Another week in paradise

California, here we come!

After weeks of travelling and shucking our kids across the country, we are packing to go yet again. This time, the children are staying in Denver with my Cousin, Lea, who is in for quite a tiring few days. The preacher and I are boarding a plane to Palm Springs, California, which is east of Los Angeles. (Hopefully, the fires will be under control by then, and we can enjoy our trip without fear of evacuation.) The trip is being funded by LCEF and we are going as voting delegates. The weather is supposed to be sunny and warm, a dream for someone who had snow this week. We leave on Thursday evening and will return Monday morning.

Speaking of snow… Eden woke up to a snowy yard one morning this week and said to Lars, “Lars-y, Look! It’s snowing!! We can go sledding!” And then to me, she said, “Mommy, Look! A clue!” I said, “A Clue?” And Eden pointed to the dog’s paw print in the snow and said, “Yeah, A Clue!” Now, if you’re a parent, you already know that this refers to the educational cartoon, Blue’s Clues. Every time Blue leaves a paw print, it’s a clue to the puzzle. She wanted to go right out and solve the mystery.

In other news this week, I washed the windows outside. I waited for our sprinklers to be shut off for the winter and got a bucket of Dawn dishsoap water, RainX and Vinegar. Dusted off the squeegee and headed out with a couple rags. Eden insisted on helping me, which made for a soapy mess, especially when I washed the big one in our front room by hanging out the 2^nd story window, balancing precariously on the sill.

Samson had to see the vet this week, as he was throwing up every day and giving my carpet cleaner quite a work out. Vet didn’t see or hear anything obvious, gave me a bill and sent me on my way. Last night, he threw up again…

Lars loves his walker. I’m sure social service agencies across America are looking for me because I’m letting him use the dangerous 1970’s child care item. But let me tell you, I’ve never had so much peace and quiet since he was born. He is on the go all the time. In defense of those who took it off the market years ago, Lars has fallen on his face several times in it. I always know he has tipped over when I hear the ‘ahh ahh aah aah’ coming from down the hallway. Like a good equestrian rider, however, he gets right back in the saddle as soon as it’s flipped right side up.

In yet another news flash, our front door is fully installed, caulked and painted on the inside. It coordinates very well with our walls on either side, tying the whole room together. I also ordered new black and white photos of winter scenes that I took last January during a snow storm to put in the frames that line the wall going down the steps. My hope is to take out the spring-like flower photos and put in winter-scapes to make it festive for the colder season. I need all the help I can get to be excited about winter in Western Nebraska. With all that creativity, I could be a show on HGTV.

Side note: Eden will not finger paint with her fingers. She must have a brush.

Lars has been fighting a cold & cough for two weeks now. Now, he has passed it along to his father, who sounded like a dryed up frog in the pulpit this morning. I’m thinking I’m going to be making doctor visits before we head for the airport.

Today is the last NASCAR race of the season. Eden and her daddy are plunked on the end of the couch, all cuddled up. She with her blanket and him with a box of tissue.

Until next week…. enjoy a song from Eden. Yes, I know I need better lighting.