack's favorite friend. We were celebrating her 4th birthday which makes me too aware that Jack is close to turning four. Wow, time is flying.







The following pictures are from Monday night. That was two Mondays, in a row, of severe weather right at Holden's bedtime, while Jason was out playing basketball. This time they were actually mentioning our neighborhood, so I had the boys closed into their basement. Luckily, nothing but a bunch of downed trees came out of the storms....




Holden's new hobby is climbing on the couches. He has reached a size where it is fairly easy for him to get up on the couch. Then, he gets too excited and starts standing up. I'm very concerned about this because we have always felt comfortable being one room away from him. (I have adopted a "minimalist" approach to decorating, so there is nothing that the boys can grab except for their toys.) I'm not sure how to handle the situation aside from taking the cushions off of the couch.

Humidity

After years of hating what humdity does to my hair, I have finally found a positive. Look at those precious curls...

A funny Holden story

Jack was 18 months old, when we found out that he could only hear at about 30%. That explained why he wouldn't watch TV, listen to books, or talk. Holden is so different. At 15 months old he's a big talker, loves TV, and expects a book read to him before bedtime. He is quite obsessed with his board books.

He has this weird thing about wanting to put his board books in the bathtub. He ruined two of them, before I caught on. When we are waiting for the water to warm up and fill the bottom of the tub, he walks into the bathroom and throws a book into the water. He threw an enormous fit, last night, when I tried to grab the book out of his hands.

Monsters

Leelee bought Jack a cute monster bowling set a couple of years ago. I hate to admit that Jack didn't play with it a lot, but Holden is obsessed. He carries the monsters around like they are his babies. It is funny.