Be Prepared

Be prepared... Isn't that the scout motto?
So we decided we would try a bit of emergency preparedness for family night last week. I wanted the kids the "practice" going down the fire escape ladder. We have had an emergency plan for such emergencies for about a year or so, but have never even taken the ladder out of its box.
We threw the ladder out Sam's window. That was the plan. The ladder was not long enough to clear the roof. We decided jumping the last 5 or so feet would not be such a great idea. So we tried the window in our bedroom. We darn near broke the window on the main level that is right under our window. We decided it would not be a great idea to climb down a ladder with no shoes on (because if there really is a fire, who has time to get shoes) and walk all over broken glass. So the third time we threw the ladder out our bathroom window. Ahh, success! Now we just had to climb down the ladder.
We had to convince the kids this little practice was a great idea. Sam, of course, was brave at first. That is until he looked down from the two story window. Then he proceeded to cry like a baby. After some convincing, he headed down the ladder and decided it was ok. He came back up for another try.
Maren was a bit of a train wreck. She was crying so loud the neighbor lady came out to see what we were doing. She tried to act like it was a good idea when I was explaining to her why our six year old was screaming like a mad woman.
Maren finally went down the ladder once I convinced her I would never let her fall.
I was next. Now some of you may know just how brave I am. I have been bungy jumping, paragliding over the Swiss Alps, and I have even done that crazy fly-through- the-air- at-1000-miles-an- hour-ride at some amusement park in Houston. I am brave! Seriously, I could have peed my pants climbing down this fire escape ladder. It was so scary. The ladder is oh, so skinny. You have to poke your butt out into thin air in order to get down the steps, of course all while the ladder is swinging and swaying. I tell you what, I ain't so brave anymore. No wonder Maren was screaming like crazy. I had to be the most brave looking mother on the planet. I had to convince all within the sound of my voice, that it really wasn't that bad. And if there really was a fire in the house, we would have to perform this task at mock speed.
Wow. What a night. I am glad we tried it out. We would have been dead if there really was a fire. To all of you that read this; be prepared! Practice on the ladder!

CAKES!

Tyler's mom decorated her kids a cake each birthday. So when Sam had his first bday, Tyler informed me that we were going to do the same. Funfetti cake was just not going to cut it. That is what I always had growing up. We were lucky if we got frosting. So needless to say, Tyler's family tradition has won out. Both of the kids just had a birthday and here are some of their cakes, that Ty and I have painstakenly decorated over the years. (Thanks a lot Judi!)

Our Little Family

Here is just our little fam. Thanks again Tam. They are great.

The Kids

Here are some of Sam and Maren. I just love the red shirts. They look so sweet.

Selle Family pics

My sister came into town from Dallas. She has a really fancy camera and has taken some classes in photography so we had her take our family pics. She did a great job. Here are some of my favorites.

Maren caught a FISH!

Uncle Cory (tiff's husband) took Sissy and Sam on a fishing trip while we were in Utah. Sis caught her very first fish. She was so proud and so brave. She even held it! GROSS! It was a great day. Thanks Cory.

Freaky pictures!

In June this kids and I went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. They had this crazy exhibit where they digitally age you. Sam ages as if he is obese. Maren and I age as if we had too much sun. The picture on the left is with no sun and normal weight. The picture on the right is with the sun exposure and obese. (Kramer: "Look away! I'm hideous!)

Sad Sad Flowers

They really were so pretty! Now they are just limp, mostly dead weeds. What a sad, sad day.

I tried to save them by putting a tarp over them, but the hail was just too big. It beat me down, and gave me a bruise on my knuckle.

Hail storm 2009

In June we got this crazy hail storm. There was even a funnel cloud about a mile from our house. It was the craziest thing ever. It totally ruined my flower garden. I had just spent hours finally getting all my flowers planted. I even bought this darling garden gnome. Then the storm hit and this is what is left......

My lilies look like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Just a few leaves and a whole lot of sticks!

The tarp on the kids swing set got totally shredded.

We have been gone!

So I know I haven't blogged forever. We were gone to Utah for three weeks to see my family. Todd (my little brother) went on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints last week. We wanted to spend all the time we could with him. We are so excited for him. He got called to the Provo, Utah MTC referral center. I know, crazy! He got called to serve 5 minutes from home. If you go onto mormon.org and click on "Ask a question" he will be one of the missionaries that will answer your questions. Just ask for Elder LeeMaster