32nd birthday to remember

This is us, after a rather nerve wracking day.  Now, we are totally Oregonians at heart.  Born and raised, so we are totally use to the occasional earthquake.  So this southern inclement weather scares us to death.  Like even thunderstorms make me antsy.  But today, well today, it was a game changer.  Like a get a shelter in this house, or pack up our stuff and move sort of game changer.  That was enough worry, and stomach churning to last forever.  These faces, are faces of relief and thankfulness.  Thankful that we were spared, that we are celebrating his 32nd birthday tonight in our intact home.  

 Because earlier, it looked like this.  4 kids, holed up in our master closet, and us, staring at each other internally freaking out.

It looks like I'm the typical mom here, phone obsessed letting kids play on electronics, but notice the helmets.  This is our tornado watch moment.  The moment that the weather radio was blaring "large tornado on the ground, expect loss of life and property, be in your safe place now." I was trying to figure out where exactly this tornado was at, it was large and on the ground, the size was F4.

 

This guy, 32, fabulous, and in sheer terror.  Obviously the day ended for us on a happy note, but Holly Springs, MS, just 28 miles from us was hit hard.  It was such a reality check of the real damage that can happen, and how very underprepared we are for this scenario.  We felt so idiotic, to both have these jobs, and these 4 precious gifts, and to not have the proper shelter to keep them safe.  I told him during the worrisome window of time, "if this misses us, this is our one warning, and we WILL be getting a shelter even if I have to work overtime to get one."

Anyway, the tornado worries were the middle of the day drama.  We seriously were in the closet from 2 - 6pm.  Kiplin said "my legs are shaking, and my belly feels bad."  I totally agreed and felt the exact same way.  Most of us did.  This photo was prior to the ordeal, when I asked Paul if bad weather was coming.  The sky looked eerie and dark for being noon.

Now to backtrack, we started his big day off with a trip to Walmart for some birthday gifts while he was still sleeping.  I hesitated to follow through with this plan because these were the tiny attitudes I was working with while trying to get them in the van…

 

 

The kids wanted to pick Paul some gifts out.  I also needed to get cupcakes, because I'm a working wife/mama and didn't plan ahead to bake them.

Ryker found a "his size" star wars dude, and it made his day.  Kip was "picking his nose"

 

We got back and the kids wrapped Paul's gifts, and I spotted the birthday guy doing dishes.  He is just like that.  Always awesome.

GIFTS, the things he got specially picked by his favorite 4: a door basketball hoop, Poop playdoh, a batman balloon, and a fart machine.  

 

This guy, 32 years of wonderful.  So lucky he is mine, and that I've had the honor of being by his side for the last 15 of them.  Love him.  So much.

 Store bought cupcakes, because working wife/mama.  Sometimes it is, what it is.  He didn't care.

 He gave one to Hartsey, she didn't care.  Ryk gave a thumbs up about the cupcakes.

and some bonus pictures of our baby who climbs onto the table to draw.