Another school visit

Yesterday Zeke, Olivia and I got dressed up again and went to Makenna's class to read.  It was a lot f fun.  Her teacher is really nice and let us stay and visit for a while.  She, like the others, invited us to come back another time.  I love being able to get a little involved with their classes again.  We will go to Zane's in a few weeks.

First Haircut

Today I took Olivia to get her first haircut (the time I had to cut her hair because she had pieces from both sides stuck together under her chin with a piece of gum doesn't count!).  I was nervous because I didn't want it to look like she had gotten her hair cut.  I just needed it trimmed so I could comb it.  Normally I cut the kids hair but hers scares me because it is so curly and has layers in it.  I felt it was worth the $10 to have someone else do it. She did really good and didn't freak out having some one she didn't know that close to her.  The girl cutting did a good job too.  Afterwards she and Zeke got a sucker which made it all worth it.  Zeke wants me to go back and get my haircut so he can have another sucker.  It's all about the treats!  I would post a picture of her with her new hair, but you can't tell anything was done and I don't have one of her right now so just look at the one I posted earlier:)

Aaarrrggghhh!

Today, Zeke, Olivia and I went to school to read to the kids.  We went to Dillon's classroom and Maddi's classroom.  I wore my witch hat and Zeke and Olivia dessed up as pirates.  We made their costumes yesterday.  They wanted to be matching pirates so we found matching clothes at Walmart and cut them up to look like pirate clothes.  They were so excited to wear them. The wore them yesterday afternoon and waited for Michael to get home so they could scare him.  This morning they couldn't wait to get home from play group so they could wear them.  Every where we went they would walk around saying "Aarrgghh!"  It was cute.  They even wore them to the doctor's office to get flu shots.  We had a lot of fun at school.  The classes enjoyed the break from their day and we enjoyed going.  Next week we go to Makenna's class.  She is student of the week so we will go and celebrate with her.  We will go to Zane's class at the end of the month.

Apple Orchard

Yesterday was a beautiful day so I took Zeke and Olivia to the apple orchard. We got to go on a tractor pulled wagon ride out to the apple trees and then fill up our sacks with apples.  They loved it.  Picking apples has always been something that they loved.  After we got back to the car they started eating what thay had picked.  They thought it was pretty cool.  The older kids were, of course, jealous so we will have to go back on another day before it gets too cold!

Pottery Painting in Pajamas

Last Friday night was pajama night at Color Me Mine, a pottery painting place.  I took the 5 oldest and we went painting in our pajamas.  They got to pick out what they wanted to paint and what colors they wanted to use.  They had a lot of fun.  It was pretty expensive so we won't do it again for a while but it was worth the money.  It was a new experience for them and something fun to do on a Friday night!

Nap time

The other day Michael was trying to get Olivia to come lay down on the couch with him and take a nap.  He ended up falling asleep with her blanket and sippy cup while she went downstairs and played.  At least one of them got a nap!

Just the 3 of us

Now that I am home with just Zeke and Olivia it has been much easier to get out and explore and do things.  We go to the gym as often as possible.  They play while I exercise and then we try to go swimming several times a week.  We also got a library card and have started going to story time there.  They love looking at all the books and movies at the library.  We go to a play group once a week.  While the weather is nice we meet at the park.  We try to do a different park each week.  We also go to the park on our own.  We discovered a pottery place that we can go and paint pottery.  We will do that with the older kids.  We go on walks and while Olivia is sleeping, Zeke and I scrapbook.  We eat lunch with Michael on ocassion too.  It has been a lot of fun hanging out with just the 2 little ones.   I am looking forward to all the time we will spend together this school year.

Not Gonna Happen

Well, Michael talked to Lorie the other night and she gave her list of promises and other things that we have heard before. It was the same old story that we have heard for the third time now. As much as we would like to be back in Hendricks, we just couldn't do it. It was hard for me to hear him say no because it felt like our only chance to be back there was just slipping away. But he did say no and she left it open for him to come whenever he wanted. If our life changes in a way that we ever want to return, there will always be a spot for him there on the farm. We will continue to make our life here. We really have enjoyed it here. There are lots of things to go and do. Sioux Falls has more parks than any place I have ever seen. We try to go several times a week and play and we never get bored because there is always a new place to go explore. We have a library that I have started taking Zeke and Olivia to that has story time once a week. I discovered a pottery place that we can go and paint our own pottery (in our pajamas on Friday nights) and lots of other things. So, if anyone wants to come visit, we live 5 minutes from the airport, we have extra beds to stay in and we give free wagon rides!

It Just Not The Same

Things don't go right when you're not here. It's just not the same. Would you consider coming back? So goes the plea. Yes, Michael's old boss wants him back. Third times a charm, right? I don't think so! I'm not sure what she's thinking, but I know what I am thinking! If she would've kept her word to begin with we would still be there. We wouldn't have had to pick up our kids in the middle of a school year and move them to a new place. We wouldn't have had to spent he last 8 months adjusting and missing our friends and community in Hendricks. We wouldn't have had to go through all the emotional turmoil that went with her not keeping her word. And now she's back, with more promises. How many chances does a person get? Does some one like her ever learn? I, of course, would give anything to be back in Hendricks. Michael, too, misses life there. The kids most definitely do. For me, the job isn't much different as far as the hours Michael has to work. The house here is better and being close to shopping is nice. Those are things, except maybe the house, I would be willing to give up. Michael on the other hand, has more at stake. His happiness and sanity foremost. I am trying to stay out of it because i don't want him to give up his happiness because he thinks I will be happier. I'm not unhappy. It's fine here. There are some definite perks. What I want is a place that I know I will be staying and raising my children. A place where they will be safe and happy and where they will be able to experience good things in life - good friends, neighbors, community. A place where they will learn to work and have the space to play. I'm not sure that place is here. I'm not sure it's there either. I want to be done moving and adjusting. Life is hard enough as it is. No need to throw in moving and the challenges that come with that.

So what am I getting at here? I don't know. I don't necessarily want to stay but I don't necessarily want to go - at least not back to the farm. I will say though, that every time I head down that road that leads to the farm and Hendricks, I get that funny, excited feeling in my stomach. That feeling that says, "I'm almost home!" I would get it when we would drive into my grandparents driveway in Nashville. I get in when we turn down the gravel road to Michael's parents house (my parents move too much to offer any familiarity as we drive to their house, we're too busy looking at the GPS for directions!) and I get it there at the farm. Despite all that has happened there and all the frustrations and heartaches that have come, it is home. It is a place that will always have a special place in my heart. We may never get there again, to stay for good, but it is a place I will always call home. I moved constantly growing up and people always ask me where I am from. I always say no where and everywhere. Hendricks is now a place that I gladly say I am from. My children say the same thing. They proudly wear their Rebel clothes (the school mascot) and tell everyone about Lincoln HI Elementary.

Anyways, this has turned into a huge eulogy. Didn't mean for that to happen. As you can tell there are a lot of emotions still tied up in Lorie, the farm and Hendricks. We'll see how the conversation goes between her and Michael. As for me, I won't start packing, but I will try my best to listen in!

Are we done yet?

Just when I thought we were done with the stomach flu...
Yesterday Zeke woke up much better and I was excited to get out of the house and go to the park for our play date. The bus driver called not long after he picked up the kids and told me that Zane had just thrown up and wanted me to come meet the bus and take him home. Poor bus driver - he did not get paid enough yesterday! I would say poor Zane too, but he was fine. He played all day with Zeke. We didn't get to go to the park though. This morning I thought today was the day. We were going to go to the gym and go shopping and get out of the house for the first time all week. Zane threw up before he finished getting ready for school. At least the bus driver missed out on the fun! He cleaned up and went back to bed. I cleaned up the floor and searched the house for a Diet Dr. Pepper. Unfortunately we were out because I hadn't been able to get to the store yet. So here we are again today, stuck inside with me going crazy. We have been dealing with this since last Tuesday. I did get to go to the doctor Wednesday morning and get new drugs for myself. I am going on a month now with whatever it is that I have. Hopefully this is the end of all the puking. So far Maddi and Makenna have been the only ones spared from the fun. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way!