Ed Went Missing

This boy nearly gave me a heart attack this Saturday. While I was paying the check out lady for our donuts, Ed decided to leave the building. So grateful for a small town where I knew someone behind me in line who sat with the kids while I hunted for Ed (Terri B), and when I still couldn't find him, called her husband who is a retired CHP sargeant and who was in the parking... who in turn called Ryan's sargeant... and I couldn't get a hold of Ryan... and I called Marcie in tears saying I lost Ed and I'm at Vons and she replies "I'm on my way."...and she showed up in her jammies with her hubby right behind her in his truck starting at a different end of the road... and she called Michelle who was down the road the OTHER way to watch for Ed... and then Lindsey found him in the parking lot and tried to call me to let me know but I didn't answer my phone because I was spastic and thought "I don't have time to talk right now"... and Krissy who showed up and came into Vons to let me know where he was. I did ask the Salvation Army bell ringer if he saw a small boy wearing a navy blue sweatshirt, wranglers, and cowboy boots walk by and he said no. Anyway, it was the longest 20 minutes, since I don't count the first 5 minutes when I thought he was just around the corner like usual. After we were "reunited" I didn't want to talk to him until my nerves came back into order... on a freezing cold morning I was sweating and my heart hurt. 

Ryans's mom once couldn't find him for several hours when he was about 8 or 9 because dates got mixed up and his aunt picked him up on the wrong day, and this was before cell phones. A simple miscommunication that was really traumatic. I told Cherie last night I would have needed a tranquilizer if that were me.

I still haven't had to call search and rescue... but I'm waiting.

*friday photo fun*

She wants this made into a poster with a "Stay Out" warning on it for her room when the house is done.

I think she's practicing her mom face.

Thankful

Kacy is thankful for "everything and everyone, especially my family."

Will is thankful for "Christmas and all the rest of the holidays."

Ed is thankful for "reading and playing and drawing on the dirt."

Jessie is thankful for "go to sleep and playing on your computer. Again. I said again. Peas?"

I am thankful for potty trained children, kids who do their homework, diet pepsi, and Reese's peanut butter cups.

Ryan is thankful for me because I'm the bestest, funnest, most adorable person he knows. And yes, he totally said that. (I'm also grateful he doesn't read this blog to dispute this last statement.)

*friday photo fun*

...with NO PHOTO. What's this world coming to?

I didn't use my camera this week. At all. I have been REALLY busy this week. You know, I really like the slow life. I like to accomplish things, but I hate being so busy that my nerves get shortened even more than my spastic self already is. Luckily, I had a successful shopping trip to Kohl's with my grandma (who pushed Ed around in the stroller shopping cart while he popped some bubble wrap he found on the floor). She bought us lunch afterward. I love my grandma. So calm and sensible. You just have to give props to a woman who is 87 years old and been through a lot. Her favorite saying, "This too shall pass." She knows it!

Anyway, the trip was successful because I was able to get clothes for our upcoming family pictures. And, find Jessie some winter cloths without spending a fortune.

Right now I'm listening to Christmas music and I don't care who knows it! ;) Ryan's dad has a tradition of playing his collection of a bazillion Christmas songs on the stereo where everyone can hear it in the background, and I'm going to be a copycat. Which reminds me... I need to talk to Ryan about the possibility of putting speakers throughout the house? Do I want to inflict my music on everyone else? (Or, have the kids in the future inflict theirs on me?) A thought.


Listening to Christmas music always makes me wish I played the piano better and could sing well. I can sing... sort of. But not high notes, and not in front of adults other than my good friends in primary. No one would want to hear me though. I'm totally cool with that. I have a choir voice, not a solo voice. Maybe when I get my piano out of storage and tuned up, I'll practice. I'll just have to make sure no one is home.

Tonight is our ward Thanksgiving dinner, and I'm totally experimenting with a dessert. In theory, the BBQ apple sweet bread should be good. If not, Vons is always open, and I'll use the "I don't bake because I live in a trailer" card. Is BBQing dessert considered baking? I think it might be.

Kids progress reports: Will is excelling, quirks and all. Kacy still needs to memorize her math facts. For the record, Ryan and I never memorized our math facts up to 20 either. I'll have her make flashcards, and if that doesn't work, we'll blame it on genetics. Easy!

Enough rambling. Oh wait- a bloggy thing: on Facebook (or here) please tell me one or two songs or albums of Christmas Music you think is awesome. Thanks!

A Birth Announcement I Made

 

This one was my favorite.

I bought a black and white backdrop specifically for this reason. I really, really like pics with a more natural background, but for announcement purposes I like the plain backgrounds. I think that's because of the style of announcement I lean towards. I did this as a gift for my friend. I'm out of infants to photograph.

Next up is the holidays, and I'll be practicing using a flash indoors and getting candids of the family. I'm patiently waiting for a flash from China. One more week to go!

Horror

That's the only word to describe an event that has affected Ryan and me. Ryan more than me, because he is closer to the situation and the people than I am. To fail to mention this would be a disservice to both the event and how it's impacted us since it happened. One of Ryan's friends/co-worker's sons committed suicide Tuesday night. He was just 16. It's the second suicide in our small area in less than a month, and this one was too close to home. Ryan's sergeant called when it happened, and I heard both sides of that conversation. I will never forget that short conversation. We were up tossing and turning, unable to sleep Tuesday night. It peppered my thoughts all day Wednesday. I refused to think about it today, and I was great until Ryan came home and told me the details of what happened. It's a horrific story, worse than what I had imagined the night it happened. It makes me sick to my stomach. As a parent it just breaks my heart. I'm worried about the family. Simply put, it is every parent's worst nightmare, and I hope it never hits any closer to home than this.

Today...

...if I can get my act together, I will prepare for 4-H on Tuesday, print out some legal/political information concerning California and Education, and maybe, just maybe, clean up my kids and take them to a "fall" place by my house and try some pictures.

Which one is the most difficult but could be the most rewarding?

The pictures. Always the pictures.

I will also finish the laundry. And stare at my house. And think about how nice it will be to live in a house again. And what might it be like to have kids in their bedrooms? And a kitchen to cook in?
But I won't think about it too much, because I need to keep my focus on RV living and staying sane and happy in our trailer.

A full day! ;

*friday photo fun*

 

Baby T. 

When I first thought of doing this "friday photo fun" thing, I thought it would be easy to post a favorite picture from the week. Unfortunately, some weeks I haven't even used the camera! This week I did once, to take some announcement shots for a friend. (That's a whole other post after she decides which announcement to use and sends them out. Coming soon.)

 

The Beast

Meet "The Beast."

A 1975 Ford 4x4. It's Ryan's new daily driver to save wear and tear on his red truck.

One day, about Thursday September 30, 2010, we decide we need to go to The Home Depot. We take the beast and go over a certain mountain pass that separates our house from our favorite desert city. Miles wise, it's much shorter. Time wise, it's MUCH longer. But really fun!

We saw rare sites! Like a golden eagle flying right over the hood of the truck with a bunny in it's clutches. A bird's eye view of our little valley. The place where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses near our house and someone fills up gallon containers of water and leaves them by the trail with candy bars for the hikers.

We found out that the truck only has a 12 gallon tank. 

We did run out of gas, but it wasn't horrible. We were in town, and the truck was making a funny kind of noise. Ryan wasn't sure what is was, so he dropped us off at the Pizza Hut and headed for the gas station. He ran out of gas. The kids and I ate lunch while he called his friend who brought him gas. Because the truck was still new to us, and was still making an unidentified weird noise, we opted to rent a car for the long cell phone free ride home. We left the truck in the Home Depot parking lot, and drove home in a brand new Expedition.

When we went back the next day to get the truck (on the back of our trailer), Ryan got two offers to sell the truck in less than 15 minutes. Sweet! It's not for sale though. It's fun! The kids LOVE it when Ryan spins donuts and takes them 4x4ing. Plus, he has plans for it. 

He found the funny noise and it was no big deal. Whew! We like easy, minor fixes!

And although the Expedition was really nice, and we had more room, I still want my own truck. Flatbed. Gotta load stuff and I want my future mean dog on the back.

House Progress

Ryan has had the month off (so far) and is making excellent progress on the house. The plumbing is 100% done. The ducting/coolers/heat/chimney/fireplace/air exchanger stuff is done. Lathing the outside is almost done... I'm going to take the job of putting in enough screws to meet manufacturer specs. Only 2000 more screws/washers to go!

The Iron Rooster! Ryan free-formed this thing. The pieces above are all part of the Rooster. The cage is upside down, and the expanded metal will wrap around it. The Rooster weather vane will go on top- and it's fully functional. That'll wait until the house is done.

Evidence of our wires! Ryan's dad came up and help get the wiring started. Ryan was glad to have someone who knows what they are doing to help him... when I help I have to be told what to do. I'm a great listener, but it's easier when your help has a clue.

Working towards the big mechanical inspection. After that inspection we will be ready for interior insulation. Then, lickety split, DRYWALL and exterior finish! After that, it'll all be weekend warrior type stuff.

There is possibly a light at the end of this tunnel!

I'm the One Causing Trouble

Today the kids and I went to the older kids Veteran's Day celebration at the school. Jessie sat on the bleachers with me in the gym and watched. Just like the other kids around us. Except for Ed. Who, at one point, was in a head lock. It started out as a hug, then a squeeze, and then, a head lock. (Maybe a choke hold...)
He kept struggling and struggling and wanting to RUN around a gym full of Veteran's and the entire school and lots of parents... not cool. I tried all my tricks: ignoring, bribing, threatening, poking, hugging... and not necessarily in that order.
At one point, I hissed, "Ed, will you just sit down?"
Ed loudly replies, "I would sit down but you are the one causing trouble!"

Fall

This Week

Since I've last posted:

I have driven approximately 1000 miles.

I have been to the Urgent Care center 3 times.

I have witnessed my boys get chest X-rays 3 times.

I have administered numerous doses of antibiotics.

I attended a PTC volunteer thing where I attempted to fill goodie bags. This was fine until Ed stole a peice of candy and hid in the bushes. I spent 10 minutes looking for him. (Five by myself and five with the bus driver.)

I won a position on the school board.

I attended a fall festival.

I placed an order for tankless water heater venting pipe, and when I went to pick it up, it hadn't come in. I let the man know that I had to drive and hour and a half to get there, and would he please call me when it comes in for sure next time? Frustrating.

I took one nap.

I cleaned a construction site. Ah, home sweet home.

I've been to Home Depot and/or Lowe's three times.

I took the kids to playgroup.

I treated myself to a "smovie" at Juice it Up. Big Berry Combo, I think.

I have managed to keep up with the laundry, thanks to the beautiful weather we have had. Almost too warm... but I'll take it for housekeeping purposes.

I have been cooking dinner. It's cooled off enough to actually cook in the trailer. We've had some interesting concoctions a la Karrie.

I read a novel, "A Spoonful of Poison" by MC Beaton. A quick, easy "whodunit."

Notes for posterity: Last Saturday I took Will and Ed into Urgent Care. Will was diagnosed with "not quite pneumonia" and Ed had a cyst drained from the back of his knee. The cyst came showed up Friday morning, about the size of a golf ball. Will got meds and got better pretty quickly. Thursday after I ordered the venting pipe, I took Ed and Jessie to the Urgent Care. Jessie has a double ear infection, and Ed had Bronchitis. They took x-rays of Ed that day to double check. Friday, after I found out the venting pipe was not on the transfer truck for some reason, I took Ed in again because he was wheezing so badly. They gave him a breathing treatment, took more x-rays, and upped his meds to include a stronger antibiotic, steroids, and a spacer for his inhaler. More X-rays revealed the mucous in his lungs had, in a 24 hour period, migrated deeper in, and he had a spot of pneumonia. He's getting better now, and sounds much better. Poor boy inherited weak lungs from my grandma and me. I'm now supposed to make an appointment with our regular pediatrician to see about her maybe needing tubes in her ears, and for Ed to check back on his Baker's cyst that refilled the same day it was drained. There goes the money I was going to use for a camera flash...)