This was a "cleaning up" week. Last week left the house and my energy demolished. On Monday Phil took Jude to Benson for his brother Rick's mother-in-law's funeral. He enjoyed spending time with his family and evidently Jude enjoyed flirting with everyone. I was disappointed to miss it, but I had a ton to do at home and I had committed to taking my neighbor to a doctor's appointment.
On Tuesday I had work and I spent a little time in the evening making some onesies for one of Phil's co-workers who is expecting. I think they turned out pretty cute. I'm going to pair them with the baby quilt I made for him to give to her later this week. The kids had a half day on Wednesday and by then I was finally caught back up on house chores and laundry.
While out feeding animals on Thursday we discovered that our mama turkey had secretly hatched some eggs in her nesting box. She had four chicks out in the coop with her and while the tom didn't seem interested in hurting them, that coop is not set up for chicks and when one adventured out of the coop through the large opening of the fencing the dog got it, so we took the rest inside and now I have a brooder of turkey chicks in my bathroom, again. Speaking of which, we have our turkey pullets on grower getting ready to fatten them for Thanksgiving. If you'd like to come out to the ranch to butcher your own Thanksgiving turkey or would like to buy a fresh turkey, let me know, we have quite a few.
I also made progress on my quilt this week, finishing my tractor and corn block. It is so cute! I only have two more blocks to go!
Arlo had football practice on Friday night and the girls had their first scrimmage game to play in the stand at. I could not bring myself to wrestle Jude in bleachers for two hours, so he and I stayed home while Phil dropped Arlo off at practice and went to go watch the girls play. I'm so grateful I have backup!
Friday evening while they were at practice and the games I went to the store to buy donuts for Helen to take to her theater build day on Saturday. When I went to get Jude out of his car seat I found that he had helped himself to a donut, I'm not sure how he reached it, but he was filthy! Thank heavens for bath time.
We attended our ward on Sunday and then I stayed with my friend Allison to visit in the two other ward's Relief Society's meetings. When we were done Phil and I went to visit Grandma. We took Jude with us and she was happy to see him. He was more warm this time and wanted to climb up in Grandma's lap and give her a kiss. I was happy to see that she was dressed and awake when we got there, she hasn't been feeling well the last few weeks, so it was good to see acting more herself.
This week was so stinkin busy. Like really busy. On Monday I was up super bright and early to go pick up donuts for the girls' seminary class. Phil went into seminary with them for their "missionary moment" segment where he was asked to share some positive experiences from his mission. He took Jude to music class later in the morning and then he helped me with a day of cooking. Our stake Relief Society presidency was asked to host lunch for a missionary zone conference this week and I was heading up the planning. I had initially decided to just have it catered from Chipotle, but they've raised their prices, considerably, which put it out of our range. So instead we did a Cafe Rio style burrito/salad spread, but we had to make it ourselves. I spent most of Monday cooking and prepping. I made a whole bunch of rice crispy treats and started cooking the sweet pork. I was so grateful that Phil was home Monday night, he makes the best Pico de Gallo (by the gallon).
I was grateful for my mom's help on Tuesday morning. The kids had a dentist appointment at the same time I needed to be setting up for the luncheon, so she met them at the dentist's office to be the adult supervision. I am finding that Felicity's ability to drive is super convenient. We were able to get all the food prepared and served on time and it was a really nice event. The missionaries even sang to us in gratitude. We had sweet pork, rice, beans, all the burrito fixings and I even pulled out the soda syrups and we had a cute little soda bar. It wouldn't be as fun without my soda menus, so I made a couple with our Café Rio theme. It was fun to be with so many of the elders and sisters serving in our area. Since Phil was working I had to take Jude with me and he was really a good boy and so patient, he enjoyed being in the middle of it all. I was grateful for that seeing as it could have been a pretty stressful day otherwise.
My mom asked me to make her and her friends some matching t-shirts for their upcoming cruise, so I worked on that on Wednesday evening. They turned out pretty cute.
My Wednesday and Thursday were much more low-key so I was able to get cleaned up from two days of cooking and two week's worth of laundry that didn't get done because my back was still soar last week. It took days to move the mountains of laundry. I was hanging clothes and laying them in a pile on the floor next to the couch and the cat decided to lay on top of my pile, in a passive aggressive way, I just laid the next item of clothing on top of him hoping to nudge him to move off of my pile. He didn't. He let me stack like ten pounds of clothes on top of him and then he fell asleep. He's such a weirdo.
Felicity and Helen had band Friday night (but then they canceled it because of rain) and Arlo went to visit his dad for the weekend. Since it was just Phil and Jude and I we went to dinner and enjoyed a nice time out. I'm so grateful for my sweet husband...and Mexican food.
The girls were back at band practice on Saturday and I spent my morning making signage for our Stake Relief Society activity. Jude was my pal again in the afternoon when we went to the church to set up for the activity. We hosted a soup and salad dinner with a key note speaker and enrichment classes. We were tickled to have over a hundred sisters from our stake show up to the activity and it went really well. I love serving the women in our stake and I love the women I serve with. We didn't, however, get home until late. It was a busy week, I'm not sure how we (our presidency) managed to schedule our annual activity the same week as the zone conference luncheon! I think we may try to avoid that again in the future!
Sunday morning I had a church meeting early. Phil didn't get off shift until 8AM so I went to my 6:15AM meeting and Felicity took Jude to her 7:30AM meeting and we all met up at church for sacrament meeting at 9! After church Phil and I went to visit my grandma in Tucson. I wanted to make sure I went to see her while my mom was on her vacation. We had a nice visit although she was disappointed that we didn't bring Jude. I was grateful to have everyone back home in the evening and to leave this stressful week behind me!
It has been such a great monsoon season this year. We have gotten SO much rain at Two Jack Ranch and everything is green and our trees are loving it. We've been really busy, everyone seems to be going in all different directions. Phil took Jude to his music class on Monday morning and then we delivered eggs and worked on laundry. The kids had a half day this week, which was nice to have everyone home in time for dinner.
We got a really good downpour on Thursday afternoon and when I left to pick up Arlo from the bus stop our road was pretty flooded. In fact, the wash at the bottom of the road was running so vigorously, even if the bus had come the kids wouldn't have been able to get off the bus. Sahuarita road was closed at Kolb, so the bus turned around and went back to the school. Luckily I was in the truck, so I drove across our raging river and down to the school to pick Arlo up. It was pretty impressive.
Friday was Helen's 14th birthday. I got to wish her a hasty "happy birthday" on their way out the door. In the morning I met my friend Leona to walk around Tucson mall. When we were done and got back out to the parking lot I found that my tire was leaking air pretty quickly, so I drove around like a mad person looking for somewhere to fill it up before it was too flat to drive. I was successful and made it home in time for Phil to change it for me. In the evening the girls had band practice, Arlo had football practice, we were supposed to go to a ward party and it just worked out best to skip the church activity and take Arlo to football. Phil and I went out to dinner while Arlo had practice which was nice.
Arlo had his first game on Saturday. I had to take Jude with me since the girls had band practice and Phil was at work. He had to be there like an hour and a half early so my intention was to drop him off, wander Walmart for awhile and then come back for the game, but when we arrived at the park in Marana I knew I couldn't leave him. There were SO MANY people. It was insane. It was an exhibition/scrimmage game and all of the area leagues were there along with radio stations and food trucks, it was a zoo! So I parked and we wandered around until I could find his group and Jude and I decided to just hang out until game time. It was hot and I was grateful one of the other parents invited us to sit under their awning. Jude was good as gold. He stayed in his stroller for almost the whole time. He played with his shoes, with his water, and really enjoyed watching the big boys play. I felt bad for poor Arlo, he plays defensive/offensive line. He's pretty much the biggest kid on his team and is used to being successful, but the boys on the opposing team were huge! I can't believe the kid he was mirroring with was a ten year old, he was several inches bigger than Arlo (I'm pretty sure he had a mustache). Anyway, they played hard in the heat and I was really proud of Arlo. He did a great job considering the circumstances. After his game we went and had lunch at Subway before running to the grocery store and then back home.
Everyone was home for church on Sunday and Helen was asked to give the youth talk in Sacrament meeting. Her topic was "how I can make the temple part of my life". She did a great job. She wrote her talk herself and I was proud that she didn't just read it, but delivered it in an engaging way. After church I took Jude and my mom to see my grandma in Tucson. We had a nice visit and Jude enjoyed pushing grandma's walker around her apartment.
Sunday evening we celebrated Helen's birthday. She asked me to make a "Spooderman" cake...don't ask, I don't really know, but she loved it. Haha. She opened her gifts and then it was time to head to bed. Up early on Monday!
Last week bled into this week since my back was still soar on Monday morning. I was able to walk upright, so that was some improvement. Phil took Jude to his first music class of the new semester. He's participating in Sound Beginnings through Let's Play Music again and they had a fun time. He really enjoys it. I was excited to have lunch with friends on Monday afternoon. We had a great lunch with wonderful conversations. The girls' had band practice after school on Monday so they didn't get home until late, Arlo had football practice so he didn't get home until late. We have discovered that in order to share a meal all together and do a family scripture study we have to do it early in the morning. For the last couple of weeks, since school started, I've been getting the kids up at 4:45AM. It gives us barely enough time to get dressed, feed animals, make a lunch, have breakfast and read scriptures together before the girls head to Seminary which starts at six. I will say, that I enjoy being up and productive so early in the morning.
I worked on Tuesday, I was fairly comfortable in my office chair, but my back, hip, and leg start to ache if I stand for too long. Jude makes working from home interesting. We have found that he loves the movie Encanto, if allowed, he'll watch it multiple times in a day. His singing cracks me up every time. We've tried other movies: Cars, Moana, Pete's Dragon, all with no luck. Maybe I'll start playing it in Spanish with English subtitles, that'll change it up a bit. Anyway, between his two hour nap, which he genuinely loves (the kid is seriously THE BEST sleeper on the planet, of course the better you know Phil the more that makes sense) and the two hours it takes to watch Encanto, I can really get some good work done. The rest of the time is marred with stops and starts and frustrating moments like catching him with Felicity's jar of Nutella. He was pretty mad we took it away from him.
Phil started his four days off on Wednesday and I was glad. Still pretty stiff I was getting around better, I just couldn't stand or walk for too long. After work I put the binding on my two extra quilts and they are done! So quick and easy. I think they'll be going to a couple of expectant mamas in the fire department family. Felicity went to a stake youth activity which was a water event at the church ballpark in Tucson. Phil took Arlo to football practice and then hopped over to the high school with Helen to attend the parent orientation meeting for her drama class. Guess what? More fees!
Our last horse Trotter was picked up this week to go to his new home. Phil's Battalion Chief took him and he's going to live at their place with donkey companions. I'm sure he'll be very happy there, although its kind of sad to look out at the empty corrals. The kids didn't seem to notice however, as I found Trotter kibble (Equidine pellets) and fresh hay in his feeder after Thursday mornings animal chores were done. Thursday evening Phil packed up to go scouting with his brother and nephew south of Arivaca. They camped overnight and spent Friday glassing for whitetail and getting acquainted with the area as his brother's kids will be hunting it this fall.
Since Phil was scouting, I left Jude with my mom in the afternoon so I could go to an appointment at the salon. I think he had fun at Nana's playing with his cousin. I was still in Tucson when Phil got home and Helen and Arlo left to go visit their dad. It was just he and the baby and I since Felicity went to the temple with her friends after school.
I didn't see Felicity much on Saturday since she had band practice from early to late. Phil and I worked on some projects around the house and enjoyed each other's company. By Saturday I was able to do more walking and standing and waking up a lot less stiff, I'm hoping I'm it'll only get better from here. I was able to finish my next block for my applique quilt, a barn and silo, and attached it to the last couple of blocks I completed. Its really coming out cute! I have three more blocks to complete and then sashing before the top is finished. I don't know what I'm going to do to quilt it, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Phil was back at work on Sunday and Felicity and Jude and I enjoyed church, I even got to sit in as a co-sub for Felicity's Sunday School class. It was a nice day and I was grateful to have the kids home in the evening; Felicity picked them up for me after choir.
Even though Mondays are now my day off, they are busier than ever. When Phil got home from work on Monday morning he went with me to pick up my finished quilts in Vail and then we delivered eggs. I have egg customers in Vail and Sahuarita, so its quite the undertaking. When we were done we stopped at Chipotle for lunch. Yum! Its my favorite. My quilts turned out beautifully, I'm really happy with them, now I just have to bind them...my least favorite part.
I worked on Tuesday and Phil was a huge help. He took Jude to his well check and then took our neighbor to her doctor's appointment for me. Jude is doing really well, we're still concerned that one of his legs is bowed considerably. The pediatrician said we could see an orthopedic doctor if we wanted to, but she would suggest just waiting a little longer for it to straighten out on its own. He's above average for height and weight and generally doing well. In the afternoon Phil built me two new nesting boxes for a couple of our coops. The cat had to try it out.
Our new dryer arrived on Wednesday. Ugh! Before I left for girls camp our dryer stopped blowing hot air. Its the second time that its done that and Phil fixed it while I was gone. Then he said it was doing it again after replacing the heating element, so we ordered a new one. Then the old one started working again. We just decided to stick with a new one and donate the old one and not worry about it. So it came on Wednesday and my awesome husband installed it for me AND found the old one a new home right away, so it didn't sit on my front porch upping the "white trash" quality that my front yard already has with our half painted house and pile of siding laying near the stairs, but that's a totally different rant.
Along with getting so big Jude is also getting into EVERYTHING. The kid gets a hold of something new to destroy almost hourly. We were watching him on the baby monitor one morning this week, he wasn't crying, but was stirring letting us know he was ready to get up, and I 100% believe if he wanted to he could climb out of that crib. That's all I need is an un-cribbed Jude running around the house at night! Luckily for us he a) hasn't worked up the nerve to climb over, I don't know why; he's completely fearless and b) even if he did climb out his door is not easy to open. In fact, almost none of the doors in the house are easy to open. I think the house needs to be re-leveled and the doors/windows rehung, but its only one repair on a very long list of improvements that the need to happen around here.
Thursday evening I met my lovely friend Gretchen for dinner down town. We had a nice time. I worked on my new block for my applique quilt that I've been working on in between other projects. This week's block was a windmill and chicken coop.
Arlo had football practice everyday this week and I think he is enjoying it. I have appreciated both Phil and Felicity helping me get him there. I just wish it wasn't so late, 6:30-8:30 when we live 30 minutes from the school is a long evening for a 5th grader. My Friday was rough, I woke up barely able to stand having done something to strain my back, it was intolerable. I hobbled about spending most of my day on the couch with a heating pad. Toddlers are very understanding when you have limited mobility as I'm sure you can guess. That's a lie, Jude was not understanding at all and even managed to climb on a kitchen chair, lean on the back of it with his chest causing it to fall over smacking his face on the kitchen floor. I could barely pick him up to comfort him and clean up his little bloody nose.
Phil was at work, so it was just me and Jude most of the day. Phil did get to do a hazmat training in Tucson and ran into a very familiar face. Felicity and Helen went to the Tucson temple with friends after school. When she asked if she could go I thought maybe it was an organized youth activity that I didn't know about ahead of time, but no, Felicity and some of her friends just went on their own. I was pretty surprised when she told me that she drove all the way there, using the freeway. I'm proud that she's adventurous and brave, but also terrified; having a teenaged driver is so convenient and terrifying all in the same moment.
I was still down for the count on Saturday. I felt badly because Phil's friend Mike who had been meeting with the missionaries and learning about the church decided to be baptized on Saturday and I couldn't go because I could barely walk, my back was still killing me. I heard it went well and Phil was happy to perform the ordinance for his friend. I also missed out on seeing some familiar faces as he will be a member of one of my previous wards.
While Phil and the kids were gone at the baptism a very violent monsoon storm hit the ranch. The wind was unbelievable pulling off roof shingles, bending trees over, and lifting two of the chicken coops off the ground. As much as I love the rain, I could have done without having to chase frightened chickens around the yard who were unexpectedly released by the wind. With my back in the condition it was in I mostly lured the dogs to the shop and shooed the chickens into a safe place where Phil and the kids could retrieve them when they got home. I hate not being able to move!
Phil worked at the fire station overnight on Saturday for some overtime hours and the girls and I went to the movie theater to see Thor: Love and Thunder. I saw it with Phil a couple of weeks ago, but the girls hadn't seen it yet. We enjoyed ourselves, although I was physically miserable trying to sit in the theater for a couple of hours with my back hurting. Phil stayed at work for his regular shift on Sunday and the rest of us stayed home from church, I just couldn't imagine sitting on a pew for an hour followed by an hour in a hard chair. I'm praying my back starts to heal, because the laundry is piling up, I still haven't gotten groceries, and the house will fall apart if I don't stay on it.
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