E is for Electricity!!!!

And we finally got it back!!!

At about 2:37 AM Saturday morning, our power came back on and with it nearly everything in our house! The girls didn't really believe that we could be without power and had turned everything on- we forgot to turn everything back off.

We managed to weather the storm without any real damage. We rented a water pump for our basement and then was able to borrow a generator about 1/2-way through the week.

The girls did really well and hardly missed a beat with anything throughout it all. Everything was one big adventure after another in their eyes.

Here are some pictures from our adventures during and after Hurrican Irene.

Our power was wiped out around 7:15 AM on Sunday, which resulted in chocolate doughnuts for breakfast!

The girls kept busy playing with many activities and crafts that they haven't played with much during the summer-- first off, moon sand muffins and cakes!

We also painted several pictures and put together a few puzzles.

After their afternoon nap, the girls watched a couple cartoons on the

portable DVD player.

The girls had fun with a sticky scrunchi-paper craft featuring tinerkerbell and friends.

There are colorful pictures with sticky parts to them and sparkly paper to scrunch up and then stick to the picture-- to give it a textured 3-D effect.

The final product!

Next up, making animal foam paper puppets.

Whoa! What is daddy doing outside during the Hurricane!??

After a long day of sitting around crafting-- the girls burned off some energy singing and dancing to their own beat-- what fun that was!

Me cooking soup on our make-shift sterno stove.

Ya just know things are 'really bad' when the teens come in and start

playing playdough with the little girls.

Doesn't Xavier look thrilled?

Finally, we ended the night watching a few more cartoons on the DVD player in the van-- which is the REAL reason to make sure your tank is full when a big storm is coming!

We were without power all week-- which was a PITA but not the end of the world.

The girl's daycare was closed only on Monday due to not having power.

This gave me time to run a few errands and get some equipment to deal with our basement yadda yadda.

AND . . . .. . to answer a big question that many have asked--

on Monday afternoon, amid several tears . . . . .

We released the 'Little Grasshopper. Little Grasshopper."

I don't want him to leave!!! I am making him a nest right here!

The girls made it to swimming class and we were able to shower at the YMCA.

Everyone tended to hit the hay early-- and the girls were really excited to get to eat McDonalds for dinner  (what is IT about McDonalds?)

Thanks for taking us to the big M place with the french fries!  They make the bestest food EVER!

The big kids missed the entire first week of school-- they start on Tuesday now.

Some of the school districts are cancelling February vacation week-- I think that sounds like a good idea-- A whole week missed and Winter hasn't even hit yet!!!

September 4th or 5th

The estimated dates that our electricity will be restored.

REALLY!!!???

I know, I know. . . .

There are plenty of people in worse circumstances.

No Power, But all is Well

Hi Folks,

This will be a quicky. We are all fine. We lost power around 7:15AM on Sunday and it remains out. No news regarding when it will be restored. The reports on the radio indicate that the electric company had to call as far away as Colorado for assistance. Not really sure I understand THAT, but it is what is being reported.

I am currently at work-- where there is power. The girl's daycare--just a couple miles down the road, however, does not have power- so this is a quick drop-in for me. Mostly to try and charge some essentials--like the DVD player.

The big kids were suppose to start school today, but that has been delayed until at least tomorrow.

Our biggest concern is our wet basement, due to hydrostatic pressure. No power=no working sump pump=rising water in our basement. We don't really keep anything valuable down there-- except our furnace!!! 

*SIGH*

We just contracted a company to fix this situation-- they are coming on Sept 22nd.

*SIGH*

I hope everyone else in the path of the storm is doing OK. Quite a punch for a Cat 1 Hurricane-- REALLY Thankful it didn't hit at a Cat 3.

Providing Refuge from the Storm

Early this afternoon we noticed a little, uh little,

Grasshopper

in between the storm door and regular door

of our back door.

Joise knows there is a big storm coming and so, of course, we have to provide refuge to this little critter who is, "ALL alone!"

Welome to "Bugs Estates!"

I guess s/he was hungry because as soon as we put some vegetation in the bowl

s/he made a bee-line (or should I say a Hopper-line) straight for the clover and started chowing down!

This has provided us with LOTS of conversation regarding: what do grasshoppers eat?; where do they go in the rain?; how do they keep from getting sunburned . . . .

Who needs cable or Netflix?

As long as we have Google!!!!!

Even if we lose power we will still have

HOURS of Entertainment!!!

Never fear little bug, we'll keep you safe through the storm. 

Zoo-Artsy

This was our foiled plan from last weekend . . .

Going to an event at our local Zoo . . .

At NIGHT!

I had told the girls it was cancelled when it was actually postponed-- because,

well, we were suppose to go out of town this weekend.

Since those plans got postponed--

We were able to attend this fun event at the Zoo.

All decked out and ready to go!

Just inside the gates, hanging out . . .

Waitig for the cousins to show-up!!!

Whoa! Nai Nai!!! What a GREAT surprise!

Clara Rose could hardly contain herself!

Nate and Josie kicking it around.

The Artsy part of "ZooArtsy."

Several people dressed like various plants, statues etc.

Pretty cool . . .

But the younger crowd was fairly leary of these unique creatures.

Clara Rose agree to a quick pict with Jie Jie and Nai Nai.

This lovely tried quite hard to make friends with the girls and Nate . . .

To no avail.

This Golden Girl was Nate's fave!

A lovely mermaid!

The little girls, as  mentioned, were quite, Ummm. let's say cautious with all the living statues,

Until . . . .

The bow and arrow; the stance. Kinda scary!

Doncha think?

Tthey all went running!!!!

Straight toward him!!!

Nate wanted the bow and arrow-- the girls all giggled and giggled.

Meahwhile, we heard a trampling sound!!!

Wow!

The Giraffes were running all over the place!

Seriously!

Galloping!

Josie and Nate thought it was soooo cool to see the giraffes running.

Photo OP!

Not the greatest picture-- this is a potted plant person.

Another living statue-- the younger crowd was getting accustomed

to te living statues at this point in the evening.

Another photo OP!

Taking a little break from all the walking and exploring.

The big topic of conversation-- Nate and Josie telling Emily and Clara Rose that they (Nate and Josie) are bigger and they (Emily and Clara Rose) are smaller.

Finishing off the night . . .

More living statues.

Jie Jie wanted a picture with the Statue of Liberty.

Lastly, back at the entrance. We saw this butterfly when we first arrived, but the little folks were slightly freaked by her.

They were happy to see her as we exited and took a moment for one last Photo OP.