Down on the farm

Good-bye to Grandma Ekker

I am saddened to say that Scott's grandma, Madge Ekker passed away early this morning at the age of 94. She lived a long, hard-working, farmers life. She grew up and lived her life in Torrey, Utah. Scott's dad, Bill, is her only child. We felt fortunate to be able to spend a little more time with her over the past few months while she was living with Bill and Linda. She collected dolls and has a room at her house fully dedicated to them. She also crocheted beautiful table cloths that we will treasure. She loved babies and animals. Her favorite was a horse, (Tony) that she once told me talked just like Mr. Ed. They had t-shirts made up with his picture on and everything! She said they should've taken him to Hollywood and gotten rich! How grateful we are for the knowledge of eternal families and of the resurrection. Although Pacie was scared to death of her, (I think it was the turban...Scott's only seen her once without it) we will all greatly miss her, but are also grateful that she is not in pain and has been reunited with her loved ones. We love you, Grandma.

Today is a New Day!

I loved the Disney movie, Chicken Little. Mostly because of his mantra, "Today is a New Day!" We've had to adopt the same line for Parker and the bus. Let me start at the beginning. When we lived in the yellow house, we were not in our school boundaries, so Parker had a chauffeur to and from school every day. (ME!) So, twice a day, I would load up the other three kids to make the 5 minute drive to drop her off and pick her up. Needless to say I was excited to move into the "little house" for one reason. Parker could now ride the bus to and from school! (I did have mixed feelings because I did love to drop her off and see her run to get in line and see her friends greet her etc. And I loved when she'd see me after school and come running to meet me. But it has really saved on the time pressures of the day.) So we get to the little house and I get the schedule all arranged. Parker wasn't a total stranger to riding the bus. When we were in England, she would catch the bus each morning from my grandma's house. So I thought, this will be great! And it was! Until she had to ride the bus home.
Trauma #1- I told her the wrong bus to ride home the very first day. I assumed that she'd be riding the same bus home as her little friend that lived a country block away from where we were living. Um, oops! There are actually three different buses that come to Osgood after school and that's not the right one! I'm waiting outside from her and see the bus go flying by. I end up getting a phone call from the school saying that she's at the friend's house I told her to ride with! Thankfully her mom and I are good friends. Not too much harm done, right? Oh was I wrong!
Trauma #2- So she finally gets on the right bus, (the rhino bus) and after much coaxing does have the courage to ride it home to the little house. I see the bus stop but can't find Parker! She's running back and forth between the front and back door while I'm at the opposite end of the house that she's at. She's crying because she thinks we're not there. This is just a small hiccup!
Trauma #3- We move into our new house, which means new buses. Well, Parker is so terrified of the ride home that she's relieved to hear that the district is "getting the route figured out" and "we'd have to pick her up for about a week." Morning was great-same driver, new stop, it's all good. Well, the afternoon bus happens to be the rhino bus again, and I think there's an issue with the driver because Parker is scared to death of her! The week goes by and day 1 of riding the bus comes along. She is scared, but does okay.
Trauma #4- On the way home, THE BUS DRIVER DOESN'T KNOW SHE'S ON THE BUS AND FORGETS TO STOP AND DROP HER OFF!!! She is the very last one off of the bus- 35 minutes later than usual and is trying not to be frantic as she walks up the steps to come into the house. She said, "The bus driver forgot me! She was writing in her journal!" Oh, Parker. Tears and tears and more tears.
Trauma #5- Day 1 of the "the sub". Huge anxiety and fear on the morning route. I said, "she knows where the school is! That's where she's taking you!" Day 2- It is foggy and she totally passes our house, causing me to chase after her, flagging her down! She finally stopped by about my grandma's house and by now Parker is...well, let's say SHAKEN!

So, there is a huge break in the ride home because of parent teacher conferences/no school. Today is the first day back on the bus ride home.
How thankful I am for a daughter who believes in priesthood blessings. She came to her dad on Saturday night, (the anxiety of Monday is starting to build) and asks him for a blessing so she won't be nervous riding the bus home.

"TODAY IS A NEW DAY!" I really hope that trauma #5 is the last for her.....but I'm not holding my breath!

Generating Ideas

Okay friends-I know that you are all amazingly talented and creative. So, I need your input! I am 98% sure that I am going to start a pre-school this year. It's something I've thought of doing several times and just haven't had the space. Now that our house is finished, I have plenty of room and the timing just seems right. I miss teaching and although 4 year olds will be a little more challenging, I can sift through the students...and choose who I really want to teach! My dilemma is this. The name I had originally thought was taken by a woman in my old neighborhood. (A little too close for me to use the same name...Little Learners...which I loved, but it's off the table.)

I would LOVE any input on cute pre-school names you've heard of have thought of. If you think of any-let me know!

Another that is on the table as of this morning is: Smart Start Pre-School
Other than that, I'm drawing blanks.

So, get your creative juices flowing! I'd love to hear your ideas!

A little more information...

We've had a very eventful February so far-well by our standards anyway. We moved into the new house and shortly after said good-bye to one of our faithful dogs. Daisy (Taft)-the older of our two labs. She was very old and very sick. We learned that she was in extreme kidney failure and decided to put her to sleep. It was a sad, but precious teaching time for our little family. Scott was very attached to her. We still have her daughter, Mady, and are having to pamper her now more than ever as she had never been away even a night from her mom. We had a great Valentines day and had fun decorating cookies. There's just something about pink frosting that brings out the softer side of everyone. Landon has had a great time exploring the new spaces of the house. I found him in the cabinet one day. And while we were still getting the girls room put together, the three oldest kids were sleeping in Landon's room. Evidently, he did not like his matress for one night we found him head on Parker's matress with the rest of his body under the bed. He is such a fun boy and keeps us laughing all of the time. And then there's Presley. She is the sweetest little spirit. Never demanding-and loves being entertained by her siblings. She is already 6 months old. I don't know where the time goes! We love you, Little Darlin' Ooh!

Feb 08

Back on Board...for good this time!

Hooray! We are back online! We had three different internet providers out to hook us up here at the new house and finally found one that could give us fast internet service out here in the country! We would trade no internet for where we are though, that's for sure! I just wanted to say that we are here in our house and loving it! Not loving unpacking box after box and deciding where to put everything, but loving the space and the feel of a new house. I have a few pictures to share-when I have more time. Just wanted to say we're back up and running! Hooray!