A Green June

This week has been a nice one.  Last Friday I took the kids to the museum.  They wanted me to take pictures of everything, so they will remember it.  They had some fun.  Saturday we worked at cleaning up the house and packing boxes.  That evening my sister Jeanie and her daughter Tori came to visit.  It was fun to have them here.

Spencer wanted me to take pictures of all the animals in the animal room at the museum

the boys had lots of fun at the water table

Ruth enjoyed grinding corn

Sunday I enjoyed going to church with Jeanie.  In the afternoon we were visiting and Jeanie said she would play a game or do a puzzle with the kids.  Andrew got excited and got out the America puzzle we have, 1000 piece.  When we opened the box there were some sections that were still put together from last time that gave us a good start.  They worked on it that afternoon, Monday and Tuesday morning Andrew put in the last pieces.  It is easier than some 1000 piece puzzles because of the writing and pictures on it help to know what direction the pieces go.  It was a fun activity to do while we visited.

working on the puzzle

Monday we took Jeanie and Tori to the Dr. Pepper Museum.  It was interesting to see.  Then we went over to the suspension bridge to show some of the area history.  We went out to lunch and then went to the Mayborn museum.  The kids had fun showing Jeanie their favorite things there.  It was a busy day.

at the Dr. Pepper Museum, figuring out how the machine worked

looking at the old time general store area of the museum

this was the Dr. Pepper horse, made from bottle caps and cans cut to make the hair

Caleb was excited to see a picture of a Dalmatian in the movie exhibit at the museum

playing on the steers at the bridge

at the suspension bridge

looking at the mammoth bones in the Mayborn

Ruth is getting too big for her favorite toys at the museum

Tuesday morning we took it slow and then said good bye to Jeanie and Tori.  I am glad that they could come.  It was nice to have visitors.  Now we need to get back into the reality that we are moving soon.  We have a move date set now.  It will be on July 14^th.  There is a lot to get done by then.  I hope I can make it and have everything ready in time.

Tuesday afternoon the boys had fun going to the Baker’s home to play.  It was nice to have a little break from them.  Today Andrew is playing with a friend from school.  This morning I took the kids to the library for a story teller time.  She told the story of the three little pigs, Texas style.  She had some fun puppets and we enjoyed her story.

We have had a lot of rain this week.  It just keeps coming too.  Because of the cooler temps and the rain our garden has been doing very well.  Yesterday I picked over 30 tomatoes and about 20 cucumbers.  I don’t know what to do with them.  The tomatoes are the best I have ever grown here.  They are so pretty and round.  Most don’t even have any bird marks on them.  Usually we have a hard time keeping the birds out of the garden.  The cucumbers taste so good too.  Since we are moving I can’t preserve them in any way.  I hope to be able to give some away at scouts tonight.

Andrew with the completed puzzle

I am enjoying my morning walks.  Because of the rain everything is so pretty and green.  I also enjoy the birds singing.  I am thankful for this beautiful world.

Kids Kids Kids

The days are passing quickly.  Last week I decided that I wanted to give away the futon.  It had a crack in the main support beam and I was worried about moving it, I didn’t want it to break completely.  So I posted on a facebook group that I am on for free things in the area.  I had someone respond quickly and she came over with her three teen age boys to take it away. They brought a mini van to carry it in.  I didn’t think they would get it in there, but they did!  It was rather entertaining to watch them try different ways to get it in.  They finally took out the back seat of the van, put the futon in, then put the seat on top of the futon.  Then the four people squeezed into the van.  I hope they didn’t have far to drive.  It is nice to not have to worry about that now.  I have been giving other small things away and going through things and deciding what is going with us when we move.  It is a lot of work.

We have had some fun this week too.  Friday we went to the spray pad and met up with some friends there.  The kids had lots of fun playing in the water.  On Saturday we went to the museum.  We were able to listen to a presentation from a paleontologist on T. Rex.  It was interesting and the kids hopefully learned something more about one of their favorite dinosaurs.  Then we spent a little time looking at the dinosaur exhibit.  That afternoon we went to a jumping place for a friends birthday party.  It was a busy day!

Andrew after his cub scout day camp

playing at the museum

Sunday was Father’s Day.  I took the kids to church and felt a little sad their father wasn’t there to hear them sing with the other primary children.  I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting and felt good about how it went.  It had been a busy week and I had a hard time finding time to prepare, so I am glad it is over.  After church the kids drew pictures for Neal and wrote some cute little notes for him.  We sent it in the mail Monday.  Neal did call us in the afternoon and we all got a chance to talk to him.  Neal is doing okay with his new job.  He has found a house for us to rent and has moved into it.  We are still working on finalizing details about a move date and getting that all organized.  

The boys like to build huts when I am washing their bedding

Monday we had fun with our cousins coming.  Neal’s sister came up from San Antonio with her 8 children.  Their dad wasn’t with them because of work commitments.  So it was 2 moms with 12 kids for three days.  It was busy, but fun.  The kids had so much fun playing together.  They brought toy swords and there was a lot of sword fighting going on outside.  They also played a lot of board games and watched movies.  Tuesday morning we went to the zoo.  It was neat to see the new baby orangoutang.  I read in the newspaper that Monday was the first day the baby was out on display, so it was neat we got to see it.  It was so cute.  We also got to see the new juvenile giraffes.  I enjoyed walking through the zoo again.  We have gone so many times while we have lived here.  I know a lot about the animals and I know where everything is, so do my kids.  We will miss our little zoo.

I thought it was more interesting to see the kids at the zoo and how they watched the animals. 

The new baby, it was almost like the mom was showing her baby off to us.  Then the dad came and stood in front of her blocking our view, like he was protecting the baby.  It was really neat.

Wednesday morning I took the kids that wanted to go over to the park for a summer kick off party the city library was doing.  I had six kids with me, ages 4,5,6,7,8, and 9.  We thought it was good we had all the ages covered.  The kids enjoyed playing the games and getting lots of little prizes.  They had fun playing on the play ground too.  That afternoon the kids all went outside to play in the water.  It was a bit crazy at times, but they all had fun getting wet.  After they had been outside for about an hour I cut up a watermelon in slices and went out with it.  I have never seen a watermelon disappear so quickly before.  I was surprised at how fast 10 kids can eat a medium sized seedless watermelon.  I think it was gone in under 10 minutes!  I am glad they enjoyed the it.  They had fun outside and it wore them out. In the evening I took Andrew and his cousin over to cub scouts at the church.  Andrew wanted to go because he has new den leaders.  He enjoyed going last night.  This morning the cousins left to go back home.  I am glad they were able to come and play one more time at this home.  We enjoyed having them here.

The kids had fun at the park library activity.

Caleb said "no mom, don't take my picture"

The girls, they were a bit outnumbered. 

The boys, minus the baby.

Caleb likes the dirt.

Ruth got her hair fixed by her cousin

Today has been quieter.  The kids seemed to need some quiet time and they were all doing things alone for awhile this morning.  I also got their help to clean the house.  Having 14 people in my little house made it get a bit dirtier than normal.  We got it looking good and then I took my kids to the library free movie showing “Planes.”  It was a cute movie, we hadn’t seen it before.

The kids are all sleeping and I finally had some time to myself, so I took time to write.  I am thankful that things are going well and progressing in our transition, but wish it could just be over with!  

We are excited to have my sister and her daughter come for a visit this week end.  It is great they could come see us.  I always enjoy visitors.

Our Adventures

It has been a very busy two weeks.  On May 28^th my sister Rachel came into town.  It was fun to visit with her.  Thursday we spent together visiting.  We went out to lunch and had fun with that too.  It was nice to have a day with her.  That evening we went to a nice picnic dinner that was put together to say good bye to Neal.  Men that he worked with at L3 were there with their families.  Then Friday Neal and I took off.  Rachel was our babysitter.  The kids had a lot of fun with her for the week end.  I am thankful she was up to that and hope she will want to visit again. 

Neal and I took a trip to Ohio to attend a wedding for one of Neal’s cousins.  It was a fun trip.  We were able to visit with lots of family members and spend time together.  Saturday morning we went to a fun museum, the Warther Museum in Dover Ohio.  They had trains on display that a man carved out of wood.  They were beautiful to look at.  We were with Neal’s mom, sister and brother.  We had a fun time together eating at an Amish restaurant.  We ate out a lot that week end, it was fun, but I was glad to get back to home cooking. Saturday evening we attended the wedding at a pretty out door resort.  It was nice to visit with the family and see the happy couple.

A sample of a few of the trains at the museum.  The black ones are carved out of ebony and ivory.  Each individual piece was carved and then fitted together.  The train parts move and they were amazing to see. 

At the wedding with Neal's brother, sister and mom

Sunday Neal and I, with his mom and sister, attended church and enjoyed the friendliness of the members there.  After church we drove up to Kirtland.  It was special to go to this historic place and remember my ancestors who lived and worked there.  We were able to tour the Kirtland temple.  Then we went to the LDS visitors center and buildings for a tour.  It was a nice way to spend our Sunday afternoon.  Before we left the Kirtland area we drove over to Lake Erie and enjoyed the cool breeze off the large lake.  

Neal and I with the Kirtland temple

At Kirtland

Neal with Lake Erie in the back ground

Monday was another travel day.  It was so good to get home and find the children well and happy with Rachel.  Tuesday Rachel returned home and we were left with the hectic schedule of getting Neal ready to leave.  That evening I was able to attend our book club discussion one last time.  I have enjoyed getting to know that group of women and am thankful that I was invited to participate with them.

Thursday the 5^th I went to the schools for the kids end of year award ceremonies.  Spencer received an award for straight A’s.  Ruth received awards for straight A’s, perfect attendance and “Rachel’s award” for kindness.  Andrew received many awards, he was on the A/B honor roll, in the top runners group for 3^rd grade, perfect attendance, recorder mastery, and excellence in mathematics.  Andrew was able to play the recorder with a group of 3^rd graders and I enjoyed hearing their songs, they did a good job.  I am happy the kids did so well in their school work this year.  Friday the 6^th was their last day of school.  I went into the schools to fill out papers to get their lunch accounts closed and get final reports and make sure they knew we were moving.  It is sad that we wont be back.  The kids have many good friends and we have enjoyed the teachers at the schools.  Thursday was Neal’s last day of work at L3.  It was short just a couple of weeks to make nine years working for them.  

Spencer getting his awards

Ruth getting her awards

Andrew with the recorder group

Andrew getting his awards

Friday when we got the kids all home we got our favorite babysitter to come over, Kenzie.  She watched the kids for us while Neal and I went to the Dallas Temple.  It was nice to spend some time together in a peaceful place.  It was our 12^th anniversary and we thought that would be a nice way to spend time together.  We ate dinner in the temple cafeteria to continue feeling the peace as long as I could.  We got home and had a busy evening getting Neal all packed up.  

Early Saturday morning Neal got in his car and drove off.  He drove up to Denver CO in one day.  He called that evening to say he was there safely.  He checked into an extended stay hotel.  He started working on Monday at his new job.  He is looking for a house to rent and as soon as we have something we will schedule a move day for the rest of the family.  

I got up early Saturday morning to participate in a four family yard sale.  It was a lot of work and I didn’t sell much.  But I did sell a few things and it helped me to go through closets and get many things out we didn’t need.  After the yard sale I took a load to the Goodwill.  I am still working on cleaning up things and hopefully will start packing up boxes soon.

The boys playing with a game they got at the yard sale (yes we were trying to downsize and came home with a new game, Ruth was given a new doll too)

Saturday afternoon the kids had fun playing in the water

Neal gave me a dozen roses for our anniversary

I didn’t mention the babysitter.  Kenzie was so kind to us.  She was with the kids all afternoon/evening Friday.  Then she had a sleep over with Ruth.  The girls were talking and giggling a lot.  I had to finally ask them to try to go to sleep so they could get up Saturday morning with the boys.  Saturday I left to the yard sale and Kenzie was our babysitter again.  She helped the kids get breakfast and was with them until I came back about 10:00 to take her home.  She needed to be back to get ready to go on a trip that afternoon.  I am glad that Ruth can have a good role model of a kind young woman.  They are friends and it was nice they could have time together.

Sunday was a bit different to not have Neal with us.  I had many ward members asking about him and about our plans.  It is hard to say good bye to our friends here.  We have been here for nine years and our roots have been planted.  It feels like I am ripping things apart.  But I know that we will be blessed to get to know other wonderful people in Colorado.  I am thankful for the church that gives me support and I know that we will belong to a new ward family when we move, we will just miss this one very much.

We made cake pops for our treat this week, they turned out good this time

This week Andrew is participating in cub scout day camp.  They are meeting at a nice quiet spot owned by Baylor University.  The theme for the week is with knights.  They have done lots of fun activities.  It is fun to hear him talk about it in the evenings.  He really liked seeing a real police helicopter yesterday, shooting arrows with a bow, doing crafts and playing games.  He comes home each day tired and happy.  I am glad that he can have this experience.  

Monday I met with a realtor to list the house.  We did have a sign out “for sale by owner” but decided that we would switch to a realtor since Neal isn’t here.  Hopefully the house will sell quickly and we can get a good price for it.  Our garden is doing well.  I have enjoyed the squash, cucumbers, green beans and peppers we have grown.  I picked my first tomato yesterday.  Last night I enjoyed going to a Relief Society activity on gardening.  I have learned a lot trying to grow a garden in Texas.  I also am happy to be going back north and growing things in a different climate again.  

Well, this got long because it covered two weeks.  I am feeling busy and overwhelmed with everything, but still know we are being guided by the Lord to where we need to be.  I felt so much peace in the temple last week.  I know that all will work out.  It will be a long summer though.