March 31, 2023 - The one with the weather

Today is April 1, 2023. April’s Fool Day. But yesterday really fooled us!!

Yesterday, the weather around here made for a Very Interesting day. Dry conditions and high winds in Oklahoma and Kansas, plus a storm front barreling east across the middle of the the country. Multiple Wildfires and Tornadoes along the way. My family was in the thick it it!!

#1’s SO was out volunteering to fight wild fires along the OK/KS border.  Started mid-afternoon and lasted through sundown. 

#3 travelled from OK to TN narrowly avoiding a tornado in AR, only to have one hit right by his Memphis hotel and knocking out power all night. (Still out)

#2 was with my in our far north Edmond / Logan County home when 3 wildfires were near our home. Two were within 3 miles, so we decided to grab some things, the Doxie babies, and evacuate. Spent 4 hours away from home - drove south to OKC to meet up with #4 and hubs. 

#4 and the hubs had their own adventure as this all broke out about the time dad got off work, so he came home for a few minutes - packed up essentials, then went back to get baby boy at the end of his school day. Took 1:10 to drive the 4 miles to the school due to evacuee traffic, after school buses and traffic, and road closures/detours. Once he finally had child in hand, he headed south to OKC to meet up with us and the dogs. 

We sat in the parking lot playing with very nervous dogs for about and hour, the started messaging our neighbors for updates. So many road closures and detours, it took a village of back road experts to navigate us back home. #3, the dogs and I went first to confirm the route, while #4 and hubs stopped to grab us dinner. By 8pm we were home and fed, and started unloading our lives from the back of our cars.  But, we didn’t unpack it all, because wild fires like to respawn. 

And respawn they did along the OK/KS border. #1s SO was back out in it in the middle of the night and finally got back home around 3:30am. 

#3 woke up in Memphis to the sound of fire truck sites around 6am, which was good because they needed to load buses at 7am to play a game at 8am (moved to a different hotel - one out of the danger zone - later that same day). 

#2, #4, hubs and I safe at home. Taking it all in. 

April. Please done be a fool!

The One with Turkey and Hogs

November 22 - 25, 2018

Well, I finally did it.  I finally completely missed posting the 2020 project blog.  For 2 weeks!  Today is December 6.  Thanksgiving was 2 weeks ago today.  It was on my to-do list everyday.  For Two Weeks!  And, of course, this week I needed to catch up with TWO blogs!  Thanks giving weekend, and this past weekend.  But, LIFE!  It has been oh so busy!  Holidays!  End of semester!  State Football Playoffs games! Basketball season!  Wrestling Season!  Sick kids!  And on, and on, and on!  But, here we are!  A quick recap of the Thanksgiving holiday and the weekend that followed.

Things were pretty chill for Thanksgiving this year.  We decided to have dinner in Perkins at Nana and Grandpas.  We planned a meal with everyone's favorites.  Mom cooked some, My dad carved the bird, Britt cooked some, and Lara, Jake and I made Pioneer Woman mashed potatoes!  Emma was there, too, and it was a wonderful afternoon.  I think the highlight of the day was the canned whipped cream.  There was eating from the can, tossing of the cream, and general debauchery around the dinner table.  We took pictures in the back yard, and watched TV.  There was family here form all over, so later in the afternoon we headed to Stillwater to visit.  Emma and Lara went back to Orlando to have Thanksgiving with their family there as well.  A wonderful day!

Friday we spent the day catching up, and packing for our trip to Arkansas.  My coworker and dear friend Chelsea was getting married to the man of her dreams, Jericho, and we were off to Mount Magazine to watch it all happen.  Emma didn't make this trip,  After stressing about the weather for months, it was the PERFECT fall day in Arkansas and a beautiful wedding for Mr. and Mrs. McElroy!

We stayed Saturday night in Fort Smith, then got up Sunday morning and went to the Bentonville / Rogers area.  We attended Life Church there, had lunch at the Ozark Bagel Company, then headed back to Stillwater.

It was a wonderful holiday weekend, even if Monday did come to soon!  And the coming week is going to be a full one - we play our STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL PLAYOFF game this coming Friday night in Owasso.  Stay Tuned!