Thunder and a Rainbow

I may have spoken to soon in my last post.  This week has been dreary and rainy. Every day.  I usually hate the rain, but on Wednesday evening we didn't have the typical drizzle.  We had a thunderstorm.  And I heard thunder... for the first time in over a year!  I seriously have not heard thunder since I've been in Portland.  I LOVE  thunderstorms.  I can't remember if I loved them this much while I was living in Texas or if the lack of them has made me love them that much more.

I was driving down the street on Wednesday as the rain began to come down hard and all of a sudden BOOM - a big clap of thunder!  I actually yelled out loud, "Thunder!"  One minute later I got a text from a Texas friend who also lives in Portland that said, "I just heard thunder!!! This is awesome!"  Oh what I wouldn't give to snuggle up in a blanket inside while watching and listening to a big loud thunder and lightening storm.

So next time you Texans are trapped inside by a thunderstorm, don't take it for granted.  Enjoy it for me!

the storm left a beautiful double rainbow behind

Spring is Here

The long dreary Northwest winter is finally behind us and spring time is quickly sweeping in!  These last couple of weeks have (for the most part) included lots of clear skies and much-needed sunshine.  This was my first full winter to go through here in Portland and boy is it different from Texas "winters".  I'm so glad that the short days filled with constant drizzly rain are over and the long and glorious summer is nearly here.  We have a new little garden in our front yard and fresh flowers in our house to celebrate the season.

I have also started researching tips on how to grow an herb garden.  Kathy and I are hoping to get one started this coming weekend.

Any thoughts/ideas/advice?

Carter Conversations

I love when I see Emily's name pop up on my phone and I pick it up and hear little Hannah's voice.  Phone conversations with a 3 year old are funny and often short (especially with that busy body's attention span).  So imagine a phone conversation with a 1 year old.  Carter is finally at the age where he can call and "talk" to me on the phone.  Granted the "conversation" consists of him repeating after his mommy verbatum, I still love hearing his voice.  Carter has left me a few cute voicemails in the past week.  Click the links below (then "Download" then "Open") to hear them:

Carter Call - Book

Carter Call - Popsicle

Alright Alice Anne, let's see if we can't get you to start talking on the phone more!

Sic 'em, Bears!

The past couple of weeks have been exciting for Baylor Bears Basketball (men and women).  The men's team made it to the NCAA Elite Eight and the women's team made it to the Final Four!  I've been in contact with the Baylor Network in Waco who helped me put together some watch parties.  There was a small group of us that would meet at Blitz, a sports bar with plenty of big screen TVs, to cheer our team on from the Pacific Northwest.  Even though we didn't all know each other, we had a common bond in our alma mater.  It was great to meet new people who I had an instant connection with.  We are hoping to keeping the gatherings going even outside of sports season.  We talked about trying to have watch parties during football season, but it could be difficult to find those Baylor games on Portland channels!