Jeb Mortier, Laurie Mortier, Jordan Mortier & Aubrey Mortier's personal website

It is quite muggy and humid lately, because of the thunderstorms we have been getting. Yesterday and the previous nights were the loudest thunders I have heard in a very long time. I remembered the last time we had a real loud thunderstorm like that was when I was still pregnant with Jordan (2005). It was way into the morning already and it looked like it was still dawn or dusk, and the lightnings and thunder were just so loud and so long, it worried me a bit -- I was pregnant and alone. I wonder if that isn't the case why Jordan is a little frightened with thunders now. Anyways, it was still pretty aweome -- I love thunderstorms and lightning.

The thunderstorm we got from the previous night knocked off our power. It was so loud and strong that it rattled the whole house and the bolt of lightning was so bright, it felt like there was an explosion just next door. The kids didn't wake up to that one, but the loud thunders after that. Jordan came out crying and yelling for me 'cause he can't see anything being it pitch dark from no power. He eventually found his way to our bedroom and I had to get Aubrey too, she too was crying. When I got to her crib, she was standing in her crib with blanket in hand, crying, while pointing out the window. It is like she knows, something is not right. Well, I just picked her up and brought her to our room. We all huddled in our bed while listening to the rain and thunder, and watching the lightning so more, until everyone fell back to sleep.

That is the question. I have thought about this question long and hard. I have originally thought that I would wait until Aubrey is a little bit older before I have her ears pierced. Well, Jeb, Aubrey and I were at the mall today (Jordan is with Grandpa and Grandma Mortier and spending the night at their place today) to order Jeb and my sunglasses. Jeb just suddenly mentioned, why don't we have Aubrey's ears pierced? I thought for a moment and hesitated... I'd rather wait. But then, I thought again, it would be nice if Aubrey had earrings when she stands up for a flower girl at my brother Richard's wedding, and for some reason, Jeb really wanted her ears pierced. He said, she'll look pretty with earrings... just like her momma ;) (That's very sweet, Jebby!)

Anyway, after our business at Lenscrafters, we headed to Claire's. They had free ear piercing! So, I braved it (I was more nervous than Aubrey, it seems like). We picked out an earring for her. I wanted at least a 14K gold plated earing so her newly pierced ears won't get too irritated. I know my ears get quite irritated (so with both my sisters) when I wear cosmetic / fashion earrings -- so I want the real thing for her (just in case!). We sat on the chair, I had Aubrey on my lap so I can hold her and she won't get too scared. The lady started to wipe her ear lobes with cleaning wipes and she started to cry already! (it's like she knows what gonna happen). When the lady marked her points with a pen on her ears lobes, Aubrey again cried and almost screamed. Weird. She didn't even do anything with her ears yet. Anyway, Jeb and I held her and tried our best to pin her head against my chest so she won't move while the lady pierced Aubrey's ears with the ear piercing gun. Of course, Aubrey was crying the whole time. I remembered the pinching sensation when I had my own ears pierced when I was a little girl so I felt for Aubrey. After we were done with both ears, I tried to console and comfort her... she was just in tears. We gave her a sucker... still crying. We left the store, she instantly stopped and started sucking on her sucker and was happy again. I guess she doesn't like that store anymore =P It was funny, because just a little bit ago while Jebby was still at the eyeglasses place checking out, I was walking Aubrey around the mall (she was super hyper that day -- thanks to the apple juice I brought for her to drink), and stopped at Claire's and she had so much fun picking out purses and necklaces and hair pieces, etc that when we got back to Jebby, I was telling him how I think Aubrey has a new fave "shopping store"... Claire's.

On our way home from Appleton, just a few houses down from us, I noticed a play kitchen on the side of the curb with the sign "FREE" on it. I quickly told Jeb to stop and turn around so we can pick it up. I was thinking that Grandma might like to have a play kitchen for her toy room for the Grandkids. So, we picked up that kitchen.

The following day, Jeb gave me a call as soon as he got to work and told me that the house that we picked up the play kitchen from, he saw a toy work bench for free as well and asked me if it was still there to pick it up. Mom happened to be coming over my place that day and I asked her to see if the work bench was still there and if she can pick it up for me. Well, she did pick it up and with it were some other kids items as well. There was a tiny tool box with 3 flashlights in it (that works!), and a kiddie sleeping bag.