Nicest Neighbors Ever

Have you ever had someone call you out of the blue to say, "Can I watch your two year old while your 4 year old is at school?"

Their 6 year old doesn't start school for a couple of weeks and she knows that I've been working on this pre-school project. I asked if there was anything I could do to return the favor and she said she just wanted to help me with this worthwhile project. How amazing is that?

I worked on the preschool stuff this morning and went over to get Jackson before picking up Lincoln. She said he'd been easy and great and wanted to stay a while longer. I got in the car to pick up Lincoln and I had a flat tire. Completely flat. We all piled into her suburban and headed to the school.

After all of that niceness in the morning, her husband saw the car on the street (I made it just past the mailbox before realizing the tire was flat) this afternoon and came and rang the doorbell asking for the keys so that he could change it for me. More niceness. Niceness everywhere I look. I need to go make a plate of cookies or something.

E Night

Jeff and I sat down to make a schedule for our new school-based lifestyle. I started out with the pen, but apparently he needed more columns so he took over the writing to make it look more like an excel sheet on notebook paper. Most of what he wrote down I understood right away (partially because I was dictating). Then he went all wild on me, with secret code letters. I had to ask what the E was for on Tues, Thurs and Sat.

Exercise. Good plan. So, our first E night we went swimming. Tonight I knew it was E night again and Lincoln had let slip the secret plan. In his best whisper he told me this afternoon that dad had a secret surprise for me in his trunk and that it was tennis racquets and tennis balls. We got home from our very full day kind of late and I didn't have time to make any of the fancy dishes I had bought groceries for. I had to make sure we left time for secret E night. Thus DinoNugget Parmegian was born. Ha ha! Don't be tempted to call it spaghetti and chicken nuggets. It is much more gourmet than that.

We had a great time at our neighborhood tennis court too. My favorite quote of the activity was from Lincoln, "Hey dad... I'll throw you the ball and then you tennis it, ok?" The kids got better as the night went on and we got some good movement in. Fun times!

First Day of School

Lincoln's first day was, according to him, "pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty great."

When Jeff took him in to drop him off the teacher told him to pick his favorite animal on the rug and sit down on it. She offered him the elephant spot, or the giraffe spot, etc. He took this decision very seriously and searched and searched. He finally decided that the zebra must be his favorite and squeezed into a spot much too small for him right between two unsuspecting preschoolers.

I wish I could be a fly on the wall in that place!

He said that his favorite activity of the day was the tire swing, and that he had lots of new friends, but can't remember any of their names yet.

When I was asking him about friends Jackson piped up with, "me favorite friend Lincoln." (Awww.)

Spencer and Aimee's New Pad

I thought the family might enjoy seeing some pics of the house the mom Poyner and mom Randall picked out and spruced up for Kiki and Aimee Extra Crispy. They did an awesome job of finding them a great place, nice and roomy with a great feel to it in a perfect neighborhood. Gail and Jeannie worked super hard ripping off wallpaper, painting, etc. and it looks awesome. Welcome back to Oklahoma guys! We're so excited to have you so much closer.

Last Day, First Day

Lincoln starts school tomorrow. Granted, it is Pre-K, but it is done through the school system here and works just like kindergarten. He goes for a half day every day. I decided today was our last real day of freedom from school-based schedules, so we went out with a bang.

We had an awesome time at the zoo. The weather was overcast all morning and the animals were loving that as much as we were. My favorite exhibit was the baby snow leopards. I even went wild and bought us tickets for the train ($3 - I know, last of the big spenders). The kids loved that, even though we got stuck in one spot for a while because a deer decided to sit on the track. They had to call people to come and shoo it off with a broom. The kids were very well behaved and we stayed a lot longer than we usually last.

After lunch and naps we went to the park and played together. Then, we went by the school to meet the teacher and see the classroom, etc. We were both more relaxed about the big day after doing that! The kids had a great time in the classroom and Jackson was so determined to go and find his class too. Neither of them wanted to go home.

We ate quick dinner and headed to the neighborhood pool. We had a quick swim and brought our fun day to an end.

It will be interesting to see how school changes our routines.

Scent-sational Kid

Lincoln is a smeller. He smells all things food before he'll eat. He smells my hair incessantly - where most kids would give you a kiss goodnight, he runs over to smell my hair one last time. He smells his pillow and his blanket before he'll lay down. He gets this from his dad.

My mom kept Lincoln for us the first night we were away in Kansas. She said it made her laugh when he had to smell all of the different cereal options that were available for breakfast. He finally decided on some corn flakes, got his bowl ready and then politely (if you can say this politely) declined saying, "Grandma, I think this smells a little bit too yucky."

As we were packing his things I asked him if he wanted to have his own pillow. He said, "oh yeah" (he doesn't ever just say yes anymore, everything is "oh yeah").

"AND I want my covers too."

"are you sure? Grandma and Granny will have blankets you can use."

"No, I need MY covers because I need to smell them."

Yesterday in church we sat in the pew behind Jeff's sister Lesley. Lincoln must have loved her hair because he kept leaning forward, trying to get as close as he could to smell her. She thought he was just playing with it with his hands, then suddenly he fell too far forward bonking his head right into her. Little crazy smeller. After his first whiff of Lesley's hair he proudly said, "I LOVE my noses." He laughed at himself for saying "noses" and said, "If I had TWO noses..." Jeff had to stop him to ask him to use his quiet voice, but too curious to know about the multiple noses, he whispered, "if you had two noses what?"

"I'd pick them."

The Sherwoods in Kansas

In June I posted about Jeff's friend Dalton coming out to visit. His sister Cortne has also become a friend to me as she lived with and near us during our time in Texas. I've met other Sherwoods along the way a few times and continue to be amazed by them. We spent this weekend in Kansas as they lost their sweet mother. Each of the four children spoke at her funeral of her kindness and humor, relating a special something that she did just for them. All ended their short talks with "she did this for me because I am her favorite." There were not as many tears shed as there were laughs about the fun times. The luncheon after the funeral felt more like a wedding reception. Everyone was bright and smiley and talking about favorite memories. I am so impressed with them. That evening we had dinner with the family and a few friends and relatives. I know they were exhausted, not only from the days events, but from preceding weeks and months... and their sister is getting married next Saturday! I thank them for taking the time to be with us and share their love, laughter and amazing outlook.

Uncle Andy and the Organ

My brother-in-law had the opportunity a few weeks ago to perform in the tabernacle on this amazing organ. I had only heard him play on a little electric keyboard, but I could still tell he has astounding talent. I guess it is really difficult to have the chance to perform in the tabernacle, what an experience! My mother-in-law flew out to hear it in person and then convinced him to play his rendition of Come Come Ye Saints for us again on the much more humble organ of the Choctaw Ward building this Sunday. I have never been more in awe of an organ/piano performance. It was so moving. He commanded every bit of that organ, moving from intensely soft to "are you allowed to play that loud in the chapel" volumes.

Thanks for sharing your talents with us Uncle Andy! (oh, and your apartment while we were in Kansas too!)