Old News

We've been home now from Oklahoma for a whole month (give or take a day) and the warmth and sunshine of the southern clime have faded into memory. I suppose it is too much to ask that we have a little of it here in Idaho... But I didn't sit down here to complain about the weather. What would be the point? I will say, however, that anyone who thinks that we can control the weather simply by driving hybrid cars and eating tofu sandwiches is NUTS!! 'Nuff said.

The month of April was a bit of a whirlwind. It's hard to know where to start...You know, when I think of writing about life I find that I have nothing whatever to say. Everything I do is so rote! Then I come to the end of the month and discover that a great many things have happened that are at least worth mentioning, but then they're old news. So, here's to old news...

We had several health care appointments this month. We all went to the Dentist and not one of us had cavities!!!! That is really big news at our house. I had my 20 week ultrasound and there is no question that this little one is a boy. So, we've been trying to come up with names for him and I confess it is quite discouraging. I'm afraid our forebears didn't give us much to work with in the name department (or I'm just unreasonably picky). We've unequivocally eliminated Finis, Earl Ewing (I'm sure he was a wonderful man...), Ernest, Xerxes and Bobbie. We're not crazy about, but are willing to consider (superficially at least) George, John, Franklin, Obern, and so on. Who knows what the poor child will finally get stuck with. I suppose in the end we'll learn to love whatever name we choose.

Tyler spent the day yesterday wielding a chainsaw - all fingers present and accounted for - cutting down lilacs at a neighbor's house and a birch tree in our back yard. Our plan is to plant an apple tree in its spot next weekend. I guess we'll see... I spent the afternoon sitting on the cafeteria floor of the local elementary school protesting the separation of whites and blacks. Okay, maybe not...Andrew had an all day chess tournament yesterday and I was his "responsible adult." Spectators were not allowed during the games, so I just cooled my heels and visited with other moms doing the same. Each participant played a total of 4 games - Andrew won one of them. He was very excited!

Katherine is still among the living. Her life begins and ends (at least in her mind) with having friends over, which she has done an awful lot lately. I'm going to have to crack down on that...She and her friend Macy learned how to make chocolate chip cookies for their cooking class last month. They did a good job of measuring and mixing (and tasting) the dough, then left me to bake and clean up. Hmmmm...I'm going to have to crack down on that too!

Lida has been stir crazy this last week or so because of the cold weather we've had. She loves to play outside and just hasn't had the opportunity. She has consoled herself by making as much mess indoors as possible and mothering her baby dolls to death. She helped me clean the bathroom on Friday and reveled in "rinsing" everything after it was washed. Needless to say she needed a dry change of clothes when we were finally finished.

So you see, things are racing along at a considerable clip. I keep hoping things will slow down, but I'm beginning to realize that they probably won't. So now I just have to figure out how to enjoy the journey.