A Little Look at Lightning

 

Monday, May 13 was a stormy night! I can recall seeing the flashes and hearing the thunder. But Keaton actually went outside to see nature's fireworks. He caught some cool shots on camera, purplish skies. At times it was as light as day, even though it was fairly late in the evening. He shared his pictures with me, and with today's camera setting, live video to see it in action!

https://youtu.be/IxNb1jw63xI?si=X2co5R85nUO_BUhh

Cooper was already in bed, and quite sheltered in the basement bedroom. He's outgrown his weather phobia, although he probably wouldn't go out and stand in the storm as Keaton did. I remember when storms like this would be SO stressful for a little Blackham boy (and therefore his mommy too). Now, like Keaton, I kind of enjoy the light show. 

*** Updated in August after another lightning show. I sat out in the backyard and watched for about 30 minutes and I don't think it really ever stopped. It was far North, enough so that I never heard any thunder. My pictures aren't nearly as impressive as Keaton's captures, but I tried.

... I don't actually have a lightning tracker app on my phone, but this was shared on social media the next day and I snagged the visual ... that's a lot of dots!

What the Hail?

I remember there being hail a few times while we had the ducks (2015-2019). I always worried that these little pieces of ice might hit one of the ducks in the head and hurt or kill them. One year, we grabbed the bucket of worms and took it under the trampoline to try to get the ducks out of the hail.

In September 2019 ... the ducks just huddled by the back wall. There was plenty of shelter, but the wall actually seemed to provide a bit of protection for them.

Not so much for my plants.

The poor garden. The tomatoes actually came out better than I expected, but anything with big leaves, like the zucchini or pumpkins, was shredded. I liked the zucchini plants as much for their greenery as for the fruit itself. 

There was so much hail, that it piled up and looked like we'd been hit with a September snowstorm.

Winter Weather

It's been a relatively mild winter this year ... no ice storms like last year (ice is NOT nice). I mean, it's been cold ... which has been more noticeable to me as the heat has decided not to work in the suburban. First the hot air stopped blowing ... Gray filled up the antifreeze and then it worked again for a while, but soon wasn't working again. We need to get it in to be looked at. The seat heaters also went out. I LOVE my seat heaters and miss them so much.  My backside misses them most of all!

We have had some snow. Enough that Cooper made a snowman using his "snowman set" he received for Christmas.  We haven't really had any snowball fights or sledding like I recall in years past though. 

I remember one day in January, I looked out the window to see HUGEMONGOUS snowflakes falling. I'd never seen any that big. You really couldn't even call them "flakes" ... they were clumps. Very cool ... I grabbed the camera, but a picture doesn't really do them justice.

We had some fog too. I don't like driving in the fog, but I must admit it is rather cool. I love how it coats the trees and everything ... it's beautiful!

So while I don't really mind the mild winter, and it certainly makes building homes easier for Grayson ... we are wondering about the water situation. Since Gray bought the wave runners last summer, he's really invested in the water levels at the lakes.

Rain Rain Go Away

It's been a rainy Fall so far ... as school was starting up back in August, both Cooper and I looked at the weather forecast with trepidation.  Cooper, because his weather phobia has been kicking up again, and me, because it breaks my heart to see him so stressed and there is nothing I can do to help. He was struggling enough with the school switch (I pulled the kids from Columbia to Terra Linda, which is on a traditional schedule) and the challenges that come with that. Was it too much to ask that the weather would cooperate? 

I talked to Cooper's teacher about his weather worries, and it seems that the schools are fairly conservative ... if it's raining, it's an inside day.  Cooper's classroom is in the center of the school, with no windows ... I think that is a good thing. There haven't been any really bad storms while he's been in school, but it doesn't take much to concern Cooper. He doesn't like wind ... ANY wind at all.  Thunder and lightening are definite problems. He can handle rain if none of the aforementioned conditions exist, but he's still extremely on edge. 

It's nowhere near as bad as it was a couple years ago, when he started 2nd grade. Back then, I got calls from the school almost every day. Cooper would be so terrified he'd have to leave the classroom. At home, I'd have to keep all the blinds and windows closed, and even then he'd spend most of his time in his bedroom (as the kitchen just had too many transom windows, and the leaves could be seen moving in the wind or the change in light as a cloud covered the sun would be too obvious).  After counseling and medication, we seemed to normalize by the end of that school year, and I don't remember ANY issues for the entire 3rd grade. I'm sure there were some storms that year.

Cooper's Cave.

His bedroom is his "safe" spot.

It's been a bit frustrating to see the regression. To see him again checking the weather forecasts multiple times a day.  I've had to rehang a blanket over the window in his bedroom to try and block and sign of the weather outside. As I'm sitting here writing this, and the wind is whipping the trees and the sun slips behind the clouds ... I'm wondering if I'm going to get a call from the school. 

A couple weeks ago when we were at The Cheesecake Factory for Landon's birthday, Cooper was very upset. We were seated by a window, and a storm was blowing in. We had to hurry and finish our meal and head home. Luckily we were home when the storm hit hard. There was a flash of lightening and a roll of thunder unlike any I've ever experienced. It shook the house completely.  That storm made the news with flooding in Utah County, and the storms haven't really stopped.

Cooper said sadly the other day "I wish there was just ONE day that the whole day was a nice day at school".  I almost look forward to Winter, as the wind is so much less obvious without the leaves on the trees. As thunder and lightening so seldom accompany snow. Cooper doesn't have any issues with snow ...

Holy Hail

I was downstairs in our home gym, when I heard a rattling. There was something, make that several somethings hitting the window ... it was a hail storm.  I cut my workout short and came up to check on Cooper, who was cowering in my room crying. I comforted him and as quickly as it had started, the hail storm was over. I convinced Cooper to come out and check out the hail (the other kids were already out there). There were a lot of big pieces. That definitely would have hurt to get caught out in.  There was a lot of hail on the trampoline, and the kids gathered even more. Then they jumped on the tramp in their bare feet! Crazy kids ... it was a bit like hot potato, but it was cold hail!

Ice is NOT Nice

Grayson had left to work when I got a text from him saying the roads were terrible. There was rain falling and freezing, making the streets and sidewalks ice rinks. I contacted Landon to make sure he had made it to school ok (he said the roads weren't too bad for his commute). I only had a small outing I needed to do that day, but just walking from the front door, across the driveway to put the garbage cans out was a tricky trek!

Derek posted on Facebook that he had fallen ... Alicia too. Gray also took a tumble.  This video was circulating Facebook and apparently went viral by evening ...

... this one starts a little slow but is SO funny at the end!



My mom had suggested earlier that I come out with the boys and we could go out to lunch. I told her that today was probably NOT the best day to try going out (she's just recovering from back surgery and is nervous walking out on the regular slippery surfaces usually around). Plus ... I was taking Callahan to the doctor (more on that later ... luckily he was able to enter the car from the garage and I was able to drop him off right in front of the covered building). I didn't have problems on the road itself, but as the rain would fall on the windshield and the wipers tried to clear it off, the rain was freezing, leaving a thin layer of ice that was difficult to see through. I'm glad that freezing rain isn't something that happens regularly around here!

Summer Rain

We've come a LONG way baby! If you're familiar with our family saga with Cooper and his weather phobia, you would know that a picture of him standing in the rain with a smile on his face is a HUGE accomplishment! Actually, he was a little stressed out when the storm hit, and had retreated to his room. As the other kids were in and out of the house, laughing, splashing, dancing in the rain and as the sounds drifted down to the bedroom, Cooper decided to be brave and check it out. I'm still waiting for big thunder and lightening to see how Cooper handles that, but I was very happy to see him venture outside in the rain and splash around.

Don't ask me WHAT Keaton is doing here ... laying in the gutter, forming a human dam as the water came rushing down? The kids were completely drenched, even without laying down in running water.

... and after the rain ... all the wet clothes, taken off and laid to dry on the railing by the stairs ... isn't that what it is for?

We had SUCH a soggy spring last year, and a LOT of summer storms (which I REALLY remember because of the Cooper situation) ... this year, there hasn't been much rain. It's been so hot that this was a very welcome change. We loved it ... even Cooper!

It's Raining, It's Pouring

... April Showers ... while I actually don't mind the rain (Cooper is doing MUCH better with his weather worries by the way *Ü*), we have a clogged raingutter, and that has been causing us some problems. It's right outside the master bedroom window, right above a window well. As the water collects from all over the roof, rather than going into the downspout and being funneled away from the house ... it overflows right outside the window. It creates a VERY noisy pitter patter as it hits the window sill, but that isn't the worst problem. The water falls into/or right to the side of the window well. Last fall during a particularly bad rainstorm, Landon checked and sure enough, it was filling up and flooding the basement. I had to jump into the window well and start bailing! I really didn't want to do that again, so as the rain started up, I had Landon place a few buckets in strategic positions (one in the window well, a couple to the side) and I kept an eye on them, and had to empty them several times before the rain finally subsided. The next Saturday, Gray got the ladder, pulled the raingutter apart and cleared the debris. So now ... let it rain. 

Wild Winds!

 The topic of the day yesterday was the WIND ... it didn't really hit us bad here in West Jordan (it was garbage day, but the bins didn't tip over) ... Davis County is where it got hit hard. Maga's fenced in backyard is no longer fenced in (the picture above). It looks like a tornado hit. The news reports said it was hurricane force winds.  The freeways weren't safe for semis or other high-profile trucks (there was a huge line of trucks at the stops and along the edge of the road). Some that didn't stop blew over. Trees were uprooted all over. Power was out and schools were cancelled in the area.

Once when some big winds hit before, one of Grayson's homes going up had some property damage, but no Havenhill Homes were in the fragile framing stages this time so they escaped without incident . This apartment complex near Grandma's house wasn't so lucky. Gray drove by this and his heart just bled for them...

I didn't mention the wind to my little weather worrier Cooper ...

Weather Worries

Back in June, I did a blog post about Cooper's fascination with tornadoes... I should have known ... the fascination turned to fear, and it's been pretty extreme. For almost the entire month of July, Cooper has been afraid of wind, rain, even clouds ... and unfortunately, there have been a lot of all three!

I remember there was rain and wind on the 4th of July, but it wasn't an issue for him that day or any of the days before (there had been a LOT of rain in the spring). By the following Saturday (July9th) however, it WAS an issue, and had been all week long. We had to keep all the windows and blinds closed so Cooper couldn't see the leaves stirring in the breeze or the dark clouds in the sky. But with the transom windows throughout the house, he could still catch glimpses, so soon he was almost completely confined to his bedroom or the basement (with no such windows, blinds drawn tight). Actual storms (of which there seems to have been MANY) would cause him to shriek in terror ... I think he actually was using his own voice to drown out the noise of the rain. Hysterical ... some times that is the word that describes him. There is no reasoning with him, no logic ... I've tried distracting him with some success (tv, gameboy in hand, headphones with music blaring).

Every morning Cooper checks the forecast for West Jordan... and Salt Lake, Layton, St. George, Moab ... oops, there was a weather app on the Ipod touch. Weather questions and comments make up the majority of the conversation every single day, it's rather exhausting! My little boy who used to spend his days playing basketball, soccer, jumprope and hula hoop doesn't dare venture outside the house (often not even out of his room). On sunny days he'll seem ok, but I see him making furtive glances at the windows and sky. If a cloud covers the sun, you can see an instant change in his countenance.

Cooper has always been a bit fearful (ok, there has been a LOT to deal with). In previous posts I've mentioned his fear of water (baths and swimming), which he has overcome (yea, he's a little fishy!) I did a post about his fear of Tom Bergeron ... the host of America's Funniest Home Videos, even I have to admit that is a strange one. Cooper has always preferred the comfort of home, safe with Mom, rarely going to friend's homes and always the first to say "let's go home" when we do go out. Church (nursery & the start of primary) was a huge ordeal. He cried all through kindergarten orientation, but happily he did fine once school started. Now with soccer starting up again, he's SO afraid he'll break his arm again (we are all a little worried about that) but he LOVED soccer so, I don't want him to give it up... of course, soccer also requires you to be outside ...

Monday, August 1 ... there was a bit of a change. I'm not sure what caused it, but I'll take it! Cooper came and told me he LIKED the rain ... and he even went outside and "danced" in the rain a bit (and there was plenty of rain all throughout the day Monday to keep on testing him). Cooper even asked me "Are you the only one in our family who doesn't like the rain?" ????? ME? The only problem I have had with the rain of late is that it was tormenting my little boy!

The change hasn't been continued or complete. Again with rain today (enough with the summer storms already!) Cooper has been concerned and in tears. He says he's ok with rain ... but he doesn't like the sound as it hits the windows. He's still worried about wind, terrified of tornadoes and leery of lightening. He asked about earthquakes (let's NOT go there) ...

... he does LOVE rainbows though ...

I hope there's a rainbow for us at the end of this storm.

Sports and Storms

Saturday ... time for some basketball! Keaton was up first, playing at Taylorsville today. It was a pretty close game, but our boys won by one! Keaton had a good game with six points. His highlights are here.

Callahan's game was a little later at Gene Fullmer. We knew going in it would be a tough one. The other team actually wasn't that big (compared to some of the kids we have and will face) but they were good! They made almost every shot, and our team just couldn't land many. It was a down game for Callahan ... literally ... he was well acquainted with the floor. His ... can't really call them highlights ... are here. Chin up Callahan ...

During Callahan's game, we heard a roaring above, like a plane flying low overhead ... except that it went on for 5-10 minutes. As we left the gym, we saw that it had rained (and hailed), quite a storm. Later Grayson and I went to Red Robin at the District for a dinner date. We were glad we hadn't been seated on the patio, because a big storm hit again, with heavy winds. The wind caught the water from the fountain in front of the movie theater and it looked like a hurricane outside! Back home with his brothers, Cooper was a little stressed out. I mentioned his fascination with tornadoes in a previous post, and at that time I said he didn't seem to be afraid ... unfortunately that has changed. Wind, rain, even clouds in the sky seem to scare him. Poor Cooper!

Spring Snow

Is May 24 still considered "spring"? Just ONE week ago we hit 80 degrees and the kids were in swimsuits having a water fight in the back yard. My lilacs just bloomed ... and this morning? Snow!

The first thing Colton said as I pointed to the snow falling out the window was "Oh no, we put away the boots!" I keep a big basket right as the kids walk in the front door. During the winter months, this is where we keep the boots. For the summer months, it's the storage spot for balls, mits and summer sandals. Up until just a few days ago ... it STILL had boots in it. Although it's been a rainy spring, I figured it was safe to put the boots away. Silly me! But in truth, the snow isn't really sticking around. The sun is out and it's melting fast. Several years ago, there was a popular song with the line "sometimes the snow comes down in June" ... and I remember once we did actually get some snow in June ... will we this year, or was this the last snow of the season?