Did you 'ike your birthday?

When we were a full eight days into Ike-mania, we realized Simon's birthday was fast approaching and that we were unprepared (unless we wanted to give him his 72 hr kit full of slim jims, crackers and instant oatmeal). Bethany and I devised together to give him his birthday while still in Weedhaven. On his birthday three days later in Houston, there was still no prospect of gift-bearing stores being open, or a freezer to keep ice cream, much less functional traffic lights (which is not so important for birthday celebration, you might think, but I vowed to mention it somewhere here in all this post-storm posting!)

I am adorned in Bethany originals, which are delicious, and can be perused here. I know you were wondering, because they look so great in that picture.

Ever since his third b-day when we first moved here, I've always plopped some kind of actual joyous toy on top--a pretty delightful tradition that originated with a Lightning McQueen. Almost forgot this year, but luckily we had gotten him almost an excessive amount of small airplanes that I could embezzle from.

Now here's the sweet Nater, who has participated in some way in every one of Simon's birthdays. Glad it was in person this time--that's a rare gem friendship when you're 5.

Sweaty, half-dressed and bedraggled on the actual birthday in H-town.

Opening Allianna's present, to good results . . .

Happy Birthday to a reformed Chief Chubbamubbas!

Two things we feel good about

I want this shirt.

Mark turned on Christmas music today.

video mania . . . girly on the move!

I just love this girl. You're free to adore her too.

Ike videos . . . for those so inclined.

Hi. The first video is about an hour into Ike--it exists solely to try to capture the sound of the thing from our front porch.

The second and third are taken in the morning. The storm lasted from about 9:30pm-8:30am. (We lost power at 10:30pm and received it 379hours later). Throughout the videos, you must excuse our embarrassingly somber commentary. You've caught us at a rare somber moment. I am excessively quiet on mine, b/c I was a mere 5 feet from a poor darling daughter who was resting from just having thrown up. Poor girl had to experience the absolute WORST day to be sick--hot, vomitous, muggy, dark, no stores for sprite/jello/ice, parents quite distracted, no functional fans or laundry machines. Plus the general mild terror of being among the children who "hunkered down" all night.

I'm about halfway through my Ike-an posting series--bear with me--I'm just trying to get it all up so we can move on to current newly normal life!

Welcome to our backyard, Ike. Part two.

some big limbs on the shed roof

Care for some soup by headlamp???

I was doing this in the complete dark--the flash ruined the shot!

By the way Ike, you ain't got nothing on hurricane Mark! ;)

demonstrating his hurricane-force winds

Mark spent two days clearing trees and sawing off half broken limbs; when he finished he took advantage of the opportunity to expand his driveway basketball court--that one branch's "D" had been blocking way too many 3's--when's he going to be back up there with a saw again, anyway?!

He's a nice yard monkey.

Okay, here's our Ike-ing. Part one.

This is our driveway the morning the hurricane finished; it had been "done" for about 2 hours. Compare it to the earlier post where Mark and Mary Tessa are standing--it's the same spot.

Emerging from our long night's blast, feeling a bit like Punxatawny Phil, but not so well-rested. What's going to be out there? Thousands of bits of shredded leaves were everywhere; it was like green snow all over the ground and walls. Tree limbs were snapped everywhere too.

Our back yard neighbors' tree.

Mark clearing the street so all the water can start to drain down the street.

Simon clearing footlong twigs.

And on the 15th day, there was light . . .

. . . and the Noltes came home from the zoo, and saw it, and it was good.

We were shocked. ha ha--electricity joke.

Joy waves are rippling through the household.

I like my microwave.

Much more to come later.

We've become quite adapted to this . . .

When a body's been without power for 12 days you do what you have to do. Typing this off of our kind neighbors' generator. Accepting communication via Pony Express.

We are chocking up memories, sweating through our clothes, and learning we have a lot of really nice friends (with power).

thanks to Mark's brother Matt for accurately sketching our current state.



if you don't get it, google up angler fish and other bioluminescent creatures. ;)

'Ikes!

Hello? How do use this type-y thingy??? This is Laura Ingalls reporting from the little house on the bayou.

Well, actually, I'll be located back there tomorrow. For now, I'm reporting from the Dallas, where we've spent a few days:

• not using the bathroom in the dark
• praising and stroking the dishwasher
• proving I can still use a debit card, single-handedly keeping the Target here afloat with Simon's birthday items, since there are no opportunities for leasurely consumerism in H-town
• brushing our teeth with sink water
• washing laundry from the Vomitous Day One post-Ike
• mostly REALLY REALLY enjoying these Weed people. God bless them every one.

Back home, I'll look forward to . . . um . . . okay, well:

Having a relationship with ALL of my neighbors. Because of the first 5 post-Ike days, I now know 6 new households; we are on first name basis, we have shared things back and forth several times, and when we get back, we'll still have time to talk. Thursday is when power might return and hopefully we won't slunk back into our isolated lives too much. It's been nice standing in our driveway together and dragging tree limbs about and just slowing down and thinking, hmm, how can I be helpful? We have really nice neighbors.
You know, I'm out of practice at this writing thing. Ma' brain's getting all muddled. But I'm glad to be back in the blogisphere briefly. This hurricane has been a neat add-to-the-CV experience.

Enjoy your cyberspace while I'm scrubbing laundry in my tub--I'm actually hoping I get to!

While we still have power . . .

Mark and Mary Tessa gauging this afternoon's wind with their hair.
Sunset sky, waiting for what lurks beyond . . .
Alli's calm, cool and collected . . .
. . . with her brother in the hallway, safe from any windows.

We put them there after they were asleep, we're not as fun as the Mangums.

Aiwa!!! A petrol queue!

Today's a day for remembering 2001.

Besides the obvious remembrance associated with today's date, I'm reminded of my summer that year in Zimbabwe. I often would see huge lines of cars queueing up at the petrol stations--after following tankers through town to see where they would stop. I saw that today three blocks from my house! It wasn't really scary, more just a live flashback.

We've been ordered not to evacuate. If we end up losing power for a while, we can go then. I prefer to not join our 5 to the throngs on the freeway--I prefer a memorable adventure here. We already had our 72 hour kit ready, but as I walked through the grocery store today to get some more water the phrase "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear" kept coming to me.

I don't think I'm making this up, but as we ate dinner tonight, it seemed eerily calm. I thought, is this it, is this The CALM Before the Storm?? It was kind of neat.

Well, it feels like kind of an adventure. Hopefully we don't spend too many hours with all five of us watching portable dvds in our bathtub. Chances are we'll be totally fine.

This is stream-of-thought post, so I'm ending with a note of longing for Zimbabwe. Things are not well there. Makadii? Hakuna wakaita sa Jesu.

Get along lil dogies

Here we are showing off some of our equestrian skills while reunioning in NM.

Some of our skills, I say, because you won't see me riding in flipflops (I did) or galloping to near-death (like I did on our honeymoon).

Really, Tess is the most impressive horsewoman among us.

Speaking of blue skies and "geeettin along," it looks like we'll be getting some pretty dark skies around here this weekend, but we're likely staying put.

"It's your misfortune and none a' myoooown!!"

Hopefully.

IKE

Dear Charlie . . .

Simon misses you.

I remember being pregnant with my first (mystery gender) baby in 2003 and talking to Aimee who was pregnant with Charlie at the same time. We were due exactly four months apart and were wondering about our babes and hoping they'd be close cousin friends. It was neat that they were both born on the same number day (6days late, you stinkers!) and were both boys. When we got together last month for a week of family reunioning, we'd see them occasionally at meals and the rest of the time they were running around in the woods together--practically feral by the end of it.

Simon has asked me if they can still be friends when they grow up. I assured him that they could--even better friends, possibly!

That top picture makes me tear up.

*** If my words are looking all scrambly, it's not my fault. Grrr, blogger, you're irking me! Try enlarging your window, dear reader, and it may help.

Zazel's got rhythm

I'm superproud to present my niece Zazel in her first performance at Grandma and Grandpa's house. She's my kids' only Taye cousin (until December!) ;)

"Binkle binkle little dar."

"I love you."

Allianna can't believe they have the same favorite song.

Now, I confess I don't always watch the blog videos of kiddos I come across--but these ones are good, I promise you! Plus, my kids always make sure to watch the blog videos I've skipped over, so there's still a strong audience.

da brudders

Mark's bros--all six together, captured in nature, a rare shot.

*if you are one of those pictured, Mark is planning on sending you a hard copy soon. Mom gets one too.

4 Greats in 24 hours--and all the namesakes, too!

During our grand western tour, Mary Tessa Joyce was presented to:

her great-grandma Mary Elizabeth

(from whom I got my sense of humor and my hips)

(my grandpa, a man of few words, presented me with the medal I'm wearing, which was enscribed "Super Mom, Emily 2008." A treasure--he fashioned it from one of his biathalon medals [yes, he is an 80something biathelete] and is known for his handcrafted valentines--I was stunned and flattered to receive something just for me.)

her great-grandma Zelda

(who adores all my babies and is beautiful in her 90s)

her other two namesakes: great-aunt Terry Joyce and Nanna/Joyce (Mark's mom)

and the next day for the grand finale:

her great-grandma Marine (who's name Tess' cousins got to first) ;)

*watch out great-grandma Audrey in MO--we've got to come for you next!*

Thanks ladies!!!

where my mind and heart are today . . .

Hope he has a good day--even sleep-deprived and drug out of bed to be uniformed and sent on his way.

Slacker (AKA on the grand Western tour.)

I read Kelsey's "Slacker" title and thought I ought to send a shout-out to those readers who are wondering what's become of us.  We're out West through the end of the month.  Here's a picture for your viewing pleasure.   

Lots more for you to see when we get back.  Even though I'm not writing, I'm still reading yours occasionally. :)

Melodious multi-tasking

I found out the bottom hand in the Children's Songbook is simple enough that you can prop up a baby and still keep playing. She was fussing until I sat down to play and sing.

I guess those Primary kids who got to have me "sing" each week actually had it pretty good.

You should know that the big kids didn't hang around to be tenderly lulled to sleep. They went in the back room and turned on tom petty.

And, please forgive the wrestling singlet she's wearing. Simon was good enough to get me clothes for her--I just didn't know we were going to have so many photo ops that afternoon.