We are on the downhill slide of the spring semester. Only four more weeks of school to go. I always get to this time of the school year and think, "Where did the time go?" And if I think we're busy now all I need to do is look at the upcoming months on the calendar on the fridge.
NO FASHION SENSE. It's really a good thing there are no such thing as fashion police. Nate could fund a major community project with all the citations he would receive. I could too. I know this doesn't really happen as frequently as the picture in my mind has it, but Vicki sends him back upstairs many mornings to change either his shirt or his pants.
He gets it from me. I almost never notice things like that. We were talking about it at work the other day and I made the comment that everyone could come to work naked and I'd never notice. I'm pretty sure they haven't tested me on this, but I could have missed it. I guess that's why Vicki was so aggravated with me a few weeks ago when Ben arrived at church wearing Nate's pants which were high waters on him. Hey, I did brush his hair.
Back to Nate, the other day he came down with a blue shirt and bright blue shorts on. Once Vicki called my attention to it I had to agree, it truly was hideous. Poor Nate made two more trips back upstairs to get something that matched and he didn't understand why.
We'd be really bland people if it weren't for quirks like this.
LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION AND THEN SOME. When Pauline moved here back in 2003 she continued to subscribe to The Camden Chronicle to keep up with news back home. Her subscription was still current when she passed away a couple of years ago. Since Vicki enjoyed skimming through it we figured we'd just let the subscription run out naturally. Again, that was 2010.
We had new renters move in to Pauline's old house this month. Since the Chronicle was the only piece of mail Pauline was still getting regularly Vicki decided to call them and see how far ahead Pauline had paid for the paper. Turns out someone at their office had miskeyed the subscription info. Pauline was set to receive the Chronicle until 2035. We have officially lost touch with Benton County now.
SO, WHERE DO I STAND? We were driving along the other day when Vicki spotted a vehicle that she likes and commented, "If we only had two kids that would be the vehicle I'd want to get."
After a moment Nate very nonchalantly piped up from the back, "So, if you were to get rid of one of us, which one would it be?" and then matter of factory added, "I just want to know."
OUT WITH AUNT MAR. The reality is, Aunt Mar cannot get out and go like she could six months ago, so anytime we can take her out to eat is an event. Friday was such an event and we went to Cracker Barrel which she really enjoyed.
We saw several people from church. All we glad to see Aunt Mar out. Chester Frasier slipped up behind her to hug her and give her a quick kiss on the cheek. Taken by surprise she looked up and said, "Who's that kissing me?"
On the way back home I pulled over at the spot where the house she was born in used to stand and asked her if she knew where she was. She did.
Joe
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Slowing Down and Catching Our Breath
Church, tennis, Scouts -- that pretty much sums up life for us the past few weeks. As a matter of fact, it all runs together so much I am struggling to think of things that sound interesting enough to write about.
TENNIS. Jenna's tennis season is over now. Fortunately, all of Jenna's tennis matches were in White House for the first half of their season so it was pretty easy for all of us to get there. The boys and I could even drop in on Mondays and Tuesdays when we were going to or coming from Scouts. For the last half of the schedule the matches were all away so we were spread thin. Actually, I meant to write a few days ago, but for the last few evenings I just kept sitting on the couch thinking, “So this is what it's like to enjoy an evening at home with the family."
Jenna, being the only 8th grader, didn't win any matches, though she did play well for a beginner. I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do if she sticks with it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Speaking of Jenna, she celebrated her 14th birthday on Wednesday. It's so hard to get that in my head even with the evidence right there in front of me.
We went out to celebrate her birthday last Saturday. We went to see the Hunger Games (good movie!) and she invited her friends Mackenzie and Katie along. After the movie we went Cheddars to eat.
I need to stop here and praise Jenna for something she does right. Jenna really chooses her friends wisely. All the girls we meet through her are really top notch people. They are the kind of girls that I want Ben and Nate to find when they are old enough to seriously think about dating. It has simply been a pleasure to be around Jenna's friends.
We celebrated Jenna's birthday again on Friday. Vicki cooked a big meal and we took it over to Aunt Mar's to share it with her and Mom.
SICKNESS. Nate has been a little puny lately. He was feeling rough week before last so Vicki took him to the doctor. It turns out his allergies were bothering him, a touch of pneumonia, and an ear infection. He wound up missing two days of school. We thought he was better over the weekend, but last Sunday night proved our judgement wrong. Vicki took him back to the doctor (along with Ben who was mildly sick), and he missed four more days of school.
Nate got a shot in the rear end on Monday. He was really proud of it and dropped his pants to show it to me. Vicki said he was a good sport and smiled the while time. He was hoping to be sick enough to have an X-ray on Wednesday that the doctor mentioned, but he was on the mend by then and didn't need it. Those sorts of things are cool when you're nine years old. He's all better now and will be at school tomorrow.
Joe
TENNIS. Jenna's tennis season is over now. Fortunately, all of Jenna's tennis matches were in White House for the first half of their season so it was pretty easy for all of us to get there. The boys and I could even drop in on Mondays and Tuesdays when we were going to or coming from Scouts. For the last half of the schedule the matches were all away so we were spread thin. Actually, I meant to write a few days ago, but for the last few evenings I just kept sitting on the couch thinking, “So this is what it's like to enjoy an evening at home with the family."
Jenna, being the only 8th grader, didn't win any matches, though she did play well for a beginner. I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do if she sticks with it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Speaking of Jenna, she celebrated her 14th birthday on Wednesday. It's so hard to get that in my head even with the evidence right there in front of me.
We went out to celebrate her birthday last Saturday. We went to see the Hunger Games (good movie!) and she invited her friends Mackenzie and Katie along. After the movie we went Cheddars to eat.
I need to stop here and praise Jenna for something she does right. Jenna really chooses her friends wisely. All the girls we meet through her are really top notch people. They are the kind of girls that I want Ben and Nate to find when they are old enough to seriously think about dating. It has simply been a pleasure to be around Jenna's friends.
We celebrated Jenna's birthday again on Friday. Vicki cooked a big meal and we took it over to Aunt Mar's to share it with her and Mom.
SICKNESS. Nate has been a little puny lately. He was feeling rough week before last so Vicki took him to the doctor. It turns out his allergies were bothering him, a touch of pneumonia, and an ear infection. He wound up missing two days of school. We thought he was better over the weekend, but last Sunday night proved our judgement wrong. Vicki took him back to the doctor (along with Ben who was mildly sick), and he missed four more days of school.
Nate got a shot in the rear end on Monday. He was really proud of it and dropped his pants to show it to me. Vicki said he was a good sport and smiled the while time. He was hoping to be sick enough to have an X-ray on Wednesday that the doctor mentioned, but he was on the mend by then and didn't need it. Those sorts of things are cool when you're nine years old. He's all better now and will be at school tomorrow.
Joe
Sunday, April 1, 2012
New Adventures Ahead
I think we have been out-of-pocket every night this week. At least the weather has been beautiful -- unbelievable actually. March didn't live up to the old adage this year. It came in as a lamb, was a lamb all the way through, and went out as a lamb. Absolutely no sign of a lion.
A NEW BOY SCOUT. Ben has completed his Cub Scout trail. He and the other boys in his den were awarded the Arrow of Light in a crossing over ceremony on Monday.
This ceremony is very cool. A few of the older Boy Scouts come dressed as Native Americans to tell the story of the Arrow of Light -- how a young Indian boy considered too small to go on a hunting party wound up saving the party who were canoeing in a dense fog from choosing a fork in the river that would take them over a waterfall by shooting a flaming arrow to point the way. This established a new trail to train all young warriors. These boys, having completed this trail, can move on to the Path of the Eagle (Eagle Scout, that is). After the story is told the boys cross over a wooden bridge to join Boy Scouts.
Ben was then eligible to attend his first Boy Scout meeting Tuesday night but he had signed up to perform in a PTO program at school with many of his 5th grade classmates. However, he was invited to the troop campout last weekend. He was one of two Webelos to go, and we camped out last Friday night. I think he really enjoyed it. The Scouts built a 15 foot signal tower from fresh cut sapling poles and rope.
I had a very special moment with Ben on that trip. It actually came when I was leaving. We were camping on a local farm and were close enough for me to leave after breakfast to mow all the yards. As I was driving out of the field I saw Ben chasing me in the rearview mirror. I stopped to see what might be wrong only to get a quick hug from my son through the window. This was from the boy who holds his feelings very close and rarely displays affection. That hug came at a very good time for me. I am happy I can still be part of the adventures that lie ahead.
TENNIS. One thing that keeps us running every night is tennis. So far Jenna has played in one doubles match and then in a singles match. She was pitted against a talented played in her singles match and we were just proud to see her out there trying, after all, she is the only 8th grader on the team. She played far better than I ever did when I took tennis in college (I was a disaster on two feet).
HUNTING EGGS. We held our annual Easter Egg Hunts yesterday. This was a big year for Nate as he has moved up to the flashlight hunt with the older kids. He was pretty miffed at being stuck in the morning hunt with the little kids last year and really enjoyed having arrived last night.
We did have a good turnout yesterday morning with over 50 kids attending. We certainly had pleasant weather for it. Attendance was a little low last night, but that just meant more eggs to find for those present. It's pretty neat to see about 20 flashlights roving all over the field where the eggs were hidden.
MONSTER DREAMS. I think every kid has monsters in their dreams from time to time. Nate woke up this morning telling Vicki about a blue monster he was fighting in his dream. This monster was turning people to stone and the only way to change them back was to give them juice boxes. So, in his dream he had been searching for juice boxes to unfreeze the poor victims.
By this time Vicki had totally lost it, and Nate, in defense of his dream said, "But it was a really BIG monster!"
30 YEARS OF MINISTRY. I want to pass my congratulations along to our pastor, Bill Owen. As of this coming Wednesday, Bro. Bill and his wife, Cindy, have served our church for 30 years. Their ministry has touched our entire community. We recognized Bro. Bill at church this morning. As he pointed out, it is pretty incredible that the first couple he married, the first person he baptized, and the first baby he dedicated are all still actively attending Mt. Carmel.
Bill and Cindy, thank you for all your work in our community, and most of all, for your friendship.
Joe
A NEW BOY SCOUT. Ben has completed his Cub Scout trail. He and the other boys in his den were awarded the Arrow of Light in a crossing over ceremony on Monday.
This ceremony is very cool. A few of the older Boy Scouts come dressed as Native Americans to tell the story of the Arrow of Light -- how a young Indian boy considered too small to go on a hunting party wound up saving the party who were canoeing in a dense fog from choosing a fork in the river that would take them over a waterfall by shooting a flaming arrow to point the way. This established a new trail to train all young warriors. These boys, having completed this trail, can move on to the Path of the Eagle (Eagle Scout, that is). After the story is told the boys cross over a wooden bridge to join Boy Scouts.
Ben was then eligible to attend his first Boy Scout meeting Tuesday night but he had signed up to perform in a PTO program at school with many of his 5th grade classmates. However, he was invited to the troop campout last weekend. He was one of two Webelos to go, and we camped out last Friday night. I think he really enjoyed it. The Scouts built a 15 foot signal tower from fresh cut sapling poles and rope.
I had a very special moment with Ben on that trip. It actually came when I was leaving. We were camping on a local farm and were close enough for me to leave after breakfast to mow all the yards. As I was driving out of the field I saw Ben chasing me in the rearview mirror. I stopped to see what might be wrong only to get a quick hug from my son through the window. This was from the boy who holds his feelings very close and rarely displays affection. That hug came at a very good time for me. I am happy I can still be part of the adventures that lie ahead.
TENNIS. One thing that keeps us running every night is tennis. So far Jenna has played in one doubles match and then in a singles match. She was pitted against a talented played in her singles match and we were just proud to see her out there trying, after all, she is the only 8th grader on the team. She played far better than I ever did when I took tennis in college (I was a disaster on two feet).
HUNTING EGGS. We held our annual Easter Egg Hunts yesterday. This was a big year for Nate as he has moved up to the flashlight hunt with the older kids. He was pretty miffed at being stuck in the morning hunt with the little kids last year and really enjoyed having arrived last night.
We did have a good turnout yesterday morning with over 50 kids attending. We certainly had pleasant weather for it. Attendance was a little low last night, but that just meant more eggs to find for those present. It's pretty neat to see about 20 flashlights roving all over the field where the eggs were hidden.
MONSTER DREAMS. I think every kid has monsters in their dreams from time to time. Nate woke up this morning telling Vicki about a blue monster he was fighting in his dream. This monster was turning people to stone and the only way to change them back was to give them juice boxes. So, in his dream he had been searching for juice boxes to unfreeze the poor victims.
By this time Vicki had totally lost it, and Nate, in defense of his dream said, "But it was a really BIG monster!"
30 YEARS OF MINISTRY. I want to pass my congratulations along to our pastor, Bill Owen. As of this coming Wednesday, Bro. Bill and his wife, Cindy, have served our church for 30 years. Their ministry has touched our entire community. We recognized Bro. Bill at church this morning. As he pointed out, it is pretty incredible that the first couple he married, the first person he baptized, and the first baby he dedicated are all still actively attending Mt. Carmel.
Bill and Cindy, thank you for all your work in our community, and most of all, for your friendship.
Joe
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