Wagner Park

While all the adults were eating and playing bocce ball at Wagner Park, this is what the kids were doing. So fun!

Graduation weekend

The newest parents and the youngest babies gathered at my house:

Wagner Park was a perfect location. Since it had rained all day the day before, no one but us wanted to spend Saturday at the park with more rain forecast and flooding in the recent past.

Food for everyone, park for the kids, visiting for the adults,

and, of course, bocce ball. The action shots are particularly representative. You can decide what they are representative of. But it was really, really fun to play, and really, really funny to watch.

Coming to visit

A full two weeks past the event, I've processed enough to document it here.

This was about the look on my face when it dawned on me exactly how many of my large family would be coming to visit for my brother's graduation. It was when I was planning meals and sleeping arrangements with my sister-in-law.

This is the email I sent a few days before family started arriving. Most personal details have been changed so I feel better about posting it on my public blog. You know. Never post anything on the internet that you don't want to see on a billboard tomorrow.

Hello family,

We are really looking forward to seeing you all this weekend! Some of you have expressed interest in knowing a general schedule, so here it is. You are all welcome to participate in any or all of the following:

Thursday, 13 May (high: 64 degrees)

4:45 p.m. Flight arrives (3 people)

5:30 Dinner @ Starks' house (meatloaf, sweet potatoes, broccoli, rolls) [12 for dinner total]

7:00 Lorraine has a primary meeting. Everyone else will be hanging out/partying/putting kids to bed.

Friday, 14 May (high: 60 degrees)[severe thunderstorms and flooding]

9:30 a.m. Preschool Spanish at Starks'

2:00 p.m. 3 more arrive for appt @ TTU

5:30 Dinner @ Starks' (pecan chicken, rice, peas & carrots) [14 for dinner total]

10:00 2 arrive; 3 more arrive

Saturday, 15 May (high: 72 degrees)

11:30 a.m. Picnic lunch @ Wagner Park (weather permitting) sandwiches, chips, watermelon [weather did permit; 31 for lunch total]

5:00 Dinner @ Starks' (pizza) [31 for dinner total. Thank you, Papa Murphy's.]

6:00 David's law school graduation/hooding ceremony @ the United Spirit Arena (less than 10 min drive, tons of parking, kids can come)

Sunday, 16 May (high: near 80 degrees)

Early: Family of 6 leaves; 1 leaves

11:30 a.m. Birthday Party for the soon to be one year old! and lunch @ David's (roast chicken, potatoes & gravy, salad, rolls) [25 for lunch total]

2 leave; 3 leave; 3 leave.

2:30 - 5:30 p.m. Heritage Ward

6:00 p.m. Dinner @ Starks' (breakfast foods) [16 for dinner total]

Monday, 17 May

12:50 p.m. 3 leave on flight.

Sleeping arrangements: 2 @ the cousins' house; 3 @ David's house; 6 @ friend's house; 6 @ Starks' house

We expect that most free time will be spent visiting. Toys are available for kids at Starks' house, a Wii is available at David's house, and we have play areas at our apartment complex.

If you are eager for more things to do than we have planned, check out www.lubbockfunclub.com under "Attractions." Most are free and close. Some of our favorites are:

National Ranching Heritage Center

Museum of Texas Tech and Tech campus

American Wind Power Center

American Museum of Agriculture

Lubbock Lake Landmark

Lubbock Memorial Arboretum

Mackenzie Park & Prairie Dog Town

Legacy Play Village (playground)

Feeding the ducks and playing at any of the 78 parks in Lubbock. Our favorite are Wagner and Maxey

*maps or directions are available online or from us when you get here.

If you have any questions, let us know! If you are planning NOT to eat with us, please let me know for planning purposes. Also, Chelsea's parents will be here for graduation.

For your further information, I was called to be Primary President of a newly created ward 2 weeks ago, and I am 3.5 months pregnant. I will try to not act crazy and stressed out while you are here, and I am really looking forward to seeing you all, no matter how I act in person.

Love,

Lorraine

Pictures soon to come!

Pretty as posies

Thank you for the new spring dresses, Nana!!

Reeling them in

Ellen helped catch and reel in three or four fish. She was a pro.


Pa caught this gigantic catfish.


Rose was fishing, too...


She had those boys hook, line, and sinker.

Better than an aquarium

We met up with some of Jack's family in Tyler and stopped at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. Jack Jack saw running water and a turtle before we even got to the entrance. He was excited.

Uncle Richard helped the kids see the catfish from the top as they dropped in fish food. It was wild.

Ellen checked out the hatchery from the viewing deck above.

After walking through the center with indoor and outdoor fish tanks simulating natural Texas fish and wildlife habitats, we headed to the fishing pond. I caught my first fish in years. Jack Jack thought it was pretty cool. They provided the rods and bait, and you could catch and release as long as you wanted to stay. This was by far the hit of the trip.

Rose at the zoo

During a recent trip to visit grandma and grandpa, we took all the kids to the zoo with grandma and the cousins. Rose thought it was the greatest trip ever.


The otter slide was just the right size.


And the popsicles after were amazing.


As the third child, she's not really used to affection from other children, so Claire's hug from behind took her by surprise.

Thanks for the trip to the zoo, grandma!

Kite flying fun!

Ellen decorated a kite for preschool and we finally tried it out. It worked great!

This is about the best my flowers have ever looked. I'm really happy about that. Thanks for the flowerbed, Pa!

This is what Jack was doing. He loves kicking the ball around with Daddy.

He's a natural.

We love spring!

They really could be hobos.

Ellen and Jack Jack found every bag and container in their toy bucket.

I think they were preparing for a long trip.

I love that she's wearing sunglasses and has a spare pair hanging from her shirt.

And backpacks, handbags, bags around their necks, and bags over their shoulders.

Is there anything in those bags? Good question. I have no idea.

Ranch Day 2010

Ranch Day at the National Ranching Heritage Center was lovely this year.

They employed all three of my ranch hands to complete several jobs each. Rose and Jack chinked an exterior wall. Ellen wouldn't touch the mud. That's me and Rose in the picture.

Jack and Ellen wrote a letter with a quill and ink at the post office.

Jack Jack roped a steer from the saddle of a mechanical horse.

Ellen and Rose watched.

Mommy instructed Ellen and Jack in the practically lost art of rolling a hoop with a stick. This did not count as a job. It was purely fun.

Ellen, Jack Jack, and Rose also branded a steer, washed clothes on a washboard and in an old-fashioned washing machine,

ground corn on a stone, and carded wool. Then we redeemed their time cards for a paycheck, and with their 50 cent notes we headed for the commissary to spend their wealth. Jack Jack bought a sheriff's badge. Ellen bought a yo-yo. Rose bought a horse finger puppet.

She was elated, and she loves puppets that go on her hands or fingers.

After the shopping spree, we headed for the barn and the train yard to check out the train cars and engine. Ellen and Jack would have made great hobos, too. Here they're discussing their next great adventure.