Patience Grasshopper

Faithful readers, you are so patient. Thank you.
Last week was wrought with activities, emergencies, closures and lots of eating out. It was the last week of school, our last opportunities to finish work around the house before vacation, the last bits of paperwork to complete for work at the end of the school year, and the last bit of time that I had went into delivering some very non-nutritious fare for my family meals.

But all of that is in the past. We are on vacation now. I really must concentrate on the present.

So, many of you know we left on Sunday morning, bright and early for our first flight to Salt Lake City. Everything went according to plan. No excitement. Nothing to report. Until we were about 20 seconds from landing. People started shouting HELP from the middle of the plane (we were in the VERY last row. I think that is where they stick crazy parents with 4 kids!). Turns out someone had a seizure during decent. Since we were the last row, we of course, were delayed getting off this flight. We made it to our connection, but did not have time to grab lunch/dinner for the kids. Let's just say that the kids consumed their share of chips, pretzels, peanuts and cookies on Sunday. I am over the guilt. Lets move on.

So, I should have know something was up with the flight hiccup. But we made it to the hotel, had a decent nights sleep and woke the next morning ready for my dad and papa to come pick us up and drive us to Jeff City.

Why my mom didn't come you ask?
It is because she broke her toe on Saturday. Yes, xrays prove it. Broken toe. She was not happy to say the least. I'd say what she told me, but I like to keep things clean around here as much as possible so I'll let your imagination run.

Well on the drive to Jeff City, mom called and said she was having the neighbor take her to the ER. Too many details to recount. She is still at the hospital now with lots of test to determine what is going on.

I should have know, crazy start to vacation. But, the sun is shining, the kids are happy and we are LOVING the heat! I'll start loading some pics when we get some wireless going here.

Till then, check back often. The fun has just begun. Next I'll have to tell you about the 13 year cicada. They are cool. Loud, but cool.

Lately

Lately I have been up to my eyeballs in life. Isn't that what we are supposed to be doing? If not, then I missed that memo. Please send it to me again.




For our anniversary, Brad suggested I get the camera I have been researching and drooling over for the last few months. I have been holding off because I had only found it at Best Buy, which meant a trip to Anchorage. I hate driving to Anchorage. It completely ruins my day. But, on one of my unexpected trips to Walmart (I hate going there too. And I actually go to Anchorage more than I go to Walmart. And I would rather go to Anchorage than Walmart. But I digress.) last week, I found my camera. It was even cheaper than at Best Buy. Win, win!




So, happy anniversary, happy mother's day, happy birthday and merry christmas to me.


Can you guess what I have been up to since?


Wrong! I have not been catching up on my work for the end of the school year.


Wrong again! I have not been keeping my kitchen spotless and doing all the laundry.



Give up? I have been shooting anything and everything I have the chance to. I am learning all about aperture, back light, ISO, etc. So much fun. Here are some of my experiments.

Our letter "Y" log we found in the woods this weekend.

Do you see the buds? Yes we almost have leaves! This was shot on Saturday. The leaves are almost completely out now.

Fun!

Mother knows best!

Have you seen "Tangled"? If so, then you know that the evil old woman that says she is Rapunzel's mother and raises her, likes to sing a song along the lines of "mother knows best".

Well, Ocelia has taken to wanting to watch this show alot and now tromps through her day singing "MOTHER KNOWS BEST" at the top of her lungs with a rather angry look upon her face.

Worried?
Just a bit.

Today she responded to a request I made of her with, you guessed it, a hearty "mother knows best" chorus as she went on her way to do my bidding.

Why couldn't she choose one of the sweet, carefree songs? Something innocent and charming?

Maybe some music therapy or music behavioral interventions are in order. I should get on iTunes and download my "Tangled" musical choices and play them to her all day long.

Think it will help.
Probably not.
Rather strong willed this one.

Well, at least she is unconsciously stroking my ego. I do know best.

A Moment of Silence

I realize that it has been a week since I have written anything. Sorry.
Life has been happening.

It does that sometimes.

Well, we have wrapped up freestyle wrestling season this past weekend. Finally.

We do enjoy watching the boys learn and show their skills. However, we also really enjoy when the season is over.

This year we had three days of tournaments. Thursday was Isaak wresting folkstyle. Friday was Ellis' first tourney. He did great! He lost both matches, but he smiled the whole time. Saturday was Isaak and Avery wrestling freestyle. They wrestled tough kids and were done by late afternoon.

On Friday when we got home Brad sat Celie and Ellis on the stairs to go upstairs and change their clothes. 2 minutes later, this is what they looked like. They were OUT! We all felt like that.

Don't tell me you have never felt this way.

Peace...

Dirt, dirt, and more dirt

Well, with Spring finally in full gear here (notice I did not say full bloom. We won't see anything really bloom until around May 5 or so) we have been able to get our full daily dose of dirt. It was mud until this weekend. Now it is dirt.


Brad brought out the dirt bikes for the boys this weekend and they barely took time to eat or do anything else all weekend. Unfortunately, Isaak's bike has an "issue".

So, Avery was kind enough to take turns with Isaak. But, Avery did make Isaak work for it. He would slow down as if to stop and give Isaak a turn, then quickly punch it and circle around him a few time.

That Avery is such a stinker!
I think he actually gave a classic evil villain laugh as he drove off in this shot.

Think Isaak is getting impatient?

Av is full of spunk and life. This is his typical response when he sees me with my camera, "Mom take a picture of me!"

Ok, I will.

Who could resist that, really?

Happy Spring, and happy ridin'!

Gotta love mornings like this...

It doesn't happen often. But today is one of those days. All children have been fed, dressed, beds made, packs ready for school, and instruments practiced before 8:00. I have fed children, dressed some, packed snacks (we have errands to run this morning), completed a load of dishes, done a load of laundry, and have had time to write this post all before we leave for school at 8:20. Wow, things are looking up. We'll see how it holds up today. Cross your fingers...

Break UP!

It is April and that means break up. Everything starts to melt and we are on high mud alert. However, this is what we had 4 days ago and again 2 days ago. I started to look for property for sale in Florida. Then my kids reminded me that they have hurricanes. So I started to look in Texas. Tornadoes don't phase me.

This is the only picture I have from wrestling 3 days ago. Ellis took third, Isaak took third and Avery took second. Great work!

Today is Tuesday. The snow in the previous pictures melted later the same day and now we have mud.

Of course the boys love it. The garage floor and my washing machine don't.

Tonight we found some lawn chairs and sat on the front porch and watched the boys play. Celie spent her evening sitting at the dinner table complaining about dinner. Eventually she made it outside.

Cross your fingers that Spring continues to warm the earth and that the mud dries up quickly.