Ugh. Consistency, my achilles heel. January is over just like that.
Here is a catch up on some of what happened during the month.
My brother Jed decided to join the Army National Guard. I will save you the story for now but January 5th, he left for basic training. On the 4th, they had a little show your support to Jed and see him for the last time for 10 weeks get together. Glen had this super idea of a way to show our support. We got a camo shirt for everyone in the family and swim caps for everyone but Glen. I cut letters out of yellow felt. We marched in with swim caps on out heads, except Glen. He shaved his head like Jed had too. Our letters read 'WE heart JED'. (I know it looks like it says WEED. Bad photo op but the only one we had.) We came up with a kadance to sing for him but decided not to sing it in the end. You can see that Ruth really liked the swim cap look!
Lilly and Lucy were off track for the first three weeks in January. I had to take Ali, my sister, something and it was most convenient to do so at her work. I planned on just dropping it off and us leaving but she ask if we had eaten. We had not and she had not, so we had lunch together. It was super fun. After lunch Ali held Ruth while the rest of us went on the indoor Ferris wheel. I rode with Daryl and at the top he said," are we going to die?" It was a bit scary being so high and having the seat rock a bit. We all loved it though.
We have been going through some stuff and found the above picture with the big girls when they were little with Roberta. I thought it would be interesting to do a now and then. I am still kind of in shock at the difference a little over eight years has made in all of them.
Lilly was one of the top two kids in her class for their class geography bee. She got to be in the school geography bee with other 4th -6th graders. She made it to the round right before the championship. Three of the six kids left with her on that round. I was really impressed with all of them. The questions were really tough. You had to know your stuff.She will probably always remember what state the OK corral is in, because that is what she missed. We were so pleased with how well she did.
Glen found a version of Sim City, like what he use to play back in middle school and high school. He downloaded it and showed Lilly how to play it. It was really him reveling in the glory days and playing it with some explaination to Lilly. It was really fun to watch.
Ruth has long enough hair for pigtails. We only try them every once in awhile but it is way cute. She is in love with books and makes Glen think our book shelves have an eating disorder because they are constantly purging themselves on to the floor. Another thing Ruth really loves are 'pretties' or having her finger nails or toenails painted. When they are done she will hold her hands about like they are in the photo but closer to her chin and say 'pretties' and wait for you to complement her on how beautiful they are. I love it!
Since we had lunch with one sister, the other wanted in on the fun too. So the next week we had lunch with my sister Marian. She works at a flower wholesale distribution warehouse. Completely different from lunch the week before but still so much fun. We got to see lots and lots of different flowers and fillers like palms in all the different fridges and ride on the freight elevator, which made us think of the elevator on Thouroughly Modern Millie, so there was dancing on the rides up and down! We saw the floral designers working on arrangements and the fridge with all of them in it and best of all everyone left with a balloon!
So since about September, Ruth will potty in the toilet at her convieince. Always it is just peeing. This day the timing happened to work out and she did a little more! Since I am in the changing diapers phase of life I though it worth noting because it was one less I had to take care of. I am still at a loss as to what to do with this whole thing. She is the youngest of my kids to be interested in this and be able and willing to do it. I have thought of trying to full on potty train her but she isn't there yet and the little I have tried has not gone well. I also don't want to have it be a power struggle so I try to let it just be on her terms. This gives me hope that when she is ready it could be very easy though.
This is Roberta in bed still at 12:20pm and happy about it. I went to DUP with Evelyn and she wasn't ready to get up when we left and had just enjoyed herself while we were gone. This is so different from her younger days but she has earned her right to sleep in in my book.
This letter was to my dad from his oldest brother, Bill. Like it says he sent a late Christmas present with it. It was left out on the counter at my parents and I was snoopy and read it. I loved it and it made me tear up. I wanted a copy of it so I took a picture; I am sure this is really bad manner, but I will ask for forgiveness on it and keep the picture. He nails my dad's personality and the way he writes reminds me so much or my Grandpa. All of them are such good men.
It was my mom's birthday on the 19th. Instead of making her dinner like I should have she made dinner for the family like normal and then sent us home with her wonderful hot rolls as well. I am so glad I have gotten have her in my life for all 31 years of it. She only had her mom for 17 years and the though of that just makes me want to cry.
Last on out rounds of lunches was a visit to Glen's classroom. The kids were so excited. They hardly ate and mostly drew in his boards. It made him have to re do a bunch of the stuff he had up for his classes but he was a good sport about it all. Just like he is with everything he deals with having a wild and crazy crew.
This is just a normal thing that happens while we are with Evelyn and Roberta. Aside from videoing everything we do with them I try to take as many pictures as I can to help me remember these little things when they are gone.
My brother Jed decided to join the Army National Guard. I will save you the story for now but January 5th, he left for basic training. On the 4th, they had a little show your support to Jed and see him for the last time for 10 weeks get together. Glen had this super idea of a way to show our support. We got a camo shirt for everyone in the family and swim caps for everyone but Glen. I cut letters out of yellow felt. We marched in with swim caps on out heads, except Glen. He shaved his head like Jed had too. Our letters read 'WE heart JED'. (I know it looks like it says WEED. Bad photo op but the only one we had.) We came up with a kadance to sing for him but decided not to sing it in the end. You can see that Ruth really liked the swim cap look! 
Lilly and Lucy were off track for the first three weeks in January. I had to take Ali, my sister, something and it was most convenient to do so at her work. I planned on just dropping it off and us leaving but she ask if we had eaten. We had not and she had not, so we had lunch together. It was super fun. After lunch Ali held Ruth while the rest of us went on the indoor Ferris wheel. I rode with Daryl and at the top he said," are we going to die?" It was a bit scary being so high and having the seat rock a bit. We all loved it though.
We have been going through some stuff and found the above picture with the big girls when they were little with Roberta. I thought it would be interesting to do a now and then. I am still kind of in shock at the difference a little over eight years has made in all of them. 
Lilly was one of the top two kids in her class for their class geography bee. She got to be in the school geography bee with other 4th -6th graders. She made it to the round right before the championship. Three of the six kids left with her on that round. I was really impressed with all of them. The questions were really tough. You had to know your stuff.She will probably always remember what state the OK corral is in, because that is what she missed. We were so pleased with how well she did.Glen found a version of Sim City, like what he use to play back in middle school and high school. He downloaded it and showed Lilly how to play it. It was really him reveling in the glory days and playing it with some explaination to Lilly. It was really fun to watch.Ruth has long enough hair for pigtails. We only try them every once in awhile but it is way cute. She is in love with books and makes Glen think our book shelves have an eating disorder because they are constantly purging themselves on to the floor. Another thing Ruth really loves are 'pretties' or having her finger nails or toenails painted. When they are done she will hold her hands about like they are in the photo but closer to her chin and say 'pretties' and wait for you to complement her on how beautiful they are. I love it!
Since we had lunch with one sister, the other wanted in on the fun too. So the next week we had lunch with my sister Marian. She works at a flower wholesale distribution warehouse. Completely different from lunch the week before but still so much fun. We got to see lots and lots of different flowers and fillers like palms in all the different fridges and ride on the freight elevator, which made us think of the elevator on Thouroughly Modern Millie, so there was dancing on the rides up and down! We saw the floral designers working on arrangements and the fridge with all of them in it and best of all everyone left with a balloon! 
So since about September, Ruth will potty in the toilet at her convieince. Always it is just peeing. This day the timing happened to work out and she did a little more! Since I am in the changing diapers phase of life I though it worth noting because it was one less I had to take care of. I am still at a loss as to what to do with this whole thing. She is the youngest of my kids to be interested in this and be able and willing to do it. I have thought of trying to full on potty train her but she isn't there yet and the little I have tried has not gone well. I also don't want to have it be a power struggle so I try to let it just be on her terms. This gives me hope that when she is ready it could be very easy though. This is Roberta in bed still at 12:20pm and happy about it. I went to DUP with Evelyn and she wasn't ready to get up when we left and had just enjoyed herself while we were gone. This is so different from her younger days but she has earned her right to sleep in in my book.This letter was to my dad from his oldest brother, Bill. Like it says he sent a late Christmas present with it. It was left out on the counter at my parents and I was snoopy and read it. I loved it and it made me tear up. I wanted a copy of it so I took a picture; I am sure this is really bad manner, but I will ask for forgiveness on it and keep the picture. He nails my dad's personality and the way he writes reminds me so much or my Grandpa. All of them are such good men. It was my mom's birthday on the 19th. Instead of making her dinner like I should have she made dinner for the family like normal and then sent us home with her wonderful hot rolls as well. I am so glad I have gotten have her in my life for all 31 years of it. She only had her mom for 17 years and the though of that just makes me want to cry.
Last on out rounds of lunches was a visit to Glen's classroom. The kids were so excited. They hardly ate and mostly drew in his boards. It made him have to re do a bunch of the stuff he had up for his classes but he was a good sport about it all. Just like he is with everything he deals with having a wild and crazy crew.
This is just a normal thing that happens while we are with Evelyn and Roberta. Aside from videoing everything we do with them I try to take as many pictures as I can to help me remember these little things when they are gone.
Glen- Mixing up peanut butter... It is part of being a problem solver. You'll appreciate it when you have perfectly mixed peanut butter.
Lucy- You have lost your mind.
With my brother gone to basic training and my sister-in-law, Jill flying solo with their five kids we have tried to have family fun Fridays or Saturdays. We take the kids so Jill, can have a break and play or watch a movie or play or have a some of them sleepover. This selfie that Lucy and TaLyn took is one of the only pictures we have of our fun. I guess we have been having too much fun to do anything else.
Lastly I went to that cooking/food education class on the 31st. It was really good. It made me want some different kitchen gadgets that could help cut down cooking times on things. I think I will try to incorporate some of the stuff in to our menus, but it is all "plant based" and Glen has already told me he still wants meat with the yummy veggies. Moderation and balance, right? ...and a happy husband. Those are the important things.
With my brother gone to basic training and my sister-in-law, Jill flying solo with their five kids we have tried to have family fun Fridays or Saturdays. We take the kids so Jill, can have a break and play or watch a movie or play or have a some of them sleepover. This selfie that Lucy and TaLyn took is one of the only pictures we have of our fun. I guess we have been having too much fun to do anything else.
Comments
Daryl pulled on my heart strings when he asked you on the ferris wheel if you all were going to die...Poor guy!
What a great update. Where have I been? I need to check in more!