SOMETIMES YA GOTTA MAKE A MESS TO SETTLE A STORM

Kids building forts out of blankets, chairs, whatever they can find. It's kind of a rite of passage, isn't it? What kid hasn't done this? I know I used to do it all the time.

It has to be one of Shelby's favorite things. Mainly, I think, because it also requires some degree of decorating and designing and she's all about that.

So last night when she started getting nervous about the first Spring storm of the season that rolled in, I knew we better come up with something fast.

"Mom! Look at that! Is there a tornado in it? Again?! I don't want another tornado...".

"No. No tornado tonight, baby. Just enjoy the smell of the rain."

But she wasn't buying it too quickly with all the alerts coming on the television. We brought in the cushions from the terrace so the 70+ mph winds wouldn't hijack them and that's pretty much all it took.

:::ding ding ding::: went the bell in her head. This looks like the makings of a fort. And indeed it was.

Coolest fort ever, by the way. Because, you know, it had a hallway, secret hiding spot and even a window. Hello?! Momma does it right!

So instead of anxiety and questions about the weather. I got to hear, "This is awesome! Get in here!" You don't have to tell me twice....move over!

As we cleaned up, she was feeling better about the weather and remembered what I'd said earlier about how animals can sense when bad weather is approaching. She runs to check on Bubba.

Yeah, so...I think we're safe.