Family Vacation (one of several posts...I hope)

I'm going to try to write a bit everyday. Day one consisted of packing the vehicles and driving...and driving some more...and finally we made it!! We stopped at Davis for some fried pies and then drove into Sulphur to Little Niagra. Benjamin wanted to get his swimming trunks on but we needed to move on. We stopped at Lake Texoma for a picnic lunch right on the lake. Damon and his parents reminisced about family vacations to the Lake from years past. Ginger told us about her setting the grass on fire when she was a young girl. Damon told me about his bicycle wreck...bicycles and tin horns don't go together and he found out the hard way!!
We made it to the cabin, unloaded vehicles, put away the groceries, and I began my work in the kitchen. Jacob, Lauren, and Avery arrived and got all unpacked and ready to begin the week. Lauren and I began preparing dinner while the guys ran to the grocery store to pick up a few items.
Dinner was served, kitchen cleaned, and a movie was started...I went to bed!!
More adventures to come today...well, they've already started...I came out on the deck because I couldn't sleep. Damon soon followed me but neither of us realized the doorknob was locked...YEP, you guessed it...we were locked out. I called my father-in-law to come let us in...and he laughed at us!! That's ok...we laughed too!!

Nosy Facebook Friend

I've had an issue with a nosy FB friend this week. Damon had a friend of his (and mine) call him yesterday to ask if he reads my statuses. Damon has access at any time he wishes. I went back to the beginning of April to read my various statuses and had many friends comment that I had never put anything inappropriate or anything about my husband. Most of the comments from my friends stated things like "the meals I cook," "my job (which I love)," "my boys," or the various activities that we, as a family, are involved. It was such a "high school" thing...but it upset me to think that someone (a "friend") would try to stir up trouble with Damon and I.

My First Trail Ride

Well, yesterday we went to Lindsay for our very first trail ride. We are now members of the Indian Territory Roundup Club...yes, without owning a single horse. We went yesterday and manned the gate...made new friends...ate a great meal with those new friends. We left yesterday morning about 6:30 and returned home about 8:15 last night. Our friends, Rocky, Cindy, and Roger, came over last night and swam for awhile.
Today has been a busy day for us...Sunday School, Church, Falls Creek Sponsors' meeting, home for lunch (and I made 3 apricot cobblers), back to church tonight, then home to prepare for the week.
This week begins week 2 of 3 of the first section of ESY. I moved classrooms last Thursday to be with the students from the classroom I have been in since January. I'm looking forward to the week with these kiddos.

1st week of summer

Well, I've just about made it through the 1st week of ESY...going to be changing rooms tomorrow. We've picked apricots, I've made 1 batch of jam, I've cut up more bags of apricots, I've picked a mess of green beans from the garden along with some zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and lettuce. Looks like we're gonna have a pretty good crop this year. The corn is tasseling...and we have baby ears on there already. We've been in the pool a few times this week...along with a snake we had to kill Saturday night...that's a little too scary!!

I'm ready for life to slow down a bit so we can enjoy the summer...hopefully we can get into a routine and things will get better...I feel so rushed every evening. Dinner, clean-up, and bed...not much time to just relax and spend time together.

We've got the boys...2 of them anyway!!

We are in Hondo, TX spending the night. We picked up Benjamin and Nathan today. Daniel has GeoForce Camp this summer and is not coming up to stay. We left last night (not as early as planned) and made it to Wichita Falls. We got up and on the road this morning about 8:30. They were excited to see us. I took some pics of the boys and Damon and the boys and I...Daniel is now taller than me. I will post pics soon!!
We are looking forward to a good summer...lots of fun to come!!

my last day of freedom....

I spent today (my last day of freedom...quiet house) scrapbooking for a friend of mine (it's a surprise). I wanted to finish it before leaving this weekend. I got all of the pics in there but just need to journal. I will go ahead and give it to her and journal later. I'm excited about it!!

Tomorrow is staff meeting for ESY and then either tomorrow evening or Friday morning we will be leaving to go get the other boys.

Still have a few things that need to get done before leaving. Steven will have a chore list tomorrow to help me get some of it done!! Speaking of Steven, he returned from Children's Camp this afternoon---exhausted...he's been sleeping since about 2:30...26 more days till we have Youth Camp!!

That's it for now!!!

School's Out for the Summer

ok...i didn't do so well with this "everyday blog"...now school is out for the summer and today is my 1st day at home (alone)...Steven is gone to Children's Camp and won't be back til tomorrow and Damon is at work (of course)...i have an ESY (summer school) staff meeting on Thursday...and if Damon gets home early enough on Thursday we will leave to get the other boys otherwise we'll leave Friday morning!!

i'm excited about the boys being here...i start ESY next Monday...it is for 3 weeks in June and 3 weeks in July 4 days a week (7:40-11:20)...Falls Creek Youth camp falls right between the 2 sessions...then family vacation to Beaver's Bend the last week of July...so we have a busy summer ahead of us!!

stay tuned for pics throughout the summer...i'll try to do a better job now that i have a brand new laptop...a lot more convenient than my old computer...

Shopping...shopping...shopping

Okay...I've been shopping today...thrift store mostly...found some really good bargains!! I was looking for something to wear for our Valentine's Banquet at church (coming up a week from tomorrow...which brings me to another subject--Steven's 18th birthday--will discuss later). I didn't really know what I wanted just knew I wanted (needed something new since most of my closet doesn't fit me anymore--good thing--went down a few sizes--another subject). I found 3 skirts, 2 sweaters, and a blouse at the thrift store. I went to Cato's and found 2 shirts. Yesterday, I found 2 skirts, a sweater, and a pair of boots at the Salvation Army thrift store.

At last year's banquet, we put on skits from Hee Haw and I was Minnie Pearl...still have my dress and hat from that...wonder if I'll ever wear them again...speaking of hats...I found a tote of Damon's grandma's hats!! I've worn a few of them...they are all so neat...they all have a story to tell I'm sure! I'll have to get a picture of some of them and post it on here...

And now, as I mentioned above...Steven's 18th birthday is coming up too quickly...on February 15, Steven will be 18...I'm planning a surprise kinda party at youth on the night before with a cake to be made and delivered by one of our church friends. It will be such a good surprise for him...he hasn't had a "real" birthday cake for over 5 years!!

2 weeks since my last post...pathetic!!

Ok...guess I didn't start off too well...I'm pretty pathetic!! I was wanting so bad to succeed at this blogging thing...guess I'm a little too busy right now with subbing!! I'm loving my long-term sub job...I'm in an autism room with wonderful kiddos and wonderful staff!! I'm really hoping for a job at this same school next year...say some prayers for this to happen!! Anyway, we are into our 2nd semester as "real" parents with Steven going to school at Washington High...we are enjoying it...at least this semester is a little less hectic (without marching band and football!)!!

I guess I'm going to start my Master's next fall!! I'm really wanting to be in a special ed room...although at this point...I'll take any classroom (well, maybe not any?!?!)...just hoping for "A" classroom next year.

I'll try to be a little more productive with this blog!!

It's Hump Day!!!

Well, this week is half over!! I'm really enjoying my long term sub assignment. It is in an autistism room. I feel like I've been in there all year. Everyone has made me feel really welcome and like a part of the group. I miss the DD Pre-K classroom I've been in at the same school but I get to visit with the teacher and her assistants daily. I just don't want these 6 weeks to end!!! I'm getting to use my sign language with one of the students. One of the students reminds me so much of Lindsay (was her para back in MO). Her mannerisms and all...I just love it!!

Anyway, keep checking back here for some more updates on the job front. I'm praying for a job at this same school for next year. God has a plan for me and has put me there for a very good reason...we shall see what it is!!!

Taking the Boys Back

Well, I didn't post all weekend because we were on the road. We (Damon and I) left here on Friday morning to take Daniel, Benjamin, and Nathan back to Brackettville, TX. We took a different route than usual and saw a lot of new and beautiful things. Anyway, we went through the Hill Country of Texas (Llano, Bandera, Kerrville, etc.). We dropped them off at about 10:30 Friday night with Doug and drove back to Uvalde, TX to spend the night. We decided that we would drive the same route home.

On Saturday, we drove back through the Hill Country and stopped along the way. One of our stops was at the Nimitz Museum of the Pacific War. We were going to take the tour but we were told it took anywhere from 3-7 hours to see the entire museum. We opted for the free portion, which was what we wanted to see anyway. Grandpa Carlton's ship has a plaque there. He and Damon (Dad) went for the dedication of the plaque. This is definitely somewhere we want to go back and visit when we have more time. We got back to OK about 10:30ish Saturday night. We were tired but had a great day, just the 2 of us. Steven spent the weekend here at home. He didn't want to go so we allowed him to stay here.