Getting ready for the 4th

My family will be coming in for the 4th of July so I have spent a lot of time at my parents getting things cleaned up for company. Unfortunately, it also means that I am pulling out cluttered corners for my Mom to sort through. I put all these things on a table in their livingroom. Dad hates having all the stuff sitting in the livingroom and Mom is working as best she can to sort through things she has had for years. You would think that dealing with this stack of "things" wouldn't be that big of a deal but it has been a very emotional journey for my Mom.
There she sits sorting through piles of things that she bought for that special occasion that never happened. The gift that she thought the kids might love but didn't. The piles of books from her long dead mother who she always felt she was a burden to. The holiday decorations she thought would would transform her home into an oasis for the holiday that never quite worked right. The dreams, ideals, hopes, and even some disapointments sitting on a table waiting to separated into trash, give away, and put away. She says that she knows that having the house clutter free will be a release not to mention easier to clean but she always tears up at this point.
I have wanted to help her several times over the years. All of my sisters have. Throwing and giving away many items over the years. However, I have come to realise that this will always be a journey only she can take. I move the boxes around and haul the stuff away when needed, reminding her that the end goal is worth it.

The Lost Months

If this blog were a cactus plant I would have killed it by now. My parents have gotten back from their last mission to Oklahoma. I felt like I was dragging them home reluctantly but they made it. We have started our garden and the peas look great. The cantalope however has been attacked by boxelder beetles and we only have one surviver (who may or may not get the million dollars). I have retaliated back against the beetles with boiling hot water. I have to admit that I gain great pleasure watching their bodies twitch and die from the water. I can almost hear the buggy screams of death....anyway.

Dennis is still with Farmer's Bank and I'm still here with the kids. On Tues and Fridays I travel out to my parents and do the books for the plumbing business while my parents watch the kids. We are also gearing up for our vacation at the end of July when we will travel to Wyoming to visit Dennis' family. So far we'll try and catch a indian powwow and the Cheyenne Frontier Days. Hopefully I'll get a rough schedule posted so that if anyone wanted to catch up with us they could.

I still do the occationally odd craft and this is my latest one. A hanging tent for Raif. He loves it and calls it his house. When I first put it up, Raif insisted that Dad sit in it with him while they read a story. He also thinks it is fun to say goodbye to everyone and go home.

Ronin is crawling everywhere and has started to climb up things so that he can stand. He started off with an army crawl across the floor but within the last few days he has progressed to hands and knees. He is eating up a storm and somedays I think that he eats more than Raif does. His favorite food are popcicles and you will be his best friend if you share.