FLYING HIGH

Monday, July 28, 2014

An early-morning thunderstorm rocked my world.  Actually, it wasn't as close a the one two weeks ago, so it wasn't that noisy.  But we did get a bit of rain.

Nothing daunted, however, I went out to go grocery shopping in the afternoon. (The rain had pretty much let up.)  But now - guess what?  The same problem that I had on the 17th with the van - engine light on, sluggish, popping sounds - GRRR!

So, instead of heading north to Wal-Mart, I turned east to Ford.  I made it abundantly clear that SOMETHING had to be wrong and they'd better find it!  They are very nice over there, but nice doesn't cut it if they don't fix my van.  I really can't be without a car.  Next month we'll be facing school transport, plus Seminary, etc.  Nope, I need my vehicle.

I still had to get a few groceries, so Jonathan & I walked across the street to United (see?  Handy!) to pick up what we needed.  I brought him along to be my pack mule.  LOL

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Hooray!  Ken called Greyhound about our luggage...only to find that it's been at the Elk City Station all this time (Morons!  Can't they read luggage tags - we had our address and phone # on it!).  So, he went a little out of his way (Elk City is 30 minutes north of Granite, where his work is located).

It really was an answer to my prayers because I can't afford to buy all new clothes for the kids (well, really Jonathan).  As it is, I still don't know what's going on with the van.  And the longer it takes, the more nervous I am about a big repair bill.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Got the van back today.  I guess an ignition coil went bad; one of six, I hope the rest hold!  And the bill?  Over $300!  Ouch!

The tank was nearly empty, so after I took Jonathan to Scouts, I went to Walmart to get gas and to pick up a couple of items I couldn't get at United on Monday.  In the meantime, Analiese was at home...under attack!  We've had this large-ish, weird flying bug in the house the last couple of days that is not easily caught and killed.  Every time I've tried, it disappears.  Apparently, it was fairly frisky this evening with Analiese.  She emailed my phone in a panic; she was afraid it was a wasp.  It's not really, but is large enough to be intimidating.

Well, I think I received nearly twenty texts before I got home, including some death messages: "It's killing me!" "Goodbye, cruel world!"  I saw a few people I knew at Walmart but couldn't talk - my daughter was under attack!  By the time I got home, she had it trapped behind the closed blinds in the living room.  I couldn't get it until it came out, so there it stayed.  Analiese began to breathe in relief with me there.  There are more bugs here than we are used to.  You just have to live with them.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

I took Jonathan out to WOSC (Western Oklahoma State College) to enroll in classes.  We signed him up for two classes (as a high school student he can't go full time) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: history and English.  We don't have to pay for tuition, but do have to shell out for enrollment fees, etc, about $240.  Ugh, more $$!  Don't even get me started on textbooks!

After that we went to the SWTC (Vo-Tech) to arrange for him to take their shuttle over to the airport.  Because they are next to each other (Okay, health services is inbetween, but not a bad little jaunt), he can just walk from one to the other with plenty of time.  So now I'll drop him off at the college in the morning and pick him up at the Vo-Tech in the afternoon.  Even when he doesn't have class, I can still drop him off there and not have to go all the way out to the airport.

Oh, and Analiese was home alone again.  No bug, this time, because Ken caught it and flushed it early this morning.  She was safe.

Friday, August 1, 2014

The weather's been dribbley all week, but this morning the sky was clear and beautiful.  Jonathan is supposed to go flying today with Bro. Clason from our ward as a reward for memorizing all of the Seminary scriptures last year.  I don't think I can top that this year!

We went to the airport today to the Clason's hangar.  His plane is old - from 1943 - but Jonathan says most of the little planes around here are because the aviation mechanic class and shop keep them in good shape.  It's tiny and I would not be comfortable sitting in the back seat; as it is, both Bro. Clason and Jonathan looked squished in the front.

I was going to take a video of them going.  I did take pictures beforehand.  But then, the most typical of car problems happened to the airplane.  The battery was dead.  The propeller spun a few times and then...nothing.  They climbed back out again and rolled the plane back into the hangar.

It was a little disappointing, but not terribly.  Jonathan got to look into the engine and ask questions and look up tools for Bro. Clason.  And, after Jonathan weeds their yard tomorrow, Bro. Clason said he'd try to take him again.  He said, "After all, flying is much more fun than weeding!"

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Jonathan called the Clasons this morning to see about weeding.  Sis. Clason said they needed to reschedule, because Bro. Clason was going to take him flying.  No complaint from Jonathan!

So off we went to the airport, again.  Still a lovely flying day, not much wind and clear skies.  I stuck around long enough to watch them take off.  I also stupidly braved the tall grass to get to the side of the runway for a better video shot.  Now my legs are mosquito polka-dots!

Analiese is dying to learn to cook more, so I put her in charge of dinner tonight.  She started by making brownies this morning from a box mix.  I sat in the living room, so as not to be tempted to micromanage.  She'd consult with me from time to time, but pretty much did it!

She also did the BBQ cups for dinner.  This involved me a bit more, with lots of hot things tossing around.  She was so excited about making dinner herself for the elders that she set the table, poured the water and served food as well.  She is very proud of herself.

We had dinner early (4:30) because of a baptism at 6:00 tonight.  It is a couple, the wife is the sister of our ward chorister, who have really taken to the gospel!  It was quite the spiritual experience.  When she came up out of the water, she clung to the elder who baptized her and wept.  She cried all the way through her husband's baptism, too.  To me, the most touching part was at the end of the meeting, when the Ward Mission Leader had them turn around to see the room full of people in support of them.  He said, "These people willingly sacrificed their time to be with you on your most special day.  You have a family now; here they are."  Kind choked up at that.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Okay, I know I'm getting old, because I'm losing my mind.  Here's my mental conversation this morning: 

"Why did I turn on the computer?  I already did tithing.  What could I possibly have needed it for?"

After several minutes of torturous internal gyrations, I got it:

"Oh, that's right!  I'm going to download pictures."   My old brain!

 

Church was full of the Spirit today.  The couple who were baptized yesterday were confirmed today.  I think the missionaries will never forget these last two days.  The testimony meeting was very moving and Sunday School class had great moments, too.  I told Ken I'd been sniffling all morning.  I told the kids that was one of the great reasons of going to church...to feel the Spirit.

THEY'RE BACK!

Monday, July 21, 2014

They are on the bus...on the way home!  Once again, Jonathan is giving me updates by text message.

In the meantime, I am busily getting things ready for their return.  Laundry, shopping (need to restock for my hungry boy!), etc. 

No van back, yet, so no water aerobics.  Still, the anticipation!

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The Ford dealer brought me back my van today (yes, door-to-door service) and with no charge!  They did a little readjusting, but couldn't find anything going on.  Thank goodness!

And...the kids are home!  Ken left work a little early to go get them from the bus stop.  As they got home, the missionaries pulled up.  One of the elders is being transferred and came to say goodbye.  Timing was excellent!

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

No one is in much of a mood to do anything but veg.  The kids slept exhaustedly last night - bus travel is no fun and they'd never do it again.

Oh - and their luggage did not travel with them.  They weren't supposed to have any transfers, but in Phoenix they were made to move to another bus.  And...the suitcase didn't come with them.  I have called and put in a tracer on it, but so far, no one knows anything about it (of course).  There's nothing of major value in it, just personal.  Jonathan's church clothes and shoes are in there, Analiese's homemade skirt, plus some special shirts of Jonathans (Eagle Scout shirt & Aviation Mechanics t-shirt).  But it isn't like I'm made of money to replace things, so I'd really like the stuff back.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

The kids get another easy day today because I have this killer headache on the left side of my temple.  I laid in bed and slept a little in the afternoon and woke to find Ken home and dinner eaten.  

But we did hobble together a little FHE.  We have to practice a song for Sunday because we've been asked to sing in Sacrament Meeting.  I chose "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," because it is such a spiritual song.  Plus, it's not difficult and the kids, at least, are fairly aware of it.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Maybe the reasons for the headaches and fatigues is this...it's TOO DARN HOT!  Yes, the thermometer says 104 degrees, but that dumb heat index brings it up at least another five degrees!  It is very hard to be motivated when you feel like a puddle.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Now that the kids are back, I have ordered Bountiful Baskets again.  While they were gone, we just couldn't eat that much.  So today I went to the VFW to get my basket.  Such a lot of nice-looking produce!

My eye caught the huge, healthy-looking head of romaine first off.  Then, there was a big melon (looks like a honeydew on the outside, is like a cantaloupe on the inside?), two avocados, some mushrooms, three zucchini, two enormous heads of cauliflower, brussels sprouts, grape tomatoes, blueberries, plums, nectarines and bananas.  It is still a lot of good stuff for a decent price.  Can you freeze cauliflower?  That's a lot for us to eat in one sitting.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

The way our ward celebrates Pioneer Day is by having a Linger Longer supper after church.  This way, our members who live farther away can get a chance to socialize, too.  Generally, during weekday activities, they don't make the trip.

I made the Hawaiian roll sliders.  They are so easy and made a good potluck option.  They are so good, too, that I don't have to worry about leftovers.  Of course, I am obligated to share the recipe on the RS FB page afterwards!

TOURISTS

Monday, June 30, 2014

Today was spent in getting ready for our trip to OKC tomorrow.  Well, Ken mowing the backyard wasn't, but it was still necessary.

Part of MY getting ready was to get a pedicure.  The banana yellow were fast wearing off and my toes were getting bad.  Analiese had left me the directive to get red polish - for the 4th of July.  I found a red sparkly that I think will fit the bill. 

Also, I did something that I've never done before in my life.  I had my eyebrows waxed.  Those of you who are more fashion-aware than I will say, "It's about time," because I have big bushy eyebrows.  For me it was, "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity."  Still, I was tired of trying to pluck them to look decent.  I figured eight dollars to rip hair (and possibly skin) off of my face wasn't too bad, though I was red in spots for a while.  And, no, I did not do my "mustache."  I prefer to bleach that (I know, vanity, vanity) because I don't want bigger, darker, heavier hair growing in there.  When I'm old in a nursing home and can't do this stuff I'm going to look like a gorilla.  So there.

Ken and I did a little internet exploring of OKC tonight to find out where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do.  We have some ideas.  I think the actual exploration could be fun.  Other than the temple (which is really in Yukon, an OKC suburb) and the zoo, we've not seen much of "the City" (as locals call it).

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

We didn't make it a point to rise early today since we figured to go to the noon session of the temple.  Even with a 2 1/2 hour drive, we didn't need to leave before nine.  It was a nice, uneventful drive, with short stops at the tolls and a little slowing down as we neared the city (Oh, my!  Traffic!  LOL).  In the temple parking lot we stopped to eat lunch and looked around us, wondering, "Where are all the people?"  Until someone came around and said the temple was closed for maintenance. Rats!  How could we have missed that memo!

We couldn't check in at the B&B until four, so we had time to kill.  We decided to go over to the part of the city called "Bricktown" and check things out.  It is old, but refurbished, brick buildings with lots of restaurants and a canal running through.  The bridges connecting sides and the landscaping around were lovely.  We walked all the way to one end where Bass Pro Shops is and goofed off there for a while (I'll be honest, I did most of the goofing).  

We also stopped for a short while to check out where the Myriad Gardens are in the city.  Not far from Bricktown, it's a lovely oasis nestled under some skyscrapers.  Tomorrow we will check it out throughly.

Then we were able to go to the B&B, Rusty Gables.  What a lovely spot!  It is only 5 minutes out of the city, but feels like you're out in the country.  The best of both worlds!  It sits on several acres, where there are horses and lots of trees and solitude.  The nearest neighbor is the cemetary across the street, so it's very quiet.  Such a lovely place on the inside, too.  The vaulted ceilings and the cosy lodge-like decor.  I'd recommend it!  It's the nicest place I've ever stayed.

So after a bit of rest, we went back to Bricktown for dinner at Zio's, an Italian restaurant, very good prices and very good food and service.  After that, we went on the water taxi for a tour of the canals and some humourous history lessons from "Captain Jack."  My favorite part of the ride was the huge sculpture, stretching out several yards, of the Centennial Celebration of the Land Grab.  You see, the state nickname is the Sooner State, which confused me some, plus OU's motto is Boomer Sooner, and I had no idea what it all meant.  Till now.  See, with the land grab, people came from all over the world, really, to grab some land the US was offering for settlement.  They had a starting point, then lit off a cannon (Thus, the Boom) and everyone rushed out to stake a claim.  But some people had managed to get to nicer parts "sooner" (hence), which means they probably bribed and cheated (yes, even back then.)  Hence, Boomer Sooner.  Now I get it.

Tonight we had a luxurious romantic bubblebath in the jacuzzi tub.  STOP.  No, we didn't.  We TRIED. Ken was busily adjusting faucets and whatnot.  The sign by the tub said that two pumps of the bubbles was plenty.  But, to him, it wasn't bubbling up.  So...he added more.  I went to get into the tub and turned on the jets and....let's just say I'm not confident with him doing laundry now.  He spent the good part of the time scooping bubbles out of the tub into the shower.  We were laughing so hard, it was funny, but not romantic.  Even the massage he gave me afterwards just didn't quite bring us back to that "loving feeling."  However, it was a good release of pressure for him.  He needed this getaway so badly!

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

We took it easy this morning, too.  Though, I forgot my neck pillow and I got up earlier than intended because of it.  Still, a nice shower (no bubbles - tee-hee), and then a really great breakfast started the day out right.  Our hosts provided us with an egg and cheese frittata with a spicy ketchup (not too) along with buttermilk biscuits and berries drizzled with honey and balsamic vinegar.  It was very good!

We didn't have to check out until eleven, and we were determined not to rush ourselves.  So we sat on the front porch, enjoying the lovely morning.  The trees rustled, the birds called - I saw a cardinal, really saw it!  Then I went over to make friends with the foal in the area off the side of the house.  She wanted the grass just outside the fencing, so I'd pull some up and feed it to her.  In return, she let me stroke her head and back.  I'd made a friend.  When I went back to the porch, their dog came looking for attention...another friend.  I don't know how he figured it, but when we went back to our room to pack up, there he was, sitting outside the french doors to the back.  Funny!

Today was about the gardens.  In the heart of the city, it's a place for everyone to come and enjoy.  I saw a lot of local businessmen from the skyscrapers come enjoy their lunch there.  Kids on summer camp trips visited the kids' section (which was really awesome) with the water play area.  One place we decided not to go was the Crystal Conservatory, it cost to go into and I was really tired and didn't want to bother.  Not this trip.  But I took tons of pictures around it.

After lunch there, we decided to just go home.  We had made other plans, but were tired.  Also, our lunch at the burger stand there wasn't sitting right.  A stop for bathroom and medication, and then onward towards home.  We were tired when we got there, but felt so relaxed.  Ken, in particular, had just had what the doctor ordered: a few days of rest with no "schedule" and "responsibilities."  Other than being sad to miss the temple, it really was a lovely trip.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Today seems anticlimatic after the last couple of days.  Just normal, round-the-house sort of stuff.  Ken went to Mangum to visit a brother of the church there, only to find that the man had died a few days earlier.  While he was there, I went to the church building to put some stuff in the seminary closet and do a little more cleaning/straightening of the room.  I pulled at least forty staple gun staples (longer, thicker, harder-to-remove) out of the bulletin board and figured out how to plug my iPad into the tvs at the church so I could show videos.

I am missing the kids a little today, but I know they are having a good time.  Today is the parents' 3rd of July party and they were eagerly looking forward to that.  Jonathan is supposed to be Grill Master today, taking over from the older men who are unable or too far (like Ken) to do it.  He's a little hesitant, but he likes to play chef at home and has done outdoor cooking with the scouts.  He'll figure it out.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Ken went over to the church at eight; I followed at nine-thirty.  He was making pancakes for the Flag Raising and Breakfast; I was a spectator.  It was nice, though the scouts sure seemed to be missing somebody (hint: Jonathan).  There were two types of pancakes (regular and blueberry), bacon (turkey & regular), egg casseroles, watermelon, clementines, juice and milk.  And, a lot of people, including visitors and out-of-town family.  It was fun chatting with people and admiring their patriotic clothing.  Ken, typically, stayed in the kitchen cheerfully making pancakes and cleaning up, for which his EQ president is grateful and I just sigh and say, "Aspergers."  He's more comfortable there than out sitting at a table chatting.  I guess I should be satisfied that he is happy.

The rest of my fourth is pretty uneventful.  Ken slept most of the day, getting up to BBQ some sausage and potatoes and then went off to Walmart.  I stayed home.  No fireworks.  I could have gone out to the reservoir to see them but I am avoiding mosquitoes at all costs right now.  Plus, going alone?  Where's the fun in that?.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

While Ken slept this morning, I went to Lawton for him.  Now, I should have gone to the credit union here to cash the work check before heading out.  I said to myself, "No!  There's a branch in Lawton.  Just do it there."  Dummy.

Because it was closed, an extension of the holiday, I guess.  It wasn't a total wash because I ran some person errands in town while I was there.  But it means I'll be going back next week.  Grr!

Got home.  Made dinner.  Fed the elders.  Bing.  Bing.  Bing.  Such is my exciting life.

Sunday July 6, 2014

No, all of my excitement comes at 2:30 in the morning.  I get a call on my cell from "Withheld."  It sounds like Jonathan crying on the phone, telling me, begging me, that he's sorry.  I start to freak out. "Calm down.  Talk to me.  What's wrong?"  And he hangs up.

While I fumble with my phone trying to find a way to call back (no, I don't know how), I get a call back.  Same "whitheld."  Calm male voice - Jonathan? - saying, "I'm okay. It's all right."  I'm upset, saying, no, he's lying, asking where he is.  He just says, "Home."  Home?  Where?  "California."  Are you at Grandma's house?  Talk to me, Jonathan!!! 

Then, "This is not Jonathan."  Click.

Major meltdown time.  My son is in California.. He's a good boy, and bright, but still a teen and prone to stupid things occassionally, so I call my mom in a panic.  It's 12:30 their time.  No time for guilt, I frantically ask her if Jonathan is there.  She sleepily replies, "Yes, he's in bed."  I blurt out the story (condensed version, because now I'm feeling stupid), tell her to ignore me.  She says she'll have Jonathan text me in the morning and I hang up.  I call Ken at Walmart and rehearse the same thing.

Now, as Shakespeare said, they have contrived to murder sleep for me.  I was awake, shaken, and in the throws of a full-on major panic attack.

For me, I have several attack triggers.  Caffeine, sugar, stress, hormone fluctuation.  Believe it or not, all four were in play at this time.  I could not go to bed.  Tired or not, I could not sleep.  I spent several hours up crying, listening to comforting music, reading scriptures, praying, breathing, whatever I could do to try to calm me down.  You could call it hysteria, but a panic attack is no joke.

I finally managed to get myself in a spot where I thought I could sleep when Ken came home from Walmart.  He held me for a while, soothing me, and put me to bed  To sleep.  No church today, my nerves couldn't handle it.

Oh, and Jonathan called.  He's fine.  Of course.  He didn't think me a crazy old woman, either.  He said he'd leave his phone at night from now on and I'm to call him directly if there's a problem.  What a sweetheart.  I think I am missing them more each day.

Moral of the story, here.  ALWAYS say "Wrong number" when you accidentally call someone.  You never know but that you could put some crazy old lady into fits.

A HOUSE DIVIDED

Monday, June 23, 2014

Ken & the kids were up by 3:30 this morning getting ready to leave to go to Elk City to catch the Greyhound bus.  I was up, too, not because I particularly wanted to or because they were noisy.  Instead, I was up because a spectacular thunderstorm was going on that I couldn't sleep through.  But at least it meant I could see the kids off.  I was able to go back to bed and get a few more hours of sleep, though.

Upon awakening, I had a message from Jonathan.  Apparently, the bus was to leave at 8:00 a.m., not 6:00.  Now, this was my mistake, but I'll tell you now, my eyes are getting old and the print on the itinerary is tiny.  Eights, sixes, and nines look an awful lot alike; I especially have a hard time with them on the computer.  So none of the three was very happy with me.  But it was helpful, in a way.  Ken couldn't have taken them so late and I would have been rushing back to do stuff I needed here.  Plus, as Ken said, they would have missed out on the lightning storm as they drove and it was (I hear) really cool.

The kids got on the bus all right, with Jonathan texting me updates as needed.  The house was eerily quiet as I got ready for my morning stuff.  About 10:00, Brother Sturges, the Regional Director of Seminaries and Institutes, came by to give me a little orientation.  That included a stack of books, videos and binders.  If you wonder what I'll be doing with my kids gone...it'll be studying for Seminary.  On top of that, I'll have a big training, with teachers from all of Western Oklahoma, in August.  It's a big, somewhat intimidating job.  The church does not take Seminary lightly.

After that, I had to zip over to Walmart and get supplies for my creative writing class that afternoon at the college.  I grabbed a bite to eat and headed over to WOSC.  My class is three-hours long, with a snack break in the middle, and runs through Thursday.  The classroom is really cool; the college is very high tech!  I have a Smartboard, which functions as a screen, an electric whiteboard and a computer monitor.  Also, the overhead projector projects right onto it.  Awesome!  I could get used to that.

I have four students in the class: two teenage girls and two girls around 11, I'd say.  One is the granddaughter of a sister in our ward and is friends with Analiese.  We also have a "kid wrangler," a teen who sits with the class, fetches things as needed, and escorts the students to and from class and snack time.  Today's wrangler was a young man named Noah, who seemed to entertain the girls as much as anything else.

It was a good class.  They had fun and were excited to be learning about being creative and expressing it through writing.  I showed them a video, we talked about parts of speech and did exercises, and ended by decorating composition books to be journals.  Already they are asking if I'll teach this next year and were even excited that I gave them a "homework" assignment (writing in their journal).

My busy day wasn't over.  I went home, got changed, went to water aerobics, came home, got changed, went grocery shopping with Ken.  I am tired and my feet ache something awful!

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

I had told Jonathan last night to let me know when they have their big layover and bus transfer in Phoenix at 3:30 in the morning.  So, I got woken up then.  I couldn't go back to sleep until I knew they were on the road again, so I figured I'd get up, have breakfast and do a little work and then go back to bed after hearing from Jonathan.

Today is Nasly's birthday.  After class, I'm going to take her to dinner.  I had promised her an "American" birthday cake so I got this fancy cake mix and am baking carrot cake...at four in the morning.  At least it smells good.  On top of that, I started reading through the Gospel Teaching and Learning book for Seminary teachers.  I'm not sure how much retention I'll have this time of morning, but we'll see.  As it is, I am already struck with how much trust the Lord puts in the Seminary teachers to live worthy to have the Spirit and help guide the students to have a testimony of Christ and His Atonement.  It's hard to feel like I'm worthy and capable enough of that great a responsibility.  I know I always felt my Seminary teachers were so spiritual and knowledgeable; as a teacher now I don't feel that way about myself at all!  It's a lot to live up to!  This is going to be a very humbling experience, I can tell.

Second day of class at WOSC was all about story-writing.  The bad thing about this is...I could take a month and it might be enough to cover the subject.  So we went over some basics (plot, setting, characters) and I gave them a bunch of handouts they could take home and work on over the summer.  Not because they have to...but because they WANT to!

In the middle of class, I get a text from Jonathan...and then one from my Dad.  They are in California safely!  Thank goodness, the trip was the only thing that worried me!  I guess Dad brought Rachel and Ammon with him to pick up the kids and they all chattered loudly and crazily all the way back to the house!  It sounds like a good start, that makes me happy!

I took Nasly out to Chinese food tonight after dropping the cake off at her house.  She apparently loves Chinese, so that was a good choice!  She was so cute about it all and kept hugging me and thanking me.  She had said her mom had spent all their money going to Honduras so she wasn't going to have a birthday celebration.  Well, I gave her a little one with me!  The waitress at the restaurant is Hispanic and heard us speaking in Spanish, so she would talk to us in Spanish, to which I replied in English.  Too funny!  Nasly and I spent at least two hours eating, laughing, and talking about the gospel, which she is still new to.  She is eager to come to Seminary and be a part of my class in the fall and even wants to do her scripture mastery in English.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Ken is at work and the house is so QUIET this morning.  I figured my kids would forget all about me once they reached Grandma's house, but Jonathan has been texting me some this morning.  They went to Jay & Logan's baseball game last night and had a good time.  Wendy is keeping me in the loop, too, by sending pictures of the kids together.  I am willing to pay the price of solitude to give my kids this opportunity (and my nieces and nephews, too!)

Today's class was AWESOME!!!  We started the first part by describing things using all of our senses.  I had brought Jonathan's rabbit, Twilight, to class to use as their example.  I could have brought anything, a flower, a piece of fruit, fabric, but I felt this would be more interesting to the girls.  And it was!  They loved watching him hop around the room and sniff things, they dug deep into his plush fur and...got a whiff of his cage - Phew!  I think our smell phrase ended up being "retchingly scented."  This was all before snack and was plenty of fun, but afterwards!  Wow!

We talked about poetry, I showed a couple of video clips and read a few poems, even letting them help me decipher Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar."  It was great, but then it got even better.  I introduced them to blackout poems.  That is where you take an already existing text, like a newspaper or magazine article, or a page out of a book and find significant words in it to make up a poem of your own, while blacking out the rest with pen or paint.  I had copied off pages from four books: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ender's Game, The Hobbit, and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  My three girls in attendance took the first three pages to work on and my teenage boy assistant, Eric, took Hitchhikers.  This was the first time he wanted to actually participate in writing!

They were marvelous!  In particular, the one girl who took Ender's Game made a lovely poem about sitting under a tree and even drew a tree with the sky and sun above and the ground below.  One line mentioning resting beside the tree was...resting beside her tree!  I was serious impressed.  All of the kids (even my helper) LOVED the activity and couldn't wait to try it at home.  One girl said, "You really like poetry, huh?"  The truth is, I haven't been that inspired to do it or even read it, but today changed everyone's minds, mine included!

The evening was almost anticlimactic.  I went to water aerobics and then to dinner with a girlfriend from church.  However, sitting in Applebees talking our heads off for two and a half hours probably isn't insignificant.  Tarah's a beautiful person inside and out and it was good for the both of us to have time to bond better.  I'm so grateful that, a year after moving to Altus, I can say with confidence that I have friends here.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Final day at WOSC Kids' College.  We worked on Personal Narratives today (basically, essays about a specific moment in your life).  Not as exciting or snazzy as stories and poems and no bunnies were present in the making of this writing, but I think they still learned a lot.

And enjoyed the class.  Because, as they were leaving, they said to me, "See you next year!"  Will I be doing it next year?  I don't know.  It was difficult getting students.  But maybe we can get the word out and have more next time.  Also, I've learned a lot of things and I'd make changes to how I'd teach certain things.  I think it was a good experience for all of us.

The kids and I Skyped some later in the day.  Jonathan & I had been texting back and forth and Ken wondered why he didn't just call or we Skype.  So, they got on Grandpa's computer and we had a good visit.  They are having fun, though Jonathan looked beat.  He's doing Youth Conference there this week on top of having just arrived by bus.  I asked my mom if she was tired of them yet.  She said, "Nope!  Not yet!"

Ken and I had a nice quiet night this evening.  Finally.  I made dinner and then we just sat on the sofa cuddled together listening to Jeff Foxworthy on Pandora.  Ken loves the Blue Collar tour and all the redneck jokes.  I like Bill Engvall (the sarcasm just drips off of him), so I didn't mind.  It was nice to not have anything specific to do.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Ruth, my visiting teacher, came over this morning to help me weed my veggie boxes.  Poor things, they were being strangled.  But we got a good two hours worth of work put in and enjoyed our visit, too.  The weather cooperated nicely and didn't really get hot till around 12:30 when she was going home.

We had doves and a bluejay visit us.  Plus, my honeysuckle is blossoming out a second time, which is lovely to smell!  Oh!  We have pecans coming on our trees.  I saw them...

Other than water aerobics, I stayed home and did housework.  I did not want to go anywhere or do anything.  I was tired!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Lucky me!  With the kids gone, I had to clean all three rabbit cages myself.  One at a time, I'd put a rabbit in the front bathroom while I emptied and cleaned each cage.  After that was done, I cleaned the bathroom.  I've put down these doggie pads (like flat diapers) around the cages to help catch some of the mess and it seemed to help some.

I made beef stroganoff for dinner tonight to serve with rice for the missionaries.  They liked it and ate it almost all up, but what really thrilled them was the homemade chocolate chip cookies I'd made during the day.  You'd think they'd never (or rarely) had them!  I know at one point one had eaten six, but I think the new elder ate more!  It was no biggie, just chocolate chip, but apparently it struck their missionary hearts.  I gave them the rest to take home - I'd made about four dozen.  I don't really need more temptations around here.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

I have a confession to make.  I didn't post photos all last week and almost didn't this week.  Why?  Because I couldn't find my camera.  I've been sweating it all week because I didn't know where it was.  What if it fell out of my purse when I was out?

I really wanted it, too, because next week Ken & I are going to OKC for a couple of days and I wanted to take pictures of the city.  So I've been hunting in all the usual, and unusual, places.  No go.  It seemed frivilous, but I prayed, too.  I didn't want to have to admit I lost it to Ken and I didn't want him to feel that he needed to buy me a new camera.

So, I get ready for church and I go to the closet to get out my church bag.  And there, in the front pocket of my bag, was my camera!  I can't begin to tell you how relieved I was.  I wasn't really worried about losing photos, I only had this one of the kids putting together their puzzle:

All's well, that ends well, I always say.

SCHOOL IS OUT!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Jonathan is counting the days.  Today and tomorrow he has tests in Aviation Mechanics.  And then he is done!  But, he still has to go the last day because he has to have 200 days in the class.  Weird.  I don't know what he's going to do with himself.

Beyond a little reading (which is pure pleasure), I'm not asking Analiese to do any lessons this week.  She's too hopped up on anticipation for California to be of much good.  She and I, instead, have been reviewing our packing and traveling items.  She even went shopping with me to help me figure stuff for them to take!

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Jonathan did well on his test yesterday - 90% - and even better today - 98%!  He's ended his year on a very positive note and is confident for Airframe next year.  By the end of that year, if he does well, he'll probably have a job on the Air Force base waiting for him.  Amazing!  I'm so grateful for this program, it's really helped him narrow down and focus on what he wants.  Plus, learn the value of hard work and studying.

He only went half-day, because there was nothing left to do.  So, as a reward/treat, I took the kids to that church-in-the-old-movie-theater in the town square where they were showing "The Lego Movie" for free.  The place was packed, but we got seats together and enjoyed it.  It was a little corny and sometimes random, but we laughed and had fun.  The kids have been dying to see it.  

We're still working on that puzzle.  It's almost done, the main buildings and such in it are completed.  We exult greatly whenever we find a piece that fits.  This has been so much fun!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Last day of class for Jonathan!  Last early morning for me until August, when Seminary starts.  He's only going half-day again and brought a book to read.  He said that yesterday he spent an hour looking through all the pieces of planes in the shop - mainly because he had nothing to do!  So today he took a book, just in case.  They're going to grill burgers at the end, so I won't pick him up until 11:30.  Then he's free - Yippee!

You'd have thought he'd be crazy-eager to celebrate his "freedom," but he was only just quietly relieved.  Me, I was glad for no more early days!  Until August.

Oh, and we finished the puzzle!  At one point, the last piece was missing.  Jonathan and I had about given up (I knew it would eventually show up) and were about to go to bed when Analiese popped out of her room with the piece.  Sneaky girl!  Was she hoarding it?

Thursday, June 19, 2014

I'm not sure my kids think much of their "freedom."  Maybe it's because their freedom is Mommy's to-do list!  LOL  There's much to be done to get ready and there's stuff around the house I want done before they go to California.  Mainly it's outdoor work and they aren't enthusiastic about it.  The big problem is the "skeeters."  We've had more rain this year, which means more of the pests.  And Calamine lotion does NOTHING for the itch!

Ken took us all to dinner for Family Home Evening tonight.  After a drawn-out debate with the kids, we went to Fat Daddy's, which lives up to it's name but is still really yummy.  Jonathan had a HUGE burger and tots (He's a Napoleon Dynamite fan) and, not surprisingly, finished the whole thing.  I thought it was gross...it had jalepenos on it.

We had to play a game when we got home.  You see, it was Analiese's turn for Family Home Evening game and, despite going out, she insisted we had to play a game.  We played "Pirates of the Carribbean" Life and I thought one the kids was going to win.  Ken played pretty passively, which was unusual, and managed to win.  I was just along for the ride.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Jonathan went to mow someone else's yard today.  He decided to wear shorts, but I don't think it was a great idea.  He ended up with bites all over his legs.  And I can't decide if they're mosquito or ant... because both were present there.  She's got a huge red ant mound in her yard.

The guy from WOSC Kids' College called today and maybe next week's class will be on after all.  Gasp!  I figured it wouldn't, since I hadn't had any enrollees for that week at all!  So, I'd made plans that now, embarassingly, I have to cancel.  Plus, I have to get my act together so I can be ready to teach a class come Monday afternoon.  That morning I'm also meeting with the brother over Seminary.  

And Ken said I'd be bored with nothing to do!

Saturday, June 21, 2014

No basket this morning.  With the kids gone, it's too much produce for us to eat.  Ken doesn't even think about it and I really can't eat that much by myself.

Jonathan had to go finish his mowing job and then we went to Wal-mart for a little last-minute shopping for the trip.  The excitement is rising to a fever-pitch.  They may kill each other before getting on that bus, sparing me the chance to do it myself.  The packing is almost done, except for the last minute stuff we'll toss in Sunday evening. 

Major rabbit cage cleaning this afternoon.  If I have to take care of those three creatures myself for the next month, I wanted those cages and the areas surrounding, clean!  I swear my rabbit purposely tries to miss the box and pee outside of her cage!  I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the tiles in the bathroom.  At times like this, I really miss the rats!

Sunday, June 22, 2014

I think Analiese is going to dance and sing all day long.  How long Jonathan is going to stand for it will be the big question.

PUZZLING

Monday, June 9, 2014

Another night of thunderstorms & rain.  Another mushy, muddy backyard.  However, news reports from all around are talking about the lakes and rivers rising.  People are very happy to see the water.

Jonathan is only going to Aviation Mechanics half days this week, so I didn't have to get up so early this morning.  On the way to school, we picked up a friend of Analiese's who is moving to Georgia.  We took her to lunch at Taco Mayo for some laughs and a nice goodbye.

Homeschool PE was a workout for even me, today.  First, the kids had a demonstration on Irish dancing and learned to do a circle dance.  Jonathan wasn't thrilled, but I was...to take pictures!  Afterwards, I taught the kids a couple of games and ended up running around with them.  I haven't huffed and puffed like that in a while.

Still, I went to water aerobics.  My feet were killing me from before, but I figured that the water would feel good.  It did, but my legs and feet kept reminding me...I'd already had exercise for the day!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

After taking Jonathan home from class today (have you ever seen flattened turtle by the side of the highway?  There's one right by the entrance to the airport.), I drove to Lawton...again.  Don't ask.  It's sort-of my fault and the only way to break Ken out of an Asperger-induced freak-out was to go again.

This was not a take-your-time-and-relax trip.  This was in-and-out.  Still, I made a stop at Target trying to find some stuff for the kids to take on their California trip, like inflatable pillows for sleeping on during the bus ride.

It didn't take long to get my (Ken's) stuff at Sam's Club, but the lines were horrific and THAT was my wait.  Behind me in line was this really impatient lady who kept popping her gum and pacing back and forth between me and the two people ahead of me at the register.  I think I was as relieved as she when another register opened and she jumped over there (with a disgusted, "Finally!").  I didn't want near her, so I didn't follow.

Ken had told me to get dinner for myself on the way home.  Well, it's peach shake time at Chik-Fil-A, so guess where I went?  I wouldn't have cared about anything else, but I do appreciate a good chicken sandwich with lots of pickles.

I had purchased a puzzle at Target so Jonathan and I (for Mom & Me time tonight) started working on it.  It's 1000 pieces and not an easy one to complete quickly.  We enjoyed working on it; I don't know why I haven't thought of doing one before!

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Jonathan and I almost had a turkey vulture smack into the van windshield this morning on the way to the airport.  It was by the reservoir and something had attracted it's attention there.  I'm glad it missed...it was pretty big and might have resulted in some major damage to my windshield!

Analiese came with me to pick up Jonathan today so we could go to Dollar Tree.  I'd read about this on Pinterest and thought it sounded fun.  I let each kid spend $5 there on stuff for Dad.  The only caveat: one "edible" goodie per person.  I didn't want them buying him a bunch of candy!  It was fun, though, and they got pretty creative.

Jonathan went swimming at the base pool with the Scouts tonight, so Analiese and I watched "The Secret Garden" while working some more on the puzzle.  Both of the kids are really into it!  I think we're going to have to do more.  I find them up in the morning staring at it (It's on the coffee table) and working on it.  Better than tv or computer games!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Today we had Ken's Fathers' Day dinner.  One, because I didn't want to cook on Sunday, two, because he was going to cook it on the grill himself, and three, because I wasn't about to feed expensive steak to the missionaries on Saturday.  Sorry guys, I have a budget.

Earlier, Ken & I had purchased meat from a local place using the gift card I'd won at the Rabbit Show in January.  Ken was pleased with his selection.  I marinaded the meat into three different marinades (two he bought, one I made) and scrubbed potatoes to go with them (I love potatoes baked on the grill) and made Caesar salad, his favorite.  It was all very yummy.

It's funny, but even during Family Home Evening, we worked on the puzzle!  Getting them to stop and do other things is beginning to be an issue...

Friday, June 13, 2014

Jonathan didn't have class today, but, since tomorrow he takes the ACT, I figured he should do a practice test.  What resulted was a teenage meltdown.  He's tired of school (it's almost over), he's anxious about the California trip, he doesn't want to do anything.

Luckily, I understand his modus operandi a little bit and know what to do and what will result.  First, I let him rant a while, leaving when I've about had it and want to say something.  Second, I wait about 30 minutes to an hour to let him cool off.  Third, he comes back to me and apologizes and does what I ask.  He's a good kids, just needs to blow off some steam from time to time.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Busy Saturday!  I dropped Jonathan off at WOSC for the ACT, went home for a quick bite of breakfast, and then ran out to get my basket.  I came home, cleaned that up, and worked on making a salad for the Garden Club, which was at noon.

Went to the club, ate a little lunch (they always have a potluck and it's neat to see what they've been growing in a nice dish), then picked up Jonathan from the college and went back to the club for the rest of the meeting.    I wanted to go to Barbara's again to see her garden, now that the wind protectors are off, but Jonathan reminded me that he wanted to go home and mow the front lawn, so her garden will have to wait.

He mowed, I made brownies from scratch (I didn't have anything else in the house).  I got those out and then had to get working on the chicken enchiladas I was making for dinner for the elders (see?  They don't get porridge, I serve them good stuff...just not steak!)

Still, I ran late and was praying that the missionaries would be a little late.  They were, about 10 minutes, but even with that it was 10 minutes more before the enchildadas were ready.  I told them to eat salad slowly.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Yes, it's Fathers' Day.  But there wasn't a big to-do about it in church.  The second speaker in Sacrament Meeting spoke about fathers (very eloquently and heart-felt...it was awesome) and I hear they passed out candy in Priesthood, but that was about it.

I gave the lesson in Relief Society today and was a little concerned since the topic was "The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood."  Very brethren-centered and I wasn't sure how it would go.  But I'd done a lot of studying and praying, and...I'm not quite sure how I taught.  There was a lot of good response from the ladies about the priesthood and magnifying callings, but I don't quite remember all of how we got there.  That's the Spirit for you, guiding you when you can't guide yourself!  One of the sisters brought her non-member sister to church and I had really worried how the lesson would strike her, but she came up and thanked me afterwards.  Don't worry...teach with the Spirit!

Before we let Ken go down for his usual Sunday nap, we gave him his Fathers' Day gifts (well, the kids.  Mine was the meat.)  I had taken the kids to Dollar Tree and let them spend $5 on whatever they wanted for their Dad, but only one food item per kid.  They did a great job.  Jonathan got him a plastic lidded mug with an insert inside that he drew pictures on, some gum he likes, a small set of screwdrivers, and some bacon bits (I allowed it).  Analiese got him some cologne (Hugo knock-off), an air freshener for his car, chocolate-covered peanut brittle, and a Sudoku book.  Plus a card.  Ken was very pleased (he's easy to please) and enjoyed looking and talking over each item.

HOT BUNNY DAYS

Monday, June 2, 2014

Analiese and I started our day out by taking a walk around the reservoir.  It wasn't too warm yet and, with a stiff breeze going, no mosquitos harassed us.  We had wanted to go because we heard that there were goslings and Analiese never passes up a chance to see baby animals.

The reservoir is in two sections, one larger, one smaller.  Some people walk one, some the other, some both.  We walked the larger section.  Besides geese, there were ducks, water birds, and turtles.

There might have been fish, but we couldn't see any.  The water levels were up (some from the rain, some from piped in water), so that was good.  There are benches at random places around the reservoir, even some swing benches.

 We sat in one for a bit under the trees and just enjoyed the peaceful morning.

Finally able to get back to water aerobics; my crazy schedule can sure mess that up!  Lucky Doris is in Hawaii, so Edwina taught class instead.  We weren't bothered by kids because the outdoor pool is now open.  The sad things is (especially in Analiese's estimation) that the slides are being repaired (AGAIN!!??) so she doesn't want to go until she can enjoy them.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

It is getting plenty hot around here.  Our poor bunnies...I worry about them getting heatstroke.  We are still trying to think of a way to cool them off better.  They have a fan, we give them ice bottles and keep them out of the sun.  I hate the thought of having to bring them inside, though.  Messy & smelly...you can tell I wasn't really raised around animals.

As it was, I ended up having them come in for a while and we took damp towels to try to cool them off.  Fluffer was the worst, breathing hard and shaking.  She kept it up for a good hour!  Something has to be done!

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

I had the lickety-split-iest dental doings today of my life.  I went in to have two cavities filled, both on the right, one up, one down.  It took them all of half an hour to do them both.  Now, I think they weren't very big, which may have been part of it.  The dentist said it was because I was a good patient.  I told him I was, unfortunately, a pro.  Give me my bite-block and suck out my saliva often (I'm a drooler), and I'm good.

I gave in.  The rabbits are in the house.  Stinky, smelly rabbits.  Two, Alice and Twilight, are in the dining room, on either side of the fireplace where there's tile flooring.  Fluffer is in the big bathroom.  Her cage looks ridiculous there, but I refuse to have any cage on carpet.  Ugh!  They are messy enough.  On the good side, they are beating the heat much better and the kids see and interact with them more.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Happy, but not, today.  First, I managed to score a put-it-together-yourself console at Atwoods for $30.  Originally it was $99.  I think I did well.  It's going in the living room on the blank wall under Niles' painting.

NOT happy.  I had to buy a new water bottle for Twilight; his was leaking and they need their water in this heat.  So, I bought one at Atwoods.  Took it home, filled it up...the thing leaks WORSE than his old one.  Now I have to take it back; I hate doing that.

Friday, June 6, 2014

I am now just mentioning this, but my kids are going to California for a month in a couple of weeks.  It was Dad's idea and the kids were thrilled.  However...now they are driving me crazy with anticipation.  I'll be honest, it's really Analiese.  She gets something into her head and goes bananas, talking about it ALL THE TIME.  I have threatened to send corpses to California.

Jonathan is excited and will mention it, but doesn't go on and on about it like his sister.  I know he is excited because he gave up some summer activities here and a mowing job to go.  He'll be busy with adult-ish life soon enough.  One good summer with grandparents and cousins will be good for him.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Got up early to go get my basket this morning.  Because the elders are coming to dinner tomorrow and not tonight, I had to figure out dinner for this evening.  Luckily my basket had corn in it, which my kids adore.  In fact, when I opened them up to cook them, they had a pink blush on them!  They didn't cook up so cute, the blush turned dark and they weren't as big and juicy as other corn I've eaten, but it was still a treat for my kids.

Mid-day, the kids and I went to Lawton for our shopping trip.  Usually I do it on a week day, but we didn't get the work money for Ken's employee goodies until Friday afternoon.  Luckily, our credit union has a branch in Lawton, so we went straight there.  We decided this time to eat lunch at Sam's first, and then do both shoppings together, rather than do one, put the stuff away, and go back and do another.  Good thing, too, because in the middle of shopping, it began to rain - hard - outside.  By the time we finished filling both baskets, the rain had subsided and we could get in the van and go home.  Nope, no rain in Altus.  Bummer.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Got our rain last night.  At one point, a loud crash of thunder woke me up, but I don't know when and I drifted off to sleep easily.  We got enough to make a pond in the back yard for a while...now it's just a mud hole.  I think we'll be leaving the house for church through the front door again.  Ken is now agreeing with me, we need to move flagstones into a path from the shed to the house.  This is silly.

Okay, cat's out of the bag.  I've been called to teach Seminary this fall.  It wasn't entirely a surprise.  I knew Jonathan's teacher was going to quit this year.  I was a little bit sad; she's a great teacher and I'd hoped for one more year with him.  But, somebody has to do it and I had a sneaking feeling that somebody was ME.  I thought of a couple of other people who could do it just as well, if not better, than me, but I got the call.  My worries are stupid anyway; getting up early and having to prepare lessons every day.  Of course, this means I have to be on my game and get to bed at a better time.  It's a new time for spiritual growth, too, so I guess I'm glad, if nervous.