Wicked Weather

Our Japanese Maple.

Well, the big news this week was the weather. We had an ice storm on Sunday that took out power for almost a million people in Oklahoma. The strangest part about the storm was that after the first day, the temperature was just at or barely above freezing, but ice was still forming on power lines. Apparently, humidity freezes more quickly than actual rain-- like the mist from a spray bottle would freeze more quickly than a drops of water from a leaking faucet. So,the ice storm started it and the humidity kept the ball rolling.

Even though the power was out, thankfully the roads were clear. Places like the mall or restaurants that did have power, were packed to capacity of people who just wanted to be warm.

Our power went out early, early on Monday morning and was turned back on Tuesday afternoon. We were the lucky ones. Today and church there were still a few families that didn't have power yet.

Luckily, my FIL lives in Bartelsville and he did have power until late Tuesday morning. So, we headed there (as did Haylee and Josh) and had a great big slumber party. It turned out to be really fun AND I got to take a hot shower AND blow dry my hair. It's amazing what I take for granted on a daily basis.

Taylor didn't go into work on Tuesday because the hospitals hadn't had power since Monday morning, either.

So, here are the basics of what I learned:
1. You must know where your flashlights are and they must have working batteries. At the very least, have a high-quality candle and a lighter or matches on hand.
2. You must have a carbon monoxide detector.
3. You really should have a land line phone that is not cordless (cell phone towers in the area also lost power.)
4. Try your best to not let your son be on his last pair of underwear because if the power goes out and there aren't any back-up pairs, you'll wash them by hand in the sink.
5. Other than that, it's all the basic "be prepared things" that you've already heard. The thing is, you really should do it.

We still had our ward party on Saturday night. Brayden wouldn't even get close enough to Santa to get a treat bag. He screamed and cried. I'm not kidding. You'll see how Kylee felt about the big guy in red when you see the photo :)

More ice.

Not our house--but the fate of almost every mature tree in the area.

Our power came back on before Haylee and Josh's, so they came over to share in our electric warmth. While they were over, they borrowed my sewing machine to make their own stockings.

After two days of being stuck inside, Brayden and Kylee went outside to play with dad's rock landscaping and draw with chalk where ever they could find a dry spot.

I don't think she's all that excited.

OK, maybe she's terrified.