Our REAL home....

The kids started school today. Elise woke up and had herself dressed at 6:20 am. “You still have an hour before breakfast!” She read a book until then. What a book worm she has become. Nathan was also dressed with his bed made before he even came out of his room to say good morning. If only they would continue this way after the novelty wears off. We had “Thootenanny” pancakes for breakfast. Their backpacks were lined up on the bench: blue, butterflies and pink. The washed, plump apples they’d picked for their teachers sat next to them just waiting for school to begin. Jim took Elise and Nathan this morning. He did not walk them in, just watched from the car. “I was so proud of them. They looked a little wide eyed and unsure, but they stood tall together and didn’t look back.” My how they’ve grown!

Lindsey had a hard time waiting to go to her class. Afternoon pre-k starts at 12pm. That’s four whole hours after the other kids leave and every few minutes found her asking, “is it time for my school yet?” Aimee and Lindsey played for awhile. Aimee found Lindsey’s white kitty and couldn’t find her own. Lindsey explained, “I think it’s still at our REAL home, the one in Florida!” “Oh….” I smiled at that one. How I miss our REAL home, the one in Florida!

We cleaned the girls’ room, watched a leap frog video, did four puzzles, had snack and got dressed before it was finally time to leave. With a thirty minute cushion, we walked the long way to school, zig-zagging up and down the hilly streets. As we walked along Masters Drive, we saw Nathan playing on the playground. It was easy to spot him in the blue shirt with a green stripe he chose for his first day. He waved and ran over when he saw us. Then he ran back and just stood by himself waiting for a turn on the swings. I could have stayed and watched him forever, but Lindsey was ready to move on.

Finally, we took our last picture and went into Alma Schrader Elementary where Lindsey got a name tag and stood in line with her new class. The lady handing out name tags looked over the students and said, “Did I miss anybody?” At which point, Aimee, who was clearly feeling left out, yelled, “MEEEE!” J Aimee was not about to be left out of the pictures, the class lines and all the excitement. “Wait for me!” has been a constant phrase for her as of late. Lindsey’s teacher collected them a little late and off they went to the big kid cafeteria with the biggest grin on Lindsey’s face and one final wave to me. On our way home, Aimee asked from her stroller, “Are we going to see my teacher?” “Oh sweetie” I said as I kissed her forehead, “I AM your teacher!” She sighed and looked away, falling asleep within minutes. I don’t think she was very excited about THAT! J

I am excited to hear about the kids first day. We are going to go out for ice-cream as our first day treat so I can hear all the details. I wonder who Elise befriended. Kate Smith, from church, is in Lindsey’s class and Sam Smith is in Nathan’s. Hyrum Dickson, from church, is in Elise’s class. It’s pretty amazing to think they each have a church member in their class. Nathan had his first homework assignment before class began. He had to pick a favorite shirt and explain it during a show and tell. The blue Key West shirt with a turtle and surfer design was my fav, it reminds me so much of Florida. But, Nathan is his own person. Last night he pulled me aside to explain what he’d chosen: “I picked this one because it has a number two on it and I’m going to tell the class you got it for me because I’m your number two main man.” J I melted in his cuteness.

Speaking of cuteness… for snack the girls shared a Clementine. Aimee peeled it and Lindsey ate it. J Although, Lindsey did her best to coax Aimee into taking a bite: “ Take a bite it’s yummy!” “No” “Yoooou’ll like it” “NO” “Aaaaaaand, it’s a talking orange. (she then continues in a real high pitch voice) eat me. Eeeeeaaaaat me. I’m yummy. Eat me.” I laughed and laughed because we are always making the food talk to Lindsey in a similar way. Of course, Lindsey usually giggles and gives in. Aimee held her ground with a final, “No thank you.”

Welcome to Alma Schrader Elementary

It's back to school night.

The kids can't wait to meet their teachers and see their room.

Lindsey was first, she has Mrs. Mehner (may-ner) for pre-k

Nathan has Mrs. Frazier for first grade

Elise has Mrs. Coots for third grade

our bags are packed and we're ready to go...

Lindsey and Kate

Some things never change...

Elise created a home for Katie's petshop hamster that accidentally came home with us. I'm sure the hamster is grateful for the royal treatment. I was grateful for the royal entertainment.

Aimee has her own way to entertain herself...

Reunions

The trip to Idaho was eventful. We flew on Delta and found that they had scattered our family randomly through the plane, twice. On our second connecting flight, we arranged it so I at least sat between Aimee and Lindsey with Nathan sitting one row back to my right where I could see him by the window chatting with a little girl and a mom holding a little baby. He was just fine, just like Jim. Elise and Jim were some five or more rows behind and I didn't even try to keep tabs on them.

At one point, Nathan realized he had to go to the bathroom. I could see his hand waving to get my attention. The mom and baby were asleep in the aisle and I suggested Nathan hold it. Nothing doing! So I convince him to get down on the ground and wriggle like a snake under this lady's legs. His head popped out with a triumphant smile and off he went. Meanwhile, I thought about how soundly Lindsey and Aimee were sleeping (it was 10pm) and had an aha thought. "If I put Lindsey, who is sleeping, into Nathan's old spot, she will not disturb that family at all!" So I scooped her up and plopped her into place before it dawned on me that I could not buckle her in. I carefully leaned over, up on my tip toes and tried to reach the seat belt with my finger tips. Nope. I tapped Lindsey gently on the head and whispered, "Lindsey, Lindsey! Wake up and put on your seat belt." Nothing. The taps become raps and the whisper escalated. "LINDSEY!" rap, rap rap. The lady wakes up. "Oh Hi" I explained softly as I am practically laying on her lap, "I thought I would put my sleeping child by the window so my son wouldn't wake you with his comings and goings, but (ha, ha) now I can't get the seat belt on her (and I'VE woken you up)" RAP, RAP, RAP. It quickly became evident that there was no other way to fix this, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to lean on you (and your sleeping child) to get it on, I'm sorry" (WHAT was I thinking?!) So there I was laying on this unsuspecting mom, trying to wrangle the buckle around Lindsey who is a sound sleeping heap of no help. I heard the merciful click, escaped back to my seat (now everyone was awake and watching) and busied myself with Nathan who could have just crawled back under her legs... but no, what's the fun in that?

All was well for another hour until the seat belt light came on with a ding and the stewardess announced that we should tighten our seat belts. The plane dropped a few feet and the dinging continued like an alarm. The stewardess repeated the need to tighten our seatbelts several times in a row as I thought, "Now why would she keep repeating herself unless she's nervous because she knows something we don't know." I was sitting right behind the plane wing and looked out the window as the noise of the engine slowed and then stopped (my mind thought "faltered"). There were clear skies and yet the plane started to sway side to side as it continued to bump up and down and the stewardess reminded us to tighten our seatbelts again and again and again. I gave a hearty tug at each reminder and then looked helplessly at Lindsey who was still propped against the window with a mere click of a seatbelt holding her down. Her head flopped and her mouth fell open as we bounced up and down, but she stayed asleep. I, on the other hand, was never so awake.

Each new jolt or swing brought a new plead and prayer in my mind that we would live to see another day. As the skies were a clear blue, the only reasonable explanation for the sudden swerving was that the plane was damaged. It had broken and now we were headed into our FINAL descent. I gripped Aimee and Nathan close to me and kept my eyes on Lindsey. There was no way that mother would bother with her when she had her own two little ones to worry about. All the plane crashes I'd read about these last few months came rushing to my mind and I prayed that if we were going to go down over water that we'd all die in the initial explosion and not pull through just to drown in the water -I just couldn't die twice! I couldn't watch the children pleading with terror in the eyes as they gasped their last breath. And then, with a final swerve, bump and jolt -we made it. We were on the ground, safe. I could have cried and started to shake. Lindsey didn't understand why I wanted to just hold her and not get off the plane. My stomache hurt and I realized, sheepishly, that each time they said tighten your seat belt, I did. :)

I was ready to reserve a car for our return trip! I just wanted to hold the kids and look at their cute, tired little faces. It made Jim's family reunion that much sweeter because we were alive. and THAT is the upside of living with a mind that caters to the morbid "what if" thoughts. When those "what if's" don't come to pass, I am even more grateful for the "normal" results than if I'd just cruised along expecting the normal. :)

We did make a less eventful trip back home ...even though we awoke at 3 am to start the journey and Jim and Nathan were on different planes and I lost my camera. :( I was just happy to have a more calm ride, sleeping children and obedient little girls. Though I am truly mourning the loss of my camera. It's the first time a missing item did not come back to me. But, I did find my wedding ring and driver's license. :)

So, I've no pictures to post of the reunion, just the mental snapshots of a lodge tucked up in the mountains with children roaming the meadows, collecting rocks and slapping at misquitos. There were family photos taken and I'm hoping that a few will find a way to our house, but I will say our house is the farthest away... The wood pole lodge had three levels and was large enough to give each of the 7 siblings and Jim's parents a room of their own with a great room up top with rows of cots lining the walls, leaving the middle open for dancing and the children's play, "The frog prince." A staircase of spiraling split logs led down to the lower level with a kitchen (no fridge) and small family room where we spilled over to gather for all the family meetings. It was rustic and cozy. Jim's family now boasts 16 adults and 22 grandchildren.

Aimee followed Uncle Rob and Uncle Orion around waiting to be held or cuddled. Lindsey celebrated her fourth birthday, dancing in her own little world, oblivious to the obvious change in scenery. Nathan embraced the wilderness each day and was delighted to make a bow and arrow set and play with all the boy cousins. Elise kept to herself reading books for the first little bit (I think she was a bit overwhelmed by all the new faces). She warmed up right as Elena (one of the cousins her age) arrived and they were quoting barbie movies over dinner, ne'er to part. All the kids loved Grandma's cookie tree. Sigh, sigh. I had the most beautiful pictures of them in the shady woods, picking cookies off of trees. Now that is my type of tree. Jim enjoyed shooting a rifle, singing with the fam and being together. Of interest, we learned the proper way to retire the American flag.

We returned home and had a few days to prep for the next family reunion here in St. Louis. My Granny and Aunt Better were coming to visit the family, play with the kids and see the new house. Coincidentally, my parents found a new house to buy in St. Louis, so they really got to see it all. It was fun to have them in our home and Jim and I were again grateful for such a beautiful home. At this point, it still has to be viewed for it's potential as we slowly work on the details. G.G. looked beautiful and was game to go, try and see anything. I can only hope that I stay as active, healthy and happy as she is. I learned that she used to make screws during the war. They spent one day here, touring the river walk and then we all headed to St. Louis -crowding Heather's home. It was like Mary Poppin's bag because somehow we all fit just right.

Better took some beautiful pictures of all the children with their G. G. (great grandmother) and I again was sad that my camera was gone. I am at the will of another to get some beloved photos to grace this blog. Now it's a race to see who is the more responsive side of the family with sending out pictures. Of course, at this point I am grateful for anything I get. And, at this point, I am grateful to return home once again and really start to feel at home. I'll let you know when it really feels like home.

Okay, so I just have to laugh because as I read back my blog, I realized that the auto spelling correction keeps changing aunt Bette's name to better. What can I say?