thankful thursday

Today I'm thankful for:

*maintaining patience on Elle's first day of potty training
*a surprise-to-me orientation meeting to scope out the new juniors
*a much needed nap

This week I've been thankful for:
*hearing the baby's heartbeat
*Elle getting to have bible class with Aunt Beth
*a quiet week in the dorm
*being able to cook for my family

the last days

Our last week or so with the students was busy!
Senior Swim Party...



Awards ceremonies, Junior move out day, Graduation practice, Graduation party with a water ballon fight...

Here's Chris sneaking up on the kids with his super soaker from high school

and here the kids are chasing him...

and here's where they tackled him (he's in the middle of this group) and broke the gun...

Graduation on the capitol steps...
This is the best shot I got because Elle and I lasted all of 5 minutes before we had to go find a shade tree on the side to sit under

So while I listened to the program, Elle played with rocks

and in the dirt

and finally senior move out (insert crickets)


I had my moments of tears. It's probably the pregnancy hormones, but I kept thinking those are somebody's babies moving on and someday, too soon, it will be Elle too. We'll miss our girls, but it sure is nice this week with no flushing toilets to wake us up and actually fixing our own food.

jumping on the bandwagon...thankful thursdays

Several friends from church are doing a "Thankful Thursday" post on their blogs and they've been very inspiring, so I thought I would join in. Especially after having so many things thrown in my face this week that I have not been more appreciative of. So here are a few of things that I'm thankful for this week:


1) God gave us our beautiful Elle, who is healthy and bright.

2) We are fortunate enough to live at OSSM for free, eat for free, with beautiful grounds, security, and a basement to ride out a storm.

3) We were able to host the girls from our floor in our home tonight. That they are so wonderful to Elle, and are tolerable of Mops. That they are so polite and that so far everyone we've talked to requested our floor again!

4) That some hardworking, talented, deserving kids from Podunk, Oklahoma are graduating on Saturday and heading to places like Harvard, Notre Dame, Duke, Chicago, etc.

in the storm shelter

We spent some time down in the basement last night as the storms blew over. Us and two dogs, two gerbels, 130+ students, and some faculty. They opened dinner early, but it wasn't long before the sirens were going off for a second time. We grabbed some pillows, blankets, flashlights and some entertainment and headed downstairs.

Elle entertained herself "helping" Daddy grade finals

lining up the Snow White finger puppets...


and then turning them all over

Mops kept herself busy


and the students studied for finals, played games, watched the weather, or slept

no itching here!

To my wonderful husband, Chris:
Thank you for marrying me 7 years ago! Thank you for putting up with me, the dog, my projects, and everything else along the way. You are incredible and I'm truly blessed.

May 22, 2004

the best part!

i look forward to making more mischief with you!

You're my favorite!

Happy Anniversary to all those who have celebrated their special day in the last week and in the next!

what's elle been up to?

wearing her swimsuit the first time this year to play in the sprinklers




running everywhere


doing some bible lessons at home--"gathering grain" like Ruth (wheat provided by Waugh Family farm)


walking the 1 mile Tot Trot, while Daddy ran the 5K, to support Christian Services of Oklahoma

art with her new easel from her good friend and upstairs neighbor Jonathan

playing at Mesta Park

and sometimes she sleeps

prom

Saturday night was Prom at OSSM. Elle went to stay at Nana's house so she wouldn't have to deal with the craziness and after party that went on until 2:30 in the morning. Apparently it wasn't much different from Chris' proms, except as he told someone "his date's pregnant this time." A lot of the parents attend to help with the cost, and I thought it made it a nicer event. The kids ride a charter bus over to the Petroleum Club for dinner and dancing. We had an excellent view from the 34th floor! The girls were beautiful and the guys clean up nice too. About midnight we headed back home from snacks, a TwinProv performance, and of course more dancing. Chris and I couldn't take it anymore after TwinProv and crashed. We had a great date night that we rarely get!

1) There didn't seem to be the pressure of drinking or risque behavior (although some of the dancing was questionable) and everyone had a great time.
2) If you can jump up and down and pump your fist you can dance.
3) If we could write a song that has one line, some simple directions, and make a youtube video dance we'd be rich!
4) Chris and I are too old for some of the music!
5) Do not dance barefoot with other girls in stilettos (this was a lesson learned by one of the girls on our floor).
6) You don't have to go to prom with a date, bring a group of friends and have a good time.

Here's some pics. We have some better ones of the kids, but I don't want to post them without their permission.