[sunshinemommy]

Hi everyone!

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile...It's rather busy around here...I think I owe chat chocolates

Anyway, if you could send a few prayers our way starting tonight and into Monday...Hurricane Bill is coming our way...and no - one is quite sure what direction or how strong it is going to be.

I lived through Juan, but that was pre-children...Now I have 4 kiddos (plus 3+ more as I'm babysitting for a week, and the kiddos I'm babysitting for have two dogs and 5 cats...).

We'll be okay...we have lots and lots of groceries..I'm making a big pot of veggie chili right now (oddly enough the kiddos will eat it cold) and our BBQ has a fresh propane tank...

The only scary part is that we are very close to the water, in fact I can look out the window...and the ocean is about ooohh...50 m away..storm surge is a very big possibility...I do NOT want to evacuate, but we're prepared if we have to go

So keep your eyes and prayers headed north and east for us

[Barksum]

(((hugs))) Will keep you in our prayers. Glad you're prepared and hope you don't need to put into action any of your contingency plans.

[Lupin]

Make sure you keep the critters well contained so that way you can grab them faster if it becomes neccessary. That's traumatic enough for adults, far less children with their parents/guardians not around!

[sunshinemommy]

Well we've started the action plan already...Anything left outside has been brought inside. Fridge is full, meats are in the freezer...freezer is full (lots of ice!!)

Cat and puppy crates are out...the cats are confined to the basement starting now (it's huge and they love it down there). The large gloves and blankets necessary to get the cats into their cages are on top of the cages and the kitty treats are stored up at the top of the stairs...Each kiddo capable of catching a cat has been assigned a cat to catch and cage...

Emergency suitcases are in the cars, shoes and coats are at the door. Notes with where we went and emergency phone numbers to contact us at and tape is beside the doors...All kiddo documents are in my purse which is also beside the door...Bigs and littles have been partnered!

It's funny, the kiddos I'm babysitting for are all older (10 is the youngest and 21 is the oldest)...I've been their nanny since the baby was -2 months old and she's 10 now (waahh...she's so big now!) Their parents have gone away regularly since the littlest was 3 and have left me in charge

The oldest was just saying me...well it's gonna stink if this hurricane doesn't come our way...we're a well oiled machine of preparedness

On the plus side, we have been downgraded to a tropical storm (although parts of our province are still at hurricane warning...really not sure how that works...)