Do I Have Everything?

This past week was a whirlwind... To be honest, it is quite strange packing a suitcase to visit my parents. It is even more strange to pack a suitcase, drive four and a half hours to the airport, and then take a plane for two and a half more hours to visit your parents. Um, I used to be able to walk to my parents house and did quite often. I found that I asked myself before this venture, throughout the entirety of it, and on the venture home, "Do I have everything?" about seven hundred times. I'm sure we have left possessions like a little trail behind us. From tiny plastic penguins, to books, and possibly even clothes, who knows. I always however made sure I had the essentials: the children, passports, money, and of course the binky (well at least four binkies because Heaven help us if we don't have one). As we were visiting family my mom even had the audacity to suggest, "You know if Maddie can ask for a binky then it might be about time to get rid of it." I was aghast, "Are you crazy?"

A few hours later my mom saw the Mr. Hyde side of Maddie...She relinquished her former comment.
The trip was pretty darn good. On the four and a half hour drive to the airport the kids did surprisingly well. I was patting myself on the back for Mother of the Year award thinking and smiling all along, "Hey I can do this! I can travel to a city I have never been before, find the airport, hop on a plane and take a ride with two kids in tow. I'm pretty much amazing!"

We boarded the plane and the evil in Maddie emerged. Holy moly the plane ride from Hell I thought would never end. When it finally did end and hallelujah that it did Maddie had bit herself, bit me, pulled my hair, and even layed in the aisle on her stomach flailing all limbs while screaming. Tommy like a trooper sat right next to us holding his hands over his ears.

As we exited the plane my former self appraisal was unfortunately and begrudgingly relinquished and I almost knelt down and kissed the ground thankful to be done with that tragic nightmare. As I passed by other passengers, the flight crew, and even the pilot I was given looks that spoke clearly they said things like, "You poor woman." Also, "I don't know how you did that." Maybe even, "I'm so glad that's not my kid." Possibly, "She is cute but I'm afraid she may also be the Devil." And absolutely, "I hope I never see them again." But we survived. (Oh and I didn't take any pictures once Mr. Hyde was with us...I was too busy fighting him to deal with a camera but really who would want to see pictures of that?)

The week was awesome once the traveling was over. I have to admit there is quite a bit more to do in Utah than in Oklahoma. It was fun watching my crazy (but most definitely tough) siblings run the Ragnar, enjoy Father's Day with my Dad (I love him and always will), hit the Zoo, drive my Dad's car to Mueller Park Canyon for an afternoon of smores, play at Kangaroo Zoo, and spend time with good friends and family.

I learned a few things from this trip. First, I love Utah (more than I did before) and I will eventually live there again. Second, the Ragnar looks like a lot of fun on the first leg...second leg (hmmm I slept through that one)...but the third, yeah, not quite as fun. Despite that I think I'm game, next year. Third, I also had a glimpse at the slumbering Wilding tenacity (and Jonesy, you are included in that). It has been a long time since I have watched my siblings compete, especially in running. Scott you are Mr. Incredible. Shannon has always had the little dog syndrome and it blossomed in this race. She is just as tough as anyone no matter how small she is. Brandon is amazing, of course, and I feel sorry for that hill next year. Russ, you know he's in the zone when you are screaming for him and you don't get any type of Russell smirk, not a nod of the head, not even a hand wave of recognition. Yep, that's the Russell the muscle I know. And Tom-what can I say?!? You didn't die, which honestly I was ecstatic about! But, every time I saw you, you were running! Way to go Forrest! You did awesome! Fourth, driving my Dad's car, top down, makes me feel about ten times more cool than I actually am (thanks Dad, anytime you want me to take that thing off your hands I am willing and able). Finally, smores should be savored, as often as possible, no matter how old you are.

So the trip was good. It was so much fun to see everyone but Logan, Kaden, and Karson each of you are on my crap list. Really, who goes to scout camp when their favorite Aunt is in town??? For that you guys are going down, Oregon, Just Dance 2, in two weeks.

Well the trip ended, we hesitantly boarded a plane once again. I was scared, really scared. Let's just be honest as I walked down the aisle of the plane I was already apologizing to the other passengers. With my sweetest smile I would say, "I'm sorry in advance for how my child might behave on this flight." Or even, "I hope you brought ear plugs." And also, "Hey free baby, any takers, free baby!"

Luckily the flight home went a bit more smooth. She only cried for about four minutes instead of forty-five. I can handle four minutes. We arrived in the sweltering heat of Oklahoma, it was 107 degrees. Drove with the air conditioning full blast for four and a half hours. Then finally walked across the Welcome mat at our apartment. The traveling venture had started at 8:30 in the morning and ended at 10:15 that night, super fun!

But we are home with Daddy! While the kids were so sad to leave family and friends in Utah they were ecstatic to see Dad! And so was I. The next day we drove on up to Kansas and went to the water park. Because really, what else do you do in the middle of no where, and it is 111 degrees outside?

We love you all! Until next time, have a good week!

"Orphans smile and be happy," for the McGee's have finally moved into an apartment!

Well I suppose miracles do still exist. We are now in our apartment...big sigh of relief...and even better not much cleaning and only one spider so far. Now, even though it is not quite what I am used to, not comparable to our real home sweet home in Utah, it is infinitely better than and definitely not a motel, or a hotel, or even someone else's house. Ahhhh, I just feel my blood pressure dropping as I type those words.

Tommy and Maddie seem to be adjusting well too after having been juggled about time and time again...poor kids! Yesterday Maddie and Brayten were taking naps. Tommy and I looked at each other, "Well what should we do?" I said.

"I've got an idea! Let's go to the park!" Tommy exclaimed.

"Of course, let's go, I mean really I would love to go to the park when it is 102 degrees outside, there is nothing better!" I replied.

So we shuffled about as quietly as we could attempting to not wake up sleepy head #1 and sleepy head #2, we lubed up with sunscreen, and got ready to head out the door. Tommy gently opened the door, began to tip toe out, and screamed. It was a scream of absolute and utter terror. I ran over to him as he slammed the door shut. "What is going on?" I asked, completely concerned for the welfare of my little guy.

With tears streaming down his face he cried, "A toad!"

"What?" I asked, completely confused.

"It's a toad!" he shuddered.

I opened the door and voila, hello little toad, he seemed to be welcoming us to our new home right by our front door.

I was surprised by Tommy's initial reaction. He is a boy who generally loves all creepy, crawly things. He picks up bugs that are as big as his hand without flinching. He loves trying to catch lizards. He would adore a pet snake (but, no, absolutely not, that is a line we cannot cross). So I was surprised. He then relayed that a girl at church had told him that toads are mean and that they will chase you and bite you. Thanks for that one little girl.

I explained that toads are not like that and that they are indeed more afraid of you than you should be of them. But I also explained that we probably shouldn't touch them until we have read about them and made sure they aren't dangerous at all. (So Uncle Russ, King of useless animal trivia, I don't need to know the scientific name of the toad, I don't really need to know about their habitat, eating patterns, or even breeding specifics. I only need to know if you can touch a toad and not die. There is your task, go, go, go.) So we were fine. Tommy even was able to get relatively close to the little guy and not have a heart attack.

There are actually quite a few toads around, you just don't see them. Check out that last picture, it isn't just grass.

Well we are in our apartment, we've survived a toad attack, oh and Brayten said the prayer in sacrament meeting again today. So far he has said the prayer every week he has attended church here. It is hilarious, we are still trying to get used to the differences between a Branch and a Ward. Sometimes I would just love to bundle up this handful of people, take them home with me, and let the Barton Creek Ward bring them in, love them, and teach them as only a big, Mormon Ward family can. I wish these little kids could have one month in the Barton Creek Primary with tons of kids and great leaders and teachers that would guide them along as best they could. That being said, my opinion of the Guymon Branch Primary kids is this: it is not their fault they live in a tiny town, it is not their fault that there aren't very many members here, so I am going to attempt to give them as good of a Primary experience as I can.

Primary went more smoothly today (thank you Karen Healey for the Sunday Savers suggestion, it was awesome and saved my life-literally)! However, today it wasn't Primary I was worried about. For the first time in my life I played the piano for Sacrament Meeting. I was surprised how nervous I was considering there were probably only 25 people there today and most are not musical. I only slightly botched the Sacrament hymn, the opening and closing hymns went relatively smoothly. Whew, that's over with...until next week...when I play again.

Well another week down. To be honest I still can't believe that I am living in Oklahoma. A place where "Mormons" are considered to be more of a strange cult than a religion and where we have severe storm warnings every single week. It is crazy! But we are doing good and getting settled. Brayten's work schedule is changing this week so instead of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. he will be working 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.(much better, we will actually get to see him a bit more). That being said, sometimes, I really feel like I am hundreds of miles away from home...oh wait...crap...I am. Tommy said to me the other day, "I miss my cousins."

"Yeah buddy, I do too," I said.

So we miss you guys, all of our family and friends (even the ugly ones, that's you Tom)!

I want to give a shout out to my Mom. I love you Mom and I miss you!!! Tommy looked out our apartment window today. There was a big, red, Ford F-150 in the parking lot-you know the kind I think you've seen one before, the Cadillac of trucks. Tommy, with a slight glimmer of hope shining in his eyes said, "Mom, that looks like Grandma's truck. Is it?"

"No buddy, it's not." I replied to my dejected little man.

He misses you. He misses hanging out, helping you in the yard, eating all day, and watching National Wild. He loves you, we all do. Keep your chin up! And get Skype for goodness sake! And even better, we'll see you in a month, one month...only one more month.

I love you all and miss you!

Hotel...Again

Hotels have always been a place of magic for me. They have always been somewhere I have found myself in the midst of a happy vacation...generally in the proximity of an ocean. These places are amazing, you wake up, head out the door, and when you come home your bed is made and there are yummy smelling soaps and freshly laundered, bright white towels in the bathroom. Hotels are fun...usually, almost always.

Now plant your feet back on the ground, here we are, Guymon, Oklahoma. Housing has been such a fun adventure while we have been here...and if you can't sense my sarcasm I promise this phrase is dripping with it. I first arrived here fully aware that I would be living in hotel for a little while as we waited for our unit to become available at an apartment complex. We pulled up with our bug speckled Jeep and Uhaul trailer loaded to the brim with as many possessions as I could cram in every ounce of space. We were exhausted after fourteen hours of driving with two kids already adept at pestering each other, eight potty breaks in bathrooms that shoes must be worn in, at all times-no exceptions, twelve Disney movies, and fifty "Are we there yets?" (fifty every hour that is). We were wasted. As we pulled into the motel, yes I said motel this time, with an "m". My memory of happy hotels altered. I couldn't remember happy hotels having peeling paint. I couldn't remember happy hotels having royal blue doors. I couldn't remember happy hotels having spider webs and litter fluttering about. I couldn't remember even one happy hotel requiring me to rush to the grocery store and buying a bucket full of cleaning supplies before I would even use the bathroom. As we pulled into the motel Brayten took one look at my face and got on his phone to try and find us somewhere else to live.

Well we stayed in yucky motel #1 for two nights. I now have a few new rules to guarantee personal satisfaction and happiness. First, never spend the night in a place where the room doors are painted blue (that is a bad sign, I promise). Second, if latex gloves are required to open the room door just back away, slowly and go somewhere else. Third, hotels, yep that's a "h" my friends are highly preferrable over those other places that unfortunately start with a "m".

So Brayten was able to get a hold of one of our friends who had rented a home here. He let us live there until he and his family arrived. We moved in, cleaned, and cleaned, and cleaned and then fought spiders for two weeks. Now, as much as I was happy to see their arrival because I really do like them, at the same moment I thought, "Crap." However, we had talked to the apartment complex we were planning on moving into and they said, "Good news, the guy that had been "fixin" to move out of that there apartment moved out early. You can move in Thursdie." (Please note that I generally am proficient at spelling but in an effort to relay our sad tale phonetic spelling is required on occassion. I apologize.)

It was Monday. We moved out of our friend's home, moved into a Super 8 Hotel, and looked forward to "Thursdie". We called the apartment complex Wednesday, the day before blessed "Thursdie," it had now been one week since the last tenants moved out, just to make sure things were on schedule for our move in the next day. "Actually, we still need to get our cleaning lady over there and I haven't even got them out of our system yet so it will probly be next week," she said.

"WHAT?!?" I screamed, in my head of course, because generally I refrain from ranting and raving in public. "WHAT?!?" I puffed, as only a mother can puff, who has been cooped up with two small children in too small of a space for too long a time.

So now came "Thursdie" I drove over to the apartment complex, introduced myself (yes I am the wife of the man who has been hounding you for the past month), and introduced the kiddos. I also happened to mention that my children turn into devils when they are confined to a space that is too small. Well she assured me she would work on it. Then Brayten called again. Then I visited again. and HEAVEN BE THANKED good news. She said I could decide to move in without them cleaning, they would just have to clean the carpets. Well I figured I had already cleaned a motel room and a house I for sure could do more cleaning because by golly I hadn't cleaned enough! She said, "I will have them clean the carpets tomorrow and you can move in tomorrow afternoon or even Saturday. I will come in on my day off and get you in."

HALLELUJAH!!!

Friday came, the carpets were cleaned, the move in was ready but, oh wait, a phone call came from happy apartment manager, "The last tenant signed his lease through next Thursday, June 9th and we are going to honor that."

"WHAT?!?!?" At about this point I'm ashamed to say that a few expletives were voiced...in my head of course. Our unit is vacant and clean and here we are Sunday, day seven of eleven in "happy" hotel.

Guymon has a shortage of housing. There really is nothing available. We have been on the list to get into this apartment complex for three months. We have made a million phone calls in an effort to find a home to rent-a million phone calls, literally, well maybe that is a slight exaggeration but only a slight one. UGH! I'm having to dig deep in my personal pockets of patience to attempt to survive this torture. I can tell you I would be ecstatic to not stay at a "happy" hotel for at least two years, maybe even three. But, deep breath, four more days. Say it with me, four more days. So wish us luck!

Oh yeah and in addition to moving in four days I will also need to #1-Do my regular Primary planning-opening exercises, lesson, music time, and sharing time. #2-Practice to play the piano in sacrament meeting. #3-Go visiting teaching. #4-Survive my children. And finally-survive my husband too. I better start singing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" now, maybe it will act as a self fulfilling prophecy. I'm sure it will.

Until next time, I love you all, and I promise I won't whine so much next week (that is if I survive).