We took a walk in the incredible weather we have now after the storms. Oklahoma is so green right now. We've been blessed with lots of rain! I am glad the storms are over for now and pray for a calm May - if there is such a thing.

 Mark and Anja on the dirt bike.

 A few trees had fallen in the storm.

 It's higher than it looks.

See the half tree? That is where the tornado landed, took parts of another tree on the other side of the little road, and then skipped a few and touched ground for real a few hundred yards away.

 Wading in the Cherry Creek. So much fun!

 4-wheelers came by, headed for the big sand dunes.

 The water was really deep in places, and the current was strong.

Hard to think that the tornado struck down right here when it first touched ground, just two days ago.

Tornado Warning!

Norman was hit by a tornado on Friday the 13th of April. We - like most Oklahomans - do not own a storm shelter. Why it is not simply part of the building code to put a shelter in for each house, or one per 3 houses or something - I will never know. Before we lived in this house, we never worried about it because we lived a 30 second drive from the OU stadium and we just jumped in the car and drove in underneath the stadium, which must be one of the most solid structures ever built. We then either sat in the car or took refuge in the bathrooms (which are located all the way underneath the lowest part of the stairs/risers) depending on the level of threat.

This time we took shelter at home in the downstairs bathroom right after school, with bike helmets blankets and pillows etc - most Oklahomans have done this at some point or another. Elina was scared and cried. "If we die, we'll all be together, right?" "That's right," I reassued her. I do not have a picture of us all decked out in our helmets.

But here are a few of when we took shelter later that evening when we were under warning again and had 25 minutes to hide.

 We had the car packed with 6 gallons of water, and a 72 hour emergency kit for each of the kids (in their backpacks). I even packed their shoes in advance, so when the weather report said, at 11:15pm, that Norman would be hit by a circulating storm by 11:39pm, we tore the kids out of bed and headed to the stadium. 

Here they are in the men's room.

 Their 72 hour kits containing snacks, change of clothes, hygiene products (toothbrush/paste, hairbrush, towel, soap, shampoo/conditioner, wipes, hand sanitizer, etc), a flashlight, meds and other items that would make life bearable should our house be struck or we would not be able to return home for a few days. Mark carries the bulk of the food in his larger pack.

 Anja checking out her snack options. 

 We brought the dog, but left the guinea pigs...

No need to bring water or a bowl for the dog... (!)

Easter Egg Hunt 2012

Today after school we had the only egg hunt I plan for us to attend this year, because we are hiding Swedish Easter eggs on Saturday. (Trying to avoid obscene amounts of candy.) The kids had a great time. We had just the right amount of kids to where it was not too crazy.

 Eager hunters waiting...

 Julia had a great time.

Anja found lots of eggs. 

 Ever generous, Elina shared her many eggs with Julia, who did not find as many.

Isak had a heavy basket...

Sommarsystrar

Det  var 26 grader varmt idag. Detta är Elina och Anja som åskådare vid Isaks fotbollsmatch. Paraplyet fungerar här som parasoll för Elina ville inte ta på solskyddskräm.

After the Rains there are Puddles...

Spring and fall in Oklahoma are just heavenly seasons! I wish we had a month off in October and a month off in March and went to school more during the summer, because that season is useless by comparison. This evening was a perfect 65 degrees, no wind, no mosquitoes - pure bliss. The girls made the most of it, while Isak helped his dad repair the lawnmower and then mow the lawn.

 Julia frös och ville ha av sina blöta kläder. 

 

 Kan livet bli bättre?

Kvällens näst sista stopp, innan mys i filmsoffanmed pyjamas och filt.

Spring Break Zoo Visit

Anja wanted to wear the biggest bow in the house to the zoo.

That's how she is.
I also want to point out something I've been meaning to write for some time.
Check out the shoes. Mormor (my mom) bought those used in Sweden last May when we were there. They were 2 bucks and they have been the BEST shoes!! Anja wears them all the time.

We went with friends to the zoo today. The four-day stretch of rain is officially over and we arrived at the zoo early just as it opened at 9 am, which turned out to be an extremely good thing, because unsurprisingly the entire OKC metro had put off their Spring Break Zoo visit until today. And they all arrived as we were leaving at noon (I guess people took a half day off work to do this while the kids were still out of school). It was absolutely insane. The zoo parking AND the science museum was filled so people were parking at the Remington Park parking filling it, as we were pulling out. It looked like a scene from Disneyland in the summer as they were pouring in. I am SO glad we came early.

It turned out to be one of the best zoo visits I have ever done. The weather was perfect - a sunny 70 degrees - not too hot, not too cold. And the animals were so lively and charming. Tigers tumbled, the bison rolled, the bears were galloping, the baby elephant had grown, the chimps were hilarious, to mention just a few. Perhaps they had been cooped up during the days of rain, or were just happy that the sun was shining, but not lethargic like 95 degree weather can make them. And I don't think I have ever seen so many animals period in one visit.

Here are some pictures.

First picture, the whole gang.

Meerkats.

Julia had a great time, but wanted to run ahead a lot.

I had to restrain her in the stroller finally.

Rex, 43 years old - the new male elephant. He will be used to breed the two females.

Consulting the map...

The bears were a lot of fun.

They swam the length of their pool.

Dripping...

Shaking!