Father’s Day, a trip to Arkansas and the puppies return.

I was to get up for a transition meeting on Sunday morning at 4 am. Well, I set my alarm for 3:45, but not the one that happens in the wee hours of the morning. I set it for 3:45 pm. Oops! So I awoke in a panic at 5 am, knowing I had missed the meeting. Ugh! I apologized to my leaders and my team. What is a girl to do? 

When I rolled out of bed at 9:45 am I had just enough time to get a cup of coffee before church started. When church was over, Mitch and Stuart made a breakfast/lunch for us all. I know I should have helped fix a Father’s Day lunch, but I’m a crappy cook, so that would have done no one any favors. I did, however, help clean up the mess. 

In the afternoon we went to the puppy store to get some food for Roscoe and Lola. Mitch was going to go home this day, but decided he wanted to avoid weekend traffic and would wait until Monday. Once we were home, we played with puppies and threw water balloons in the afternoon. 

The pups were not terribly thrilled with getting wet. 

She decided she would get into the water balloon bucket. 

Grammie and Pop went to their community group in the parking lot of the church, while we helped ourselves to dinner and then played charades once Grammie and Pop returned from church. After charades Millie went to bed but had her epic meltdown, as she often does when she goes to bed too late. It was wonderful, as you would guess. We just carried on and played dominoes while she pretended to cry downstairs. She eventually stopped. Again, what to do? 

After dominoes we said goodbye to Uncle Mitch and the puppies. It always makes me a bit sad to see him leave, but now he has the puppies to keep him occupied. The companionship will make a world of difference to him, I think. 

Roscoe and Lola. 

We stayed up and Stuart worked while I watched television. When we went to bed we just laid there and started giggling. Then I couldn’t get to sleep. It was after 2 am before I dropped off. 

I woke up just before 9 am. Mitch had already left. The weather was a bit cloudy and cooler. We sat on the porch for a while. Then Stuart and I decided to go to Wal Mart to get half and half. When we got home lunch of salmon, green beans and corn on the cob was nearly ready. 

I spent the afternoon watching Netflix on my iPad. I kind of fell asleep for a bit. When I woke up, I came upstairs to the kids, Grammie and Pop playing dominoes. I played one round and then we stopped for dinner. Millie didn’t get her early night like we had planned. It’s just too difficult when it doesn’t even get dark until nearly 9 pm. 

Jack went to bed about an hour later and then Stuart and I did some posting of videos and went to bed. We had sat on the porch with my mom and dad for a bit and then we went downstairs. We set our alarm for 4:45 am so we could get up and be in a junior school staff meeting at 5 am, which was 2 pm Al Ain time. It was nice to see people, but it wasn’t really a meeting, but instead it was a quiz activity. It was a bit of a waste of our time. Oh well, it was their way to try to get closer for us. Just after the meeting we received an email from the Head Master. It was totally calculated. It was bad news for those staying. The staff were told their housing allowance would be cut dramatically, their salaries would be cut by 25%, and there would no longer be flight allowances. It was demoralizing and made us realize that we made the right decision, as difficult as it’s been at times. 

We went back to sleep until nearly 9 am and by the time we were up, Grammie and Pop had headed to Conway to stay with my brother Russ and his family for the night. My dad was going to get together with some of the old coaches who used to work at the basketball camps at University of Arkansas back in the day. Stuart and I decided to take the kids school clothes shopping. So we dawned our masks and headed to the Nike, Under Armor, and Justice. We haven’t ever done that as the kids have worn school uniforms for the last 4 years. It was fun. Millie can wear the cute Wal Mart clothes, but we bought her some hip things from Justice. Jack can’t (or won’t) wear the Wal Mart clothes. Therefore, his new digs came from the Nike outlet and the Under Armor outlet, of course. 

We then went and had pizza. I was full on one piece. We walked around the Branson Landing. 

The fountains at Branson Landing. 

There were very few people there for a summer day, but I do believe people might be a bit skiddish as the numbers of infected people is on the rise. We had our masks and put them on if anyone was within 6 feet. 

We got home and remembered we didn’t stop for gas. I went back out for gas and a gift for my dad and my sister in law. My dad’s birthday was the following day, and I wanted to take a thank you gift to my sister in law. When I got home the kids and Stuart were watching a Harry Potter movie. We had leftovers for dinner and then the kids showered and went to bed.

I had three meetings on Tuesday evening. My last one was over at 2:30 am. I was off to bed and the alarm went off at 6 am. Once we were up and the kids had eaten breakfast, we headed to Conway, Arkansas to see Russ, Julie and the girls. When we arrived Grammie and Julie were heading to the grocery store. After showing us the house, they headed on to pick up sandwich stuff for lunch. Russ and Pop were playing golf and then returned just before Grammie and Julie got back with food. 

We had lunch and then we sat on the porch while homemade ice cream was churning. Emily played music and Pop actually sang, danced and really jolly birthday boy. It was his 82nd birthday. We really had a great afternoon. 

Millie and Emily performed a dance routine for Pop for his birthday. 

Look how cute they are!

Sitting on the porch is one of our favorite things to do. 

Grammie and Pop left to go back to Branson and we decided to drive around Conway. Russ showed us the university and the high school, where Julie teaches math. We then went to Target to pick up some crackers. We ordered food from a Thai noodle place and they delivered. After dinner, we sat outside again and the kids caught fireflies. This time in our lives has made us slow down and help our kids experience the simple things in life that we grew up doing. 

Once in the house, both kids showered and then Millie went to bed in Emily’s room. Jack followed at about 10 pm. I uploaded my video for the day and Stuart took a shower. Stuart had a meeting at 2 am, but I had nothing so I looked forward to falling asleep watching Netflix. 

I woke up at 7:30 am. We had coffee on the porch. Russ and Stuart went golfing around 9 am. The rest of us just sat around the house. Once the golfers were back we had lunch and then went to the lake. We spent a few hours at the lake. We had taken our kayaks, blew them up, took them into the lake and then were told we had to take them out to the bouts if the kids wanted to paddle. Ugh! We decided we would just take them back to the shore. 

My kids love these girls so much!

This was before we were reprimanded for the kayaks. 

We came home and went to the supermarket to get things for dinner. We had spaghetti for dinner and spent the evening out on the patio. We went to bed relatively early. Millie decided to spend the night in Morgan’s room on Thursday night. 

Friday morning we woke up just before 9 am. Stuart and Russ were scheduled to golf, but Russ’ wrist had been hurting him, so they decided to give it a miss. We had coffee on the porch. The weather was gorgeous, so staying on the porch was easy to do. We had lunch of leftovers. We then headed to Target to buy some masks as we were told we would have to wear masks at school. We had received word that school would be delayed for two weeks. This meant that we would actually get to relax a bit longer once our UAE jobs completed on July 2. So, although our plan is to go in and get our rooms ready, we don’t have to report to school until July 22. This will mean that we will only get a one week break in October and March. At least that is the plan for now. 

We decided to order the best Mexican food in Arkansas. It happened to be in Little Rock, which is about a 45 minute drive from Conway, but it was delicious and so worth it. After dinner, we hung out on the porch. The kids went into Russ and Julie’s room and watched High School Musical. They were all so cute together. 

Millie decided she would not sleep on the blow up mattress in the living room, therefore I did and she slept in the bed with Stuart. It might have been the best night’s sleep I’ve had since leaving the UAE. Who knew a $8.97 air mattress was the ticket to a comfy night’s sleep? 

Saturday morning we got up and started packing up our stuff in preparation to come back to Branson. Mitch had actually come back to Branson on Wednesday to see us again and to let the puppies have a little more space. The puppies weren’t quite getting the whole puppy pad thing, but they will. It’s exhausting training puppies, as he has now experienced. At any rate, the kids were excited to get back to the puppies if only for a little more than a day.

We did take our for lunch at Burgers, Fries and Pies. It was deep fried goodness. If there is one thing I can blame on Covid 19 it is the 20 pounds, give or take, I have gained in these last four months. So my new July resolution is to stop the madness once we get back to Arizona. Enough is enough. Since I’ve put it in writing, I will be more inclined to actually follow through. 

We headed back to Branson around 2 pm. We had such a great time with the Pennells in Arkansas. It was great to hang out with my nieces as adults. They have grown into beautiful, well humored ladies. They were absolutely priceless with Jack and Millie and were delightful to be around. 

Once we were back in Branson we started laundry and packing our things for our journey back to Arizona. We got most things packed and then just had sandwich stuff for dinner. Jack wasn’t feeling so well so decided he wasn’t hungry. We had some porch time, but after the kids went to bed, we played a few rounds of dominoes. Stuart and I headed downstairs for our meetings, except Stuart decided to postpone  his 1 am meeting until the following day. I stayed up to help my autistic child in a meeting with his new teacher. It couldn’t have gone any smoother. He was so excited she would be his teacher. It was amazing and I may have teared up a bit. Just 5 more days and our time in the UAE is officially closed out. It’s a bit surreal, but it is time for sure. 

A Sunday hike started our week

We got up on Sunday morning in time to watch church, which is just before 10 am here in Branson. Stuart and I were a bit rude, as we approved assignments while listening to the sermon. We did this so we could spend time with everyone on a hike later that morning. 

We drove to a trail and hiked down 338 stairs and then had to turn around and hike back up. There was a way to go on, but it didn’t seem terribly safe. 

The cousins stood on the top of this structure for a photo op. Then we hit the trail. 

Pop blazed the trail on the stairs. 

Coming up the stairs was a bit more difficult. 

Grammie and Pop decided to head back to the top of the trail and wait for us, as we carried on around the trail. We ended up seeing a little deer couple, assuming on a date. Ah!

They seemed very comfortable with us in their woods. There is no way these deer would ever be shot. It was an amazing site to see. 

The buck!

Once hiking had concluded, we went back home and had a rest on the back porch.  We did have a snack as we were expecting ribs at 2 pm, but it turned out they weren’t ready until almost 5 pm. They were delicious and worth the wait. 

Jack, Stuart, Russ and Pop went night golfing, while the rest of us stayed at the house, performed surgery on a cyst I have had on my leg for nearly 2 years. Somewhere in our heads my niece and I thought we could dig the cyst out. Turns out we just bruised my leg and made the cyst a bit sore. Oh well. After surgery, we had a movie night with Frozen 2. Millie and Morgan had a little performance for us prior to the movie, which was very cute. Stuart and I worked and had a couple of meetings. Then it was off to bed around 2 am. We are so very over all of the crap we have been doing the last 13 weeks. We see the end in sight, which is what sometimes makes it more difficult to be motivated. 

Monday morning I didn’t get out of bed until nearly 10 am. I missed getting to have my Monday walk with Sue.   That has been such a huge part of my mental release for the last few months. But we will start it up again once I am back in Arizona. 

Around noon we left to see the wedding venue where my niece would get married in November. It is amazing. It’s very rustic and totally fits her personality. Mitch wanted to see it as he is going to make it beautiful with his gift for transforming a venue to fit the wedding she has dreamed of. The story of the venue is so sweet. It seems the gal who runs it was the first to use this structure. Her dad build the barn and surrounding area for her own wedding. Since her wedding, she and her mother decided to make it their business. We chatted with Brooke, of Willow Brooke Farms, for quite some time and it made the whole experience even more sweet. I was so glad I got to go along. 

While we were checking out the venue, the rest of the crew went to play putt putt. It seems that Emily beat Russ and was promised a new Audi and Louis Vuitton bag for the win. I’m not sure that promise will ever be fulfilled. Millie cheated, as she always does, but apparently they all had fun. 

We all arrived back at the house around the same time. Stuart and I went out to get some food for my crew, while Russ and his group ordered pizza. It was an ‘on your own’ meal night, which was fine with us. Once the kids had eaten and showered, we began our epic theater evening. 

They had taken snack orders, organized the downstairs area like a cinema, and made us all line up outside to enter the movie house. We got our food orders and then the usher (Jack) downstairs seated us. The entertainment before hand was fantastic. Millie and Emily did a dance number. Then we watched Mary Poppins Returns. We had an intermission for snack refills and the toilet, then the second half started after Millie and Morgan’s tricks. It was a great evening. Naturally, Stuart and I ended the night the way we’ve become a costumed to, setting assignments, class meetings, and approving of pupil work. 

Tuesday morning I was up just before 9 am. We started cleaning things up around the house and tidying the downstairs daybed area. Morgan, Emily and Julie were going home in the afternoon, so Jack and Millie would be going back to the daybeds that evening and the trundles would be stored for another time. 

We sat out on the porch, as we often do, and drank coffee while chatting the morning away. I talked about the stress that Stuart and I seem to be under with all the requirements we need to fulfill to properly leave the UAE. It looks as if we will most likely not see our paycheck for augurs, but who knows. We are doing all we can do. I am just going to have to take my anxiousness and let it go. It’s virtually out of our hands now. 

Around 11:30 am, Russ, Stuart and Pop went golfing in Springfield. Julie and the girls left around 2 pm, and I had the kids watch a movie downstairs while I decompressed on the porch. Grammie was watching something in her room and Uncle Mitch had gone into town to get some cash out so he could buy his new puppies on Thursday. We were all so excited. I ended up spending most of the afternoon downstairs. The golfers came back home around 6:30 pm and dinner was shortly after they got home. 

After dinner, the men went out to play horseshoes while the kids played tic tac toe and cornhole. The weather was amazing so we had to be outside. 

The horseshoe competition was fierce. 

I sat on the porch swing and watched. 

The kids didn’t shower as they really hadn’t been out of the house the entire day and the next day was sheer day for the laundry, so they felt they could get away with being ‘dirty’. 

Jack had difficulty going to bed. He is at an awkward age and seems to think he is more of an adult that he actually is. He wanted to sit on the porch and talk with us, but what we were talking about didn’t interest him. He then insisted he needed more time to be awake as he had wasted his time sitting on the porch and we talked about nothing he wanted to talk about. He finally went downstairs and agreed to ten more minutes on his iPad. When I got down to say goodnight, he ‘needed’ 4 more minutes. I agreed, but then told him I would not be coming back downstairs so I would say goodnight right then. Stuart went to tell him goodnight and so did Grammie and Pop. When Grammie came back to the porch, she told me Jack wanted me to come back downstairs. I refused, saying he was being manipulative and that I had already told him I wasn’t coming down again. He messaged me on WhatsApp 118 times. He just wrote one word messages, but he was persistent. Once we went to bed, we spoke to him about how unacceptable his behavior was and if he did such a thing again, we would have to start insisting he went to bed at the same time as Millie. I suspect this kind of thing won’t happen again. 

I stayed up for two meetings, one at 1 am and one at 2 am. I then stayed up to complete some assignment approvals and settled in, waiting for my 5:30 am meeting, which was terribly unnecessary for me to be a part of. The good news is, during the transition time the next two weeks our jobs are virtually over. We will no longer have to stay up later than 11 pm, other than when we have our class meetings. We are very close to the end, thank goodness. 

We got up Wednesday morning and sat on the porch, as you do. Russ left just before noon and I was determined we would leave the house this day. The days we just lounge around the house really do put me in a funk. Stuart and I had received our final payout from our school in Al Ain. The way they have manipulated the system is quite criminal. Therefore, saying farewell is not as difficult as I had once thought it would be. And being so concerned about ‘doing the right things has lost its love in my heart. They have no consideration for anyone or anything. They are greedy and I’m not terribly bothered anymore, which is a good thing. 

Once Russ was gone, we finally decided on going to play putt putt. Grammie and Pop took a drive around the Ozarks while we did our thing. We weren’t gone terribly long, but it was good to get out. 

I ended up napping for the afternoon. I woke up to the smell of burritos cooking. Once dinner was over and cleaned up, the kids showered and had an early night. I did my school thing and then went to bed early. 

I woke up Thursday morning, so excited for the puppies to come. Everyone was anxiously awaiting our journey to Joplin. Stuart and I went to Target just after lunch and bought some doggie items for the new doggie father, Mitch. When we got home, we all headed to Joplin to pick up the puppies. Mitch met with the breeder and then signed all the paperwork. We then put them in their carrier to take them back to Branson. They were so cute. They didn’t stay in their carrier long because we all needed to hold them. We stopped in Nixa for Andy’s Custard and to let the puppies have a potty break. 

Lola is the little chocolate girl. 

Roscoe is the little boy. 

Cuties and the kids adore them. 

Once we were back home we bathed the puppies. They were wet little rats. They played a bit more with Jack and Millie and then went to bed. Stuart and I went out to the porch and stayed up way too late just talking with Grammie and Pop. 

I got up Friday morning at 8 am thinking I was helping out with the puppies while Mitch took his car to Big O Tires. But once I was upstairs I discovered he had already left and taken the puppies with him. 

The puppies returned and Grammie and Pop left to go see family in Monett. We played with and monitored the puppies most of the day. Mitch took them to the vet for a check up after we had lunch, and we headed to Wal Mart with the kids. 

Once everyone was back home we had a delightful dinner of baked potatoes and pulled pork with beans. We headed to bed a bit earlier on Friday evening as we were tired from our week. The good news was we would have little to do the next two weeks of school as the children are transitioning to the next year group and since Stuart and myself won’t be in the school next year, our responsibilities are few. 

We got up Saturday morning and decided we would take the kids out for lunch. There is a Culver’s in town where you can order and then sit out on their picnic tables, so we did so. The food was fried goodness. We then stopped in at Wal Mart to get Pop a Father’s Day present. Who doesn’t need a new grill set?

Once we were home we got things ready for school that evening. I had a meeting at 4 am, so was planning to go to sleep and set my alarm. We played dominoes before Jack went to bed and then Stuart and I were in our ‘office’ by about 10:30 pm. It was nearing the end. Our house had been inspected this week and things were starting to close out on our experience in the UAE. It was bittersweet for sure. 

The Lake, a Boat, and a drive to Branson

We got up early on Sunday morning and headed to Saguaro Lake with Ken and Maytee. They had rented a boat and we were taking the kids bumper tubing for the day. We got there just before 10 am and backed the boat into the water. It turned out to be a bit easier than what was originally thought. 

We had to wait for about 20 minutes in the overflow car park. 

And we are off. 

The weather was amazing. 

Ken and Stuart rode together, while Maytee drove the boat. I actually rode the tube earlier, but realized I had no upper body strength so decided I probably should save my muscles. 

The kids had an absolute blast. 

We took snacks and tubed for a couple of hours. We then anchors in a cove and swam around a bit. We headed back out for a bit more tubing and then stopped around 1 pm and had lunch. After we had a very expensive lunch, we went out for another couple of hours before getting the boat back on the trailer and heading back into town. Stuart has been nervous about getting the boat in and out of the water, but In the end he thought it was easier than he had anticipated. 

When we got home, the kids showered and lounged around. They were knackered. Stuart and I worked on school stuff until the wee hours of the night again. It is definitely time for school to be over. 

Monday I got up earlier than normal to walk with Sue. It would be our last walk until we returned from Branson. When I got home I read a nasty message from the lady at the vet clinic in Al Ain regarding our dogs and their re-homing. She told me she wished that I had contacted her before we took them to the Falcon Hospital. Well, the message that she had sent me at the end of March stated that she could take them but we would have to pay a boarding fee until someone adopted them. I love how everyone thinks they get an opinion about your life and the decisions you make. This was not any of her business. 

Millie was able to Zoom with one of her buddies back in the UAE on Monday morning. She spent about an hour talking to her. It’s good that the kids can still keep in contact with their friends. Stuart went to wash our car to get it ready for our trip to Branson the following day. When he returned I headed down to the kids’ new school to turn in their shot records. It seems that not all the paperwork went from the first school we enrolled them to the second one. I then went to the farmers’ market to pick up some potatoes. On the way home, I called Cathy, our friend from the UAE, who is now in England. It was good to talk to her. She is so happy she is home. We spent the rest of the day getting ready to leave the following morning.

Tuesday we were up and tidying the house. We finished packing up the car and were out the door to Jack’s orthodontist appointment. I waited outside the office, while Stuart went to fill the car at Costco. Jack came back to the car already in pain. They connected his canines to the wire this trip. Lovely! 

We decided we would drive to Amarillo, Texas and stay the night at a hotel. We only stopped twice in our 10 hour journey. We got food just before we checked into the hotel. The kids ate, showered and got into bed. They were a bit wild and Millie had a meltdown, staying awake about an hour later than she should have, while 

Stuart and I posted our assignments and then I got into bed because my computer wouldn’t allow me to hook up to the internet. Stuart stayed up and worked a bit on his handover notes for the following year’s teachers. I was to be in a team meeting, but I felt they could handle things without me. 

I was having difficulty breathing during our drive on Tuesday. I’m chalking it up to anxiety. I keep reciting Philippians 4:6 ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’ This is easier said than done for sure. I tossed and turned a bit in the night, so when the alarm went off at 6:30 am I struggled a bit to get up. We got ready and headed downstairs to check out. We opted for McDonalds as our nutritious breakfast spot. Then we were on our way to Branson. 

We made a few more stops on Wednesday than we did on Tuesday.. Our last stop was at the McDonalds on the Will Rogers Turnpike for another bite to eat. We haven’t had a McDonalds since March 5, and then we had it twice in one day on our journey to Missouri. We arrived around 4:30 pm. We saw Mitch, Grammie and Pop and gave them a not-so-socially-distance hugs. We unloaded our car and then settled in for our three week stay. We had dinner and the kids showered and got into bed. Stuart and I stayed up and worked in our new office. I had a class meeting and then decided to go to bed, even though I had a lot of work to catch up on. 

Thursday I got up early, but decided not to do any work. Instead, Stuart and I headed to town to get the oil changed in our car. While we waited for the car, we decided to walk up the street to Culver’s. We got a drink and some cheese curds. We got back to the car as soon as they pulled it in front of Big O Tires. We then decided to go to Wal Mart to buy some coffee creamer, cider and beer. Once we were home we had burgers for dinner. Having the kids go to bed anytime before 9 pm because it stays light until then. 

Friday morning we were up and working for a bit. I tried to get all of my assignments done for the following week, but didn’t quite get it all done. Russ and Morgan showed up just before lunch time. The kids were so excited to see Morgan. She wasn’t supposed to come until Saturday, but decided to surprise us. The kids played with Morgan and the rest of us sat on the infamous porch. Well, Russ, Stuart and Pop attempted to go golfing but there was such a back up they decided to give it a miss. While Stuart was gone, I spoke with Hope. She shared with me what she was doing each day and we discussed how we wished this whole Covid 19 thing was over. She’s been painting and she sent pictures of her paintings to me. I think they are amazing. 

Grammie and Pop decided to go to dinner with their community group, so Uncle Mitch made burritos for us and we enjoyed dinner together. We then went to the porch for the evening. It’s the best place at the house. 

We woke up Saturday morning and went for a 3.5 walk around the park. We then got home and I showered. We then took Jack to the basketball gym for a while. When we got back Emily and Julie were there and we all had a bite to eat. Then Russ, Julie, Stuart and I took a drive to scout out some walking trails in town. 

This was the one we settled on. 

We got back to the house and supper was commencing. After dinner we went outside to play Spikeball. It seems to be loved by all and there are laughs to be had. 

The Telford vs the Pennells. 

The cousins. 

Once the kids had showered, we played some dominoes, while the kids stayed up too late. We started work around 11 pm and had a meeting each. Sadly, we think we are disturbing sleep during our meetings, but we don’t have much of a choice. 

Only three more weeks of distance learning and then that chapter will close. After this week it will be much easier as we have transition meetings with very little marking of assignments. I’m more than ready to close this chapter of our lives. 

Week 11 of Distance Learning and we are losing the will

We worked for a bit Sunday morning. I tried my best to finish my reports even though I still had a week to complete them. I always like to be the first one on my team finished. I completed the forms for the shipping company in the UAE. They were due to come the following day. We watched church and then did a whole lot of nothing for the entire day. We all felt a bit lazy. 

Monday I was up and walking with Sue, my therapist. These walking sessions with Sue and the other people I’ve added as time has passed, have been a mental life saver for me. It’s not helped my waistline terribly, but has definitely kept me sane. 

Once I was home, I showered and got ready to go and look at houses with Melinda. My mom came with us as well while the kids stayed home with my dad. We had received an email from Chandler Unified to tell us what paperwork we needed to hand in, so we felt maybe we were getting closer to getting a contract and having the ability to look at buying a house. We got home in the late afternoon and Stuart and I decided to take some things back to TJ Maxx. We also needed to go to Wal Mart for something random. 

Tuesday I went walking with Mary, Elisa, and Sherry. Those ladies totally lift my spirits as well. I always have such great laughs with them. It is heating up, so we decided the following week we would need to move the time a bit earlier, which was fine by me. 

When I got home, I hopped in the shower and we set out to look at a few more houses. We found one that was move in ready, but didn’t have a pool, and we’ve decided we have to have a pool. We want to be the family that has all the kids at our house, and a pool is a drawing tool for kids. 

When we got home from house hunting we decided to order Chipotle for Grammie’s birthday dinner. Because they were getting up early to drive to Branson, we had her birthday celebration Tuesday evening. We had been to Wal Mart and bought her some travel candy as well as a new decorative pillow. 

This little fella provided some excitement for us on Tuesday night before the kids went to bed. After a bit of chasing him, we finally caught him in a bowl with a lid, took him outside and smashed him. 

Wednesday Grammie and Pop we gone by 5 am. We went to see my new classroom and measure bulletin boards. It turns out that the walls in my portable are all able to be stapled into, so bulletin boards are not even on the walls, which is perfect. We then stopped by Ryan Elementary for Stuart to see his room and we were able to show the kids which classrooms they would be in. Jack’s classroom was having the floors stripped and waxed so we didn’t get a picture of his room. 

Once we left Ryan, we went to see our favorite house again. We started making a list of all that would need to be fixed before the house would truly be livable. I’m sure my life wouldn’t be complete without a ton going on at one time (Covid, new job, kids’ new country and new school, remodel a house, and the list goes on). Later in the afternoon, we went to Jeff and Melinda’s so the kids could swim. It was a good time and the kids had a blast. Jack even played basketball with Brady, who is 6 foot 5 inches tall. They are both big kids, and seemed to have fun together. Jack’s excited to go watch Brady play basketball this year at Basha High. 

Thursday we decided to go to IKEA and Cost Plus World Market in Chandler. We were just trying to keep ourselves occupied and looking for fixtures and things for a new house we don’t even have yet. Once we got home, we chilled for a while and then headed to our friends’, Sally and Rob’s, house so the kids could have water balloon fights and tie dye t-shirts. We had a great time catching up. 

We got home and the kids showered. Stuart was making our travel play list for our upcoming journey to Branson. He played a song that we used to listen to before we were married, Shania Twain- Forever and For Always. I don’t know why, but as we were dancing, with the kids joining like jealous puppies, I started crying. I think it was just one of those overwhelming moments when I realized how much our lives have changed in the last three months and how much change there is likely to be over the next year. Then I was also feeling so blessed that I have Stuart, Jack and Millie right beside me through all of these changes. When I started crying, Millie did as well. She absolutely bawls when she sees me genuinely cry. I tried to explain to her that I was crying because I was so happy. She was inconsolable. Then Jack made her laugh, and she dried her tears. She does have such a tender side. 

Friday morning we got up and just lazed around, which we seem to be very good at these days. Stuart and the kids opened the t-shirts and laid them on the lawn to dry. They turned out so cute. 

I went to have coffee with my friend Jennifer. We picked up right where we left off. She does make me laugh. When I left her I stopped at Fry’s and got sushi for Jack, Stuart and myself for lunch. They were surprised. I got Millie a chicken nugget lunchable, which is super healthy, but she loves them so that’s good enough for me. 

The afternoon was spent watching Netflix. Stuart and Jack watched a marvel movie, Millie watched the new episodes of Fuller House, and I watched the latest season of Dynasty. Then we went to Ken and Maytee’s for dinner. The kids played on the trampoline until Jack smelled like a sweaty dog. We didn’t stay long as the curfew is still in place in Arizona. So we were home just after 8 pm. The kids showered and Millie went to bed. Jack followed about 30 minutes later. I stayed up to do the maddening Elvis puzzle. This might be the hardest puzzle we have attempted to this point. I stayed up too late, as usual, but had to get in one last piece of the puzzle before going to bed. 

Saturday morning I was up at 7:30 am, turned the coffee on and finished up my work for the beginning of the school week. We sat around and debated what to do for the day. In the end we decided to go to some open houses. None of the houses materialized to anything we would consider. It seems our minds are stuck on one house, and even if that house falls through, there are a lot of other houses out there to be purchased. 

We went to the supermarket after the last house we were to your actually had a handwritten note on it telling us they would return in 45 minutes. How can you possibly have an open house but not be there? It was disappointing, but we just changed courses and decided to go to the supermarket to get something for lunch and food for the lake the following day. 

Once we were home, we had a bite to eat and then watched television. We then headed to Barrio Queen with Tim and Sue Tharalson. We decided sitting on the patio would be okay and safe. The food was amazing and the mariachi band was amazing. Although it was warm, there were misters and the wind was blowing a bit. The ambiance was worth the heat. The food was amazing and the kids were well behaved. How much better could it have been? 

We got home, Jack and Millie showered and Millie headed to bed after conning her dad she needed some pudding before she hit the sack. Jack followed about 45 minutes later. Stuart and I finished getting ready for school. I showered and decided to watch Netflix crap! I had a Google Meets with two of my students who have needed a bit more socialization during Covid 19. It was great because I did very little and the children just talked to each other. It was a great way to end a Saturday.