Let the Games Begin

You just thought the Olympics were over. But the real tests of feat, skill, endurance, and pure strength have been displayed this first week of school.

Consider the following:
1. "Meet me in the morning" games: Getting everyone out of bed, to the kitchen table, and fully clothed has been an event unto itself. Luke gets the gold on this one; Grace didn't even qualify. She has been RESISTANT every morning, flopping herself onto the floor and digging in her heels--both Olympic-worthy events. All in all, some rough starts this week. Glad this event wasn't televised.

2. "Pull out the details" game: To have a son who loves to talk, this has become one of our more interesting games, because he offers NO DETAILS about his school day. Nothing. Nada. When asked, everything is "fine" or "good" and he can't "really remember anything" about his day. So I feel good about the money I'm spending on this education. Seriously, people. I just found out his classroom has a pet guinea pig--from another mom. I also found out about Darth Tater--from another mom. About his school program--from another mom. I am a person who LOVES the details--if I could, I would read a play-by-play description of the school day and Grace's day at the babysitter. Sadly, nothing. I'll keep you posted when I found out something about life in the 2nd grade. For now, know that it is "good" and "fine." I guess you can't ask for more than that.

3. "Wake up the Mama" game: Unfortunately, this game is being played at night. Usually around 11:30 or midnight when Rob has to wake me up to tell me that the night is indeed over, that I've been asleep on the bed, in my school clothes/full makeup/no teeth brushing/ etc. since about 9:30, and that I really need to "officially" get ready for bed, OR, get up and do all the things on my to-do list.
Ugh.

4. The "How Many Days Until Summer" game: Believe it or not, we've already started counting. :-)

We're looking forward to the week-end and all being back together in the same place. Until then, let the games continue!

Jana

Ringing my bell

I'm kind of freaked out about school starting anyway, without having strangers ringing my doorbell. Twice. In the same afternoon.

The first: "Ma'am do ya' want me to do something with your tree?"

OK. You have to know that when you ring the doorbell at my house, I try to secretly peek out the window--somewhere--and see who you are. When I see that you are someone I do not know, I quickly look to see if there is somewhere I can hide out so you won't think I'm home, then I take a deep breath, and then I finally answer the door.

When you ask me if I want you to do something with my tree, I just don't know what to say. First, there is no tree in my front yard. So then I'm wondering: Have you been sneaking around in my back yard somewhere? Then: Is there something WRONG with one of my trees that would cause you to want to DO SOMETHING to it? Because I really didn't know ANYTHING was wrong with any of them. I leave them alone, they leave me alone, and we have a really nice relationship that way.

The second ring (followed by the peeking, wanting to hide, and then answering):
"Ma'am would you like to buy some steaks?"

OK. First, who are you? Once we've established that you are a "personal meat vendor," please explain to me, very slowly, why I should buy discounted meat from you, meat that is currently on ice in a big freezer in the back of your PICKUP TRUCK?
I don't care that I can buy big juicy steaks for $2.00 a pound FROM THE BACK OF YOUR PICKUP TRUCK, and that these steaks will be perfect for entertaining my guests or feeding my family for the next few weeks/months/years. Even though my 7-year old son is shaking his head wildly up and down and pulling on my arm and yelling that he "loves, loves steak!", I am really not going to buy meat--on my street--from the back of a truck--from a total stranger.

Please don't ring my doorbell unless you are someone I know, from Publisher's Clearing House and carrying a dozen roses, balloons, and a big check, or are here to volunteer to clean my house.

Currently peeking out the window to see who is out there,
Jana

School

Last night was "Meet the Teacher Night" for Luke, today was my first day of school, and tomorrow is Luke's first day of 2nd grade. Whew.

Getting up early this morning, and getting everyone fed, dressed, and off to the babysitter was rough on this ol' mama. I'm definitely NOT back in the routine yet, but thankfully, my resilient twosome did great. I am thankful for the blessings of this summer, because it was truly restorative for us. I already miss my kiddos.

Luke at his 2nd grade desk:


With his proud mama and sister:


With his new teacher:


May our God, who gives us every good thing and who dispenses mercy upon mercy to us, grant to us wisdom (which He promises to give when we ask) and the desire to obey and to please Him in all things. Protect us from the evil one as he prowls this earth, and empower us to live with courage and in love. Bless this year, and through its days, may we look more like you.

Amen.

Olympics

Ok, I have a minute here to share some of my interesting thoughts and questions about the Olympics:

1. The Olympics make me stay up way too late. WAY TOO LATE. I got caught up in the women's gymnastics finals last night--honestly, I had never heard of most of these girls before this event, and I really can't relate to anything about them--I mean, I have nothing in common with short people who are very muscular and can throw themselves into the air and land in the splits. And who can really make a fashion statement with metal hair clips--sometimes TWO rows of clips. To this lack of hair clip fashion sense, I would add that I have never been an award-winning athlete, although I am a really good speller, won state in debate, and can eat more chocolate chip cookies than anyone else on the planet. Yep, I deserve the gold for something.

2. What is Michael Phelps listening to on his Ipod?

3. After watching the men's gymnastics, Luke informed me that the Japanese/Chinese/Korean athletes are not able to smile. I mean that literally. He told me, in his "I've researched this so you can trust me" voice that they physically can't smile, and that is why they don't. Interesting.

4. Do you have to wear a bikini to play beach volleyball? I just don't get this "uniform." Why don't the pieces move about when they play? Do you really want to land in the sand wearing next to nothing? Someone help me out here.

5. Finally: what's your favorite Olympic moment so far? Has anything made you laugh? Cry?

From Beijing,
Jana

Home

We just got back from our own version of "summer's last blast."

We're home.

Our trip to Palo Duro Canyon and Amarillo with the Texas cousins was just about perfect. I kept thinking to myself, "Preserve these sun-lit days in your heart. Don't let the glory of the simple pass you by. Store up the dancing eyes and the wide-open smiles. Be completely present in these last glorious days of summer." I hope I did that.

Granddad and Mama Kay and the Texas cousins, Palo Duro Canyon. Beautiful.

Ahhh!!!!

Just so you know Jana is not making up the struggle with our house being hot, here is a picture of our thermostat taken last night about 10:00pm.


But, after the AC guys came out and spent the day replacing our unit (I think the time it took them was directly proportional to the number of questions Luke asked them about what they were doing!) here is the result, taken the same time as last night.


The fan/compressor has been off for at least the last 25 minutes. I do not ever remember a time when that has happened before now. So, even though replacing the unit set us back a pretty penny, pennies are now being saved.

Ahhhhhhh, indeed!

Hot and Not

Hot:
I should say broiling. Our air conditioning unit died yesterday, and we have been without cool air forever (ok, two days and one night. It just feels like forever.)

We are all sweating profusely (very nice visual for you) and are about as close to miserable as we have been in some time. Grace can't go to sleep and has been crying off and on for the last hour, so Rob has taken her for a drive around Lubbock inside a very cold van in hopes that she will fall asleep. Poor baby. I'm considering camping outside in the backyard--at 92 degrees, I'm betting it's still cooler out there than on the inside of this HOT and stuffy house. Our whole system would choose to die in August, during these dog days of summer. Oh, the things you take for granted.

And . . .

Not hot:
Don't laugh, but I finally had to buy a new pair of tennyshoes and I had to buy a size 11. You could fit a small family inside of them. Seriously. I've never seen anything so big or so white on my feet. Size 11, people.

Addendum:
Rob and Grace just walked in the house, and she is VERY AWAKE. Plan B, anyone?
Rob peeked in here and said, "Well, that was a roaring success." That just about sums up this whole experience.

Grouchy and hot,
Jana