Checking In

We have been super busy lately. That, combined with recent events, has made it less exciting for me to update my blog.
By way of updates, here's the skinny on our bidniz:

1. We have to travel to Oklahoma in a few weeks for a court date. Not excited about that. But looking forward to some closure. Being divorced can really be a nuisance.

2. I recently discovered I need to have a hysterectomy. This is okay with me because a)I am done having children; b)it will alleviate many annoying and uncomfortable physiological issues I'm having; c)I will have a rare opportunity to compose a little masterpiece I'm planning to title "Ode To My Uterus." I'm putting it off for a few months though so I don't have to miss work.

3. Noe got bitten by a spider. It developed into an abscess, which had to be lanced. They "packed her wound" and we had to bring her in every 2 days to have the packing changed. She literally has a hole in her thigh. It's creepy and weird and gross, and a little teeny bit fascinating.

4. I got sick. The medical professionals referred to it as a "severe cold" but I referred to it as an "80 year old emphysema patient still smoking while hooked up to her oxygen machine." It was a horrid, ugly, hacking cold. I even missed work because of it! I rarely miss work. I knew it was bad though when my husband spent a night on the sofa to "get some sleep." Apparently my snorting, nose blowing, and desperate moaning were "annoying". Whatevs.

Other than those big deals, it's been bidniz as usual. Basketball season is upon is, Keola is playing. Mika placed 5th in the school in our Geography Bee. We enjoyed Keola's first Pinewood Derby (pictures to follow, try to curb your enthusiasm). Things are good, and I feel pleased at my ability to manage the latest round of stress and trial. I usually get fairly distraught with all of it, but apparently lots of therapy combined with prayer is paying off for me.

Sweet.

Extended Play

I try not to be too repetitive between the two blogs. This one seems a bit redundant however. Ran a 5K, went to Spokane for First Night. Sound familiar???

Considering some of our family members ran in Chuck Taylors, I think it's impressive that we all finished!

First Night in Spokane was a ton of fun. We passed several hours weaving in and out of ice sculptors, tap dancers, snowboarders and jugglers. We spent the night in the city and then drove to an indoor water park the next day. There was some laser tag, mini-golf, and a lot of water sliding. Remarkably, the entire family really enjoyed each other's company. There were no melt-downs, no fights, and barely any whining. Until, of course, the car ride home. I noticed Skip kept turning the radio up louder and louder, and I kept closing my eyes tighter and tighter, waiting for a little nap to relieve me from the ruckus of the back seats.

The highlight of the night was catching some free Rockstar Energy hats thrown to the crowd during the snowboarding competition. Then we got to walk around for the rest of the evening with a buncha little thugs. Nice.

These tap dancing brothers from Oregon were really talented. The kids, especially Samie, really loved watching them. I thought it was fun when she leaned over and asked me if I thought any of them were cute. I did. So did she. We both fell for the Mr. Charisma of the group (pink shirt). But we're both still hopelessly devoted to our main man... the one who got our kisses at midnight.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!