Toot Toot

Kid just got her IOWA test results back and guess who scored in the 99th percentile (in the nation)?!

Placing her not in 4th grade but the middle of high school.

"I didn't think I was smart."  She said, then stared adoringly at the test results.

I am SO proud of her.  She has had a lot of hardships to overcome and she has.

We are in awe of her fortitude.

(And a shout out to anyone with a delayed reader... fear not... she couldn't read until the end of 2nd grade.  So don't get stressed, give it time.)

Please...

Take a moment and get the Tornado app from the Red Cross (it is FREE).  You can put in multiple locations (home, work, school) so that you can monitor all your locations.  It will send you an alert if there is a severe weather warning and sound a siren if there is a tornado.  There is no location in the continental US that is safe from tornadoes.  There are an average of 1000 tornadoes PER YEAR in the US ( you read that right: ONE THOUSAND).  Yesterday, the Tornado app alerted me to a Severe Thunderstorm warning before the radio or the National Weather Service.

Also, you can sign up for severe weather text and email alerts from The Weather Channel (FREE).  If your phone is dead, etc, you will still get email updates so sign up for both!

Please take severe weather warnings seriously. Advanced warning is critical to survival.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those families who have lost their children in the Oklahoma tornado.  I cannot begin to contemplate the horror of waiting through a search and rescue.  I hope survivors will still be found.


I will update this later with a list of simple things you can have on hand.  You can also search back on my blog to find a comprehensive list.

Only One Week Late

Mother's Day happened around these parts last Sunday.  It may have been the most successful and well celebrated day of honor-ment to date.

I think Baby's mad event planning skills had a little something to do with it.  She'd been asking me random culinary queries all week. "Do you like watermelon seeds?" She asked.  "Hmm... to eat?"  I inquired.  "Not usually."  I said gently.  At the end of the week she had complied an elaborate list of ingredients for a "Vengtable Soup"

 

Which was to feature chicken and tomato and also bananas (and lemon... which I do recommend)

  

People it was... not bad.

My favorite gift was Kid's hilarious card...

You may remember that last year while I celebrated Mother's Day with the girls, Mr F was on a trip to the fucking south of France.  You may also recall (probably not) that he had hidden the girls' gifts and didn't tell them where... which sent then into a state of anxiety fueled desperation on Mother's Day morning.  It was good times.

Kid also produced an icon Mother's Day gift at school...

Mr F tried to overcompensate for last year...

(I did leave the recipe up on my computer and it was delicious.)

Although, you should know that the rose... was 100% Baby's idea.  She is not messing around.

Much of the morning was spent in enforced bed confinement, as my girls are sure is my dream come true.  Especially when they are THIS close to my body...

All in all it was a great day.  The day actually felt long, which these days is a rare treat.

Kid even stayed up late watching The Dust Bowl with me.

 

Does it get better?!  Yes!  I was taking notes and simultaneously reading the early 1900s correspondence of a pan handle farmer.  It was good times, people.  Good, good, history loving nerdy times.  (Baby opted to go to bed)

Last but not least, is my old lady swing...

 I don't care what you say.  You are just jealous.