-Last week was my first week watching Cody & Kyle for the month. I say week, but really it was only three days due to the holiday on Monday and an unexpected trip with Scotty's parents on Friday. Tuesday gave us the welcome addition of Cole, whose babysitter was unable to watch him that day. All three days went well for all parties involved. According to Cody, he didn't realize that he would have that much fun staying at home during the summer. I have big plans for us this week, although most of those plans won't be quite what they will want to do (aka cleaning up and sorting out toys). If we manage to keep it together all week, we just might go on an outing on Friday to the library with a picnic at a park. Here's hoping for another great week with the boys!
-For whatever reason, my allergies have decided to make an unwelcome comeback this past week. Most of my battle has been congestion, but I have also been battling my near-hoarse voice. I hate not having my voice be at full-blast power, but I'll live. I blame it on wheat dust and unstable temperatures, but until then, I'll take a decongestant, drink hot tea, and move on with life.
-Tyler's funeral was held on Friday of last week. The service was very true to his personality, as they played his favorite old country songs and the pallbearers dressed in western attire, which was his style. I sat by Tevis's mom, but not him, because although he wasn't a pallbearer (he was supposed to be), he got drafted to sit with them at the last minute. About half of our senior class was there, but surprisingly enough there were only two teachers from Pioneer there, that I knew of. I made it through the better part of the service without crying, but once they played the slideshow, I was a goner. There's just something about seeing the deceased's pictures from their childhood that causes me to lose my mind. The burial wasn't anything too fancy, but Tevis and I went anyway. Thank heavens that the funeral has come and gone, so that everyone can begin the slow but sure process of finding a "new normal".
-After the funeral, I enjoyed some quality time with Tevis, which is something that I really hadn't had much of a chance to do for about a week or so. We ended up going to a cookout at his youth pastor's house in honor of the lone senior from their youth group. I had a nice time, and I enjoyed lively conversation with everyone. During our time there, I also came to the realization that my nephews make Mario Kart on the Wii look about ten times easier than it really is. I learned that the hard way, after coming in dead last in all of the races...oops! (That's why I stick to Rock Band or Wii Sports) I also found Cole's future girlfriend in an adorable three-month-old girl who I got to hold. She was laying down for a nap, but woke up, so I picked her up. She started fussing, but I managed to calm her down in no time flat. Her dad was impressed at how easily I did that, but I think all that means is that I am finally getting the "aunt's touch" I have longed for for so many years! After the cookout, we went back to Tevis's house, and we had a wonderful chat in the cool moonlight before I drove myself home. I have to say, one of my favorite things is how easily we can talk to each other about anything and everything. Hooray for a good ending to a sad day with my love!
-I had a good day with my sisters yesterday. Emily has been in the process of separating the boys' rooms, and we pretty well finished that up yesterday. Most of yesterday consisted of sorting out clothes in various totes to give to Wyatt or Andy from Cody and Kyle, and finding other places for Cole's bigger clothes. I really didn't do much to help that cause, but I did keep track of Cole so that Emily could accomplish her goal without having to constantly pause to feed/change/wrangle/rock Cole.
-I have been in contact with my future roomie, Kristynn, over the past few weeks. We have managed to get almost all of our arrangements lined out (i.e. who's bringing what). Of course, I have quite a few things from last year, but we had to figure out arrangements about a shower curtain, microwave, toaster, and other random stuff. In a stroke of luck, Kristynn was able to get a microwave, toaster, and a few other things for free from her grandma, who happened to move in with them. Since she was able to procure those "bigger" things, I have no issue with going ahead and getting the bulk of the smaller things (i.e. cleaning supplies, a Brita pitcher, etc.) I am glad that we have nailed all of this out, so that it isn't such a rush during the weeks leading up to move-in day. Hopefully, her get-it-done attitude is a harbinger of good times to come this year! I can't wait!
-Speaking of roomies, Carissa is getting married in a few weeks! I don't think I mentioned this previously, but she is, and furthermore, I have been invited! I am happy that she wants me there to see her off into her next phase of life. I am also interested to see what a traditional Holderman Mennonite wedding is like, as I'm sure you may be. I'll have to report my observations after the wedding in two weeks. Until then, I still have to decide what exactly I will be getting her as a wedding present. This is the first time that one of my friends, who is my age, is getting married, so I have never had to put much thought into buying a wedding present, because my parents are always in that department. She has multiple registries, so I guess that I will be hitting those up in the next couple of weeks. Anyway, I can't wait to attend her wedding!
-I have no idea what to get Tevis for his birthday, which is on Tuesday. I never know what to get him for any occasion, although he claims to be "the easiest person to shop for". Actually, I always come up with something creative or thoughtful, but my plans are almost always thwarted at some point. For example, a few months ago, I thought about getting him concert tickets to a band that he likes. At the time, when I casually mentioned said concert, he thought that he would be in Colorado at the time, so I nixed that idea. It turns out that he will be here on the day of the concert (this Thursday), but now we both have work arrangements, he also has a summer class to keep him occupied, and it is too late to buy decent tickets at a reasonable price. My latest scheme was when he told me about some songs he wanted a CD of, but were mostly on separate CDs and he didn't want to buy three separate CDs. I took note of the five songs, and planned to buy them off iTunes and burn them onto a CD with a few other songs he might like. That plan ended when we got in his car the other day, and he put in his new CD...the one that had "most" of the songs he wanted. He also gleefully showed me the other CD he decided to shell out the money to buy anyway. UGH! He broke the crystal off of his current watch in a bike wreck, but I'm not buying him a watch for fear of repeating the incident from this past Christmas. He did tell me that he needed new socks, and he wouldn't mind getting some new t-shirts, so maybe, I'll go against every sentimental bone in my body and get him just that, since everyone can always use socks and t-shirts. Maybe one day, one of my plans will work out!
-My dad has begun the process of building a new barn. This has been a dream of his for quite some time, and he is finally able to get that going. Today, we took the first step of clearing the space for the building. Really, all that entailed was cleaning out/knocking down the old chicken house, which hasn't been in use for over fifteen years and was more of a critter trap than anything else. Also, we had to cut down a maple tree. It was too bad that we had to do that, but my mom thought about planting a new one after the shed is built. Thankfully, we were able to salvage most of the trunk for future use as wood for smoking meat or campfires, so it wasn't a total loss. After Jeremy and Scotty used a Trac-Hoe to dig out and relocate a water hydrant, the chicken house went up in smoke...literally. Because the existing wood was dry-rotted, my dad decided that burning it would be the best plan of action. They saved the tin from the roof, but the wood wasn't worth the hassle. I am excited for my dad to finally get to build his "dream shed". He already has lots of plans for it, including the inauguration party, so I can't wait to see it become a reality!
I hope that a good week is had by all!
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