My House - It's A-Changin

My House (also known as Reid's house) is changing once more.

When Adrianne left for college 3 1/2 years ago, I wondered what it would be like to have one child at home. That first 8 months was pretty quiet. Alli was frequently bored and we had to act like fun parents on a frequent basis. But that all changed 2 years ago when Lauren graduated from college, and moved home because there was no job to move on to. And then came along Bradley and complicated the whole moving out issue because what if she got engaged, and married and all that other stuff, along with finding a job in some wonderful place other than Oklahoma City? But Brad pulled through, and Lauren moved on, but not before Taylor graduated from law school with no job in the near future and came home to study for the Texas Bar. ( is that a run-on sentence?) Adrianne came and went during the summers and then Lauren left to live with a nice boy (we love Brad) and Taylor stayed. He passed the bar, with no sign of a job, and cooled his heels in OKC....absolutely not by choice. But then the job heavens opened and he moved out...today...to Houston.

I have often wondered what this would feel like - to have my house back again with just the people that would normally be there during the school year. I don't know yet, because I am not there. I followed a u-haul to Texas today. But I do know that there is an empty guest room, 2 sad dogs, an empty space in the garage and an extra pike pass and garage door opener.

I think I am fairly sure about one thing. Change. It happens. All the time.

Bad Mother or Old Tired Mother

You know, I could show you tons of Halloween photos. Years and years of Halloween photos. Probably approximately 26 years of photos. Photos of vampires, peas in pods, witches, Minnie Mouse, 50's girls, hobos, Glinda and Dorothy, nuns, stewardesses, cowgirls, and the list goes on and on.

But how bad is this....I didn't take ANY photos of Allison this year. This poor child is 9. It is the last time she will be 9. And her bad/old tired mother didn't take any photos of her. Not at the school Storybook Parade, or at the Ward Harvest Festival/Trunk or Treating, not even at the Babcock House Trick or Treat run. So, I can't show you the very cute Sugar Plum Fairy she was at school...or the very scary Vampiress that she was on Halloween night.

I guess that I better call one of my friends who are good moms, and see if they took any pictures that my child happened to be in.

Poor Allison.

Weddings

The last few months have had a lot of activity. As well as ALOT of emotions. Lauren & I love each other, but sometimes our patience for each other leaves a little bit to be desired. There is one attribute about Lauren that is good and frustrating at the same time. She doesn't like to make decisions...about anything...like what to eat for lunch....what looks cute...etc...etc...etc. And then when you get her to decide something, she second-guesses your opinion.

But, put her into the mode of planning a wedding, and everything goes wonderfully. OK, I lie. I had to be the heavy, the one saying....you have to decide....TODAY. About announcements, a dress, colors, food, dates, places, bridesmaids, registering, and on, and on, and on. Poor Brad, he is trying to help from NYC for a wedding that will be in Utah, with a fiancee that lives in OKC. And referee from the sidelines...

At any rate, all this decision making and details, and crying and laughing and yelling (ok, I hate to admit to it, but I am supposed to cleanse my soul...right?)made me think back to this day and this woman.


I realized during my efforts to help Lauren plan this most special day in her young life, I had also frustrated my mother in so many ways. There were so many times during this recent process that I wanted to call her and laugh with her and cry and tell her I was sorry. There were so many times that I regretted that I didn't tell her things because I thought she would be mad, or try to talk me out of...(basically, meeting, dating and marrying Reid!) There are so many things that I now understand as a middle-aged woman, that I would have never known as a young twenty-something. And how much I wished that I could pick up the phone, and call her. But sometimes things come too late. But I know that she was watching over me and Lauren, hoping that we would put aside things and be a team. And you know what....we did. I love you little girl.

My Life in Pictures

As you have discovered, I am a very poor example of promptness, up-to-dateness, effective and timely communication, and general keeping-in-touchness. However, when it comes to procrastination....I ROCK!!!

I thought you might like to know some of the things that have occupied my life since my last whiny post.

Chuckles came to live with us. Chuck is a 95 lb. Golden Retriever whose big brother is my nephew Chandler. Chandler is in the Coast Guard and was being deployed to Guantanomo (go figure....??!!). His cute wife Katherine was not looking forward to taking care of the dog, working, going to school, etc...so Chuck became an Okie. He is the epitome of a perfect dog. Fetches the paper, clothes laying on the floor, is patient and polite. He even holds his own leash while you walk him. Until a thunderstorm. Then this large baby flattens himself between you and where ever you are sitting or standing . Sooo not an Okie.

I also really did finish some projects. I even took pictures of a few of them...I kind of went on a tear...but it didn't last for more than a few weeks. What a surprise. At any rate, here are a few of said projects.

Here is Leah's "Olivia" quilt. Lele has an intense love for Olivia. Since she has no girls (with the exception of my Allison) and only 4 smelly boys, we have to give her girly things.

I even managed to finish some stitching projects and Allison's Easter jacket. (I made one for sweet Delaney, my grand-niece ((is there such a thing?)))

I worked on our food storage, and made a bunch of my friends feel guilty, so they did it with me! I think I added about 2 million lbs of food to my closet. Reid was not happy. But, when he is hungry...he will love me. (even more)

A very exciting thing happened in our happy world. TAYLOR GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL. I know it happened, we went and witnessed it. I have to admit it....in spite of all the lawyer jokes I have told him...I was proud. And intensely grateful that I don't have to repay his 150K in student loans. However, I didn't have my camera. I had to use Taylor's and I don't have any pictures. Lame. Sad. Irresponsible. Stand in line to heap on any additional verbal abuse. This picture is at the hotel right before graduation....where I didn't have my camera.


BUT, afterward, we had a fabulous trip to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. My cousin Holly, her husband Ryan and daughter Liz, were fabulous hosts. I swear, best hotel we ever stayed in. Not to mention, we stayed until we were as rotten as fish - a whole week! But they were ever patient. Even if we wouldn't play Settlers of Catan. Sorry Ryan.

Then we had our annual summer Nuttall/Christie Fest. You know the drill. Lake. Pool. Eat. Movie. Sleep. Lake. Pool.....etc., etc. I have come to know that what my family does on tubes is not normal. It is extreme tubing. They wear body armor. They get injured, and they scare little kids.

BUT, probably the most exciting news of the summer is that Lauren Nuttall and Bradley Guynn are engaged! We are so excited for them, and scared at the same time. I only hope Brad knows what being involved with our family involves....siblings, Leah, Hardings, Nuttall uncles, Leah, Calene. Please don't run Brad...we kinda like you.

I Can't Believe....

There are a number of things I can't believe today...



1. It is the end of February. What happened? What do I have to show for my time since Christmas? Most of the things that I did already have to be done again...except for the books I read! (Side Note: read "The Historian" for book club....about vampires....way better than Twilight....totally different....very compelling...900 pages!)



2. My babies are getting old. My first baby turned 27, and my youngest baby turned 9...last single digit! (Side note: after next month, my children will all be in their 20's, except for 1....the single digit one.)



3. I haven't written in my 50th year journal yet. So I bought this darling book to write in...thoughts about being 50. It has sat on my counter for at least 2 months. With a pen nearby. Yet, daily I walk by it. I am such a deadbeat. (Side note: I may be a deadbeat, but at least I am a fun deadbeat.)



4. I watch the Biggest Loser and feel absolute guilt - not motivation - just guilt. Then I go eat something. (Side note: guilt never lasts really long with me. Maybe that is my problem.)



5. I can't believe that because we went to school, worked hard, made good life choices and lived within our means....we get to pay for everyone that didn't. Happy day. I love the government. I want to complain - but to whom? My elected officials are all republican...like they can do anything. (Side note: does anyone remember Britain 30 years ago....tax the heck out of the wealthy, pay for everything for everyone else, economy in the pot, and nationalized everything? (sorry UK friends...i know...blatantly oversimplified) Well my friends, get ready for a ride.)



6. I can't believe I have more gray hair than regular color. It is not an attractive look. When it starts to grow out, my highlights look hideous. I hate sitting and taking the time out to get colour. Makes me crazy. Maybe I should just give in to the inevitable. How bad can it be....salt & peppa? (Side note: I hate sitting for pedicures, too. How stupid is that?)



7. I can't believe dark chocolate is good for me. How fortuitous. Now, someone will probably say...whoops, just kidding...it's bad, bad, bad. There actually is no side note here....just gratitude.



Maybe that should be my next post...since this one was pretty whiny.

Have a wonderful day....I know I am going to. I see dark chocolate on the counter.

The Dog

Let me introduce you to Sam. The Man. Sam-u-l. Cecil O.(as in Samuelson). Sama-lama-ding-dong. Sampson. Sammy. Dummy. Dumb Dog.

Sam has powers over our family. Even though he is 65 lbs, somehow his powers make everyone thinks he is a lap dog.

A small lap dog. He is not small.

Traits that you would never see from someone, come out with Sam.
He brings out this need to nurture, until he takes a drink. Then his big slop chops drag water all over the house....but, I digress.

I think they worry that he might have emotional issues from being given away from the back of a pickup truck.

For free.

Oh brother.

It's Cold Outside

You know....it's been cold here before. We had days of ice and snow in previous years. BUT, this is the first time I have ever had ice on my pool. I don't think my picture shows just how much...but it is SLUSHY!!! As in, ICEES! This morning my poor little thermometer said 9degrees, and the pool was 34 degrees! And to add insult to injury, the heater on my side of the house quit working during the night! I admit it....I am a wimp.