something fun and then something scary

The kids were going stir crazy being cooped up in the apartment, so yesterday we ventured outside. I took the apartment complex map with me and bundled up the kids. We managed to take some wrong turns and found a fountain they can run around in. We were outside for an hour. We were all cold and hungry by the time we made it back in.

Here the kids relatively bundled up. It was not that cold, but being outside for an hour made us feel the chill. Thing 1 is wearing a red jacket and Thing 2 is wearing pink.

Here is the fountain we found. I just wished the apartment complex had more grass area, but I think that's too much to ask for right in Dallas where everything is built up.

Curious George is asking to go outside again today, but there is a freeze advisory until Sunday. Today the windchill is in the single digits and tomorrow it may even be colder. It's not much for an issue for me, having experienced Chicagoland weather, but we don't really have warm clothes!

Now for the scary part. Daddy cold me about 1pm yesterday to tell me that he was just in an accident. He was riding with 3 other people in someone's car (F150) when someone ran a red light and collided with them. He said he was alright just with stiff neck and back. He was in a hurry to get back to work, so we left it at that. I was shaken up and worried by the phone call, but not too bad.

At about 3pm, I decided to call Daddy back to see how he was feeling and to get more details. Then, the question popped in my head "were you wearing your seatbelt?". And he said "No." Right then and there, I was instantly angry and started sobbing. What stupidity?! He said he didn't mean to NOT wear it, but it slipped his mind. Haven't we made it a point with Curious George that we NEVER move until EVERYONE has had their seatbelt on.

Daddy was admittedly shaken up and beating himself up over it. We both know how lucky he was and we thank God for it. The car he was in was just coming from a stop (2nd vehicle from the light), so they were probably barely accelerating when they were hit by a smaller car. The smaller car slid, almost spinning, but it hit a utility poll. According to Daddy, the car was totaled, but the driver was not hurt. The F150 he was in was undrivable so they all had to hitch a ride with other people back to work. Medics came to their work to check everyone out, so the news spread about the accident and everyone checked on the all of them involved in the accident. Thank God.

While I was thanking God that Daddy was alright, I was not happy about the fact that he wasn't wearing a seatbelt. Words that came out of my mouth were, "had you been any faster, you would have been found several feet outside of the truck" and "you would have had broken bones from bracing yourself!"

I love this man, and the thought of loosing him is very scary. But less scary than the fact that 3 of his children would not have remembered him had something fatal happened to him, and 1 would never have known him at all. Forget the fact that I will be left alone with small children and in a state where we know no one.

Jesus, I thank you for all the blessings we've received and continue to receive. Thank you for keeping Daddy safe yesterday.

Daddy apologized and promised never to forget to use his seatbelt.

Texas, our new home state.

Our journey to Dallas, TX began on Dec. 27th. We planned on leaving at 9am and drive some 450 miles to get us to our first stop in Lebanon, TN. Well, the packing didn't get done the night before because we had so many things to cram into the minivan. Curious George, who sat in the 3rd row only had a little space. He had to crawl above many things stuffed everywhere just to get to his seat. The sad thing is, we didn't get to bring his fish, Punky. We'd told him we would take him but when all was packed, there were tons of things that didn't fit, including Punky. Curious George was sad at first, but he was very mature about it. We told him we'd get him another one and so he was fine. He said he would name the next fish, Punky also. The next day, we packed through the morning and didn't end up leaving NC until it was 11. We arrived in Lebanon, TN exhausted at 11pm.

The next day, we began our 380 mile drive at 9:30 after a complimentary breakfast. We were exhausted from the day before. We arrived in Little Rock, AK around 4pm, which gave us plenty of time to relax and rest.

Little Rock, AK

On the 3rd day, we only had to drive about 300 miles. We got to the hotel at 3pm. It had been nice the entire drive until we arrived in Dallas where it was snowing/raining. When we got to the apartment parking deck, our cargo top didn't fit. So Daddy had to empty it outside into the van, and then carry the cargo top by himself to the apartment. Poor man.

After all the traveling was said and done, here is Daddy and Curious George assembling Lego Police that Santa gave him.

And as usually, the girls could be found in front of the TV. They also immensely enjoyed the Lego Duplo Santa left them.

Eating sandwich while watching TV. (Thing 1 in orange, Thing 2 in red.)