Ice and Such

Well, this Georgia weather has been downright mean lately.  We  had an ice storm and everyone lost power.  When I say "everybody", I mean everyone I physically know in Georgia lost power at some point on Monday night.  My  vehicle is currently in the shop, so I had to take Chris to work Monday morning and go back to pick him up that evening.  The kids and I actually went really, really early- like several hours early- and just hung out at church waiting for him so I wouldn't have to drive home in the sleet.  

On the way home, the roads were fine, but the ice continued to fall and then we saw a big blue explosion in the sky.  Chris said, "There goes our power", and he was correct.  

We were totally unprepared.  One flashlight and 2 candles.  Ha ha!  We stopped at  my parents'  house on the way home just to kill some time.  While we were there, the power came back on.  We all screamed in delight.  Then it went back off.  And we booed.  This went on for several more rounds before it became dark for good.  Then we went home and settled down in the living room.  Shaun  said he felt like he was in The Walking Dead and I had to agree.  The lights came on once more but then we lost power around midnight and it stayed off until about 5:00 the next afternoon.  Oh, and Violet had an ear infection.  Fun times!  We got really desperate around lunchtime on Tuesday and built a fire in our fireplace.  I can only remember doing that 2 other times in this house, years and  years ago.  The kids loved it.  Violet said it smelled like chicken.  

Jordan has been out of school this whole week due to the city's lack of power so we had a snow week.  Or ice week.  Church was called off last night as well.  We've been watching movies, reading books, and eating.  

We were actually one of the lucky families who experienced the least amount of time without power.  Some people close to us still  don't have it.  And  now we're under another Winter Storm Watch for tomorrow.  

I'm over winter.  

My Little Song Bird

I can't believe it's  been over a MONTH since I've been here.  I really want to start posting regularly again.  I have lots to report-  a lot has happened already this year to my family.  But all in good time!

Today, at the request of my sister, I'm going to blog about Jordan and his newfound ability.  

He has taught himself to make bird calls, and he's really very good!

His teacher at school loves birds.  Jordan loves his teacher, and wanted to get her a real live bird for Christmas, but I talked him into settling on a bird scarf.  Mrs. Klein has a whole classroom full of bird paraphernalia...books, posters, even a clock that chirps on the hour.  This is how Jordan's ability was discovered.  I think he began mimicking the clock.  He was so good at this that his teacher thought it was time to go outside for recess.  Ha!

He told me this story when I picked him up in the carpool lane that afternoon.  And he tweeted like a little bird the whole way home.  Now, he's learned more calls for different birds.  He goes outside, hears birds, and mimics them.  His teacher says he has a gift.  He's even going to show off his gift at the school's talent show in April.

Jordan has been going around "tweeting" for several weeks.  Everyone is amazed.  He turned 9 last week, and when I went to school to bring a birthday snack, his teacher asked him to show off his gift.  I have to say, he is some kind of adorable when he does it.  His little cheeks puff in and out and he really sounds like a real live  bird.  My dad   has called him "Birdie" since the day he was born... since Jordan's name begins with J, which leads to "J Bird", and then shortened to "Birdie".  I guess the name finally fits!

I can't wait to see what kind of presentation he puts together for the talent show.  He'll probably be able to whistle like 100 birds come April.  Ha ha ha!