Thunder Storms & Musical Beds

I think those tornado-filled storms that just missed us the other week spooked Eliza Grace and Will, because last night's storm resulted in very little sleep.

Let me illustrate (albeit crudely) what it was like in our room around 3:30 AM:

Scott and I are peacefully asleep. I'm dreaming about a thunderstorm. Then there is a kid standing beside me telling me that he is scared of the thunderstorm...at which point I realize that the storm is not only in my dream.

(Isn't it weird how your subconscious integrates things going on around you into your dreams?! A little "Inception"-ish, no?)

So Will climbs in.
I'm just about to drift off once again, when I hear a little voice beside me say, "Mommy. Mom! The storm is getting freaky!" Enter Eliza Grace.
Despite the California king size bed, I cannot tolerate the crowding or the heat, so I grab a pillow and a blanket and hit the floor.

Scott apparently (finally!) notices that we have guests, gets up and says, " I'm going upstairs." The crowding and heat has apparently gotten to him, too, thank goodness!

I climb back into the bed on Scott's side, since mine has been invaded, and try desperately to go back to sleep.

Except Scott's clock is as bright as the sun. Right. In. My. Face.

I could turn the other way but that would mean giving Will greater accessibility to smack me in the face in his sleep...again. So I stare at the clock, with a size one foot in my back until around 5:35 AM.

The dog begins whining to go out at 6:32 AM.

Needless-to-say, we are all a little tired today.

And possibly a little grumpy.

You've been warned.

Stormy Weather

This is what we kept an eye on this afternoon. At 3:38 PM EDT to be exact.
See that arrow just west of the letter "C" in Cary? That is where we live.
All that bright red and purple had us running for our designated severe weather safety location: our master bedroom closet. At one point there were six separate tornado warnings over a four county area.

When we told the kids to grab a couple of lovies and head to our closet, Will became very concerned. Thankfully hugs, reassurances and prayers helped Will relax as we all crammed into our closet with our most prized possessions in hand. Mine were my laptop, iPhone and Nikon camera, naturally.

Chewbacca took advantage of all the blankets and warm bodies and took a nap. I don't think we will be able to depend on him as any kind of early warning system.
Eliza Grace, who is blessed with an amazing spirit that finds an element of fun in nearly every situation, created her own fort and settled in to play her DS.
Thankfully the very worst of the storm missed us by a couple of miles. Unfortunately, the storms did a great deal of damage in the surrounding areas and our thoughts are prayers are with those who were affected.