rain+wind+hail+humidity=TORNADO

After I put the kids from my class on the early bus at work, I headed to the house.  On the 10 minute drive the weather went from wonderful to pouring.  So I detoured to the kids school so I could get Canyon and Sahara wouldn't have to worry about it.  Plus Sahara could follow me home.  Pouring turned to 0 visibility, 60 mph winds, hail the size of quarters and me on a basically abandoned hwy.  I was freaking out!  The radio and my phone were telling me to take shelter immediately....  Where was I to go??? I couldn't see a thing, no cars in sight either way.  I couldn't even see past the shoulder of the road. 

I continued on to the school and as usual, was the last one in the pick-up line waaaay down at the stop sign.  Storm still surging.  I had 2 choices; run to the storm shelter at the school from my truck in the storm and be pelted with hail and blown away in the wind and down-pour, or stay in the line, in the truck and hope for the best.  

So, I called Jared (wondering where he might be since he is usually at the house and his truck wasn't at the house when I passed by and I was worried he was driving around in that too).  He was in the pick up line.  He gets Canyon 2 days a week from school and I forgot his day was Wednesday.  So, I got out of line and drove to meet him.  His mom called him to get into the building. She works at Canyon's school.  I drove him around the loop and dropped him off and he mad-dashed into the building.  I went to the far parking lot to wait.  The kids were not being released and were all in the safe rooms.  As soon as I parked, he called back to tell me I needed to also get in now.  I guess it was about to get worse.  There happened to be a towel in the back seat and I wrapped it around me and waded my way through the parking lot to the cafeteria door where he let me in.  I was soaked and really had to run through a river through the parking lot to get there.

This picture was taken nearby but the tornado that went through our area I haven't got a picture of.  I don't think anyone could get a picture because the storm was so bad.

40 minutes after school was out, they finally released the students.  

Sahara said a neighboring school district and town, Dover, called from I-40 that they were coming back from a field trip with 3 buses of kids and asked if they could shelter at Pottsville High.  She said those kids went in their cafeteria.  

Checked back at the school I work at and only the early bus kids got to leave.  Everyone else was sheltered for over an hour there.  

We knew this storm was coming and we knew it would be bad.  We just didn't think it would develop right over our heads in a matter of minutes!!!

It was scary and exciting!  

Canyon came out of the shelter with 1 shoe on.  Apparently in the hurry to get to the shelter, he lost a shoe in the classroom and his aide said he was worried about it.  

Water is at it's highest in the driveway/carport.  Anymore and it will be in the house.  The pasture is a complete pond, again.  Luckily we don't have animals out there this time.

What an adventure!

By the way...still no Sascha :(  She has been missing 11 days now.  People tell me stories of theirs being missing for weeks even months and then being returned.  She's now on 9 lost/missing/animal/swap/garage sale sites, listed with 3 animal shelters, has an ad in the local paper, and 16 fliers are up.

5th Annual Boots and Benefactors BBQ

This is the first time we have been to the BBQ.  Tickets are $35 a person, but because Canyon was going to be a featured rider this year, we got in free.  

First stop was the pony rides.

Then we made our over to the bump and jumps with a stop at the tee-shirt table.

SURPRISE!!  Sahara's design won the contest and so we had to get shirts.

Happy day :)

Then Canyon and 2 other riders were featured showing off what they do at hippotherapy.  Canyon thought he was the star.  He usually rides Dan at the barn but for the show he road Annie because she was more experienced with the arena and crowds.

( video is not working GRRRRRRRRRRR )

It was 2 1/2 mins long but only allowed me to download the first minute.

Dinner was bbq chicken, beans, the yummiest cole slaw I have ever eaten (and I am not a cole slaw fan), bread, and cupcakes.  

This cute cake was also there, but I don't think they ever cut into it.  I don't know if it was just for display or an oversight that it still was intact when the evening was over.  

Canyon with Sadie, a girl from Field of Angels, Shooting for Success and mom's class.

More pictures of the spotlight show.

Cute horsey cupcakes.

They had some great drawings for gifts but our ticket was 1 number off from being the winner.

2 thumbs up!

Easter

Sahara and Canyon got DVDs this year in their baskets along with the regular goodies.  I don't know what happened to Canyon's picture :(

Then we made deviled eggs and went to Aunt Lorie's mom's house for dinner.

Canyon got a couple dollars in his plastic eggs.

We always have to count everyone's eggs to make sure they all, or at least most of them, have been found.  Canyon got 22.  

Dinner was pulled pork, hot dogs, and allll the fixings.  3 tables full of food and dessert on a 4th table in the house!

Sascha

Our girl is missing again :(  She was here for dinner on Saturday 3-30 but didn't return again.  I went out at midnight Saturday driving around.  I figured she was in the field or woods.  No luck.

Sunday Morning the neighbors came over to let us know their min-pin was also missing as of yesterday.  They may have run off together or were picked up together.

Shelters have been notified, she's on 5 lost animal sights for our area and fliers are up.  There was a lead of a Weimaraner with a pink collar on the other side of a neighboring town so we went there yesterday but nothing.  She was wearing a pink camo collar with tags.

Hope she finds her way back!!

Easter Eggs

Tried something I saw on Pintrest this year.  Cooking the eggs in the oven instead of boiling.  Pros: No cracked eggs and MUCH easier peeling.  Cons: Didn't cook through as well as I was told so they had to go back in for a second round.

After cooking they go straight into an ice bath.

We used rubber bands to give the eggs a tie-dye effect.  Something else I found on Pinterest.  

They cam out pretty cool.  Some look like British flags.

The end results.  Most of them turned out, some with did with other dying effects.

Practice

Canyon went to the fair grounds to practice with the horse he will be riding for the Boots and Benefactors BBQ next Saturday. He hasn't ridden Annie before and they wanted to have the 2 get to know each other before the show.

And so it begins

2 days ago they started clearing the brush and undergrowth away from the established trees. It looks a lot better actually. But I know they aren't doing it for the looks of the field. Their getting ready to divide and build there.

Sad to see our field go away. It's gonna make things a lot different with neighbors right next door.

Look what came in the mail today.....

Graduation announcements!!!!

It's rare

...that Canyon can throw words together to make a coherent sentence, but I love to hear when he does :)
Talking to Sahara yesterday he told her:

Your car is cute but trucks are forever.

It's in there!! I just wish we could pull it out on a more regular basis!!

World Down Syndrome Day!

We are 'Rocking our socks!'

Sad Face

The more I think about not getting to do Special Olympics this year, the more bummed out I get.
:(
He really looks forward to going to that...we all do.
:(

Spring Break...so far

Sahara got her MRI results back and they showed nothing (as we expected).

We went shopping in Conway.  Sahara got a bathing suit and a purse.  Canyon got 6 pairs of shorts and crock type shoes.  Mom got a purse.

Truck went to the shop and some little things like door handles and a non-rolling window were fixed.  Will need a new battery and is going back in maybe tomorrow for some coolant something or other leak.  But otherwise looks road worthy for summer :)

Sahara and Jared went to the tux/flower shop and got everything set up for prom (one month away).  I cant believe it's that time again all ready!!  Plus Sahara got new shoes for her prom dress (again).

Chloe cat is still spraying after 3 different antibiotics.  I dont know what to do with her!

Working on getting graduation announcements/invitations made ( 2 months away! YIKES!)

Trying to 'redneck' fix the siding on my house so I dont have to come up with $2000 to have it all torn down and reattached correctly.  Got the back of the house done which was the worst.  But still haven't been back outside (too wet) to see if it is holding up.  Of course I have to use 2x4s to brace it so I dont know how exactly I will do that for the pieces in the eves since they are 12 feet high.

BIG DISAPPOINTMENT

Special Olympics looks like is a no-go this year.

Canyon's teacher texted me that she dropped the ball and did not get times and scores turned in this year for Canyon (and I assume all the kids in her class who participate) for Special Olymipcs.  This means no area games in Conway, and worse, no State games in Searcy at Harding University.  Canyon loves going there, having his 'quick trip', staying in the dorms, eating in the massive cafeteria,  doing the long jump with his famous wind up, getting his metals, watching the motorcycle show,  dancing at the opening ceremonies and at the dance party at the park, hugging the baby tree for his growth picture, and especially feeling super special and being a winner.

We are really disappointed and bummed out

:(

Apache State Champs!

 Sahara's senior boy's basketball team won 4A State Champs.  Sahara went to the game in Little Rock on Thursday and didn't get home until 12:30am.  

You can see her in  the center below in a light grey jacket and in front of the boy with the white tie and hat.

Below you can see her in the center right (there is an orange circle thing in front of her stomach).

Oops

Some things say 'not microwave safe' for a reason.

MRI

Monday, Sahara had an MRI to help figure out why she's having so many migraines. Results probably won't be in for another week but when she did it, they injected her with the stuff to make her blood glow in the pictures. This is her bruise 3 days later. It's going up her vein. Kinda icky.