Oklahoma

I left for Oklahoma a day before my mom and aunt so it was just me and Renee for the first day. I flew in at noon, we had lunch, went to the mall, ran a few other errands that she needed to then drove the two hours home to relax. We had waffles for dinner, watched Waitress and then I zonked. I don't think I moved one time in the night.

Friday we drove two hours back to the city, made another mall run and got pedicures before we picked up our moms. My pedicure reminded me of this skit. I couldn't find a button on my massage chair and when I finally did I know they were talking about me. When everyone had touched down we decided to go to dinner and invited Jared to come along. This is Jared.

Everyone say "hi Jared!". He is a hoot and a half. We talked and laughed and stuffed our faces for I don't know how long. All too soon, though, it was time for another two hour drive home. Graduation day is tomorrow.

Wouldn't you know that everywhere I go I take cold weather with me. It really stinks. It was 90 when I got there on Thursday and by Saturday at her outdoor graduation it was 64, cloudy and windy. Yay us. We made it through(barely) and were ready to party. Renee and Jeremy were having a barbecue at their house to celebrate but before everyone got there we had to head out to the goat farm. Yep, that's right. Jeremy's family raises goats and the two of them are right in the middle of it. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Renee would be caught dead herding goats but there, right before my eyes, were the two of them trying to get this goat. We wanted to hold one because they are so darn cute in teh pen but man are they loud. And they move a lot. Not quite as cute in your arms. You really have to grab a hold and hang on to them. This one looks like it's being good but it wasn't.My turn. Stupid thing was trying to get away.And then comes the loud bleating or whatever it is they do. So we get back to the house and I just have to say that you know you are in Oklahoma when you have one of these in your back yard.

We were getting ready for the barbecue but before I could concentrate on that I wanted to go down just to see what it looks like inside. I tried to go in it last time I was back there but there were spiders all over the ceiling and I just couldn't make myself. She said they sprayed for spiders so it should be good. I arm myself with a flashlight and bug spray just in case. Again, there are spiders everywhere. As I begin to spray the heck out of them I realize they are all dead and hanging there but I spray anyway just to make sure.

I think I can...

I think I can...I think I can...Screw it...I can't. I just couldn't bring myself to go under them. They were all dead but what if one fell on me?! So I am now 0/2 on the 'try to see the inside of a storm cellar' score board. Maybe next time.

Sunday we left for Roswell, New Mexico to see my grandparents. I haven't seen them since I was pregnant with Taylor. It's been way too long. My grandpa has Parkinson's and a couple months ago he got pneumonia and we didn't think he was going to make it. He pulled through and we knew it was time to make a trip. We piled in the car on Sunday morning and headed across Texas into New Mexico and up their driveway.

It was so good to see them.

It was not so good to see this. Everyone kept saying "it's just a baby" but guess what.

I. Don't. Care.

It was a tarantula right by their front door.

Anyway, we only had two days to visit before we headed back so we had to make it good. We visited with them for a while then headed to Jim and Catherine's (my aunt and uncle) for dinner. I haven't seen them in 20+ years so we had a lot of catching up. Jim was recently diagnosed with cancer and told he only has 6-12 months but he is still looking good and working at the bike shop they own so we'll see how long the Lord leaves him here. Monday Renee helped Grandma make her famous meatloaf. Yum-o! Pair it with mashed potatoes that are loaded with butter and cream and we were happy campers. We did more visiting and reminiscing about the good ol' days when they lived in Wimer. What a magical place that was. We used to spend summers there walking across the covered bridge to get to the ice house where my grandpa would buy me my favorite blue nehi soda, then tell me it looked like battery acid. Those were the days. These are my grandparents. She still calls him sweetie and darlin'(she's from Texas) and he's just like I remember him, just thinner and not as vocal. It's hard watching people age.

We got a few pictures then had to be on our way. Parting is always hard, especially since I may not see them again on this earth, but thank God we will spend eternity together. Oh what a happy day that will be!

So we were off again traipsing back across New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. Our six hour drive turned into nine hours after making gas, bathroom, shopping and food stops. Good thing we weren't in a hurry. We decided to barbecue for dinner so I went out to turn it on. The sky was looking mighty weird and I started thinking that maybe, just maybe I would get to see a tornado. That may sound weird but how cool would it be to say you saw one? My aunt brushed it off until my uncle said we were under a tornado watch until 11 that night. I got so excited I could hardly stand it. First came the lightening, then the thunder. What a light show. We sat out on the front porch in awe of the storm. Then we came in to look a teh radar and wouldn't you know the storm splits, goes completely around Sentinel on both sides, and comes back together on the other side of town. What?! It was not to be on this trip. Maybe my next? Of course it would mean going in teh storm cellar but I would've been prepared with a blanket for my head.

Wednesday our trip had finally come to an end. We had so much fun and put many miles of highway beneath us but I wouldn't trade those days for anything. We had lots of laughs and made lots of memories and I can't wait till the four of us can do it again.