Dolly Is in the House!

We have a fascination with Dolly Parton in our house.  It is quite unexplainable, yet is the cause for much joy.  If Dolly is on Hannah Montana we watch, if she comes in concert to Oklahoma we go, if she comes out with new songs we download them.  It is a funny thing.  

Dolly was on American Idol last night so we had to watch.  We crack up at her songs, we like how she talks in the middle of her songs and gets cheesy sometimes.  Elle's favorite song right now is "He's Alive" by Dolly.  It is a resurrection song that Dolly wrote that tells the story of the resurrection.  During Easter we would play the song and all sing along.  It has a really big ending that tops off with Dolly belting out "Sweet Jesus".  The other day Ava got all excited about going on some errands and she yelled out, "Sweet Cheese!"  So the song from here on out has been ruined as we all sing out "Sweet Cheese!" during the big ending.  So much for the spirituality of the song.   

April Fools is Banned

April Fools Day and the Bray household have never gotten along well.  It all started when Chloe was in 1st grade and for an April fools joke Gale put a potato and an onion in for her school lunch.  Gale then arrived early to school and had Chick-Fil-A in hand for when Chloe opened the lunch. Well, Chloe opened it and immediately burst out in hysterical tears and even after seeing Gale with Chick-Fil-A in hand she was not to be comforted and spent the rest of lunch time crying.   We should have learned our lesson.  But we didn't.

We decided to revisit April Fools this year so we made some delicious morning juice complete with tons of salt.  When Elle tasted it she looked at Gale and said, "this tastes really funny!"  Gale and I yelled "April Fools" in which Elle burst into tears running from the room.  She rarely cries, but she held onto this one for a good 20 minutes making the rest of the girls late for school.  

April Fools is now banned in our house.  We won't even acknowledge this horrible holiday in 2009.    

Effects of Edmond Tornado March 2008

When the lights went out Olivia was beside herself and ran into the pillar between our kitchen and our living room.  I thought I would share with you the effects of the Edmond Tornado March 2008--We don't know if Olivia will ever be the same.

Yes, the impact did change her face structure just a bit but the doctor assures us that she will return to looking like a ten year old in the next couple of days.  

Trust me!

My girls don't trust me anymore. As a father it is my obligation to always care and protect them and now they don't trust me. After last night's tornado (check Gale's blog for full details) my girls have lost all confidence and trust in me. They feel that the pantry closet in the middle of the hallway, in the middle of the house is not sufficiently safe to save them from Oklahoma's tornados. They let me know tonight that a tornado shelter (in a basement) is the only way they will feel safe. I have put their lives in jeopardy and peril long enough and they will not stand for such unsafe living conditions. (it is important to note here that we have only had two close tornado's in 9 years...but then who is counting?)

I tried to reason with them and show them the houses on TV that were struck by the tornado a couple of miles from our house, the roof was gone, but everyone was fine. As long as your in the middle of the house in a small room with no windows you are fine. They still don't believe me. I even told them to remember Dorothy from Kansas. She ran to her bed and was just fine. She even got to meet munchkins. They didn't find that funny. They want a storm shelter in a basement or at least one in the garage. Do I not care for their well-being and safety they ask me?

I actually figure it was my fault. I was the one who grabbed the kids and headed to the neighbors in the middle of the night after I heard the tornado was a mile away. I should have stuck to my guns and stayed in the pantry closet. Now I'm going to be out a couple thousand for a storm shelter for my one moment of not trusting the pantry closet. Live and learn.

And who said Oklahoma wasn't a fun place to live. Such excitement. Who needs a beach or mountains close by when you have the thrill of tornado's. I already realize I'm going to hear about this night for the next 80 years.

Want to see the damage? It is always about the damage! Thanks to Melinda for letting me steal her "damage pictures!"

Chloe's Birthday Advice

Chloe-

Mom wrote the best blog about her advice for you.  As for me I have one piece of advice that I will write and I will share the rest with you during our lunch this month.  My one piece of advice for you is:

STAY AWAY FROM BOY'S UNTIL YOU'RE 18!!!!!!!  I heed you to follow my advice first and then your mothers.

I love you 

Dad 

(P.S.  I will always be able to take out your boyfriend/husband.  Always remember that!)

I Love Grapefruit also!

The early part of this week was not the best.  Last week while we were in Colorado for spring break Grandpa Joe passed away (Wednesday, the 19th of March).  I finally got word on Sunday when we returned home from the trip (My phone screen was destroyed on a chairlift crash with Chloe----I still should have gotten that lift operators name so he could have paid for my new phone--you don't stand in the middle of the chair lift exit and expect us to go around you!)

Anyway, I quickly caught the first plane to Utah so I could attend the funeral.  I had so many thoughts the next few days.  It was great to see family and friends that I haven't seen for years, and it was good to see a grandpa who was so sick the past few month and who wanted to go home actually get to go so peacefully.  But it is sad to watch those who are left behind like Grandma.  She is so funny and so cute.  There is really no other way to describe her.   But the pain of losing a spouse one has been married too for over 60 years is so difficult watch. 

I loved hearing about Grandpa and his years growing up.  I loved seeing the pictures of him when he was a teenager and a young man and then his married years.  I liked getting to know him as a different person than just "my old grandpa".  It made me wonder what my grandchildren will remember about me.  As I looked at all the pictures I couldn't help but want to know him better.   I had to laugh, he loved grapefruit every morning--and I love grapefruit in the morning.   I should have gotten him to tell me more stories about when he was a bomber pilot in WWII and why he loved cars so much.  What it was like to date Grandma and why he didn't go to church for 5 years and then decide to come back.  I guess I realized I not only will miss him, but in some way I also missed not knowing "all" of who Grandpa Joe was.  I love you Grandpa and at an Easter season like this I know that one day I will get to hear all the stories that I didn't get too, because I will get to see you again.Every time I eat grapefruit in the morning I will think of you.  We will all miss you and your sense of humor.  We love you!  

Baskin Robbins $1 Scoop Tuesday!

Tuesday night is Baskin Robbins Dollar Scoop night.  So we load in the car and head to the the new Baskin Robbins store and each grab our favorite scoop.  We sit outside and we let everyone know who is heading in the store that they can get a scoop for a dollar.  We want to make sure we share our great secret.  The girls love to go.  We have been really trying to eat healthy as a family so we decided that one night a week we will go and splurge on a fun treat.  It is a fun way to splurge!

I still wonder if Ava eats as much as she ends up wearing.