Weekend stuff

Evie loves conning poppy into going out for lunch.   She then watches out my door until she sees him walking down the street, and takes off to go get him. It’s so cute!   

Last night, there were multiple storms bouncing around our area that contained tornadoes.  Some were pretty close to Colin and Spencer, and a couple were close to Cameron.  Luckily everyone is ok.  Mallory was not happy that they were not taking their tornado safety protocol seriously.  She was having a lot of anxiety, and truly hates storms.  So when I picked Quincy up from work,  I also picked up Mallory and her dogs.  They spent the night with us.  Being alone watching the radar was definitely a recipe for a panic attack for her.   Daisy Paige and Carlos love to play together.  I think they might have played all night. Carlos was pretty tired today! 

We had a family picnic today at Shawnee Mission Lake.  A couple of my grandma’s sisters and her one living brother were there.  It was really nice to get to see them!  Also got to see a few of my aunts and uncles and cousins.  It was a good day.  I think Saige and Harper had fun too.  

We came home and helped Jim work around the yard.  We were cleaning up an area to get a pen ready for the ducks when we found a blue tailed skink.  He is a fine specimen.  Saige had to capture some photos.  Since we had to move a few things for the duck pen, we also did a little work on Coco’s pen as well.  He was so happy to help with our projects!  He was hanging around being the sweet boy that he is, (and totally not being a menace) which is when I decided to trim his mane and tail. The scissors I had in my pocket did not cut his hair though, so Saige got his hair out of his eyes by putting it in a pony tail for him.  He looks nice don’t you think?  

I am now ready for bed!   Sunshine and outside work wears me out!  

RE finale

Last night, we had the closing party for RE.  Summer break is here!  The kids were given a very nice ceremony and were given the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  I should have taken photos, but I failed.  I was sort of worried about giving this particular group of children lit candles, but it all worked out, they were all very careful and respectful!  They also played some games, and had snacks.  

The highlight of the night was releasing a balloon rosary (a decade anyway).  Yea, I know about the balloon launch being a way to litter the earth.  This was still very cool to see the kids offer up their prayers for loved ones.  Plus, it was not my idea.  The whole night was planned by not me, which I appreciated and enjoyed.  This was Harper's last grade school RE class.  She will go to confirmation class.  We are undecided on if she will go to confirmation class next year, or if we will have her wait and take the class together with Saige.  Either way, we are getting oh so close to reclaiming Wednesday nights!  I am sure when it is all said and done, I will miss these days.  I enjoy the kids, and being allowed to teach RE has always been fun for me.  Service in an enjoyable fashion makes it seem less like serving and more like a hobby.  That being said, it has been a long, long labor of love.  

I did have to tell Harper and Saige a story on the way home.  Several years back, before they were in RE, the same director spent a long time creating an entire rosary out of balloons - to launch at the closing RE.  She had put in so much work and each kid had said a prayer and then we all went outside to release the balloon rosary.  It went up, got caught in the wind, and wrapped around a power line and popped most of the balloons!  It was sort of sad and hilarious at the same time.  My kids watched those balloons in the power lines for weeks every time we went to mass, we had to check to see if they were still tangled up.  

Spencer sent me this photo of Colin and Volt.  The look on Volt's face makes me laugh.  That dog looks like he is going to kick Colin's butt!  :)  

Yesterday, I told Evelyn I needed to run to the Dollar General to pick up some gifts for the RE teachers.  

Evie: OH! you need to get a gift for me? 

Me: Not today, I just need some gifts for the teachers.

Evie:  Oh!  you are buying a gift for my mom and dad? 

Me: not today!  We are just getting teacher gifts!

Evie:  Are you getting a gift for GG and Papa Larry?

Me:  not today!  Just teacher gifts!

Evie:  Can we at least get some snacks?  

Your wish is my command kid.  haha!

I then made a second error in telling her that I would let her ride Coco after lunch.  That was followed with is it lunch time yet?  On repeat!  When it was finally lunch time, she wasn't hungry....she just wanted to ride.  

We got her all settled on the horse, who was way more involved in munching grass than in the child sitting on him.  Evie said "grammy this feels like nervous!"  

After a few minutes, she asked me when Coco would start flying.  I guess she got comfortable in a hurry!  

She started right in this morning wondering if she can ride again.  I told her it depends on if it is raining or not.  She told me not to worry - it isn't raining!  :)  

Awards, rewards, new teams

Today we learned that Cameron is being honored as one of 7 outstanding graduating seniors.  He has worked really hard at KSU, not just on his classes, but also volunteering a lot of time to student government, working on campus jobs and literally getting to know the majority of the students.  When I say getting to know I don’t mean just names. He knows about their lives. He has met and had conversations with them.  He has done amazing things during his time at KSU, and we seriously are so very proud of him.  

A few weeks ago, we got a pony.  It has been a little bit of a process of waiting to have warmer weather, getting the donkey out of the way, and then gaining trust of a pony who hasn’t really been worked with for a while.  He was broke both at halter and to ride, but hasn’t been haltered for quite a long time.  Today we managed to halter him.  We were able to walk him, and we checked to see if he would lift his feet for a farrier, because he could use a trimming. He did great!   We are all in love with this little dude.  The reward of our patience is getting to love on such a sweet boy!   Now that we have seen he is so gentle, I think if the weather is good, we may let Evie try riding him tomorrow!  

Harper, Quincy and Saige are all playing softball through the Carbondale Rec this summer. All three girls are on new teams (due to ages of teammates changing their level).  Harper had her first practice tonight.  She is on a team with a few girls she goes to school with, one she goes to 4-H with, and one who played with Saige last year.  I think it will be a good team for her.  The other two girls start practices later this week.  I will admit that although I enjoy summer ball, I was not quite ready to give up my evenings to the ballpark just yet!   

A little home therapy

I think I mentioned that things have been a bit crazy around here.  Today, I woke up, got ready for church, proud of myself because I didn’t forget the first communion breakfast casserole I was supposed to bring.  I was almost ready when Saige came crashing into the bathroom to tell me that the downstairs bathroom was flooded.  Yea me.  We got most of the water cleared up, and the toilet valve shut off and went on to church, leaving Preston to finish cleaning up.   Preston was going to sleep in since he got in so late after prom last night.  That was not in the cards for him.  We did get the toilet fixed and aside from needing to let some fans run for a day or two, no real harm done.  Also good news - Jim and I figured out why the bathtub was leaking and got that fixed.  I wish we had as much luck with the car situation.  Oh well, Rome wasn’t built in a day.  

I needed a day at home.  I was happy to have one.  We got our garden planting started.  I always feel good after spending time digging in the dirt.  Jim helped me by getting the tiller running, which I thought was broken so I was very thrilled!  We got a lot of other stuff accomplished too.  I even got the Chinese food that I had been craving - thanks to Jim!  I wish I could say we had tomorrow off, but we don’t.  I guess we are pretty close to summer break!  We can do this! 

Ducks, garage sale, prom

So far, it has been a crazy weekend.   Yesterday, Harper had an appointment.  Afterward, we stopped for goat food. And we saw them.  A whole stock tank full of baby ducks.   We lack self control.  We left the store with 6 little duckies who somehow ended up in our cart.  Harper was thrilled.  The smile on her face made it worth it all!   We took Daddy lunch and broke the news to him!   He is used to my insanity, so not a lot of surprise from him!  

But seriously.  How could you walk by and not get them?   Have you ever seen anything cuter? 

Today was the city wide garage sale day for Overbrook.  The 4-H had their annual garage sale.  Here is how I handled it.  I decided I didn’t want to help this year.  I avoided all conversations about it.  I sat by while my co-leader volunteered to be in charge.  I sat quietly as they planned. I did gather some donations for it, but I made no plans to be there.   Until 3 days ago. The co-leader put the sign ups out and got nothing.   Lots of excuses, a couple volunteers, and nothing more.  Guilt started to eat at me.  Then, when the sale was so close a s she didn’t have much help, I said ok I guess.   And that is how I ended up at a garage sale at 7 on a Saturday.  And how I wasted an entire day helping out at the sale.   But it is done.  And the kids made a crazy, insane amount of money.  Truly, aside from the time, it is an awesome fundraiser.  I took zero photos, but Saige and Harper worked really hard today.  I am proud of them. Of course, Saige may have some hoarder tendencies, and she has a lot of new room decor this evening.   

We got home, took a short nap, and it was time for Preston to get ready for his junior prom!   Prom story time - the mom (me) asked him several weeks ago if he was going. Nope!  Not doing it.   A couple weeks went by. I asked again.  This time he said -yea me and a bunch of the guys are going.  So the next logical step- what are you going to wear?   Don’t worry mom!  I got it covered.  I asked once every couple days until I finally decided he was just out of luck.  Tonight he was up here asking me where his dress shoes are, where his suspenders are.  Uhhhh boy- you had it under control remember?

The girl in these photos is Preston’s friend Liv.  Her mom is a librarian for the state capitol library -and  she got them into the capitol building to take pictures.  I love them!   They are much better than the ones I took before he left, and better than the selfies he sent me.  Also a fun side story- the prom was supposed to be from 9-11.  Preston refused to go to the afterprom party (and I was happy- he isn’t going- I’m not working it).  He texted me a question at 9:40.  I asked him how the prom was and he said “it was sooo boring so we ditched it and are eating at ihop!”    Way to not even make it a whole hour boys!    

Universal mercy

We all have weeks where we cry out  to the universe, and to the good Lord for mercy.  It seems like we are going on a month of just weird junk going and I am tired.  Nothing actually tragic has happened, and for that I am thankful, but it seems like at every turn there is some annoying inconvenience.   One or two, I can handle, but this is hourly and sometimes a girl just wants to be done with all of this adulting business.   Meetings, field trips, end of the year junk, planning for next year, count downs and insane amounts of money for things we didn’t even know existed have felt like an added burden when I’m in an annoyed state.  Two broken cars (again) and a leaking bathtub have added to the misery. I’m begging for mercy.   Or at least a couple day break between broken things.  

Enough of that pity party.  Things aren’t actually that bad.   Saige had a trip to the one room school house this week.  Funny story - when Mallory and Madison went on this field trip, they were very into Laura Ingalls Wilder (books, movies, tv show - all of it).  They absolutely loved this trip.  They are still talking about how cool it was.   The rest of my kids didn’t enjoy it much.  Harper didn’t get to go at all- because Covid- but I did take her on a tour of the one room school with some historical speaker and she did think that was cool.  Anyway - for this trip the kids are supposed to dress as they would have in 1920.  They are supposed to pack a lunch in a lunch pail (which the school provides) with foods that would have been packed in 1920.  My other children understood this assignment.  Saige?  Notsomuch.  And the thing is, I am getting old.  And soft.  She wore her Dorothy (as in wizard of oz)  costume that Lauren gave her - with a jacket over it.  She packed a lunchable.   Oh and some Oreos.   Pretty sure she was not period-appropriate.   She said it was boring and she hopes she never has to go to another place like it.   I’m not sad that this is my last kid to figure out period-specific clothes and food for!

Evie has been full of it lately.  It is impossible to have a bad day when she is around.  She always makes me laugh.