However, this blog is not about Vanilla Ice, but rather the devastating "Ice Storm of 2008." One to go down in the history books as the "worst ice storm in 30 years". The weather man warned us all, however, I don't think any of us heeded his warning. Thursday night our lights flickered about 8pm before it even got bad out. I thought it was weird, so on a whim, I grabbed 2 flashlights before I went to bed and put one on each of our nightstands.
About 12:30am we heard what I thought was either thunder or a gunshot (which we later were to find out was a large tree falling), and then we lost power. Alexa woke up and called for us. Dan gave her a flashlight and told her to go back to sleep. Next thing we see out our window is a bit of a fireworks show as the transformer on the pole began to explode. Nice. Next, we see police car lights illuminating our entire house as a policeman parks himself outside our house. About an hour later, chainsaws. Alexa is now up and running from window to window shining her flashlight. Zachy slept through the whole ordeal.
Dan threw on his fleecies and ran outside to find utility workers chainsawing a large tree that had fallen across the street toward our house, catching the wires on the way down as well as knocking the top of the pole right off and landing in our driveway(as seen below). It was completely blocking the road (we live on a fairly main drag in town), so they had to get it moved out quickly. I really wanted to take a picture, but at 2:30am, I wasn't sure how everyone would take my flashing camera in the midst of the storm.
We attempted to settle Alexa back in bed with us, but she thought it was fun to make shadow puppets with the flashlight and just plain talk about life at 3am. She finally settled down and fell asleep, only to be awaked by Zachary about 6:15am as he woke up for his normal daily routine.We then went on to experience a 17 hour power outage (including no running water b/c we have a well). Nothing compared to the people currently going on day 5 of no power. We thankfully have a woodstove, and actually made a full pancake and egg breakfast right on the stove. That night, we planned to all sleep in the family room around the woodstove, so we set up camp, and then headed out to eat. Below is a picture of the kids busying themselves with some puzzles and coloring. 
Our first outside feel for what was going on in the world hit us hard. People were out ALL over town. Lines 1/2 mile long were at the gas stations, busy strip malls were empty with no power. Debris and power lines were down everywhere. Restaurants were on a 2 hour wait.
We finally found a place to eat, and as we were eating, we got word our power was back. Now that the kids were excited to camp out, we still had to honor the set up and so we slept in the family room. Zachary lasted about 15 minutes until I scooped him up and brought him upstairs to his bed. He was walking all around and shining the flashlights in each of our faces. Dan finished out the night with Alexa in her campspot which she thought was cool. Here is the picture of our living room campground.
The next day, we were again faced with lines at the gas station, no water or batteries in the stores, and guys from Mass in a Uhaul trailer selling generators out of the back of trailer on the side of the road - and there were cars lined up waiting! Another guy had a generator in the back of his Jeep on the side of the road with a little white board saying "Generator for Sale". He was asking $2500! Can you even believe that noise? Live free or Die for sure in good ol' NH. I made a comment to Dan that it was so wrong to take advantage of people like that, then I realized the government and oil companies do that to us every day, but that's another blog.
And so here we are. School is cancelled for the rest of the week. Many, many people are still out of power. And I am very grateful for a hot shower and electricity. 
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