Friday's Freedom

I'm sitting in the living room watching Eden and Lars play Ring Around the Rosies. When it gets to the part where, "we all fall down", Eden gives Lars a huge shove and pushes him to the ground. Now he's so dizzy, he can't stand up straight and he looks a bit concerned, then starts laughing.

My Hoover still isn't fixed. Al, if you're reading this, please keep that in mind when you see Eden's paper-cutting adventure all over the downstairs carpet.

I went to get the newspaper from the front walk this morning, and dropped my glass on the concrete, making us one step closer to buying new drinking ware, too.

I am reading the book "The Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw. It was published in 1998, but it's one of those books that can be read any time and still be appreciated. I recommend it to everybody who has a heart. I learned a little bit about my grandpa's time in Guam over the past week, and it's very fitting that this history lesson falls over Memorial Day.

Mom and Dad came to visit us the past couple weeks. They arrived on Mother's Day afternoon and in a blink, they were gone 10 days later, leaving Lars to enter the guest room repeatedly looking for 'ama'. It was cute, though sad. Eden is now old enough to realize that after hugs and kisses and good-byes in the driveway, they are gone for a long time. She hans't asked, even once, where they are. She knows.

During their stay, we took our new camper (which they drug out from Michigan) and tried it out in the Black Hills, finding many animals along the way to talk to. My dad has a bad habit of calling cows, but thankfully, he wasn't able to mimick the sound of the buffalo, so we were in the clear there.

Our first night at camp, we hooked up the internet and sat around the lap top on the picnic table, freezing our bums off and getting a weak signal to watch game 7 of the Red Wings Round two playoffs. For good or for bad, we were only able to watch the 3rd period, which was a barn-burner in every sense of the phrase.

We camped at Horsethief campground in Hill City and spent a couple cold days driving around Custer State Park and the surrounding areas. Had chili one night and stew the next, if that tells you anything about the temperature. Due to unforseen circumstances, we had to drive two vehicles. Thankfully, we had the option and it actually worked out well. Mom and I took the kids in one vehicle and went at our own pace, chatting along the way. Dad and Al took the camper and went at their own pace.

On our drive home, we stopped at Wind Cave for Mom to stamp her National Park book. We all stopped in Hot Springs, picnicing at the National Cemetary. Mom and I then drove around the town a bit, eyeing all the old buildings and architecture.

The rest of the time was spent peeling Lars off Mommy and letting Grandma and Papa play with him. I worked on readying the camper for our trip, and dad built some shelves for me. I planted flowers one day and worked in the gardens. Mom was happy to change diapers and feed the boy. On thier last day, we got up in the morning when it was still cool (85 degrees) and went hiking at Scottsbluff Nat'l Monument. We all hiked the half mile trail at the base of the bluff. It was hot and sunny and we were ready for the AC when we got back in the Ford.

Side note: Eden can say "Exabition" but not "Expedition".

Lars became quite clingy to my dad on that last day, preferring to be held by him and not me. That's a real heart breaker, as I would love to pass him around more often.

Meegan called me this afternoon. Zak got nailed in the face by a line drive during a baseball game at school. Since she was at jail waiting to spring a bird, she couldn't leave and wondered what she should do. "Fly me home. I'll check him out!" is what I wanted to say, but instead, I called and talked to him. He thinks he was unconscious having a seizure, but I assured him he'd live until tomorrow, told him to take some IB profen and put ice on it. I can't wait to see him in school plays when he's in high school.

Today is the last day of school here in Bridgeport. I knew right away, as kids were flooding the streets in freedom early this afternoon. The ones who can drive were crusing all over, music blaring from the speakers. Ahh..summer is here.

Red Wings are still in it, which is a lot of fun. Real choice tonight, however, as it's the opening night for the race track in Gering, and also game three for the Wings series three. I know where I'll be, but Daddy and Eden might not be sharing the couch with me. The weather is perfect for a race, I must say.

Enjoy the pics of the Kenny visit. We sure enjoyed having them and are already planning a way to get back home this fall to see the rest of the clan.

Pure Madness

My Hoover broke down this week. I knew that something was wrong a couple weeks ago when the sucking power had diminished. I figured I’d had it for 8 years and so it must be at the end of its life cycle.

While cleaning the guest room for my parents upcoming arrival, it finally bit the dust. I looked on the under carriage and realized that the brushes weren’t even spinning. Shoot.

I called Laura and asked if I could borrow hers for a couple days until I could get mine to Scottsbluff to the vacuum place. No problem. She asked what was wrong with mine and I told her. She asked when I’d last changed the belt.

“The Belt?” I asked, “What belt?”

“The belt that you’re supposed to replace every 3 months.”

“Um, No, but not too bad, it lasted 8 years!”

Since Gambles was out of belts until Thursday, I took Laura up on her offer and brought her vacuum home.

Tuesday, I plugged the thing in and turned it on. Holy Cow! That sucker took off as soon as I pushed it forward and ran into the nearest furniture it could find. I grabbed the cord just as it was about to run over my child, and pulled it back. It came back so fast, I lost control and it slammed into a large potted plant, tipping it over and making a bigger mess. Looking on the bright side, I had the vacuum out and ready to go.

Word to the wise: If you ever use a ‘self propelled’ vacuum cleaner, be sure you’re sober, you’re wearing hard-soled, toe-covering shoes & your young children and pets are placed safely on the couch.

Wednesday was my birthday. I was feeling sorry for myself, because it fell on the busiest day of the week on the busiest week of the month, with Al have bible class in the morning, and confirmation class in the afternoon with a ministerial association picnic over the noon hour and I had two meetings in the evening.

Needless to say, no birthday song, no birthday cake and no presents. I almost went and bought myself flowers, but I was too sulky. My niece, Ari, would say I was being balky. And she would have been correct.

Thursday, I was up early and not in much better a mood. My children both woke up with huge grins and that made everything else in the world melt away. After breakfast, we hit the streets and walked up town for kiddo hair cuts. Eden sat nicely and looked at her shoes when she was told to. Lars, on the other hand, was not so cooperative and I had to give Joy a big tip when we left. Hopefully, we won’t have to endure that any time again soon. We hit the library on the way back and picked some of Eden’s favorite books to share with Papa and Grandma, who will be here soon.

Had some much needed phone calls to attend to when I got home and then daddy was back for lunch already.

Friday was daddy’s day off and he played with the kids on the floor for most of the day. It was really too windy to go out and play, which suits him just fine. During the day, Grandma called several times to tell Eden where her and Papa were on their drive west. We found the spot on the map and marked it with pink sticky notes. It was quite fun.

After a really long day at work, Laura agreed to take my children so we could make a quick run to Scottsbluff for some stuff and go to dinner. We got back around 9p and while her girls were nearly asleep on the couch, Eden was playing pretend in the play room and not at all ready to go home to bed. Lars, unfortunately, had spiked a fever and Laura ended up having to rock him the whole time.

Eden was no more interested in going to bed once we got home and Lars cried every 20 minutes on the clock, then slept in my arms for a few minutes, laid in the crib for 20 minutes, then the cycle started over again. I fell asleep for good on the couch upstairs around 0430 and Eden was pouncing on me for breakfast at 0730.

Saturday was long and tedious, me trying to stay awake and get some ‘last minute’ things done and everybody else playing their normal every day games. The kids & I walked up town in the morning to get some Mother’s Day flowers. Decided to walk thorough the drive thru at the bank and everybody came to the window to see how cute Eden looked clutching a powder blue vase with a single pink rose in it for Grandma. She carried it the entire two mile stretch back home.

For supper, we walked across the street for a graduation picnic at the neighbors. It was nice & relaxing, good food and great company. Eden found a 3-yr-old boy to play with and Lars clung to daddy. Just as I was thinking it was about to time go, Eden began playing with their small, 4x5 decorative fountain. She used the water-blowing fish as a drinking fountain and when I shooed her away to stop kissing the fish, she went to the other end of the pool to watch the water make waves. All of a sudden, SPLASH! Face first, she swooped into the fountain and struggled to get up on the other side. It was really a perfect on-your-knees dive, however unintentional. Daddy was about 5 feet away, and jumped over to get her, as she couldn’t find anything to grip on to. The plastic lining was slippery and not meant for swimming. Al got her out and brought her to me. Dripping wet and screaming irrationally, I peel her clothes off and wrapped her in Lars’ blanket. I scooped her up and carried her across the street to our house, where she threw up yucky water just before we hit the front door. Thank Goodness, because I just cleaned the carpet on the landing yesterday.

Now, we are too excited to go lay down because Grandma and Poppa will be here soon and we don’t want to miss them!

GO WINGS!!!

When I woke Eden up this morning for church, she looked up at me and said, "Mommy, what's all over your face?" I went over to the mirror and said, "nothing that I see, why?" She pointed to my face and said, "It's all polka-dotty". I thought for half a second before I said, "Oh, those? They're the freckles that God gave me!"

Out of the mouths of babes.

Spent the majority of the week at the Ramkota Best Western in Casper, Wy for the district convention. The kids and I had a fun and busy week meeting other pastor's families, shopping in a town with more than 10,000 people and swimming in the hotel pool. It was great. I think I had the most enjoyable time as I've ever had at any of our district gatherings.

I met a couple new wives and had some great conversation. One even went swimming with the kids and I on day two, which was a big help. Another young man, a lay delegate, was missing his baby, who was at home in Nebraska and took Lars from me at the Friday night banquet and walked him to sleep. Since Eden was off playing oragami with a young, childless wife, Al and I actually enjoyed a quiet dinner with another couple. It was priceless.

With our new vehicle, it was perfect for shopping and not worrying about what wouldn't fit. Even had plenty of room left over to buy flowers and vegetable plants in Scottsbluff. The kids were definately ready to be in their own beds on Saturday night, and Samson was glad to see us return. I really need to get some of my garden in yet today.

Had some more rain while we were away. I think we've had a couple inches already this year, it's unreal. The grass is ready to be cut again, but probably won't get to that until later this week. Until we start losing the dog in the yard, the grass isn't too long in my opinion.

Busy week ahead than Papa and Grandma will be here on the weekend, Lord Willing. Hope they aren't looking for a clean house when they get here!