First day of School

Harvesting the Corn with cousin Billy

View from the Cabin

By the Cabin

Off the Dock

Driving the Boat

Boating Adele

Clem on the Pontoon Boat

Anna and Adele after Cinderella

Thanks for the buggy ride

My Great Uncle Charles died this week and with him an era. He was the last of my grandmother's many siblings who all farmed, lived and raised their families together in Southeast Missouri. He was one of those people who always seems to be about to laugh as if life is just so delicious they are always on the verge of cracking up. There is actually a lot of that in my family. If you were lucky enough to be around Uncle Charles at a family dinner, you would probably get to hear a story. It would be about someone in the family and probably one you had heard before but without fail it would have you rolling on the floor anyway.

He was 87 and up until a month ago he was driving himself around, fishing and living at home with my Aunt Merle. Two weeks ago they told him that he needed a multiple bypass. He went into the hospital and the night before his surgery his whole family wife, kids, grandkids and great grand kids were in his hospital room. They didn't need to fly in...they all lived within a 10 mile radius and he saw them all weekly if not daily. In his usual style before they all left he said "thanks for the buggy ride." He didn't really come out of the surgery.

I have to say that recent events have made me think a lot about what makes for a successful life and happiness. When I was a child I wanted to live in Southeast Missouri with all my cousins and doting aunts and uncles. Now I am happy my kids will have more family in their lives and I hope that I will be as lucky as Uncle Charles.

Back to School Night

Tonight was back to school night, which seems real popular around here. This is very foreign to me... first you get a list of school supplies off the web page and then you take said list to Walmart where they have everything needed in two aisles including things like Kleenex (for the classroom noses) and ziploc bags (not sure why but teacher took and put in closet) and then you take it all to school a few days before classes start and get the desks organized, meet teacher, fill out paper work etc.

The shopping was a first. Adele is in 3rd grade and I have never so much as purchased a pencil. In Palo Alto all school supplies are....well, supplied. I never realized how unusual this is. I really liked that the kid's see their classroom and meet teacher before the first day of class. Adele's teacher is named Miss Guillory. Another first..the first teacher she has not called by her first name. Once she had a music teacher who wanted to be called Mrs. Porter but the kids finally raised their hands and said, "What is your real name?"

Miss Guillory is sweet, enthusiastic and clearly knows what she is doing. Which is good because she has 27 kids in a portable with no aide!!!! I am not so thrilled about that. But back to Miss Guillory, I really liked her as did Adele but she was one of those women who is so well put together that it makes me want to stand up straigter and check the mirror to see if I have something in my teeth.

Sorry for the ramble, I just drove 5 hours with the kids to my folks for a few day visit and though I can't sleep I also am having problems with focus. signing off...

updates

Sorry it has been a few days, our computer is down once again at home so I am sitting in the nicely air-conditioned Kinkos trying to take care of business. The kids and I went with a couple other moms and offspring cabin camping over night last week. It was fabulous! We rented a pontoon boat and cruised around the lake (everyone got a chance to steer) and then tied up to different docks for swims. After dinner the kids watched the disney channel and I sat outside with the other moms watching the heat lightening. It is amazing, sort of like the aurora borealis.

My friend Barbara was here this weekend and we have put an offer in on a duplex in town. It is very exciting and we are on our way to being real estate moguls!

I feel more and more desperate to get a job these days but I try to remind myself that I have only lived here a month and that it will come. I appreciate as many prayers, well wishes and good mojo as can be offered. We miss you all.

Not to sound to sorry for myself or anything but my 10 year wedding anniversary is this Thursday. For those of you who were there I think back to what a nice day it was with much gratitude to all.

I will post photos when I can download to our computer

Adele in the office

Here is my little peace lover with her drama camp name tag on. About two days after we moved here, the neighbor down the street asked if Adele wanted to go with them to the camp. It was full but they decided to take her and she got a big speaking part as the Grand Duchess. They had two fabulous performances this weekend and my mom came up for the show. She had a great time and thus I was thrilled. Adele wants to say, "Drama rules"!

Baby its Hot Outside

There is a heat advisory today which means it meltingly miserable. I have never stayed inside so much with the kids in the summer. Thank god for the bigger house because we would be going nuts. The heat and humidity make us all drag, but especially Clement he walks slower and slower until I don't think he can make it from one airconditioned space to another.

Action Clem

Our New Kitty

Our New Back Yard

Leaving Palo Alto in style

Scuba Diving in Monterey

Mulit Faceted Plan

When my dear friend Nicole came to visit recently with her lovely family, we sat down and came with an action plan. One piece was relationships and so I write this blog to keep people updated on our lives and to hear comments back from all of you. Update one....we are here and doing considerably better than surviving...each day is a little better and I will fill in the details soon.