About two weeks ago Cody ate my glasses. I had Lenscrafters order me a replacement pair. This time I bought insurance for the glasses. (Being eaten by a yellow dog named Cody is covered. Had we named him Brody it would not be covered. JK) I also ordered prescription sunglasses. A week later I stopped in Lenscrafters to see if the sunglasses had arrived and found out that the frame that I liked would not work with my prescription. The frame was curved and for my prescription the frame and therefore the lens needed to be more flat. I did find another frame that I liked and I will be picking up the sunglasses tomorrow. Speaking of Cody and glasses, he ate Rick's sunglasses this morning so Cody is a dead man walking. It has come down to two options. Either he is kenneled when he is in the house or muzzled when he is in the house. Both options are crappy, but I am leaning toward muzzling. Because of the heat he does not stay outside for an extended period of time which means he would be in a cage most of the day. Also with muzzling, he can have free roam of the house. The downside to muzzling is that I will have to remove the muzzle at set times so he can drink and eat. Eric and Max did not chew like Cody does. I guess that Labs are known as chewers. Had I known that before acquiring Cody I doubt I would have got him. Here's another Cody fact. He has never, ever barked meanly at an approaching stranger. Matter of fact he will run behind me. A job as a protection dog is not and will never be in his future.
This weekend I had my MOPS Steering Team Retreat. We met at a members house and planned for the upcoming MOPS year. This will be my last year at MOPS because you get kicked out once your child completes kindergarten. I can't be too angry about the booting since MOPS stands for Mother of Pre Schoolers. I knew it going into the group. Anyhoodles, I can't imagine what I will do without those group of ladies. It really is my only source of socialization. Back to the retreat. The retreat was an overnight meeting so I brought a book and my book light with me figuring if everyone was in bed early I could read until I feel asleep. I didn't need to pack them because except for one lady, everyone stayed up until 2:00 am in the hot tub. I didn't sleep well despite having my comfortable twin air mattress. A few years ago I started having problems when I sleep away from home. I never really fall into a deep sleep. Last year we just did an one day retreat and the year before that we did an overnighter. Rick was in Brazil at the time so I had to take Katie. Katie refused to stay in her borrowed bedroom so I ended up leaving that evening. This time she stayed home with Rick and from the reports, she was a good girl and had a good time. For the days before I left, she kept on whining about my leaving for a night. At one point she was talking on my iPod and told the person on the other end that I wasn't coming to the retreat. Friday night Rick and Katie went to the Tye truck stop for dinner. (They often eat there together if I am gone.) The truck stop also has a store attached to it. Katie picked out a necklace and earrings for me so I had a wrapped surprise and card waiting for me Saturday afternoon. Katie really is a very giving and compassionate person.
Rick is in Valley Forge this week. (No, he is not doing a Revolutionary War reenactment.) Rick has been home for the last 4+ weeks, so it is sad and odd not to have him here. Actually the weirdest it has ever felt here alone.
Casey and Lance, our workers, have gotten a lot done around the Missile Base. They are not lightening fast, but with the heat it is somewhat understandable. They will be here only two days this week, so I don't have to be the slave driver for too long. I really struggle paying someone to do things that I can do. For example, there was a small, itty-bitty branch in the front yard's tree that blocked the view of the hanging flowers. Rick told me to have one of the guys to prune it. I felt so uncomfortable that Rick had to tell Lance what I needed done but I still had to show Lance which twiggy branch it was. I felt like a helpless, pampered female. I almost apologized to Lance for how small the branch was and how petty it seemed to have him cut it.
Our Disney vacation is fast approaching. I need to loosely plan out our days. Rick made a bunch of restaurant reservations, but I want to make sure Katie gets to experience her interests. Chances are we will spend at least two days in Magic Kingdom. We will be staying at the Comtemporary and have upgraded the room to one with a balcony that offers a view of Magic Kingdom and the nightly fireworks. The Comtemporary is one of their older hotels and too contemporary (imagine that) for Rick's taste but it is the best hotel for fireworks viewing. On Katie's birthday she has an appointment at the Bippity Bop Boutique for the deluxe make over which includes a princess gown. We will then lunch with the Disney Princesses in Cinderella's Castle. That evening we will have lunch with the Disney Princesses at Norway in Epcot. I am excited to be taking a "real" family vacation. Sad fact is that it will also be Rick and my first true vacation together. Rick and I have traveled a lot together but those trips have been to visit family or business trips. Rick seriously needs a vacation that removes him from work and all of the work that needs to be done at the Missile Base. Not that Disney will be a relaxing and stress free vacation, but leaving the cell phones and the laptops at home will be freeing for both Rick and I.
This is a long post but I know there is so much more that I wanted to record so Katie will have a diary of her pre-school years. Ah yes, school. There is something on which I want to expound. I really don't know how I will react to Katie's first day of school but I know that letting her take the bus to school will be hard. It will be her first adventure into the world without Rick and/or I at her side. She will have this whole new world of which I will not be a part. She was mine for five years and now the cutting of the apron strings will begin. I doubt she will, but I hope Katie doesn't cry. It would rip my heart out if I had to send her off with tears streaking down her face. I often think of the time before Katie could walk. I wish I could go back to that time and just hug her and hold her. I know that in a short time I will feel the same way about the years before she went to school. One of my favorite sayings is a favorite because it is true. "The days are long but the years are short." It eloquently describes what it is like to be a mother. So on that bittersweet and a tad bit melancholy note, I bid you adieu but not before I inundate you with pictures.
These young ladies are from San Angelo and do synchronized riding, if that is the correct term.
Katie with our neighbors' two daughters in the middle of the ring after the rodeo.
National Anthem with Patriotic Horse.
(The horse bowed his head also.)
Bucking bronc.
(Minutes later the cowboy was airborn.)
Barrel racing fascinates me when I see pictures of how angled the horse is when he whips around a barrel.
Ah, Katie. The rodeo is the other way.
Pool and Water Gun.
(This picture is a little creepy because of her serene smile and the huge, plastic AK-47.)
Chef Katie grilling along side her Daddy. Katie got her grill as a reward for advancing to a new belt in Tae Kwon Do.
The Eyeglass Eater.
Breakfast Outside
(Don't judge me too harshly for what she is eating for breakfast. Also, don't be envious of our lush, green grass. At least with this drought Rick doesn't have to mow the yard.)
So there you go and here I go to bed.
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