Water Play Day

On Sunday our church hosted a water play day for the kids. First of all, our church is small. Second of all, 60% of the congregation is probably over the age of 60. There isn't a lot of children around. When we take Spencer to church, the older ladies just love him. We just weren't sure how many people would actually be there and we weren't sure if we wanted to go because it was hot, like 98 degrees hot. According to my husband, I don't like the heat. I gather that statement comes from my constant whining that, "I'm hot and feel gross." Get the picture, it was HOT!
Needless to say, we went and Spencer poured water, ran through the sprinkler and even managed not to get a sunburn. There were about 30 people total and about 15 kiddos. They all had a good time. I took frequent trips to the restroom (inside in the air conditioning).
I think Spencer was complaining that dad got him wet. I don't think he understood the concept of "water play" = getting wet.

Filling up his bowl with water. Not pictured: Spencer chasing dad down to pour water on him.

Refilling the fluids!

Progress

Very slow progress, but it is progress none the less. This was last week. The foundation has been poured since.

Fears

People are afraid of many things, bugs, snakes, or spiders. My fear is tornadoes. I would go as far as saying I have a phobia and probably should be medicated. When I was a child I remember getting so nervous, I threw up. I always get nervous, even with thunderstorms. I don't sleep (at all). There have been times as an adult I have cried. Yes, I admit, it is irrational.

This week was tough. Beginning on Monday, the forecast was for VERY severe weather and tornadoes on Tuesday. Tuesday morning came and around 11am, we got an emergency notification from work asking all of the employees to take precautions and to review emergency procedures and shelter locations. The nervousness begins, the pit in my stomach grows. I am constantly looking out the windows and really can't concentrate on work.

Around noon, the phone call from daycare comes in. They want all the kids picked up before the storm hits. Pictures of my child being corralled into a bathroom with 20 other children and a handful adults trying to keep them calm. The image sickens me. The nervousness continues, the sick feeling grows in my stomach.

A little after 1pm, we were told that all the of clinics were closing at 3pm and to finish up all work so we could leave. First time ever that we have been sent home early because of summer weather.

I left at 3:15pm, arrived at daycare at 3:50pm and the first tornado was already on the ground. It was west of the metro and moving in. I got home and started packing stuff. I was piling blankets and flashlights into the bathroom. I started packing items that we would need assuming there was going to be nothing left. Irrational? I don't know. Multiple pairs of underwear for Spencer, jeans, wipes, pull ups - who knows where we will end up. Irrational thoughts screaming through my mind.

The tornado is on the edge of NW OKC. Three separate cells merge in southern OK, heading straight toward Moore. Justin walks in, there is a tornado in Chickasha (just 20 miles southwest of Moore). Justin calls our friends Clay and Shyla and ask if they have room in their storm shelter. We leave immediately. The prediction is the tornado hitting us dead on at 5:55pm.

At 5:45 we all head into the shelter. It is dark, hot and loud. We can hear it pounding outside. The weather radio talks about a tornado at 164th & Western, one mile from our house. We finally emerge to find out that more tornadoes had touched down.

The evening went on. People are dead, babies missing and I hold my babies tight and watch as the evening unfolds more horrors.

Irrational fear, I don't think so.

Mowing Grass

Spencer likes to mow the grass. You see he is supervising. Justin is actually mowing the grass, but Spencer is not allowed to get down while he is mowing. He sits in his chair with his cup and watches dad at each pass. I really think in his mind he is saying, "daddy, you missed a spot."

His legs are always crossed.

This is what he does after he mows. AAAAHH, a quiet house.

Car Show Photos

Helicopters and Cars

On Saturday we went to a car show. The car show was a benefit for our neighbor who is battling cancer. He has been an EMT for 15 years and the Medi-Flight helicopter was FIRST thing we went to see. Spencer was amazed and loved looking and touching it.

The cars were awesome (future post) and we all had a blast. The firetrucks, ambulances, mustangs, fairlanes, cobras, roadsters and a WHOLE lot more that I had to ask Justin about. It was just a really good show. I was giddy and I mean giddy about the pictures I got. BUT I was so happy to see Spencer giddy over the helicopter!

Facebook Page

To my readers (if I have any, really don't know), I have created a new Facebook Page to showcase some of my photography. I had an awesome friend help me make a "logo." I don't know where this photography thing is going, but I enjoy it. I'm not ready to dive into a full blown business, but wanted some how to display some of my photos.
Facebook is free to upload pictures and I can place my new fancy logo over the pics to protect the images while allowing people to check them out. I would LOVE for you to go and "like" my page and share with friends. Please search for Misty Dawn Lucas Photography.

I know some people are not on Facebook, so here is the new logo. It was designed off of a picture I took in New England.
And yes, that really is my name.