The snow was beautiful. I kept the curtains open most of the time so I could watch it fall. Gary was in Colorado Springs all week. The first morning he called me and "walked me through" how to turn on the gas logs. I left them on all week. I was scared that I might turn them off wrong and then have a gas leak. Crazy I know but I have the hardest time with these gas logs.
I made the best use of my time at home. I literally could not leave the house. I edited two dissertations (one was 118 pages and one was 120), updated the business education web page, developed schedules for the student teachers, revised two courses, and prepared for a dissertation meeting for one of my advisees. She's ready to present her proposal and it needed a lot of final review.
When I said I didn't leave the house I mean it. I never went outside to get the newspapers. Finally, on the third day I guess my neighbor thought we weren't home and he got the papers and brought them to my front door. I was very embarrassed so I made sure I got the papers the rest of the week.
TIME WITH FAMILY (February 4 - 6, 2011)
Gary and I decided on Friday morning to go visit Brent, Jessica, Anna Claire and Bennett. The Arkansas and Oklahoma Highway Departments were advising against travel. Family and friends were advising against travel. We normally go the Tulsa route but the Tulsa route had 20 inches of snow and ice and it was still falling. We decided to go toward Ft. Smith, then Eufala, and then on to Norman.
We had not seen them since January 2nd and I don't think we could have waited another week.
Bennett called us about six hours in the trip (normally a four hour drive) and asked "Ma, I thought you were coming to visit us?" When I asked him to let me talk to his Mommy so I could tell Jessica where we were Bennett responded "No, Ma. I want to talk to you." He never did let me talk to Jessica. I told him on the phone we were in Shawnee, OK and he thought I said Sean's. That's why he said "Ma, I thought you were coming to my house."
Granddad read their bedtime stories to them. The book was about trains but Bennett kept pointing to pictures and saying "Quack." Obviously, that was very funny!
We made our traditional trip to Oklahoma City to Bass Pro. Bennett didn't leave Gary's side. Once Gary walked around an aisle and Bennett couldn't see him. He was yelling "Granddad, where are you?"
This was taken outside Bass Pro.
Ma with her grandkids in front of the fireplace at Bass Pro.
Bennett driving the boats....his favorite activity.
Anna Claire sitting on the rocks looking at the fish.
Anna Claire pointing out to Ma what she would like for Christmas.
Ma had to throw some trash away. Bennett and Anna Claire stayed with Granddad. Bennett is not allowed to drink Ma's diet coke because it has caffeine in it. When I came back (literally seconds) I caught Bennett drinking my diet coke! When he saw me he tried to gulp it down at once. Then he showed this little half smile. He knew he wasn't supposed to drink it.
Jessica with Anna Claire at Bass Pro
Grandad, Bennett and Brent shooting guns at Bass Pro
Bennett having a fit because we told him it was time to go!
We came home and Anna Claire and Brent started making a snow man. Bennett was supposed to be taking a nap. He cried most of the way home from Bass Pro until about 20 minutes before we got to Norman. He fell asleep from so much crying and having a fit.
Brent and Anna Claire made a snowman. Actually, Brent made it but Anna Claire added the accessories.
Granddad and Anna Claire working on a second snowman.
Brent and Anna Claire with a snowman that has on Jessica's hat, coal for eyes, carrot for a nose, stick for a mouth, and the neighbor's sticks for arms.
Betsy (Ma) and Anna Claire
Anna Claire wanted to make a baby snowman. Look closely, this baby even has a pacifier (Bennett's!)
Anna Claire making a snow angel.
You can see the wings, etc.
Jessica and Anna Claire with big snowman and baby snowman.
Not good. Bennett woke up and came outside. He immediately saw the baby snowman with HIS paci! He was not happy one bit. He immediately took out the paci.
He's complaining that the baby snowman has "my paci!" Anna Claire is upset. When Bennett took out the snowman's paci he kicked the snowman and made it fall down in tiny pieces.
He's still complaining about it!
Anna Claire showing the neighbor Owen the snowman. Owen was fascinated with the baby snowman. Does this snowman look like he's leaning???
Bennett is now happy. He completely destroyed the baby snowman. No more baby snowman! Of course, Anna Claire was devastated.
Gary (Granddad) and Bennett working on the second snowman.
Brent teaching Bennett how to make a snow angel.
Brent and Anna Claire...very proud of the snowman.
Sunday morning. Jessica and Anna Claire leaving for church.
Gary (Granddad), Brent and Brent on Sunday morning.
We did have a wonderful time. Anna Claire and I played a "kitty cat" game. Anna Claire pretended she was a kitty cat in the store and Travis (my imaginery son) and I were shopping around for a kitty cat. Bennett joined us and he was a dog in the pet store. His name was Rufus and Anna Claire's name was Baby Emily.
Later, Bennett said that his mommy was going to name her baby Pres...uh....lee. Spoken just like I wrote it...three words. Gary asked Bennett what would the name be if it was a boy. He thought for a minute and then said "Truck."
While Anna Claire and I were talking on the bench at Bass Pro she asked "Ma, have you ever lied?" Now, of all questions she could ask me, why that one? What would you say? I said what probably most grandma's would say "Uh, I don't think so." Then, I wondered why Anna Claire would ask me such a question. She told me she had told a bad lie once but she asked forgiveness from Jesus and he gave it to her and she has never lied again. I couldn't stand not knowing what she did that was so awful. I asked her what it was. Here is what she said:
"Ma, I told Mommy once that I washed my hands when I didn't. Mommy has a smart brain and she knew I was lying." "But, Ma, Jesus forgave me and I will never lie again."
Bennett..well, another story. He needed to go potty so I went with him because he is still learning to be potty trained. While I was sitting on the bathroom floor waiting on him (he takes a very LONG time) he said "Ma, I need my paci." I asked "Can you have your paci when you potty?" He said "Yes." I said "Okay then, I'll go ask Mommy where it is so that you can have it." Wow! He responded back immediately "No Ma. Don't ask Mommy...just stay here Ma. I don't want my paci." That boy! Several minutes later, remember I told you he sits on the toilet a very long time, he looked at me and whispered "Ma...I love you."
I am packing for us to go home and Bennett comes in the room where I am. He sits on the floor and watches me and then says "Ma, you are the best Ma in the world." Pretty awesome to hear from your 2 1/2 year old grandson. I was telling Gary and he said that same morning Anna Claire came up to him three times and put her arms around him and said "I love you, Granddad." Now, this is why we drive in a snowstorm to see our grandchildren. Worth every stress headache in the world.
We left at 9:00 a.m. this morning to drive home. Not a bad drive but the Tulsa area is still pretty bad.
We are already missing everyone so much! I told Anna Claire we would see her again in two weeks and she said "But, Ma, that's not tomorrow!" I wish it was.
We got home around 1:00 p.m. and I went to the grocery store to buy some "care package" stuff for Shane. I don't know why I got teary eyed. Everyone was buying super bowl party food and I'm buying ear plugs, Kashi bars, microwave popcorn, almonds, Kleenex with aloe and lotion, and wipes. I just started crying. It's amazing how I can have happy tears one minute and the very next hour be teary eyed from sadness. I don't know what got into me. It's been a long time since I've been out in public and then just start crying thinking of Shane being cold, tired, sleepy, etc. Gotta stop writing about that. It's happening again.My throat is starting to sting. Better quit this blog for now.
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