Red Ribbon Parade

Moore Public Schools have three high schools, Moore HS, Westmoore HS and Southmoore HS. Two out of the three high schools were gone during the annual Red Ribbon parade and Westmoore was the only one around. Three of the 8th grade junior high bands were asked to march with Westmoore HS in the parade.
They have been practicing marching outside during their band period. Saturday morning it was cold. Cold, like frost on the ground, cold.
We dropped Madison off and we took Spencer to secure our spot along the parade route.
He is anxiously awaiting arrival of the parade to start, along with his sissy.
Now, what is sooooo funny about the parade is that it has everything a little boy loves:

• motorcycles


• police cars


• fire trucks


• ambulances


• old cars


• tractors


• CANDY
  

The band arrived and we scoured the large group trying to find Madison.

Found her, can you?

The band sounded great and everyone did an excellent job of marching and staying in step!

Spencer very quickly realized that candy gets thrown out of his favorite vehicles.

The candy scramble had begun and he loved every minute of it.

I asked him if he liked the parade and he says, "yep!" I asked him what his favorite part was, he replied, "candy."

That boy has his priorities straight.

Light the Night Walk

Last weekend we walked in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk. This walk has three purposes:

1. Support the LLS through donations and awareness


2. Remember those that lost their lives to the disease


3. Remember those that have fought and survived

Justin's work, Boeing, sponsored a group to walk for the second year in a row. Last year Justin and Madison walked. This year, the whole family took to the evening air.

Group Boeing

What is really neat about the event is that it takes place at night. Each person is given a balloon:

Red is for support, white is for survival and yellow is for remembrance. As dusk approaches, we flip the switch and the balloons light up. This is such a sight to see. I wish I had better pictures to show. Needless to say, it was an event that we will continue to do each year.

Each day I test patients in our laboratory that are diagnosed with leukemias. While I don't meet the patients, I get to know their names. Many of the patients we test on a regular basis. For some patients, the test results we supply is the first indication that leukemia is present.

Friday afternoon was rough, three patients were being tested, all newly diagnosed leukemias. Two 4 year olds and a 3 month old. By the end of the day their results revealed that their prognosis was very poor and most likely would not live another two years.

These days at work are hard. I can't imagine being that parent. I do what I can, go home and kiss my own kids and say a prayer.

Four (gulp) Teen

Yep, my baby girl is fourteen. I think I need to sit down now.

Sigh, sniff, sniff.

Such a beautiful, intelligent, kind young lady and I am lucky enough to call her my daughter.

Sharpies, Post Its and Highlighters

Lately it seems as if I cannot keep up with all of the places to be, things to get done and school activities to be at. I am usually really organized, but my normal organized space is not yet complete.
My wanna be desk is piled with things that need to get done. In an effort to try and get somewhat organized, I grabbed my three favorite things:
Sharpie Markers
Colored Post Its (seriously, who likes plain yellow)
and
Highlighters (same as above, the more colors the better).

I added due dates of Madi's school projects onto sticky notes and put them above my computer.
I had to make folders (with proper sticky notes) for various items as well (Madi's dance class, science fair project, etc).


My date calendar looks like a rainbow because everyone that has an appointment or somewhere to be, gets their own color. If not, Spencer may end up at dance class.
No matter how hard I try to be organized right now, something always goes haywire. One of the first things I did when we moved was to order checks (we were completely out) and I ordered some fancy address labels. I got those in the mail, see picture below.

Do you notice anything missing???

Yep, they shipped me address labels without actually printing my address on them. Oh, well, I guess it is time to dig through some boxes and find my Avery address labels and print my own.

I will continue with my nice little color coding and post it sticking until I get an area set up for my self.

Yes, I am OCD, but in my opinion it should be labeled as CDO (alphabetical ya know).
Are you done laughing at me yet?

If you are laughing it is because YOU do the same thing or you really do think I am ridiculous.

Got Stuff

With the new house we have come across many things that we don't need or can't use. If anyone is interested, please leave me a comment or email me. Here are some of the items, if you want pictures, let me know.

• twin bed with drawers underneath, attached headboard and matching dresser.


• white 4 drawer dresser (needs painted)


• 2T boys clothing - both summer and winter items


• teen girls clothing - adult medium, shorts/jeans are sizes 5-7


• Adult medium 50's halloween costume (white shirt, pink w/black polka dots poodle skirt)


• Girls large Asian girl halloween costume


• Brown w/embroidered flower/leaves JC Penny shower curtain w/rings (really nice quality)


• two laundry sorter canvas bags (sorts darks/whites), has handles to carry


• hanging shoe rack


• two hanging sweater/shirt racks


• plastic baby bowls, cups

I'm sure there is more, but let me know if you are interested.

A House is Home Again

After a 9 month process, we finally have a home again. In January, we started this process of preparing our house to sell, finding a lot, designing plans, showing our house, etc., etc., etc.
The past 9 months have taken a serious toll on our family. There have been many tears shed.
Hindsight is 20/20 and I honestly don't know if I would do it all over again.
We made it through with the help of family and friends. So below are pictures of the new house and it was official on September 30th.

Squirrels

We do not have trees in Oklahoma like we do in the Midwest, so we don't have a lot of squirrels. In fact I don't think Spencer has seen too many at all.
While at Uncle Jayson's in Omaha, he made a new friend, Rocky the Squirrel. Uncle Jayson and Aunt Kayla had a fancy little contraption to hold peanuts in. Spencer would sit in amazement from inside the house and watch the squirrels carefully climb up the pole and get the peanuts.
SOOOO, when it was empty, Spencer was stoked to get to help dad and Grandma fill it up with peanuts.
It was so beautiful outside that Spencer sat in my lap under a tree and we waited for Rocky to come and get the peanuts.

The peanuts were all ready, so we waited.

Not too long after this, Rocky or maybe his brother Ricky, carefully crossed the grass, right in front of us. Spencer sat motionless as Ricky, or maybe Rocky, stopped and looked at us and then ran to the peanut stand.

Yep, Rocky or Ricky or maybe the other brother Rusty had no problem climbing the pole and getting the peanuts. Again, we sat and sat and watched until the peanuts were gone.

Now that I think about it, I think it was Rocky's sister Rita that stopped and ate the peanuts.