The big move out west!!!

So here we are finally in the Tulsa metro area of Oklahoma! As most of you knew we were a bit surprised to find out Dan's first field office would be here. Much to my surprise, I actually like it here. We drove for four days to get here. We had to stagger our time between leaving the Outer Banks and arriving at our new home because we were without our furniture and belongings for about a week. Overall the move went pretty smoothly. We rented our new home "site unseen" from a online rental service. Everything was a big surprise as we drove into town. Tulsa is apparently referred to as the "Emerald City" of the mid west. As spring is creeping in slowly I can see why. You can tell that everything is going to be so green here! To think I was expecting tumble weeds and lots of dust!?!? We have not yet experienced a real tornado warning. One of the guys from Dan's office informed me that his wife and he roll over and go back to sleep when they hear the warning sirens going off in the middle of the night. I looked at him in disbelief since those sirens indicate that there is a actual tornado on the ground. Apparently the sirens go off frequently in the spring. This is something I'm not looking forward to to say the least. Another surprise is that it is not standard to have tornado shelters in all home because since the Arkansas River flows through and around Tulsa, the water table is high, therefore there are not many basements or storm shelters. Our rental home does not have one, but when we purchase another home in the next year we are getting one installed if it doesn't come with one! Gus, our three year old lab, has adjusted well and even made a new friend. He loves his new fenced in back yard, but hates the neighbors obnoxious barking rottweiler. Overall Tulsa is a great area with great people. Its a very widespread city with lots to see and do. We miss the Outer Banks, but this is going to be a fun and exciting new chapter! Plus, its nice to know in the back your mind that both our mothers live 15 minutes away from beautiful beaches, it doesn't get much better then a free vacation to the Outer Banks, NC or Fire Island, NY!!!!