FINALLY, I'm updating again. Sorry for the famine. Kelly, my heartfelt apologies to you for telling you time and again I would post pix and then putting it off another day. I know the ups and downs must be difficult for you in this delicate time, so again, my apologies.
So where to begin now that I have to fill you in on so much...
Lets start with Adventureland. In fact, I might have to do a week at a time as there is so much to rehash. On Monday, July 2nd, Doug flew to Virginia for a conference our home church hosts every year called COEBA (Conference on Evangelizing Black America). He had a great week, enjoyed the preaching, the fellowship with old friends, and he was able to give an update on the work here to the praying and supporting folks back East.
Since I was not able to travel with him, and being the scaredy cat that I am, I chose not to stay alone in my spider infested, creaking house for 4 days, so I drove the kids to Des Moines. I have to admit that I hardly missed Doug, which is very out of the ordinary for me. I'm usually pining away at the loss of him when we're apart. But our days were so full while in Des Moines that I hardly found time to sleep let alone think of my loss. Anyhow...Monday was Adventureland day (for those of you who don't know, it's an amusement park in Des Moines...I mentioned something of it in my last entry I think). I really thought Kent would be the sheepish Adventurelander and Arielle would be gun-ho about it all. No so!! Kent surprised us all, and we couldn't get the rides going fast enough for him. Arielle was...how shall I say this?? Unsure of this type of amusement in the beginning. If someone was riding with her, holding her hand, and reassuring her throughout the ride, she tolerated it. But if she was merely forced to sit next to her brother, it was considered cruel and unjust punishment. She sobbed uncontrollably and then finally resigned to riding the ride if they didn't stop it for her, although she continued to cry with her head back and eyes closed (much like her pout position). I guess you have to know Arielle to understand how hysterically funny this charade was for us, but those of you who do know her, it was classic of my Rella.
Papa met us at the park after a couple of hours and had a picnic with us. He then took the babysitting/napping shift back at Aunt San's house while us big kids played for a few hours on the big kid rides, including one that nearly scrambled my brain - something I certainly didn't need assistance in.
The kids and Papa met us back around 6 that evening, and we closed out the park - with a much happier and more confident Arielle. She went from shrieks of terror earlier in the day to waving and saying "Good Bye, Mommy" every time she circled around and around and around on her little kiddie ride! What a world of difference a nap will make on a grumpy toddler, eh? Maybe it was just because her Papa was there to enjoy and admire (and spoil) her. We had 3 hours of sheer bliss, and even Papa got on a couple of rides with us. It was a very memorable day. I can't wait to take Daddy back with us.
Tuesday was another busy one. Mom and I had some "business" to tend to in the morning while Papa played child care provider. Off the subject a little, is he really the same guy that provided child care to me??? C'mon really...who's this guy and what have they done with my dad? Anyhow, we packed a cooler and headed to the Iowa State Capital around 5 for an evening of picnicking, Des Moines Symphony Orchestra, and fireworks while being among friends on the capital grounds. The kids were thrilled to death with the fireworks and had great fun with the other kids. Arielle was the star of the show, too! Earlier in the evening, I observed a photographer was standing at the bottom of the hill scanning the crowd. Suddenly, I looked over and there she was kneeling beside me smiling and saying hello. My heart stopped for a moment as I couldn't place her face, and she seemed like she was expecting recognition. It was hot and humid, so combining the weather with my earlier brain scrambling, I was sure I had lost my mind. Finally after what seemed like hours, she said, "Can I take a picture of your daughter for the Des Moines Register?" Whew. I was not only relieved that I wasn't losing my sanity, but I was also thrilled that MY daughter had been singled out of the crowd for a picture in the Register! Here is a link to her claim to fame:
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/tngallery?Avis=D2&Dato=20070704&K
ategori=NEWS&Lopenr=707040802&Ref=PH&Item=1&Params=Itemnr=1
She was, of course, dressed for the occasion, which caught the photographer's eye. But it gave me warm fuzzies that she was sought out from the crowd :)
Wednesday was another very full, eventful day! We started the morning off by preparing for a church picnic at Southtown. A long time friend of mine chose to spend time with me by helping me set up tents, move picnic tables, and run some errands. Talk about loyalty?? Thanks so much for your help, Beth!! Not to mention your friendship. I think she's still my friend...even after putting up tents around 11 with the hot late morning sun baring down on us. Let me tell you, it was toasty. I'm sure I can get a hardy AMEN from Beth on that. After all of the labor, it was time to picnic, at which time I barely spoke to a soul, but chased my kids all over creation and tried to get them to eat something (even though it was 150 degrees and no one - especially toddlers - in their right minds should be remotely hungry). I had no problem whatsoever talking them into guzzling soda. At 5, we had an early service and as I was asked to sing and play the offertory, I hurried at the picnic, stuck the kids in bed, ran over for a quick practice time, ran back for a quick change and spit bath (more like perfume bath) and change of clothes (which made little difference in the smell of things), ran back to church and performed. After service, we had a long chat with some old friends who showed up for service, and then it was off to Aunt San's for some illegal fireworks in the back yard. I don't know why we spend money every year on the stuff. Everyone in the neighborhood is putting on a huge display of lights. We ought to just throw a couple bucks in the plate and watch theirs. But it was fun! Dad, Ralph, and I were the MCs of the party. We nearly blew Dad up trying to be the hippest fireworks on the block and shooting up 2 fireworks at once, but overall it was a safe and very fun night. The kids, tired as they were, had the time of their life that week! It took them a week to recover their sleep, but it was worth it. Thanks Dad and Aunt San for taking the trip over the border to give us a terrific, illegal display of fireworks!!
Thursday was Gramp and Gram's 66th anniversary, so we met over there with a celebration breakfast to remember - Krispy Kremes and juice! Mmmmmm. We hung around as long as we could, and then the Ertsonmobile headed back west to pick Daddy up from the airport, drop off luggage at home, nap, change clothes, and head to church for WOBC's midweek service.
I tried to regroup on Friday, and then Saturday and Sunday were filled with preparing for our 4 college students who would be spending the next week with us, which is going to have to a blog entry of its own for another time. Yes Kelly, I'll try to get that one posted tomorrow. However, I'm in the middle of preparing for a 3-day garage sale, so wish me lots of luck. I'll post some pix in a bit of the above stories. Hope you can view the picture of Rella at the capital.
Before I quit, though, I have to give you a few Kentisms. I was at the store Monday night when Kent said, "Daddy, where's Mommy?" Doug replied, "She's at the grocery store." Kent said, "No, Daddy, it's not grocery store, it's just store."
A few days before that, Rella and Kent had just demolished my living room with toys, blankets, pillows, and who knows what else. I was working away at something when Kent ran out into the living room and said, "Guys!!! What's this mess? It's a big mess out here. Look at this mess!!! Uggghhhhhh!!!!" Hmmm...I wonder where he got that response from?
Kent was with Doug in October when he was in an accident that totaled our vehicle, though fortunately no one was injured. However, since that time Kent is paranoid of the horn, quickly accelerating the vehicle, and over steering. He will say, "Daddy, don't go fast and don't go far." Arielle, being the little copycat that she is, has now picked up on it, and the two of them chime in together and say, "Daddy, don't go fast..." but Arielle's version is, "Daddy, don't faff, Daddy, don't faff." Naturally Doug takes the speed up a notch just to get a rise out of them.
And there is a host of others, but it's going to have to wait for a rainy day. Kelly, you might be in luck since we have a 40% chance of rain tomorrow.
