A SWEET, Stellar StOrM!!!

This past week it rained NON-STOP!! It rained, and rained, and rained AND rained. It didn't just drizzle. Or sprinkle. It poured day and night. For a total of 5 days straight! I LOVED every minute!!!

At one point, I thought we should build an Arc. Everything was flooded. I was certain that we were going to float away. Freeways turned into lakes and were impassable at times. News reporters joked that Cal Trans was going to open a "Kayak Lane". Yep. That much water. Prior to the storm it was predicted that Southern California would get anywhere between 6 and 20 inches of rain. They weren't joking. It was amazing!

Take a look at the river that formed and ran through this pretty park across the street from the Elementary School where I work.

I love a good storm. Oh. ya. I already said that. But, I think I can safely say the kids loved it just as much as me! It really was a novel thing. Usually, it's sunny and beautiful every day.

Just look at them...

When the sun managed to peek out for a short time, Megan dashed quickly from the house into the yard. In fact, she ran so fast, she slipped in the mud. But it didn't phase her. She got right up, sat down on the swing, and started swinging. Then again, it's one of Megan's favorite things to do. So what's a girl to do when she's been stuck in the house day after day? And can't get her swinging fix in? She escapes the confines of the house when she thinks mom isn't looking. So as I watched her take off, I grabbed my camera. Man, those swings must have been calling her name. Look how happy she is...and if you look closely--although it was sunny, you can see that it is also raining.

Katie wasn't phased much either. She'd pull on her boots and rush outside to run, jump and splash through the puddles. And you know what? I didn't even care. Maybe I should have. But I didn't. It never rains. We never have huge puddles to jump in. So my attitude was "have at it"~you can take a warm shower when you're done.

The bigger the splash, the better!!

You'd think that with the kind of storms we had, that we were living in the mid-west. Cause you know what? Two tornados even touched down during these storms. In Southern California no less!!! It was truly exciting!!! There was Lightening. Rain. Thunder. Rain. Wind. Rain. Tornados. Rain. Waterspouts. Rain. Tornado Watches in the City of Riverside {where we live}. And more Rain. We simply got a Winter storm like no other. Gutters and streets transformed into HUGE rivers and streams.

Southern California has had very little rain over the last 5 years. I think over the last 5 days, we made up for those extremely dry years. According to the meteorologists, So Cal is in an El Nino pattern. Which means we're in for a lot more rain until April. In my opinion, that's a good thing. We certainly need it. Our reservoirs were getting dangerously low. But not any more....not after this sweet, stellar storm. And thankfully there are more storms coming.

Today it's sunny. Much of the water that had pooled up everywhere has already dried up. The air is cool, crisp and clear. The view of the snowy mountains unbelievable {they got 7 FEET of snow!}. These wonderful things aren't going to last for long. Another storm is rolling into town Monday.