Party in the Rain!! (for charity of course, well...sort of)

Book the pool at season opening. Check!

Invitations sent out 1 month in advance. Check!

Professional photographer booked. Check!

Giant lollipops that just HAVE to be in the beach tote party favors. Check!

15 Pizzas ready for pickup. Check!

Controlling Mother Nature...well...sorry. No can do.


This was our friend's party. She turned two! Her family had come from far and wide (states away) and we had friends from a few different cities converging for fun.
And then...Texas/New Mexico decided we needed a monstrous thunderstorm to crash the party. The clouds rolled in and I wondered if the party was cancelled. The sky grew darker, the thunder rolled, and I was tempted to stay cozy in my home and enjoy the storm on our back porch. The wind picked up and I puzzled over how to break the "we're not swimming tonight" news to the kids.
But then...
... I got in the car and went anyway.

My 75 mph was quickly reduced to 65, and then 60, by the torrential rain, which made visibility about zero at those speeds. Hydroplaning? Yep.
As I was thinking "why am I driving in this? why am I going to a swimming party that's 40 minutes away in the thunder and lightening?" the clouds seemed to break. At least momentarily. We arrived fashionably late to the entire group gathered inside the small covered "lobby." We ate pizza in front of the registers and watched the storm's taunting from our cozy camp indoors.
Even thunder and lightening couldn't contain the children for long. Good thing Aidan insisted on wearing his boots! Even though the fire department didn't give the clear for swimming, we found that we could get plenty wet without the aid of the pool.

(see?! they don't mind. neither do i)


An hour into the party, the long-awaited call came in, and everyone hopped in the pool to get as much swim time before the next wave of rain clouds came in...

...and 45 minutes later, we were all ordered out again. For good.

(all of the above photos were taken by the photographer, Molly Lasater, who lives in Hobbs, NM)

Melanie (the mom) endlessly apologized. Though I'm sure if I were in her position I would too, but honestly, apologizing to friends and family for not controlling the weather is really quite unnecessary. I assured her that whether we were at home or at the party, we would have been playing in the rain. I think that eased her mind a little because she knows that it's true.


In lieu of gifts, we were asked to donate to a favorite charity. Unfortunately, amidst the rain, we left little Kinsey's card in our swim bag. Fortunately, we can now mail it to her with her donation certificate to a lucky charity. Since I didn't choose one yet, these are some of these organizations we are considering.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation: "The mission of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® is to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research at leading medical centers worldwide, and increasing public awareness about good breast health. Last year, 88 cents of every dollar went to research and awareness programs."

USO: "The USO reaches out through: Airport centers, welcoming weary military travelers with a place to rest and the ability to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings; Family and community centers, promoting intercultural understanding and orientation to unfamiliar locations; Mobile USOs, reaching out to troops in remote and sometimes unstable locations."

Heifer International: "With gifts of livestock and training, we help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. We refer to the animals as “living loans” because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal’s offspring to another family in need. It’s called Passing on the Gift – a cornerstone of our mission that creates an ever-expanding network of hope and peace."

Save the Children: "Our mission is to create lasting, positive change in the lives of children in need in the U.S. and around the world.Our priorities are to ensure that children in need grow up protected and safe, educated, healthy and well-nourished, and able to thrive in economically secure households."

American Red Cross: "Today, in addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers compassionate services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; support and comfort for military members and their families; the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products; educational programs that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs."

The good thing is, that after I decide which one, I can donate through their website, or JustGive.org can get your donation to most of the charities.

New poll on the side bar...vote for your favorite charity. Or tell me in the comments about another that I should consider.

Fourth of July

The view from the front door.


The view from the back door.

Rain and puddles...kept us away from the pool, but...

...we stayed warm and [mostly] dry hanging out on the back porch. Our fire pit provided entertainment and yummy s'mores. After the thunderstorm cooled off the afternoon, everyone played around with fireworks.


(Hmmm...fireworks pics and video to follow...it seems that camera is currently in the mountains of New Mexico at Camp Wehinahpay Boy Scout Camp.)

Bring on the Showers!

We asked you Northerners to send us some of your rain, and you did. Thanks!

Rainboots. $28

Rainjackets. $15

Hoods. Wait, do they even sell these separate? (Hoods are Aidan's favorite part)

Dancing in the Rain. Priceless!

Manic Monday: Shower

Yeah, I know it's not Monday. But to that, I say, Whateva!

1. Although I have been to a few baby showers in my years, last month, I attended the first one where the mother-to-be was not in attendance. Was she in the hospital having the little munchkin? Nope. She was stuck 9 hours away in the airport, where her flight had come in late, so she missed her connection. She stayed overnight with her family, all of them wearing the same clothes for two days, and caught a cab to the zoo!
We, at the shower, ate fruit kebabs and baby shower cake and talked the afternoon away.

2. I love rain! I do understand that it can get tiresome, but even when I lived with overcast skies (even if only in the mornings) for many days of the year, I still liked it. Yes, I was initially thrilled that the skies were overcast and peaceful, the rain was coming down making everything fresh and clean. I laughed and smiled and screamed, "hooray, it's raining!" After three straight weeks of that, though, I did find myself yearning for some sunshine. So, to you who think I don't appreciate a nice hot sunny day, I do love them too!!! (else I might not be living in sunny hot west TX)
My cousin, Clancy, was just asking for some sunshine for the summer, since they have had rain, rain, and more rain for summer break so far. Here, for you, is a dramatic reading of our exchange...okay, not really a reading...unless you read it dramatically out loud in front of your own computer, but the following really is a relation of our conversation, via facebook and blogs...
"As one who has sunshine for months now...I'm ordering you to enjoy your rain! You'll be sweltering soon enough. Breathe it, frolic in it, jump and dance in it! The sun will be there to stay very soon!"
"Hard to frolic and dance in rain when it's 50 degrees and raining, but I'll do my best! It was a pajama day today... except for about four hours, I was in my PJ's and reading all day."
[see...pj's almost all day...how can that be wrong?]
"50 degree rain just makes it more invigorating!!!!"
[and yeah, i was kidding...a little]
[and in reply to her 5 fabulous things about the rain, I said...]
"Plus...natural filter for amazing pics! Glad you enjoyed it in some kind of way! (I still say you could send it here and I would dance and laugh in it...and then I would read a book on the patio and listen to it and breath it!!)"
You see, I love it! I love the way it makes me look at the world and the way it makes me feel! I love it's look and feel and the smell is euphoric!
(and in her defense, she loves it too, but would like just a tad bit of sun to play in in the summer, don't we all!)
My parents helped instill the love of a good thunderstorm. With my mom, we would sit at the front door with blankets on and jabber the storm away. After it let up a bit, we got to play in the gutters! Yeah, sounds gross, but it was beyond fun! We just ran up and down the street splashing in the rain puddles and gutters to our hearts content. That is a joy that makes my heart do flips!
My dad loved any and all nature, so rain or shine, our camping trips rocked! My sister, Sibyl, recently put "Smell of Rain on Sagebrush and Juniper" on one of her 5 favorite smells on facebook, and I can't help but think of those camping trips where we woke in the morning to bacon cooking in a cast iron skillet over a campfire that had been burning for an hour, built by my dad who had already been up for two or three hours, and hiked around and went fishing, all in the rain.
My parents are amazing!
(and showers are great!!)