Storms for the Last Day

Aw, fun times fly fast!  Today the storms arrived.  Crashing rain.  "I've never seen rain like this in my entire life!" Alexandria said between singing That's Not My Name and Boom Boom Pow from her dance party mix CD.  We went to the Broken Yolk for breakfast, then had a brilliant plan to bring the kids to an indoor playground.  Except the playground was full, so we went to the outlet stores instead.  There's a toy store :) Palm fronds tossed in the wind and dark gray clouds thickened in the sky.  Spattering rain fell as we arrived.  I actually found a pair of shoes (shoe shopping is so frustrating for me, but that is another story).  We bought an umbrella just in case and the sky took on a breathless waiting quiet.  I walked with the girls to meet up with everyone and we thought we'd open up the umbrella since the rain decided to be more serious.

"I worry about storms like this," Alexandria said.  "I worry that the winds will blow people away."

And just then the storm unleashed.  Rain pelted and wind whipped around us threatening to tug the new umbrella out of my hands.  I struggled to close it as Anika clung to me and then we all ran to the Bose outlet just as water dumped from the sky.

Being here, dry and warm, is lovely.  Water gushed down gutters as we drove.  Big SUVs cut in front of me since people are not used to driving on wet slick roads.  The kiddos are playing with old birthday balloons, reading books that chatter helicopter noises, and tinkering with Nicole's IPhone (that would be Anika).  Devin and Nicole are at their father-daughter dance class.

Ian's getting tired.   I must cuddle with the baby :)