How's the Water?

This post started out being just another grandkids swimming adventure.  After the temps dropped into the 50's the previous night, needless to say (but I'll say it anyway) the water was a liiiitttttllle nippy.  But the kids insisted on going for an evening swim.  So I decided to capture their little surprised faces as reality set in.

What I didn't realize at the time, was that I was also capturing the "father/son mirror images."

To wit:

Lauren wisely chooses the slow, methodical descent

into the pool.

Check out Neal and Jeff.  

Lauren is still hanging out on the top step.  Waiting till her ankles are numb.

Neal and Jeff are easily distracted.

Now for the thighs.

Neal and Jeff get the "raise your right arm" signal.

Goggles on....ready to jump in.

Neal and Jeff are MIA.

Lauren seems to be handling the cold water quite well.

I'm surprised.

Maybe someone should've taken my picture.

Jacob's strategy is to ride the shark awhile before submerging himself into the cold deep.

There's the look I've been waiting for.

Time to bundle up, cuddle up, and watch a movie about...

Big Foot.

Jacob has decided he doesn't ever want to go snow skiing.

Good movie choice, Papa.

Pals

James and Duchess had a rocky start, but now they're great pals.  Gracie couldn't care less, but Duchess is happy to have another playmate.

Oh yeah, that's the spot.

Nothing More Beautiful

This is a beautiful sight.

Our Fifth Wheel.  

Parked in our pasture.  

Not in Corpus Christi, where it's been since last October.  

When I saw the lights of this monster as it was turning into our drive last night, I may have shed a tear.

 

This is another beautiful sight.

My old man.

Back where he belongs.

Stargazing

Usually between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m., I'm tucked in bed, drifting off into dreamland.

This is where I was last night.

Jumping into the pool.

It was still 94 degrees at 10:00 and I think the water was 93 degrees.  I'd know for sure if my favorite granddaughter hadn't tried pitching the thermometer into the pool and instead, crashing it into the fence.

I didn't make it to the gym today, so I compensated by swimming 20 laps.

Maybe it was 10.

Okay 4.

I strategically situated my lounge chair for the best view of the meteor showers.  And there I lay, looking at the vast sky filled with stars.

This is one of the things I love about the country.  Though I can't name them all, I can pick out several of the constellations.  The Big Dipper seemed especially BIG last night.  But alas, it was in the western sky and the meteors were to the northeast.

I must have laid there for 30 minutes before I saw a flash of light.  Whoa!  Oh.  Airplane.  Never mind.

Almost straight up 11:00, exactly when Julie Chin predicted (how DO they know these things?), there it was.  The first meteor.  Wow!  Amazing.  Then, in a few minutes....another. A total of four, before my eyelids were too heavy to wait it out any longer.  Spectacular show.  Thank you, God!

Lita's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

Or in the words of famous author, Terry Rush, "a day full of yeses."

Wednesday

9:00 - Mowed the grass inside the pool fence.  Oh, and we haven't had rain in....let's see....what's rain again?  It's also the 10th day of 100+ temperatures and at 9:00, we're already approaching that century mark.  Therefore the grass is dry and brittle and flies aimlessly (or should I say "aimfully") into the pool.
The Yes? - SOMEBODY has to get IN the pool to skim the grass out.  Me.

10:30 - In the pool skimming grass.  Realize the dog's gate has been left open while I was mowing.  Dogs are AWOL.  Walk to the barn, to the road, to the pond, searching....Did I mention it's 100 degrees?  Give up and get back in the pool.
The Yes? - Manage 6 laps in the pool (my exercise for the day) before I hear Duchess barking.  She's sitting on the cellar and Gracie is slowly making her way back from the neighbors to the north.  Both dogs are wet and dirty, but they've had a cool dip in the pond and are ready to get back home.

2:30 - Drive to the other side of Tulsa to my "specialty compounding pharmacy" to pick up my prescription--for those of you not familiar with Tulsa, every stinkin' expressway, state highway and major street are under construction--only to discover that it's not only the wrong prescription but the wrong pharmacy.
The Yes? - They kindly refunded my money and reversed my insurance claim within minutes.  Plus they refrained from treating me like a deranged, air-headed, blonde, for which I totally would not have blamed them.

4:00 - Arrive--hot and haggard--at my microderm abrasion appointment.  My favorite esthetician starts patting my face and informs me she can't perform the treatment because I'm SUNBURNED.  What???  I swear I don't go out the door without sunscreen!  Are you sure I'm not just red because I'm hot?  Yes, sweetie, I'm sure.
The Yes? - She offers to do a brow wax since I'm already here, which is almost as good as a face lift.

7:00 - Dreaded visit to our Bible study class from an elder who is not exactly thrilled with my choice of subjects this quarter. I've been stressing and praying about this all day.  Is he going to pull the plug?  Is this the final straw and I'll be kicked out of the CoC forever?
The Yes? - Our study continues, and I'm still a bonafide member.  For now.

Jacob's Day

First of all.  Jacob is now tall enough to brush his teeth at my sink without standing on a stool.  Okay.  I just had to get that out, because it's been bugging me all day.  Excuse me, while I go have a good cry.

Today Jacob cashed in on the birthday gift of "a day with Nana."  I know, I know... you're thinking:  That Lita is just too generous.  She is going to spoil that kid rotten with the expensive gifts she showers on him.

He got to my house earlier than I expected, and since I'd had an unpleasant night, what with the barfing/puking/hurling, I was still in bed.  Actually, I'd had a pretty good night's sleep, but...I was still in bed.  Soooo....since he can apparently read my mind, he jumped in bed with me and watched cartoons while I slowly came to life.

Then, of course, he had to torment play with James.

Before the promised trip to the Aquarium, we had to make a stop at the pool store to get our water tested.  (A-OK, by the way.)  It must have seemed like a LOOOONNNNNGGGGG way to the Aquarium, because Jacob (my little fellow-worrier) was very concerned that we would run out of gas.  I kept assuring him that I had a tank full of gas and that it would last me a week.  He peeked at the gas gauge and asked, "Does F mean Full?"  Why, yes....yes it does.  I said, "And what does E mean?"  "Not full?" Exactly.

Just before we got to Jenks, he was very dismayed and I thought he was going to start crying.

J:  "I want to go home."
Me:  "You don't want to go to the Aquarium?"
J:  "What if we don't have enough gas to get home?  We'll have to walk, and walk, and ask somebody to help us and we'll be hungry and thirsty."
Me:  "I PROMISE, we won't run out of gas."

Besides the sharks, this octopus was our favorite.

We also got to see two huge snapping turtles who were either playing, fighting, or making more snapping turtles.  Which later, Jacob described as (sung in high soprano voice) "Awe-some."

As soon as we got back in the car, the first thing Jacob did was look at the gas gauge.  "Oh, good, we're still on F."  Yeah, luckily no one siphoned our gas while we were fish-watching.

After lunch at home (we did NOT run out of gas) we spent a little time in the pool.  But seriously...is it possible for it to be too hot to swim?  I think so.

Jacob saw a picture of cupcakes on the side of the flour package and begged to make cupcakes.  Hmmm.  Not likely.  But I finally gave in to making cookies.  He'll never know what a sacrifice this was for me.  I was still having flashbacks of the cheesecake and the puking.

This is mainly why he likes to make cookies:

Before devouring his first scoop of cookie dough, he held it up to me and said, "bon appetit!"  What a clown.

I have a double oven, but never remember to use the lower one when I bake with Jacob.  So he DOES need a stool to watch the cookies bake.  At least for now.

On Second Thought....

I'm having second thoughts about my Cheesecake Ministry.

I'll break it down for you.

Friday night I ate HALF of my SURVCC (see previous post) and took the rest home.

Saturday night I ate HALF of THAT HALF.

Yesterday afternoon I had the remaining QUARTER.

About 5:00 p.m. I began to feel queasy.

By the time Small Group was over at 7:15, I seriously doubted my ability to drive home.  But I have self-sufficiency issues and could not entertain the thought of asking for help.

At 9:15 p.m. I was hugging porcelain and puking my ever-lovin' guts up.

In my entire 36 years of adult life, I've probably hurled a total of 5 times, and that includes 18 months of pregnancy.  I HATE THROWING UP.  And there is no puking like this puking.  Clear bile and pink pepto bismol.  I mean, it was coming out my nostrils.  Aren't you glad you visited my blog today?

Say Cheese!

I was misinformed on FB that yesterday was National Cheesecake Day and the Cheesecake Factory was offering 1/2 price on any slice of cheesecake. As it turns out, the info was correct...just a week behind.   Oh.....it was LAST Friday!?!?! But really, who cares? It was a great excuse for the girls to go out for dessert.

In fact, it was so good, that we plotted decided that we should plan this outing once a week month.  And every month, we'll try a different flavor...and we'll invite someone new to join us! Really. This could be our ministry!  The Cheesecake Ministry. Of which I will humbly be the Leader. I'm really passionate about this. I think I've found my gift.

I wonder if we can get it approved for the next church budget.

Stephanie's Ultimate Red Velvet Cheescake

(a picture is worth a thousand calories)

Hot Off the Press

Have I mentioned what a great boss I have? How blessed I am to work with such an amazing staff? How, after almost a year and a half, I'm still excited to go to work?

Case in point: Today, the first shipment of Terry Rush's newest book, "MVP!" was delivered to the office. This has been a very long-anticipated day. I had the honor and pleasure to read/proof the original manuscript. And I can tell you this. YOU need to read this book! It will change your life.