The family that plays together...

My husband Jake and I, along with our two boys, Holden and Chandler, and our dogs, Bailey and Mason, created a scene in our master bedroom during the days we were out of power that looked like something from the set of MASH.

In the time that followed the storm, I continued to work throughout the day in the DDD Newsroom, in an attempt to share the latest information from county officials on progress being made to restore the community to normalcy. Nights were spent trying to keep my own family informed and warm, getting creative with dinner preparation, explaining to my curious children for the millionth time why the lights were not on outside or in the other parts of our home, and looking for ways to keep us all entertained and sane before bedtime.

At one point, before Jake and I broke down and scraped up the funds for a generator, we all, yes, ALL, piled up in my SUV after I got off work in an attempt to stay warm while we watched a movie, before braving the cold inside our home, yet another night. Our driveway suddenly became a make shift, kid-and pet-friendly drive-in theater.

The aftermath of the storm was certainly a challenging experience for all of us, and one that seemed to bring us 'closer' in every sense of the word. When I wasn't feeling like pulling my hair out, I was enjoying the sounds of laughter and little voices (and barks) fill my bedroom as we played board games, read silly books, and made-up our own activities to keep us occupied.

My family is a close-knit bunch anyway, but this devastating event caused much more than simply destruction in our lives, rather, built us up, perhaps, even stronger than before. I would think that the community, as a whole, would be able to say the same thing once it fully recovers from this natural disaster.

Now that most have received power back into their homes and are getting back into the routine of things, I would encourage families to continue their pursuit of quality time, bonding, and enjoying the great things about each other-- maybe not in cramped quarters, but together.

April 19-25 is the Week of the Young Child. This would be a perfect opportunity for families in the community to spend special time together while celebrating children and raising awareness of their needs.

In recognition of the national week, Southeast Missouri State University, along with other sponsors will be hosting a "Messy Morning" for families with children on Saturday, April 25.

The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Show Me Center at Cape Girardeau, and will allow families to celebrate the enthusiasm, creativity and energy of young children.

Organizations will have booths set up, offering hands-on activities for children, including the hokey pokey, bean bag toss, shaving cream finger painting, arts and crafts, and more.

I am planning on taking my boys to the event so they can unleash their creativity and endless energy. If you would like to take your children out for a "Messy Morning" or want further details contact Amy Blackman at (573) 290-5135, for more information.

Until then, try logging on to http://family-fun.kaboose.com for an unlimited number of family activities you can do any day of the year. I am a fan of the site and have it bookmarked on our home computer.