We are alive!  Thank you all so much for calls and emails!  We have survived the storm!  Here is a picture of our backyard this afternoon with all the trees incased in ice.  It was so beautiful with the sun shining.

We were without power for 36 hours. We braved it for the first day, snuggleing in sleeping bags and eating sandwiches. The refridgerator didn’t keep things cold as well as I hoped so I dumped the contents of the fridge into a laundry basket and put it on the porch. 

Tatie crawled into bed with me about 3am and enjoyed being snuggly next to my body heat.  I don’t think hers was enough to warm her sleeping bag by herself.  But together we stayed toasty.  When we woke up the next morning however the temperature inside the house had dropped to 53 degrees.  I could probably have dealt with it, but it was too cold for the kids to have to deal with.  So Todd and I went to dig the cars out of the parking lot.  I was was going to head to my parents house for the day and Todd was heading off to work. 

After attempting to get out both cars and neither budging I looked at Todd and said, “How about we say a prayer and ask for some help?”  I went to my car.  I jumped in, and said a quick prayer – something along the lines of  “Please help us get one of these cars out.”  I started up the car and the backed out of the parking space without so much as sliding ONCE!  And drove all the way out onto the road with complete ease. 

We loaded the kids up and headed off to drop Todd at the office for a day of work.  On the way I called my Dad to tell him we were on our way only to learn they they were out of power and their generator wasn’t working!  An immediate change in plans was in order.  We dropped Todd off and I headed ot McDonald’s to get the kids something to eat and to bide myself time to think of another option.  Todd’s Mom then offered to have us come stay at the hotel they were at (their power was out too).  The only issue being that Todd’s Dad works nights so we would be spending the day in a hotel lobby so he could sleep.  But it was our only option and my kiddos needed heat.  So off we went. 

We spent the day watching TV and eating pizza with Ruthanne.  And the sweet hotel staff didn’t even mind it when we took over one of their meeting rooms so that the kids could stretch out a bit.  Dad called to say his generator was working and we were welcome anytime.  So after Jim was up the kids got a hot shower and we were off to get Todd from work and head home for sleeping bags for our over nighter at Grandma and Grandpa’s. 

We pulled onto our street to see porch lights on!  We had power!  (It really pays to be on the same road as a home for the disabled – it puts you right on the top of the power restoration list.)  Exhausted from a long day but thrilled to be home, we did what every good American longs to do after being without power for more than a day.  We turned on the TV and checked our email.  Most of Crestwood is still without power.  Its been a tough week for everyone.  And they say we have more snow on the way Monday. We won’t be getting out of school till July 4th at this rate.

Today Sydney has a fever and is feeling under the weather.  But Kinsey and Tatie were able to enjoy the fresh powder we got last night (another inch+).  

Shopping list for next trip to the store:

 – Non scented candles (the smells really start to clash if they are all lit at the same time!)

 – Flashlight (one should have more than one working flashlight because if one of the kids drops it….)

 – Snow gloves (those little knitted mittens are CRAP!)

 – Cat litter (see Snow bound)

 – House with fireplace (maybe this summer *fingers crossed*!!!)