Hurricane Sandy...We Survived!

We had some excitement earlier this week.  On Monday Hurricane Sandy, decided she wanted to make a dramatic entrance and when she was done throwing her temper tantrum she blew away.  I cannot tell you how many times I had to explain to the Madore-ables why we couldn't go to the playground, or why we couldn't play in the front yard and ride bikes.  "It's too windy" I told them.  So, I put on one of the news channels here in Boston, and explained to the girls what that circular spinning thing was on the weather map.  Once I showed them that, and explained to them that the weather maps were taken with big huge cameras (bigger than Mommy and Daddy's) and that is what the wind looks like on those special cameras, it just seemed to "click" (pun intended).  We just needed to wait until the "big circle" blew over us and out to the ocean.

So while we were waiting for the big circle to blow over, we had quite the productive day.  I managed to write 3 blogs and update our family calendar.   The Madore-ables were able to play in their toy room; do homework (yes, Samantha actually receives homework once a week); write letters; color; laundry; and read lots of books from the library.

We lost power for about 1 hour first thing in the morning, and it came back with a few flickers throughout the day.

Tuesday was an entirely different story.

We ventured our way outside to survey the damage.

Sunny skies.  This can't be bad, right?

First hope of optimism...even if it is just a weed.

The Madore-ables were devastated that the pumpkin head was on the ground and "dirty"

from dirt and leaves.

The pumpkin head rolled no more than 10 feet away.

This was the extent of the branches in our yard.  We were so fortunate!

Sarah was so relieved that her pumpkins were OK.

Then we ventured over to our neighbor's house and found this:

I thought that I would use this as a lesson for the girls.  I first showed them just how strong the winds could be, that the wind just completely bent the flag pole over.  I also tried to explain to them that if a flag is laying down, or on the ground, or just not "upright" we need to find a way to get it so it stands nice and tall.  We always need to respect our flag.  It's more than a piece of cloth.  So while we tried to get the pole out of the flag stand, the girls started to sing "You're a Grand 'Ol Flag" (I didn't have to prompt them at all) and once my Mom got the flag upright, Sarah showed respect to the flag the best way a 3-1/2 year old knows how to:

A kiss and a hug.