By definition, it's still winter. But the signs of Spring were everywhere this week...
- The 1st tornado of the season touched down in the area. Unfortunately we didn't see it. However, we did see the impressive cloud formation (see above picture) near K-7 and I-70. The noted twister was spotted near Holden, MO (65 miles from our home). We're determined to see a tornado this year ... just not in our backyard.
- Our "Date Night" this week took us down to Overland Park to the Home and Garden Show. Impressive booths, great ideas that money can buy and of course, a handful of chiropractor booths. Who knew that chiropractors doubled as landscapers!
- The annual Blue & Gold banquet celebrating the anniversary of Cub Scouts took place this weekend over at the church. The Hawaiian themed event and dinner was attended by a dozen blue-clad Cub Scouts, including Tyson who received his first Webelos awards.
While Cody was off gallivanting around the town famous for being the boyhood home of Walt Disney, Paige and Tyson joined forces with the Fletcher family to brighten the day of many residents of the Tonganoxie Nursing Home. Together they whipped up enough Valentines, cookies and smiles to share with the 70 plus residents on Valentines Day. Ah ... the true meaning of Valentines Day - that "charity never faileth."On Friday we were greeted with a good ol' Alberta Clipper straight from Canada. It was fascinating to track on radar as it had a bead on our region but oooh-eee! It was no picnic in the
park to drive in! Ferocious winds, blowing snow and low visibility. So after having experience what many would say is a typical winter in the Midwest (including a 37-day cold snap), we're really, really ready for Spring and if Sunday's weather was any indication, we're about to say so long to the snow for the year!
Showing some of his Idahoan ancestry, Tyson busted out the potatoes on Sunday afternoon to conduct some intriguing electrical experiments. We're hoping to have the house running off potato power by 2011. We'll keep you posted.
Spring fever drove us out of the house and over to Leavenworth County Lake about ten minutes from our house this weekend. Regardless of what the groundhog said, it was apparent that we're still a ways out from Spring. A frozen lake lacks much activity this time of year ... outside of opossums that don't know daylight from night time. But we are 
looking forward to Spring and all that it has to offer ... fishing with our new fishing poles, shopping for a canoe, planting trees and flowers, fireflies, opening the windows and especially tornado season!
There were days when it was warm enough that we thought Paige was going to win. Then Tyson's prediction looked pretty accurate. But in the long run, it was the bitter cold days of February that enabled Henry the Snowman to live long enough for Cody to win the coveted Oh Henry bar. Despite the 20° weather, Henry will most likely thaw to his death later this week. We'll see you next year Henry ...
They were everywhere. Like an Indianapolis Colts linebacker ... they were everywhere. There must have been about a dozen of 'em. Like the Colts, they too were dressed in blue (and yellow and khaki). Scout Sunday, which is celebrated the Sunday before the Scouting Anniversary Day, saw several members of the Scouting community in our congregation, including Paige and Tyson. Speaking of the Colts, what a great opportunity to break out the buffalo wings and dip! Go Colts! (unless you're Tyson who found himself cheering on the Bears for some unknown reason. He didn't go to bed too happy ...)
