Clothing five children is not an easy task - especially when shopping is not one of your favorite past times. So shopping for my children usually means taking an afternoon and hitting Old Navy, Target or something similar. The process involves having each child choose five to seven outfits and then purchasing them - very simple, sustainable and repeatable.

This perfectly sunny day in July shopping trip promised to be the same. A routine trip to Old Navy to take advantage of their latest sale. After the four younger kids were done, we were waiting for Kate in the fitting room and the next thing we hear is pouring rain and thunder. Kate finished making her selections and we hurried to the register, stopping on the way to purchase this cute umbrella. I figured I had a great excuse for this - it was seriously pouring rain and I needed it, right?

When the clerk was halfway through ringing our purchase, the power went out. The storm only got worse from there and the manager decided to clear the building. We couldn't finish our purchase and we had to leave.

At this point the rain was pouring so hard, it was raining sideways with the wind and I couldn't even buy the umbrella I needed to get me to my car (looking back at how bad the rain was I am not sure it would have even helped). I had the kids wait in the space between the outside and interior doors and ran to the car - thinking it wouldn't be that bad since we were in one of the first parking spaces.

As I ran, I realized I had underestimated the storm. It was as if I was standing under a huge bucket that was dumping 30 gallons a second. I made it to my car in just seconds and when I looked in my rear view mirror, it looked like I had just gotten out of a pool.

I started the car and drove to the door to pickup the children. We drove around and watched the storm disappear as quickly as it had appeared. Four hours later my clothes were still damp and my hair never recovered but the kids and I have a memory of summer clothes shopping we won't ever forget.

Oh, and the umbrella? When I went back to buy the clothes I bought it anyway - as a souvenir...