Sunday, April 6
Barbara: We were really undecided today as to what we were going to do. I had checked out some nearby churches, but in the end, we decided it was more important to take Alexander and Abby over to Mineola so their Granny and great Aunt TJ could get to enjoy them since we didn’t know when or if they would have this opportunity again. With that goal in mind, we began preparations…diapers, sippy cups, snacks, juice, cell phones, etc. etc. Oh, yes…we need the kids! Okay, car packed and we’re off to the turtle races!
Keeping in mind that little ones do not enjoy being cooped up in a car for 2 hours, we made a playground stop at McDonald’s in Terrell so Abby and Alexander could expend some energy. With that mission accomplished, we loaded back into the car to make round 2 in the car.
In no time at all, we were pulling into TJ’s drive and were quickly letting the kids out of their car seats! What a great time Granny and TJ had watching and listening to Alexander and Abby enjoy their freedom. TJ and Jim eventually went to pick up some chicken for lunch (the kids favorite!) while I took them out for a walk to see the cows and horses down the street. Since Alexander decided he was too tired to walk, Abby and I pulled him in TJ’s red wagon. Then we went back indoors to play with Granny…
After lunch while the kids watched TV in TJ’s bedroom, we adults were able to visit a little about Edith’s decision on the move to Mineola.
One of the houses we saw on Friday is a garden home which only had 2 bedrooms, but might as well be called something bigger since it has an office attached to the master bedroom. This is the home that Edith has decided to call hers.
This home also has a lovely screened in sun porch where Edith can have her morning coffee and watch the dogs roam around in the small, but lovely backyard.
This home was definitely meant for her! We all agreed on that. Now if we could just hit a magic button and have all her belongings in place and ready to live in!
Before we left, we conducted the usual photo session in order to document our special time together…
Eventually, it was time to head back to Richardson. We had mentioned to Alexander that if he slept in the car, it would count as his nap so that’s exactly what he did until we got to Terrell. However, this time we stopped at a public park that offered many opportunities for fun for both Alexander and Abby.
Once home it was time again for another meal, a little playtime, baths, story time, and finally bedtime for both them and us!
Monday, April 7
We all made a pretty lazy start to the day. Finally, it was time to hit the road to McDonald’s for lunch and playground time. A stop by Home Depot for a part for Jim to fix a broken shower was next on the agenda. While Jim fixed the shower, the kids and I played outside, inside, and all around!
Around 5 we ventured out in the wild, crazy Dallas traffic to meet Paul (Jean’s grandson) and his wife Stephanie at Double Dave’s Pizza in Grand Prairie. About a half block from our destination, we had to make a pit stop for Alexander. This turned out to be the coolest thing we did all week, because the convenience store had a life-size cut-out of Iron Man! Now how lucky could we be! Alexander was so excited about this that I asked the store clerk if we could take his picture by the stand-up cut-out. She was so kind and told we definitely could and just move it anywhere we wanted! And, we did!
With no more ado, we wound up at the restaurant where Stephanie and Paul were waiting for us.
Paul and Stephanie are expecting their first child sometime in September though one would never really know it by just looking at Stephanie!
Once we got the kids settled in with their food, I laughingly said as Jim and I were going to get ours, “We’ll be back in a week!” Never did I dream that Alexander would take me seriously, especially since the buffet line was right by our table, but he did. And, when we returned to the table, we found him in tears. Finally, with some hugs and reassurance for him, we all dug into the delicious pizza.
By the time we returned to Richardson, Abby was sound asleep and we just chose to leave her that way. Bath time didn’t seem quite so important! We would start the day tomorrow with baths.
We watched the Kansas vs. Memphis championship game with high hopes for Kansas, especially since I had picked them to win in my bracket group. With a win, I would wind up in 4th place out of 25…with a loss, I’d be 10th. As is now history, we watched with bated breath as Kansas tied the game with two seconds left! Overtime gave them the game and I found myself in a respectful 4th place in my group! Needless to say, it’s the best I’ve done since I began joining a March Madness group 3 years ago.
Tuesday, April 8
We knew today would probably be the most difficult day to keep the kids busy since they knew their parents were returning. But we began with a lot of outdoor time, which they love. Jim edged the backyard while I mowed it and the kids played on the deck. Then it was out front where I mowed one half while Jim watched the kids. However, when Jim started mowing the other half, I decided it would be better to take Abby and Alexander to the backyard where there aren’t quite so many rules!
After lunch and naps, we journeyed over to the Firewheel Mall where the kids could play and run around after we did a little shopping. Then a stop at Taco Bueno for supper to take back to the house was next on the agenda.
With a movie in the TV and plenty of toys to play with, time really flew by for them and by 7:30 Heather and Andy were walking through the door. It goes without saying that the kids latched on to them and were afraid to let go! So…after a little catching up on the job interviews and our activities with the kids, Jim and I headed over to Terrell where we had motel reservations for the night. This is where we were meeting TJ with Edith tomorrow and it seemed wiser to already be there instead of fighting through Dallas traffic tomorrow, especially since Heather and Andy would be trying to get the kids ready for school, etc.
Wednesday, April 9
Jim: TJ and Edith arrived about 9 TX time and the three of us pointed the Vibe in the westerly direction while TJ went back east. The trip was generally uneventful, although we found out after we got home that a tornado had skipped across I-20 at Abilene just after we had passed through there. The clouds looked a little funky as we were driving west of Abilene, but I didn’t think much about it. Barbara suggested that we turn on the radio and check the weather station, but I said it was just some low-swirling fog and wasn’t worth worrying about…guess God really does look after the foolish.
As we crossed over 12-mile hill east of Artesia, we saw what we thought were some dark clouds. Well, they were, but they were dark with sand and dust. A major wind and dust storm was brewing and we were headed right into the thick of it.
Around 5:30 NM time, we were pulling into Edith’s driveway where Ernie was waiting to help us unload.
Then it was home to Big V for us. The wind and dirt were blowing so hard that we elected to bring in only what was absolutely necessary for the night. We didn’t even open up the slide-outs on the right side because of the wind…just made do for the night.
There’s no place like home!
Thursday, April 10
A really do-nothing day! We slept in this morning, even with the wind howling around us. The slide-outs stayed slid in for most of the day, and it was foolish to even think of going outside and doing any work. Late in the afternoon the wind started diminishing enough that we could open the place up and bring in a few more things that we had left in the car.
Jerry called during the afternoon and asked if we wanted to go to dinner with them and then attend a magic show presentation by the Artesia Arts Council. We said that we didn’t think we were interested in the magic show, but when we found that Jean was going to dinner but not the show, we agreed to go with her to Kwan Den to try out their remodeled Chinese buffet (by the way, it was wonderful).
After dinner we came back and visited with Jean a bit before calling it a night.
Friday, April 11
We took our time getting around this morning…nothing important happening here at Big V, but later in the morning we made several stops around town to take care of business. We had some questions for Dr. Kahn, the physician that Mother sees. I am having some problems with my left shoulder, and rather than driving all the way to Liberal to see Dr. Gill, I decided to see if Dr. Kahn would take me on as a patient.
The Vibe also needed to go to the car doctor for a checkup, so we stopped at Guy Chevrolet to see about an appointment for regular service (and, no doubt, some filter changes due to all the dust and dirt storms we’ve experienced this spring).
With a doctor appointment scheduled for 9:30 Monday morning and a car appointment set for 1:00 Monday afternoon, we drove on over to Mother’s house to see how she was doing. Everything seemed to be just fine over there. She and Ernie had gone to the bank this morning and made arrangements to get the money to buy her new house in Mineola.
After leaving Mother’s house, we drove out to Roselawn Elementary School to visit Becky. She’s asked us several times to come out and see where she works as a Special Services paraprofessional.
We were pleasantly surprised to find a very bright and cheerful school building. The school nurse has recently painted murals on the walls that really brighten the place up. With a little help from the secretary, we soon found Becky and a couple of the teachers with whom she works.
After a short visit we went back to the front of the building where we had the opportunity to meet Mrs. Perez, the building principal. She didn’t have much time to visit with us as she was busy reading to three students who were in her office, but she did give us a hearty welcome and invited us to come back whenever we could.
Since Susie was coming back to Artesia to work an extra day this week, we joined the gang at Chaos for lunch and had a great meal and time to catch up on the events and activities of the last ten days or so.
After lunch, we made a brief stop at Mother’s house and then came back out to Big V to get a nap. It was a beautiful afternoon to be outside, but catching a few Z’s seemed to be more important.
Barbara woke up feeling a little under the weather, so while she stayed inside and rested, I went outside to do some work around the place and try to undo some of the wind damage from the past few days.
Later I went over to visit Jean for a few minutes and convey Barbara’s regrets for not getting out tonight. Then, it was back to Big V to eat supper, watch a couple of TV shows, and then end the day.
Saturday, April 12
It was a beautiful day today…the temperatures weren’t too high, but with little or no wind, it was very pleasant to go outside and work.
Barbara fixed breakfast, but wasn’t feeling well enough to get out, so she stayed inside while I enjoyed the bright sunshine and fresh air for a few hours.
Nancy stopped by to let us know that she had done well at her 4-wheeler driving school in Roswell this morning and to give us some information we’ll need for “babysitting’ Benji next week while she and Jerry take a welcome break for a short fishing vacation.
When I did come in, she had a great lunch fixed, with enough left over to share with Jean and Mother. I delivered the food, went to Wal-Mart to pick up a propane tank for Jean, and then came back to Big V to spend the afternoon watching the Red Sox and Yankees go at it at Fenway Park.
Tonight…just put life on “cruise control” and take it easy.
“Life just gives you time and space…it’s up to you to fill it” – Unknown
Back home in Artesia,
Jim & Barbara
