"You weren't supposed to find that!" Jon moans. "Is this real? I'm not really going on a plane in 2 hours, am I?" I can tell by his mischievous smile that it is real. "Are you coming with me?" Now I feel paniced. I'm not emotionally ready to leave my homemaking sanctuary and go into the unknown of a major Airport with no idea who or what I was going for. Jon's response, "I'm staying home, I'm watching the kids and I promise you'll love being with who you're going to be with." I'm racking my brain trying to think of any random people I know in Chicago or anything about Chicago. No idea, scared, nervous bubbles start rumbling in my stomach. Maybe I can have a civil disobedience sit down and refuse to go. Jon is herding kids to the bus stop, loading my clothes into a suitcase, while I go through the motions of changing a diaper, tying shoes, cleaning up breakfast, etc. "Will I need my curling iron? Will I need shampoo?" "I don't think so. No" I shoot questions at Jon like artillery, trying to get a hint, more information, anything. One of Jon's flaws, he can't keep a secret, can't lie to me, can't because I can see the truthfulness in his clear innocent eyes. Or so I thought, I remember the big fib he had told at the beginning of this race that flights were not involved.
The tension and confusion starts mounting as the kids are leaving for the bus and Jon lets something slip. The truth comes flying out on one question. "Do I need my hairspray?" Being rushed he flings back a quick answer, "No, I bet Michelle or Kari will have it."
A huge squeal of excitement!!!!!! YEAHHH! I'm going to see my sisters! I'm going to a big city with my sisters!!
"Oh no," Jon slaps his face. "Michelle's going to kill me." He's totally deflated but I'm soaring. No more stomach acid, no more worries. My hubby's going to take care of my kids, and I'm going to party with my favorite females in the world! One more glitch, Taison.... who is still nursing, not sleeping through the night. "How long will I be gone? What about Taison? What are we going to do?"
We are running to catch the school bus. "You'll come home Saturday night. With you completely gone, Taison will get weaned. I'll teach him how to sleep through the night. And once you're in Chicago, Michelle's got the whole thing planned, seeing a show, shopping for clothes, sightseeing. She's taking care of the hotel through her business trip points." Wow! A shopping trip with just sisters. Can anything sound more cool?! I used to hate shopping and as a mom it's a necessary part of my week, a screaming, trying to entertain small children and read my shopping list, type of painful experience. But as a mom shopping for myself with no one to entertain! I all of a sudden LOVE shopping. My wardrobe consists mostly of plain colored shirts and jeans. This will at least mean a few things I actually want for my birthday. Jon tells me my budget for meals and food and I can't imagine a better way to get birthday presents.
The school bus is late so Jon gets the car, while I share my exciting story with my neighborhood parents waiting too. We drop the kids off at school and Jon drives as quickly as he can to the airport. He spills all the information, feeling a sense of relief that he can actually talk to me about this. He teases me about my off the wall ideas from his clues, and how he emailed Michelle and Kari all my random guesses and they all laughed at me. He told me Michelle wanted me to be blindfolded and dropped off at the airport. I told him, if I'd gotten that type of surprise I'd have punched him, being so nervous and scared. I'm glad it all fell the way it did.
As we get closer to the airport, the nerves are replaced by a peaceful amazing gratitude. I can't believe how nice Heavenly Father is to give me a present like this, how Michelle could brainstorm such sweet and spontaneous thoughtfulness, Kari and Michelle could spend the money on tickets to come out here. I can't believe what an awesome life I have. I didn't realize how good I really have it, even without a present this good, it's still pretty amazing to have people that good and that giving and that loving in my life. I say goodbye to Jon, Corynn and a screaming Taison who seems to sense my leaving will seriously damage his parasitic life. I get on the airplane, wanting to scream out loud, my sisters are flying out for my birthday and my hubby's giving me a get away and taking care of my kids. I start to get nervous again so I start to read my book called The Lightning Thief. I periodically take a break to be amazed by the beautiful sky and what is happening. The gratitude overwhelms me and I actually start to cry. I can't believe how good my life is.
We touch down, and I get all excited to see my sisters. I walk off the plane, smiling as wide as I can, scanning the crowd for my sisters' faces. No one yet looks familiar. I get to the end of the exit and pathway. No one looking up smiling. They are hiding, I think, imagining them with a video camera somewhere, laughing at my confusion. I decide to sit and look calm. No one yet. I'm sure they are getting this on tape. I won't act scared or disappointed. A few minutes pass, and I think, they have lost me. They don't know where I'm at. All of sudden I think, how funny! Well, I'll turn the surprise around. I'll go use the bathroom and they won't find me here, HA! I go wait in the long line that inevitably occurs in a Women's Restroom, laughing to myself. I feel a sense of urgency to hurry and go hide behind the corner to look for them. I take my sweet time washing my hands.
Go, now! I feel. No, I want them to panic first. Go now! Not yet, I want them to suffer, after all the confusion and frustration I felt these past few days. Go now! I feel. Alright, I leave the bathroom and look around smiling. No one yet, except in the distance I seeing running a frantic faced Michelle! She sees me and we scream! I see Kari a little ways back and scream again! Great big loud hugs and Sister Screams fill the airport as passerbys wonder what just happened. Kari opens a big pink banner that says Happy Birthday, which I still have hanging in my bedroom, and says Happy Birthday. Michelle wonders how much I knew or expected, and I tell her Jon gave a little bit away at the last minute. A flight attendant takes our picture and I tell them my sisters surprised me for my birthday by flying out here and my husband gave me my ticket this morning. They smile. It's so great to see Kari and Meesh. They look so good and so familiar. They are my family and I am theirs. Their flight was late and they were worried. If I hadn't been there, they would've been so frantic and chased all over the airport. It was perfect timing emerging from the restroom when I did. We are gushing with questions and answers and laughing and stories all the way to baggage claim. A guy comes up to me and says "Is this your sister?" to Kari. "Happy Birthday" She had sat next to him on the plane and told him the whole story. I don't know what impressed him more, that they had conjured this all up, or that Jon had actually packed my suitcase by himself. We get a taxi thanks so Michelle and head off into the city of Chicago...
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
I see some more information has come to light since I wrote some of this stuff. Thanks for the details Shaunae and Becca and Summer. Love ya MOM
Sept 13, 2007
Dear Family
Dad got back from Utah having an enjoyable time with the Utahites and his Dad. Michelle went down to Logandale with Dad. Grandpa is doing well. His legs aren’t very strong but he eats well and could visit and played games with understanding and cunning. His metal state is far better than Grandpa Fielding. Dad got the screw put into his post in his jaw. Next week they will make the impression and in the following week, he will get the job finished. Since he has been home, he has been refinishing the doors of the closet in the N bedroom downstairs, the trim around the doors and the doors and bathroom cabinets. He is painting them white and they really look bright and clean. I spent 4 days on the fruit room, cleaning and organizing and vacuuming the mouse tracks. We put the wheat buckets in the back room and have put everything into plastic buckets or bottles. Hopefully, the mice can’t find any thing inviting them to stay. I hope we don’t get any. This weekend Summer and Steve are coming to do some sewing and attend regional conference with us. We have tomatoes and peppers and squash to share with them. They are looking to move to Rexburg in December and start school in Jan. I have gotten Shaunae’s report about the Chicago Three’s adventures but need the other two’s reports. Remember, no one else knows what happened so get it written up. Sounds like you had a lot of fun talking and shopping together. I had a nice visit with Steven and Kathy. The girls are attending public school and Cooper has a preschool he attends. Ashton is in all day kindergarden and Corynn goes to preschool too. Becca has all the kids off track right now except the 3 oldest so she is doing “summer vacation” again. Joanna is doing well with Volleyball and Michael with marching band. These are bits and pieces I have gleaned from various phone conversations. Dad says Gunnar is doing well in school. If I’m not accurate, you need to fill in the details. We are trying to get lots done but things seem to take long than they are planned for. The weather is lovely and staying around the mid 80’s. We keep pushing but don’t have the energy level we did 10 yrs ago. We do love you all.
What! this is the 19th and this isn’t mailed? What has happened? Let see, Summer and Steve came down and spent Friday night with us and Sat we did “baby sewing”…no not yet. We made cute pj’s and a blanket. Sonia came over and sewed too. Sat Dad did missionarying most of the day and had a 4 pm priesthood leadership meeting. Steve went with his mother to attend the ML Stake meetings and Summer nursed a bad cold here. I took some investigators down to the meeting in Othello. Sunday was the WA state Regional Broadcasted conference and Pres Hinckley was one of the speakers alone with the YM and YW second councilors and and 2nd coun of the Presiding Bishopric and Elder Hales. It was a very good meeting and I stayed awake most of the time. We all slept most of the afternoon after a big normal Sunday meal. Monday I got the china closet packed up and Tues we had our Doctor apt for our mission physicals. He recommended that dad get his heart reevaluted with a stress test and scheduled us to go to Spokane today for it. We have spent the day in Spokane. They used chemicals to make his heart race to its max heart rate then took pictures of it . The dye had radioactive isotopes that would show his blood flow through his heart. It left him with a terrible headache. We went up to Summer’s to take some stuff and have lunch. He finally had to get in the shower, drink two cokes and took 4 advil for it to stop. Dad has been painting the bathroom downstairs and fixing that nasty part above the shower. Things are moving along. The storage room is gradually filling up, but most things are now packed except our bedroom and the kitchen. We talked to Ralph Howes, do you kids remember him from Panama, last night. They retired from the Army at 53 and have been on 7 missions. He gave me suggestions on how to pay bill, find appropriate appliances for 220 volts and what to do with the house. Part of it was helpful. It was fun to talk to them. We love you all and hope you are all doing well. Love MOM
Sept 13, 2007
Dear Family
Dad got back from Utah having an enjoyable time with the Utahites and his Dad. Michelle went down to Logandale with Dad. Grandpa is doing well. His legs aren’t very strong but he eats well and could visit and played games with understanding and cunning. His metal state is far better than Grandpa Fielding. Dad got the screw put into his post in his jaw. Next week they will make the impression and in the following week, he will get the job finished. Since he has been home, he has been refinishing the doors of the closet in the N bedroom downstairs, the trim around the doors and the doors and bathroom cabinets. He is painting them white and they really look bright and clean. I spent 4 days on the fruit room, cleaning and organizing and vacuuming the mouse tracks. We put the wheat buckets in the back room and have put everything into plastic buckets or bottles. Hopefully, the mice can’t find any thing inviting them to stay. I hope we don’t get any. This weekend Summer and Steve are coming to do some sewing and attend regional conference with us. We have tomatoes and peppers and squash to share with them. They are looking to move to Rexburg in December and start school in Jan. I have gotten Shaunae’s report about the Chicago Three’s adventures but need the other two’s reports. Remember, no one else knows what happened so get it written up. Sounds like you had a lot of fun talking and shopping together. I had a nice visit with Steven and Kathy. The girls are attending public school and Cooper has a preschool he attends. Ashton is in all day kindergarden and Corynn goes to preschool too. Becca has all the kids off track right now except the 3 oldest so she is doing “summer vacation” again. Joanna is doing well with Volleyball and Michael with marching band. These are bits and pieces I have gleaned from various phone conversations. Dad says Gunnar is doing well in school. If I’m not accurate, you need to fill in the details. We are trying to get lots done but things seem to take long than they are planned for. The weather is lovely and staying around the mid 80’s. We keep pushing but don’t have the energy level we did 10 yrs ago. We do love you all.
What! this is the 19th and this isn’t mailed? What has happened? Let see, Summer and Steve came down and spent Friday night with us and Sat we did “baby sewing”…no not yet. We made cute pj’s and a blanket. Sonia came over and sewed too. Sat Dad did missionarying most of the day and had a 4 pm priesthood leadership meeting. Steve went with his mother to attend the ML Stake meetings and Summer nursed a bad cold here. I took some investigators down to the meeting in Othello. Sunday was the WA state Regional Broadcasted conference and Pres Hinckley was one of the speakers alone with the YM and YW second councilors and and 2nd coun of the Presiding Bishopric and Elder Hales. It was a very good meeting and I stayed awake most of the time. We all slept most of the afternoon after a big normal Sunday meal. Monday I got the china closet packed up and Tues we had our Doctor apt for our mission physicals. He recommended that dad get his heart reevaluted with a stress test and scheduled us to go to Spokane today for it. We have spent the day in Spokane. They used chemicals to make his heart race to its max heart rate then took pictures of it . The dye had radioactive isotopes that would show his blood flow through his heart. It left him with a terrible headache. We went up to Summer’s to take some stuff and have lunch. He finally had to get in the shower, drink two cokes and took 4 advil for it to stop. Dad has been painting the bathroom downstairs and fixing that nasty part above the shower. Things are moving along. The storage room is gradually filling up, but most things are now packed except our bedroom and the kitchen. We talked to Ralph Howes, do you kids remember him from Panama, last night. They retired from the Army at 53 and have been on 7 missions. He gave me suggestions on how to pay bill, find appropriate appliances for 220 volts and what to do with the house. Part of it was helpful. It was fun to talk to them. We love you all and hope you are all doing well. Love MOM
We're here
Ah, after much poking and prodding, and pulling of teeth, I have, at last, sat down to write. You would think that with the transcription course that I would have no problem typing out a quick and easy letter. However, my fingers would tell you a different story. Lets just say they feel as though the wicked witch with behind them(imagine her voice when she’s telling the monkeys “fly my beauties, fly!”) “Type, faster, faster! Pinky! Come back here, stop wondering off like that!”
Well, here goes. As of late, we’ve had a change in heart about school. Steven really doesn’t want to do the hearing instrument program, but instead he really really wants to study mechanical engineering and to eventually become a biomedical engineer. So after fasting and praying, he has sent in him application for BYU-Idaho. We are hoping to be able to attend this January! Everything has been falling into place. Lots of information and money have been flying our way. Heavenly Father is being very generous and Steven is very excited.
We’ve even filled out subsidized housing applications and are now on some waiting lists. So everything will work out. Steve is taking a math class at the comm.. college so he can get caught up and refreshed.
Also, my job, as a test proctor, has been really fun. I’ve been trapped inside an office for 6 hours at a time. One of my co-workers, Richelle, starting asking gobs of questions about my mission( I always let that one slip out) and then about the church and values and then about the book of mormon. Now remember we work about 6-8 hours together in one day while watching people take tests so we covered lots of topics. One morning she came in and said that her father had been meeting with the missionaries and her step-mother had been really against it. So the step-mother got on the internet and bombarded the poor man with anti stuff. Of course her biggest find was that Mormons believe they can become gods and have their own kingdoms. So Richelle asks me about this and a tester raises their hand to got use the restroom, so I go in the testing room to escort them out and at the same time praying about what to say. So when we can talk again I asked her who she thinks God is and have she thinks His reason is for putting us here. She thought for about 5 min, and then said Well, I think that He is our Father, and well this could just be crazy but, doesn’t He want to become like Him and have what He has?” I just about burst laughing and told her that she had figured out some of the most important doctrine there is. I invited her out to church. She came, met with the missionaries, has been going to church ever since. She has a 2 yr old girl that she loves bring to church.
So on Saturday, Richelle is going to be baptized! She’s so ready for it too. She actually ponders about things and receives revelation. She’s so wonderful. It’s exciting.
Baby fever! Yes, we’ve caught it. However, we haven’t let it get to our heads. No, we’re definitely not pregnant. Do you really think that we would tell you like this? Come on. I might not contact ya’ll that often, but we would at least call. J Anyway, fun stuff. I been talking to my co-workers about babies, pregnancy, and practically every aspect of it. Well, Richelle particularly has been giving us tons of baby stuff. From high chair, books, monitors, to even pulling a playnpak out of a garbage can. (her neighbors didn’t want to go to goodwill) Everything is in great shape. Another co-worker wants to give us her crib. Can we say BLESSINGS! I guess that’s all I wanted to say we’ve been extremely blessed. We love you!!!--Summer and Steven
Well, here goes. As of late, we’ve had a change in heart about school. Steven really doesn’t want to do the hearing instrument program, but instead he really really wants to study mechanical engineering and to eventually become a biomedical engineer. So after fasting and praying, he has sent in him application for BYU-Idaho. We are hoping to be able to attend this January! Everything has been falling into place. Lots of information and money have been flying our way. Heavenly Father is being very generous and Steven is very excited.
We’ve even filled out subsidized housing applications and are now on some waiting lists. So everything will work out. Steve is taking a math class at the comm.. college so he can get caught up and refreshed.
Also, my job, as a test proctor, has been really fun. I’ve been trapped inside an office for 6 hours at a time. One of my co-workers, Richelle, starting asking gobs of questions about my mission( I always let that one slip out) and then about the church and values and then about the book of mormon. Now remember we work about 6-8 hours together in one day while watching people take tests so we covered lots of topics. One morning she came in and said that her father had been meeting with the missionaries and her step-mother had been really against it. So the step-mother got on the internet and bombarded the poor man with anti stuff. Of course her biggest find was that Mormons believe they can become gods and have their own kingdoms. So Richelle asks me about this and a tester raises their hand to got use the restroom, so I go in the testing room to escort them out and at the same time praying about what to say. So when we can talk again I asked her who she thinks God is and have she thinks His reason is for putting us here. She thought for about 5 min, and then said Well, I think that He is our Father, and well this could just be crazy but, doesn’t He want to become like Him and have what He has?” I just about burst laughing and told her that she had figured out some of the most important doctrine there is. I invited her out to church. She came, met with the missionaries, has been going to church ever since. She has a 2 yr old girl that she loves bring to church.
So on Saturday, Richelle is going to be baptized! She’s so ready for it too. She actually ponders about things and receives revelation. She’s so wonderful. It’s exciting.
Baby fever! Yes, we’ve caught it. However, we haven’t let it get to our heads. No, we’re definitely not pregnant. Do you really think that we would tell you like this? Come on. I might not contact ya’ll that often, but we would at least call. J Anyway, fun stuff. I been talking to my co-workers about babies, pregnancy, and practically every aspect of it. Well, Richelle particularly has been giving us tons of baby stuff. From high chair, books, monitors, to even pulling a playnpak out of a garbage can. (her neighbors didn’t want to go to goodwill) Everything is in great shape. Another co-worker wants to give us her crib. Can we say BLESSINGS! I guess that’s all I wanted to say we’ve been extremely blessed. We love you!!!--Summer and Steven
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Best Present Ever! Turning 30...
It all started on Tuesday afternoon two days before my 30th birthday when I recieved a mysterious email from shaunaesamazingrace@gmail.com. It announced a great race to find out what I was going to do for my 30th birthday. I immediately thought of Jon who had told me he had recently made email addresses for the kids for when their older. Ah-ha! I thought, it's him and he's not going to get away with all this sneakiness. I'll find out what he's up to and figure it all out.
The first clue: "Be on 1012 at 1100" I thought of flights and googled airlines with flights 1012, but when I called Jon later and told him about the emails and my idea, he said I was dreaming if I was going to be flying anywhere for my birthday. I totally dropped that idea and googled more ideas. 1o12 also happens to be the chemical name for saphire.. This is looking good I thought.
The next clue "I'll see you in blue at a memorial for June 4, 1942" Google came up with The Battle of Midway from World War II. I thought of DC's memorials. There's tons there. I bet I'm meeting him for lunch on my birthday and we'll picnic at a World War II memorial.
The 3rd clue- "You need to research The curse of the billy goat"- Google came up with a story about a man who went to a Chicago Cubs game with a goat in tow. When he was later kicked out, he cursed the stadium, that they would never win until they accepted and loved the goat. They went on a two year losing streak. I found out there was a restuarant chain called The Billy Goat Curse Tavern and Grill" that's done very well and has one in DC.
By the end of Tuesday, I had a head full of clues, used up all my free time researching on the internet, and had just had Ashton's first day of Kindergarten. I had a huge headache from the chaos of everything.
Meanwhile, Jon calls me and tells me there's more clues in my email that I need to look at, and he-ha's as he hears me read them and my exasperated replies.
Wednesday I got a nice clue... a map so it says. It is a table with two columns, one side reading left, right, left, left, and the other mileage. Seems easy enough, except on the bottom it says "Oops the mileage got all mixed up." I wasn't swearing just telling Jon I wasn't going to drive downtown DC on my own to eat lunch with him with confusing clues like that.
Later he sent me a bar code which I was sure was an incoded message. I printed it out, enlarged and folded it to look at it sideways. (I was really into Nancy Drew growing up) I thought I saw the word Fall. Wednesday I started getting nervous when he told me I needed to get a small suitcase with a few things in it... a swimming suit, a nice outfit, and some good walking shoes. Now my ideas where all over.. Was this going to be a mid day outing downtown? Was he taking me somewhere for the evening? Then my mothering instincts kicked in and I was worried about who would watch the kids, would I be back for Ashton after school? He said he had someone watching the kids that I trusted but it would be the last person I would think of. Jon also said his night class that night was canceled. I was still stressing about my kids, Taison who doesn't sleep through the night and was not weaned yet. I went to bed that night with another headache.
Thursday morning Jon announces he has the day off of work. OK, this is good. I'm liking this birthday present so far. We get Ashton ready for school and Jon is frantically packing my suitcase, looking at the clock and printing on the computer. That's when I notice an envelope on the table. It said "This is your last clue but it will be more confusing then them all" I didn't know if I was supposed to see this one yet, but with Jon out of the room, I didn't want to ask permission. I hurried and opened it to find.... a boarding pass Flight 1012 leaving for Chicago Midway Airport at 11:00. That was in 2 hours. I couldn't believe it. I went outside to calmly freak out and panic and get nervous. Was this real? Was it a fake boarding pass? Was there only one? Was he coming with me? I don't like doing things by myself.. ...AH! Jon came upstairs, I hid the paper, and he immediately went to the table to look for the envelope. He looked scared and thought it had gotten thrown away. "You mean this?" I ask waving it in front of him..
The first clue: "Be on 1012 at 1100" I thought of flights and googled airlines with flights 1012, but when I called Jon later and told him about the emails and my idea, he said I was dreaming if I was going to be flying anywhere for my birthday. I totally dropped that idea and googled more ideas. 1o12 also happens to be the chemical name for saphire.. This is looking good I thought.
The next clue "I'll see you in blue at a memorial for June 4, 1942" Google came up with The Battle of Midway from World War II. I thought of DC's memorials. There's tons there. I bet I'm meeting him for lunch on my birthday and we'll picnic at a World War II memorial.
The 3rd clue- "You need to research The curse of the billy goat"- Google came up with a story about a man who went to a Chicago Cubs game with a goat in tow. When he was later kicked out, he cursed the stadium, that they would never win until they accepted and loved the goat. They went on a two year losing streak. I found out there was a restuarant chain called The Billy Goat Curse Tavern and Grill" that's done very well and has one in DC.
By the end of Tuesday, I had a head full of clues, used up all my free time researching on the internet, and had just had Ashton's first day of Kindergarten. I had a huge headache from the chaos of everything.
Meanwhile, Jon calls me and tells me there's more clues in my email that I need to look at, and he-ha's as he hears me read them and my exasperated replies.
Wednesday I got a nice clue... a map so it says. It is a table with two columns, one side reading left, right, left, left, and the other mileage. Seems easy enough, except on the bottom it says "Oops the mileage got all mixed up." I wasn't swearing just telling Jon I wasn't going to drive downtown DC on my own to eat lunch with him with confusing clues like that.
Later he sent me a bar code which I was sure was an incoded message. I printed it out, enlarged and folded it to look at it sideways. (I was really into Nancy Drew growing up) I thought I saw the word Fall. Wednesday I started getting nervous when he told me I needed to get a small suitcase with a few things in it... a swimming suit, a nice outfit, and some good walking shoes. Now my ideas where all over.. Was this going to be a mid day outing downtown? Was he taking me somewhere for the evening? Then my mothering instincts kicked in and I was worried about who would watch the kids, would I be back for Ashton after school? He said he had someone watching the kids that I trusted but it would be the last person I would think of. Jon also said his night class that night was canceled. I was still stressing about my kids, Taison who doesn't sleep through the night and was not weaned yet. I went to bed that night with another headache.
Thursday morning Jon announces he has the day off of work. OK, this is good. I'm liking this birthday present so far. We get Ashton ready for school and Jon is frantically packing my suitcase, looking at the clock and printing on the computer. That's when I notice an envelope on the table. It said "This is your last clue but it will be more confusing then them all" I didn't know if I was supposed to see this one yet, but with Jon out of the room, I didn't want to ask permission. I hurried and opened it to find.... a boarding pass Flight 1012 leaving for Chicago Midway Airport at 11:00. That was in 2 hours. I couldn't believe it. I went outside to calmly freak out and panic and get nervous. Was this real? Was it a fake boarding pass? Was there only one? Was he coming with me? I don't like doing things by myself.. ...AH! Jon came upstairs, I hid the paper, and he immediately went to the table to look for the envelope. He looked scared and thought it had gotten thrown away. "You mean this?" I ask waving it in front of him..
An Ellsworth Monday
I just thought I'd blog my most recent email to a friend. It's short and sweet but I thought it was blog worthy. I really am going to blob about my awesome birthday present of seeing my sisters.
Today is our Monday! We were running around like crazy, getting oriented for Corynn's first day of preschool tomorrow. She's excited I think. :) At least she'll be interacting with other kids her own age for a little bit more time. I always love hearing the new things they are learning too. It cracks me up to hear their interpretation on things. Right now she is playing "puppies" out on the deck and Taison is napping. I'm exhausted. We all slept funny last night. Each person took a turn waking up. I think the weather is starting to get cold and the kids weren't warm enough or something. We are working on getting Taison to sleep through the night. He's weaned now that I went on that trip with my sisters. It's kind of sad to be done, but I will definetly enjoy the sleeping through the night part.
So I just discovered moths in my cupboards. Yuck! Then we had a family over for dinner yesterday and while I was making powdered mashed potatoes I found a package with a white caterpillar inside!!!! Gross me out and I'm even alright with most bugs. You mess with my food, and I get real disgusted. Jon's researched it online and now I have to go through all the food in the cupboard, toss the opened stuff and put anything I want to keep in the freezer for 4 days. Luckily we have a big freezer we got last year that is pretty empty. It just makes me nervous about my food storage down stairs. There's some flour that's not in heavy duty buckets. I think this week I'm going to go buy some more buckets and seal up the random food in boxes that I've been saving. These bugs aren't taking me down without a fight! :)
Today is our Monday! We were running around like crazy, getting oriented for Corynn's first day of preschool tomorrow. She's excited I think. :) At least she'll be interacting with other kids her own age for a little bit more time. I always love hearing the new things they are learning too. It cracks me up to hear their interpretation on things. Right now she is playing "puppies" out on the deck and Taison is napping. I'm exhausted. We all slept funny last night. Each person took a turn waking up. I think the weather is starting to get cold and the kids weren't warm enough or something. We are working on getting Taison to sleep through the night. He's weaned now that I went on that trip with my sisters. It's kind of sad to be done, but I will definetly enjoy the sleeping through the night part.
So I just discovered moths in my cupboards. Yuck! Then we had a family over for dinner yesterday and while I was making powdered mashed potatoes I found a package with a white caterpillar inside!!!! Gross me out and I'm even alright with most bugs. You mess with my food, and I get real disgusted. Jon's researched it online and now I have to go through all the food in the cupboard, toss the opened stuff and put anything I want to keep in the freezer for 4 days. Luckily we have a big freezer we got last year that is pretty empty. It just makes me nervous about my food storage down stairs. There's some flour that's not in heavy duty buckets. I think this week I'm going to go buy some more buckets and seal up the random food in boxes that I've been saving. These bugs aren't taking me down without a fight! :)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Karl and Becca family letter
September 11, 2007
It’s been a busy two months. I keep meaning to write more often, it’s just not happening. The kids started school and are now or have been off track already. Michael and Joanna started school mid August. They’re doing fairly well. Marching Band is keeping Michael busy. He’s enjoying it though. They had their first public performance Friday night at the football game. Joanna’s volleyball season ends this week. She moved up from last year’s C team to this year’s B team and has continued to improve. She was named “star of the game” for one of last week’s games. (She deserved it too.) She also scored the winning point in her game yesterday. Yay, Joanna!!! She was a WEB (where everyone belongs) leader and helped the 7th graders transition to middle school. Matthew has been off track the last three weeks. He’s glad to be back in school (I try to keep it boring at home so they’re excited for school.). He goes on PLUM (Pine Lane up in the Mountains) tomorrow. It’s called Outdoor Ed at other schools. He’ll be in Estes Park for three days. He’s earned his Tenderfoot and went to a Merit Badge college on Saturday. He enjoyed playing baseball this summer and is now playing flag football. Alyssa is enjoying 5th grade. She did an explorer project on Balboa, did a great job with her presentation. She dressed up as Balboa and told his life story. Her teacher was very impressed. She’s started Orchestra, playing the violin and is in choir again this year. She’s enjoying the cooler weather, out riding her bike a lot. She’s been reading the “Royal Diaries” series and Nancy Drew. She had a fun birthday and received the HSM2 CD that she wanted. Brett was baptized on Aug. 4th and we enjoyed the company that came for that. Thanks again to Dad and Janae for the talks and Nathan, Heather, Cheryl and Janae for the musical number. He’s also playing flag football, in choir and continues to be interested in all things Sports. He went rock climbing (at a rock climbing gym) for a birthday party and had lots of fun with that. Jacob is doing really well in school, amazing his teacher with his reading skills. He amazes me too. Either he really guesses well from context, or he can read some big words. He has made some fun friends and keeps begging me to ask their parents for their phone numbers. Jesse and Braden are in a playgroup (which has met once), and enjoy playing with their friends. They continue to keep me busy with their antics. I’m enjoying Activity Days. I taught the girls to can peaches (with peaches from Michael’s marching band fundraiser). I also canned a bunch of my own, made jam, made a couple of peach cobblers and we ate a lot of peaches those last few weeks of August. I also taught an Enrichment class in August (my first in 15 years). Thanks to Mom and Cheryl for attending (especially while Cheryl was in labor). That’s a dedicated sister. The class was on organizing your daily schedule. Those weeks that I was preparing was when my days got really busy and it was all I could do to get everything done. So, I needed the class more than anyone else. Karl’s keeping busy with work and Young Men’s. Well, the twins and their friends are laughing a lot and that can only mean they’re getting into trouble. I’d better go check it out.
Love you,
The Barnums
Thursday, September 6, 2007
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