Ten on Wednesday

1.  Today I had outpatient surgery and my first full anesthesia experience.  All went well and I am fine.  We're actively trying to stay ahead of my pain and I'm glad I have a couple days off work to really rest before reentering the fray.  Thanks to all of you who sent supportive emails, texts, and phone calls.  Big thanks to my siblings and their spouses for the help with the kids and the scones today.

=== as a result I am lazy/tire so there will be limited photos today.

2. Yesterday we flew kites for the first time at the new house.  To my tremendous surprise, the kids made it work even with all the trees.  I think you can see the video here: Fly a Kite Video

------ This is as far as I got, two weeks ago, before I realized that sitting up for more than 15 minutes the day of surgery was a bad decision.... then two weeks passed.

3. Good news! Surgery recovery went well.  Taking a full three days to rest was a great decision.  I restarted exercise on the following Monday and am now on day 10 of 30 day Yoga Camp (via utube).  This does mean double run/yoga days at least twice a week as the race is coming up very soon... eeek.

4. B's first communion is this weekend.  It has been a long time and a lot of learning in coming.  I am glad they  are doing a thorough job teaching them about it.  We're having a party afterwards at our house complete with some of his friends from his old school, special cookies form his Godmother, and pork made by Uncle Able.  Should be fun!

5. This weekend, we made a last minute trip to the OU Red/White game. It went pretty well.  It was very clear that E is not ready for a real football game.  Everyone else did pretty well and enjoyed wandering campus a bit.  We had awesome Rusty's frozen custard afterwards too.

6.  On Friday, M, E, & I spent the duration of B's tennis lesson playing at Hafer Park.  This is becoming a bit of a Friday afternoon routine and the weather was lovely.  Can you believe this big boy can pull himself up like this repeatedly and easily? So big!

7. Thursday, Brent, Able, Kari, Tracie, Nikki, and I joined about 445 of OKC's coolest people for the Starlight Super.  Able, of course, knew everyone and Tracie knew the people he didn't.  This is one of those moments when I realize that thanks to telecommuting, living in north Edmond, etc... means I don't know anyone and that is kind of sad.  I then retreated to my forest home and am happily loving it here.  In other news, the food was delicious, the company wonderful, and the setting pretty magical.  I would definitely do it again!  (This was a fundraiser for downtown OKC and featured 5 courses of food from OKC restaurants and local wine pairings.  The dessert from Guernsey Park was definitely my favorite!)

8.  Due to his baseball team not reforming this spring, B is not playing baseball.  He has been to see Zane's team play a few times lately and I think there is some wistfulness there.  We will see if he starts again, but both boys are currently loving playing in the front yard til then.  Playing baseball with beginner tennis balls is greatly improving the safety and fun.

9.  Meanwhile Spring at the new house is completely beautiful.  I love it.  This was taken a week or two ago and it is already different and fully leafed out, but the flowers continue.  My iris haven't bloomed yet, but I'm watching them daily. Running in the neighborhood is awesome too.  M went with me last night and commented on how beautiful it was.

10. Also, there was Easter!  We spent part of Saturday with the Rouse/Richards crew and part at the farm where we made it through Easter Vigil mass in Bison and the Easter bunny found us too.  Maybe more pictures of that to come? 

Ten on Good Friday

This is for you Mom. A promise that I'll still blog...sometimes.

I go through phases of how I am drawn to spend my free time.  Right now, blogging isn't super high on the list, but scrapbooking has been so life is being document, in a paper way just now.


1.  Last night B and I went to Holy Thursday Mass.  Growing up it was my favorite Mass of the year. I love the focus on helping other people, the connection to the traditions of Passover, the repetition, the rituals, the lessons of these readings.  I don't know.  The last words of the Homily last light were a call to service to others.  (Aside, it is no surprise that so many people in APO are Catholic as the "Be a Leader, Be a Friend, Be of Service are so tied to the concepts we're taught in this moment).  Anyway,  Edmond's version was not Bison's.  It was 2 hours long with 3 priests, 2 deacons, 9 Knights of Columbus in full regalia, including swords, and about 80 kids preparing for first communion holding flowers as they joined int he final processing.  Parts of it were in line with my memories, but it is just different with hundreds of people.  The processing kids was definitely awesome.  Hmmmm.  Glad we went and glad of moments I get to share with just one kid.

2. B has been taking tennis all month and it has become a fun family event.  There is a tennis court in our neighborhood and last week we played so much during Spring Break. He has decided to sign up for a second session of lessons. I've long since learned not to expect that my kids will stick with anything long, but even if he doesn't I think it could continue to be a great family activity.

3.  M finally received her long-awaited American Girl Doll.  Aunt Jamie went with us to pick it out at the store in Dallas.  M, to my surprise, picked out exactly the things she had selected online when we were looking before the trip.  The doll is holding her attention even days later and it is lovely.  So far, we're both really pleased and Bella Jill goes almost everywhere with us.

4.  M's long awaited dance recital costumes also arrived and she ADORES them.  Dance is tricky as you learn all year to one performance.  M likes to perform and I think sometimes wishes it was more like little league with a "show" every week.  I'm so glad we're getting close to the big reward at the end.  Meanwhile, when I picked her up from jazz class this week she was wearing one ballet shoe and one jazz shoe as she just forgot to change the other shoe between classes and never notices.  I love her!!

5. Harry Potter continues to be a source of great family love and attention.  We read it almost daily and they plead for extra chapters when there is any opportunity.  They play Harry Potter sometimes by themselves, but most often with their cousins.  We are on Book 5, which is a bit more intense than the prior ones.  So far, they are handling all but the occasional mention of kissing quite well. (Big thanks to Grandma for all the costumes and accessories!!!)

6. E sometimes falls asleep on my chest during Harry Potter readings and I take a picture every single time.  It is my favorite and I'm so having a hard time letting go of the wonder of my kids sleeping on my chest.

7.  Over spring break we also ventured to Dallas to celebrate Matthew's 5th Birthday and spend some time with the cousins.  B mostly loved all the gaming time.  I think E's favorite part was nerf guns or playing with Matthew.  M loved her American Girl Doll, the Big 12 Gymnastics meet, and, well, everything in true M style.  I loved listening to the kids watching the Peanuts movie together in the next room full of giggles and happy sounds.

8. I'm still trying to remember to just take every day pictures of things we do that are our "normal" so that doesn't get lost in the events.  These three photos are some of my favorite "normal" photos this week.  One is E walking along the wall in front of the rectory on his way to school complete with spring flowers and a "ninja" pose.  The other is M in one of my favorite of her outfits ready for school pictures and looking so much like the young, sweet, girl she is. The last is B reading a book to E before bed.

9.  I am really only running 1-2 times this week and almost took it inside today with warmer temps and SO SO SO much wind.  I stayed outside for the awesome tulips at Hafer Park.  This photo doesn't do it justice, but you really should check it out if you are local.  Otherwise, our across the street neighbor has some gorgeous tulips.  Our spring flowers are pretty rocking too, I think. I so love spring....

10.  Fun fact, Easter celebrations begin tomorrow.  Not one of my kids has an Easter basket and we don't actually have 1/2 the ingredients for the things I am supposed to be making. I guess we know what I'll be doing during tennis lessons today.  Next week I have a minor surgery and am trying to not stress about it, but I think that compartmentalizing may be inhibiting my ability to plan ahead.  I'm good at doing stuff in the last minute though so I'm sure it will work out?   Happy Easter!

Ten on Tuesday - Easter Weekend Edition

 1. As usual, we spent a lovely Easter weekend at the farm.  We all dressed up for Easter vigil Mass and the cousin picture is awesome.  I think E and RO are the cutest.

 

 

2.  Getting a picture of our kids was a little less successful and involved some tackling, but we managed it.  

 3.  M had some rough moments over the weekend including a big bloody nose during mass and a black eye on Sunday, but definitely was an enthusiastic participant in everything from naps to planting and Easter egg hunts.

 3.  B did a great job as the big kid and did not pick up any of the "easy" eggs at the Easter egg hunt.  In part because we actually went to creation story practice this year he got to bring in lots of the cooler items, including tadpoles that we brought along for the adventure.  Still prone to crazy eyes in pictures.

 4.  E was not in to pictures, but was completely adorable and moved easily between Aunts, Uncles, parents and Grandma during mass and the festivities.  I am suspicious that some people in Bison may think that he and Ro are Audra and Zach's twin boys.  They are very cute together.

 5.  B went with super cheese face here? No clue.  Otherwise, it worked out pretty well this time.

 6.  Yes, I did crop a child out of this photo.  We didn't get much sleep as E was a noisy, needy companion, but did have a great time watching our kids and nephews play and enjoy Easter together.

 7.  Otherwise, Easter was a lot of chasing each other,

 baskets of goodies,

 So many sweet treats and chocolate bunnies,

 lots of cousin time,

 Fun exploring the farm,

 coffee outside by the fire,

and snuggling,

 8.  There was also, of course, an epic Easter egg hunt on a chilly, windy day.

 and more candy.

 and more coffee by the fire.

 9.  There was also an awesome treasure hunt.  I helped B and E who had written riddle clues.  They took a bit longer than team Z&M, but had a great time.

10.  We ended the celebrations with smashing cascaroes and getting confetti everywhere.  In the middle there somewhere was an incredibly awesome fish fry that we have to make a tradition. I also got to go for a run in the country with Zach, Able, and Kari on a very windy day.  It was hard to run in to the wind, but great to do it together. 


This week is all about packing and more packing here. .... this whole moving craziness is moving right along.  Thanks especially to the Korenaks for all their help!

Ten on Tuesday

 1.  We are finally making progress on the great garage trim project.  This project should probably take like a day or two, but think it has taken us all month and there are a couple steps left...

 2.  As usual, these items are in no particular order --- here are moments from Sunday's Discovery kids concert.  We all went and had a great time. It was a really good mix of interactive elements, dancing, singing, art, and great fun.  We are definitely singing up for the season tickets again in the fall.

 3.  Tonight was the second game of the spring baseball season.  It went MUCH better for our blue falcons.  B was late in the batting order this time, but it was worth the wait for a single drive down the 3rd base line.  He then stole two bases and was batted home.  This is actually the first time I've seen him score as I was traveling when he scored last season.  I think I might be more nervous than he is when he is base running.  Granddaddy asked him how it felt to touch home plate.  He said it was annoying because everyone was "yelling at me" --- I don't think he gets "cheering" but whatever, he's silly.  The team had one very awesome inning and pulled within one run, but lost.

 4.  We enrolled M for Kindergarten at long last . She is very excited and ready to go come August!  E was a patient attendee for the big event.  I'm a little amazed still that he'll just hang around and color while I fill out paperwork. I don't remember M being quite so patient at this age.

5.  Prepare for many pictures of Easter fun at Grammie and Granddaddy's.  My DSLR had some SD card issues so sadly all iphone photos, but we'll do our best.  

 6 I feel like this should be called subdued M - she is quite and a little hesitant here as she didn't find her allotted 10 easter eggs and Kaedyn was forced to share her excess with M.  A bit sheepish, but I think she'll figure it out before egg hunts end in a week or two.

E of course loved it and is getting so big

7. Here is the whole crew lined up - 1 kid hid, 7 kids hunted and the 9th is a bit too small.  Right now our generation is three families of three kids each. One more cousin will marry in the fall so there may be another couple cousins for this great-grandchild line up. 

 8.  Since B began Kindergarten, we've had lunch at school together once each month (sometimes more).  Occasionally, I think he isn't that in to it, but on Monday he asked whether I would be coming Monday or Tuesday as I hadn't come this week.  I of course came today and brought him Tuckers as an extra treat.  One student I heard call me B's beautiful mommy, so high point of the day for sure.  (And this is a day when I called the President of the NY Yankees direct line and chatted... so that's saying something.

9.  Palm Sunday I attended Sunday School with M's class.  They made some art that involved feet prints and washing people's feet (forshadowing Thursday's mass).  Then they had a mini last supper (tortillas and grape juice), a little venerating the cross that mostly involved hugs (Friday's mass) and then songs and preparation for the very last week of Sunday School, which is a pizza party (and apparently a quiz for the parents that I'm certain to fail).  Sunday School has been great for M.  She loves Ms. Maggie and her class and telling us all about it. I hear less from B, but he seems fine with it and I'm very glad we've done it and will again next year.

10.  Storm season is here.  I loved walking away from the ball park tonight to the smell of dirt and rain in the air.  Our yard looks phenomenal and our new little tree from last year and all the bulbs are blooming.  Ironically, just when our house is coming together we're toying very lightly with moving across town.  We shall see.  It would make for a couple tough months, but when has something being hard ever stopped me from doing it? We'll see if I can work that old magic again and if it doesn't work out.  I'll just enjoy our beautiful soft, green grass on this side of the fence :)