"0 Days Tornado-Free"

You know those work sites that have signs up that say "151 days Accident-Free" to celebrate safety? Iowa needs ones of those that says "___ Days Tornado-Free". Except ours would say 0. We've had tornadoes every day for almost a week. And we've got more tornado watches tonight, too. We spent last night sleeping in the dank, musty storm shelter. 3 boys, 1 mom and 1 freaked-out cat. Good times. Think they've got wifi in Oz?

So what else have we been doing? Well, turns out some of my sibs went out and got themselves all edumakated. Last weekend we celebrated the graduations of one sister from college and another from high school. Way to go, my Smarty Pants girls! Upward and onward!

Need I mention that it took $89 dollars to fill my gas tank?? Probably not, but holy cow. Something's got to give. That is absolute insanity. It's not like I drive a Hummer or an SUV, fergoodnessakes. But I am seriously rethinking my minivan. Anyone drive a grocery-getter? I have my eye on a more fuel-efficient, low-riding grocery-getter.

And guess what else I have been doing?

I have been drinking really great coffee. I mean frothy, foamy, black-as-tar, beautiful espresso. See this beautiful piece of machinery? It is a Francis!Francis! X5 and it is my new BFF. I LOVE this machine. LOVE it. Is it possible to love an espresso machine? It is if that machine is the FF X5! Isn't she a beauty??? I am still perfecting this sucker - she seems to like me more if I feed her pods instead of ground beans. Whenever I do the ground beans she misbehaves. I will prevail!


And speaking of BFFs, my BFF is now the proud mommy of a gorgeous baby boy. He is 7+ lb of absolute perfection. I spent this evening staring at his tiny toes, his perfect little ears, the most darling little chin... ugh! Amazing! Congrats to BFF and DD! Love you both, congrats on your son! I still can't believe you were birthing yesterday and home, comfortable and so mobile today.

I have pics coming soon that would even make Mr. Perfectly Manicured Lawn proud. And you want to hear something so so funny??? One of our other (nice!) neighbors, came over to... get this... ask Handy Man for landscaping advice!!! Aheheha ehea ahoooho HOO HO HO heeeh eaaaa. Oh, that just makes my tummy hurt! Isn't that too, too funny?! Oh my goodness. Wait, I've got to tell it again. Our neighbor came over - to our yard - and looked around. Then, he asked *my* Handy Man for some tips. AHha ahah ahe he ha eha eah hooo heee ha. I spent the next 10 minutes howling in laughter in our yard until I had tears running down my cheeks. Awww, Handy Man... my dear, sweet, green-thumbed Handy Man.

So hopefully you'll forgive me for the pause in between blogs. It's been a whirlwind - quite literally - around here!