Sunday, April 20
Happy birthday to Whitney!
Somehow this day got away from us with only vague memories of howling wind, housework, Jim working in the yard, and packing for Edith…that is definitely a theme that will persist all week. Pack that box, tape it, move it to the garage! Today’s packing consisted of the guest bedroom which we were trying to clean out to prepare for Ernie and Billee to move into when their house closes.
Monday, April 21
Happy birthday to Daniel, Nancy and Jerry’s grandson!
With an early start to the day, we went by Marie Chase Community Center and Grammy’s Closet, both of which are charitable organizations with donations from Ernie and Billee’s and Edith’s home. However, we struck out at each as we were much too early for them to be open. So…it was over to Edith’s to pack and pack and pack.
This afternoon late, when we returned home, Jim went over to prune the pecan trees.
Tuesday, April 22
Happy 1st birthday to grandson Little Jimmy!
Happy birthday to Daniel, Nancy and Jerry’s grandson!
With an early start to the day, we went by Marie Chase Community Center and Grammy’s Closet, both of which are charitable organizations with donations from Ernie and Billee’s and Edith’s home. However, we struck out at each as we were much too early for them to be open. So…it was over to Edith’s to pack and pack and pack.
This afternoon late, when we returned home, Jim went over to prune the pecan trees.
Tuesday, April 22
Happy 1st birthday to grandson Little Jimmy!
While Jim helped Ernie move their couch and love seat to Marie Chase, I began the serious project of packing Edith’s library. To understand what a daunting task this is, one would have to realize how many books, videos, DVD’s, etc. she has collected in 84 years of living! We haven’t actually taken time to count the books, but just making a guesstimate, Jim says 1250-1500! This doesn’t include 3 sets of encyclopedias and years of the Condensed Reader’s Digests books. The videos themselves filled over 3 boxes, and we’re not talking little dinky boxes either! While I did the books, Edith shredded paperwork, checks, and etc. from years past. We were quite a working machine.Wednesday, April 23
Since the laundry had piled up around our house, we decided that I would go to the Laundromat while Jim rode the cycle on over to his mother’s to continue the packing. It just blows our minds that two people who do “nothing” can collect such loads of laundry (and trash). We’re great at both!
Jim came by the Laundromat to get the car so he could take his mom to the doctor. He left me the cycle though so I’d have wheels. Right!
With all morning activities concluded, we met Jerry, Nancy, and Jean at Chaos for lunch which was a definite treat for us as they had been gone to Knox City for Daniel’s birthday party. Once the meal was over though, we returned to our packing posts after running some errands.
Eventually, it was home again to check email and relax.
It was a delight to receive photos of Joyce and Gary’s new grandbaby, Max, and one of Owen.
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Then, we had the most interesting note for Cathey about Jaycie’s first softball game.
Cathey wrote:
Good morning everyone!
Well, Jaycie had her first ever softball game last night. She has been so nervous this past week about it too. We just tried to tell her that all she can do is her best and don’t worry about it and just HAVE FUN!!!!
So she’s all decked out in her “Angels” uniform, her Daddy’s glove, her bat and new batting gloves and helmet. They warm up and are anxious for the game to start. The coaches finally gather the girls in a huddle for some final words and they head to the dugout. Jimmy and I are sitting in our lawn chairs with some other parents just talking and waiting for the game. Now mind you Jaycie has come up with ever serious baseball scenario imaginable to ask about. She was more nervous about softball than cheer!!! So shortly after the huddle she runs up to the fence and whispers me over…I get up and she cups her hands over her mouth and asks…”Where’s center field?” I just about died!!!! So we told her and off she went to center field. It was too funny!!!!
The game got started and we were home team so we pitched first. Our pitcher had a hard time pitching it down the middle so we walked several batters but then we also were able to get our 3 outs with fielding plays. No balls were hit to the outfield to Jaycie’s dismay. So now we’re up to bat. We end up having the inning called because we scored the maximum of 7 runs in an inning.
Jaycie should bat the next inning. She sits out for defense this time as we again do a good job of fielding hits and making good throws. Now we’re up to bat again and Jaycie eventually gets to bat. Jimmy, David, Wendy, Emily, and I are cheering her on. Her two best friends are cheering in the dugout for “little ears!” (That’s one of her nicknames.) The first pitch is way too high and she lets it go. Great job! The second pitch is in the dirt and she lets it go. Great job! Now mind you, we can tell she’s scared to death because she’s not stepping out of the batters box after each pitch or lowering her bat. She’s a total statue with a determined look on her face that shows all over her little body. The next pitch is a little high but she swings… she gets a piece of it but foul ball. Still great job! Then the next pitch is thrown and she takes it. It’s a hit to short stop! Jaycie runs to first as the throw is being made. The throw is overthrown to 1st base and she advances to 2nd! She was so excited and was trying to keep it serious without showing how excited she was! Then the next batter was up, the pitch was made and the coach told Jaycie to steal third and she did. Then the coach showed her how to get a lead off of 3rd to home. Well, the batter got a base hit and Jaycie was able to score!!!
The 3 friends of ours and Jaycie all got hits and were able to score! We won the game 15 to 5!
Jaycie is loving softball!! I forgot the camera so I don’t have pictures but I will have them next time she plays. (These are photos from the next game they played. Jaycie is the front one on the 1st pic)
Thanks for letting us share our fun event with you all. Take care and we’ll keep you updated on Jaycie’s games.
Go Angels!!!
Thursday, April 24
All I can say about this day is that it was a travel one! I even drove 34 miles with Jim sleeping! However, as we approached Canyon the wind started howling, as it seems to do quite well; so I turned the helm over to Jim. By the time we were in Liberal (7:00 PM), Jim was one big knot after fighting the wind.
Thankfully, Leah and Ryan met us at the Fairgrounds and helped us set up. Then we visited a little before we all decided to call it a night.
Friday, April 25
The first order of the day was to go to Mon Del to get our usual, desperately needed haircut! Once that was accomplished we went over to the George’s new home. Jim will take it from here.
Jim: We have written about Mr. & Mrs. George and their sons, Livesy and Leslie in previous entries. They are originally from India, but were teaching in Botswana when we “discovered” each other. After making numerous telephone calls and going through reams of paper, were able to get them established in Liberal.
Each time we have returned to Liberal, we have tried to get together with the Georges, and they have wanted to take us out to dinner. While our time was short this weekend, we agreed that even if didn’t see anyone else this trip, we wanted to see the Georges and their new house.
Following the directions that Mr. George gave me on the telephone, we soon found several new houses on a street in the north end of the city. Livesy was at the high school having a last minute practice session before leaving with several band and choir members to participate in the state solo and ensemble schedule on Saturday.
While we waited for Livesy to call, Mr. and Mrs. George gave us the full-blown tour of their beautifully appointed new home. We were so very happy for them to finally be able to put down roots in their adopted community.
After a bit, Livesy called and asked for his dad to come pick him up at the high school. When they got back to the house, we had a brief photography session
, and then, at Livesy’s suggestion, decided that we would adjourn to Vargas Restaurant for lunch.We had a great time getting caught up on the news of their family; Leslie is completing his Masters Degree at Georgia Tech this spring, and Livesy continues to do well in his academics and activities at LHS. Not only is he an outstanding student, Livesy is a member of the award-winning robotics team, plays tennis, and is a member of the high school band.
Before we finished eating, we promised that when we return to Liberal in June, we will set aside a whole day to spend with Mr. and Mrs. George to visit and get some cooking lessons so we can begin cooking some authentic Indian dishes.
With our meal over, we said our goodbyes, spoke to a few people in the restaurant who came over to see us, and headed out to see some new construction on the north end of town and to do a little shopping.
Barbara: After we left the George’s at Vargas’s, Jim and I threw ourselves into gathering supplies needed for the surprise “family shower” we were going to throw Leah and Ryan tomorrow night. I ordered a Baby McQ cake and gathered some other needed items before heading to Big V to store them where Leah and Ryan wouldn't see them too soon.
Around 5:30 after Jim returned from visiting Chris and Pam Perkins, we went over to Leah’s for a cook-out. There we were joined by Cathey and Jaycie who had just driven in from Lubbock and Danny and Charlene.
What a fun night eating and visiting on the deck of Leah and Ryan’s home! When the night was over, Jaycie returned to Big V with us to spend the night. As usual, once we turned on a movie, Jaycie was out like a light and I gave up, too. However, Jim watched the Bee Movie to the bitter end! Saturday, April 26
Since we weren’t expected over at Leah’s until 11:30, Jaycie had time to go out and create another “rock” town. We had even brought her the rock she used in Artesia so she would be equipped to do her thing.While Jaycie was out creating her city, Jim was busy creating his famous pancakes, bacon, and eggs breakfast.
Eventually, it was time to prepare for the shower and head over to Leah’s where we would meet Ryan’s family for the first time. Ryan’s mother, sister and her three kids, and grandpa had come in for the big “do.” And, what would such a gathering be without touring Baby McQ’s awaiting room which the kids have decorated really, really well.
As par, the remaining time was spent eating, taking photos, and visiting before it was time for the “girls” to head to the Depot for Leah’s baby shower.
I guess, I was a little scatterbrained though, because I left the camera at Leah’s so I had to call the guys and ask them to bring it to me! We had to have photos to document this wonderful occasion, didn’t we?
I’ll let the photos do the talking for the shower…it was great and the baby will certainly not be lacking for anything!
Cathey decided after the shower that Leah and Ryan needed a baby bulletin board to put in Jameson’s jungle room so the 3 of us made a Wal-Mart run to get supplies while Jaycie and Jim began preparations on the spaghetti dinner Jim was fixing. Ryan was busy out in the garage making Jim and me a washer game to take home with us. (It’s played much like horseshoes, except that I never did hit the board when I tried it earlier! However, Jim and Ryan seemed to not have that trouble!)While Cathey started the bulletin board and Jim cooked, Jaycie and I drove over to the motor home to pick up tonight’s shower supplies. The plan was for us to call when we were just about to leave so Cathey and Jim could ask Leah and Ryan to make a Sonic run for everyone. However, Jaycie and I were too speedy (or maybe Leah and Ryan were too slow) and we had to stall waiting for them to leave the house. Once they left, we all quickly brought in gifts from the Artesia bunch (Granny, Billee and Ernie, Jean, Jerry and Nancy), my sister, and Mike. There was again no doubt that Leah and Ryan were going to be prepared completely when the baby comes.
My sister, Nancy (and her family) had given Leah and Ryan a gift card so Jim and I found this goofy clown tie to put it in…Jim wore it that evening and when he gave it to them, he said (at Cathey’s suggestion) “Nancy, Tom, Brandi and her family were tied up this week-end and couldn’t come, and handed Leah the tie.” In the photos, Leah is wearing the goofy tie, talking to my sister on the phone. Just thought an explanation of such a hideous tie was necessary.
Eventually, it was time to call this day over; so Jaycie, Jim and I went back to the Fairgrounds. No one even pretended to watch a movie tonight!
“Love starts when another person’s needs become more important than your own” – Unknown
At home in the Fairgrounds of Liberal, Kansas
Jim & Barbara
Eventually, it was time to call this day over; so Jaycie, Jim and I went back to the Fairgrounds. No one even pretended to watch a movie tonight!“Love starts when another person’s needs become more important than your own” – Unknown
At home in the Fairgrounds of Liberal, Kansas
Jim & Barbara
