May 7, 2025

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  • After everyone woke up this morning, Anderson came downstairs and told me that his and Graham's final that they thought was tomorrow was actually today. They had already studied some, but they certainly would have studied more if they would had thought it was today. 
  • They were able to cram most of the morning, and eventually took their tests. Neither did too great, but Anderson still ended with an A in the class, and Graham a B so we can't complain at all! Last fall Anderson took 2 concurrent classes, and we thought that he had Bs in both classes. We had his official transcript sent to OBU and were surprised to see that the Bs were actually As. 
  • Even though the boys were studying today, we did keep interrupting them. I think that I have mentioned it, but the downstairs washing machine has gone out causing the laundry to be done randomly and at odd times since I have to do it upstairs and forget about it often.
  • The new washer and dryer come tomorrow hopefully. Today's project was to first move the dryer off the stack and then to the ground. We didn't design the laundry room at all because the washer and dryer have to be stacked plus in the small space there is a wall separating the little shower and the washer and dryer that is about 4 foot tall.
  • After the dryer was moved into the mud room, it was later moved upstairs to replace the old dryer. That meant that the old dryer had to come downstairs and into the garage for now. This afternoon, Robby decided that it was time to do the hard part-move the washer over the wall! I was in the back (doing little), Anderson and Graham were on the sides and Robby in the front. Those boys just lifted that washer up like it was nothing. Once we rested it on the wall, it took a bit to figure out who was going to stand where and how we were going to get it down. 
  • We left no toes and broke no bones on the moving of all of the appliances so that was good. Anderson did cut his fingers a little bit, but other than that it was fairly easy. Moving the new washer into its spot might be a bit harder.
  • This afternoon was a first for Keaton-she went to work. They were behind on pictures were Graham and Campbell work and needed some extra hands. She is even going back on Friday-I know that she loves the extra money.
  • They came home, and I hurried off to church with Keaton, Campbell, and Graham. I had a return to do, but then we made it in plenty of time. Campbell and Keaton hurried off to find their friends, while Graham and I chatted in the car.
  • After church, everyone but Graham and Whitman went to ChickFila. Graham came home and made himself a bagel, Whitman made a pizza, and I had some yogurt. Now, I'm cuddled on the couch and really want some hot chocolate-but that would involve getting off the couch. 

May 6, 2025

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  • There is nothing worse to waking up, walking in the kitchen, and realizing that I did not run the dishwasher last night. Well, I put the detergent in, so I would bet that I started it. There is also a high probability that someone came along after me and opened it up which stopped it from running. 
  • Either way, when I did start the dishwasher, I didn't notice that it was on heavy wash. My dishwasher's heavy wash can clean all of your thanksgiving dishes before you have rinsed them off and in doing so, it takes a long time. 
  • Needless to say, it was well into the morning when I finally was able to unload the dishwasher and shove the dishes that had piled up in the sink into the dishwasher. It was even later than that when I remembered to put the clothes in the dryer. I guess I need to start setting alarms and double checking that I am doing all of the things needed so I can actually get my chores done.
  • We did school today, and it was new math for Keaton. Her math has been hard lately, but it isn't long so I don't mind helping. Whitman just zoomed through his work today since he has now finished so much-and when I say "zoomed" I really mean zoomed for him which is more like a slow walk for most.
  • I left the house around noon with the girls. We had a few stops-Goodwill to drop off clothes, Walmart for a return and a few other things, Target for a return and a birthday gift, Academy for my Mother's Day gift, HTeaO for a drink for Campbell, and then we wanted to go to 7 Brew for another birthday gift, but it wasn't were I thought it was so we will do that another day.
  • While we were gone, Graham left to play basketball. He left about 12:30 and ended up staying and playing basketball for 5 hours. He said that people kept coming and leaving so he just stayed and played. 
  • Anderson and Campbell were going to have Raymar tonight, but the rain cancelled that. I ended up making some bread this afternoon before I worked with Whitman. We just baked it, and I think that it might be my best. 
  • After we made pizzas for supper, Robby, Anderson, Whitman, and I played one of his games that he got for his birthday. It is an escape room game-mostly Robby and I just set and watch the boys figure the clues out. It is a long game-so long that we eventually had to stop for the evening. 

May 5, 2025

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  • Today was the first day of the last week of school around here. Everyone was awake and doing their work fairly early. Whitman is finished with one thing that takes him forever, so that only left one other thing that takes forever-math. It was a new lesson, so we did it together; therefore, he was done at a decent time today.
  • Campbell and Graham went to work this afternoon, and a bit later Anderson went to work along with Keaton who was reffing a game. That just left Whitman and me here so we eventually played a game.
  • Even though this was a Monday, I was able to get through most things on my list which was super long. The thing that took me the longest to do today was the laundry-when Anderson saw the laundry pile, he asked me how long it had been since I had done laundry. I think that it had been a whole 24 hours-just like usual, but apparently everyone wore quite a few clothes during that time.
  • Robby had been out running errands, and the kids also started trickling home. Robby had brought some food home so we made our supper with his food.
  • Now people are just vegging out-Anderson is upstairs eating his supper, Graham just finished running and showering, Campbell is trying to kill a fly with the salt fun, Keaton is possibly already asleep, and Whitman is probably going to come and ask for ice cream in about 22 minutes. 

May 4, 2025-Graduation for Anderson (part 2)

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  • This morning started with Anderson leaving early for church. The rest of us left a little bit after he did. I guess we were a bit later than usual, but thankfully Grannymom had gotten our seats for us. 
  • It was Senior Sunday so Anderson and 29 other graduates walked across the stage. Anderson even read scripture during the service. I was able to get a picture of the senior group in their robes, but I wasn't able to get a picture of just Anderson in his graduation robe-so we may have to recreate at this week...he will just love that.
  • After church, we all headed to Raymar for some soccer. Robby picked up pizza on the way there which we all ate. Anderson did his intern thing a little bit while the rest of us worked the concession stand some. 
  • Anderson and Graham's buddies came so they all played some soccer this afternoon too. Even though we had suggested for people to bring clothes to Raymar-they all didn't. Since Graham's people came to play, he didn't go home which meant that the others couldn't go home. Campbell and Keaton both had shorts on under their dresses and found themselves a shirt. Graham wore Robby's shoes, Keaton wore mine, and Campbell went without-so I guess that everyone creatively made do. I actually brought clothes for Whitman, but he didn't mind leaving his church clothes on. Robby and I didn't change, even though we had clothes, because it was too much trouble to change clothes, and a bit chilly too.
  • We came home when soccer was over. I was home for a bit before I left to take something to a friend and then left again to run to church. I caught back up with everyone at the Wilson's house for supper. They had already eaten, but there was plenty left for me.
  • We stayed and visited until it was time to come home and start mourning the loss of the weekend. I follow a lady who always wears black on Mondays to mourn the loss of the weekend. I don't think I have enough black clothes, but I should really start doing that.

May 3, 2025-Graduation for Anderson (part 1)

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  • Robby and I woke up early this morning. When I was getting ready, I text Keaton and Anderson, and they were both already awake and on their way to Raymar. I left the campground first and went straight to Raymar. Robby backed the camper out a little bit after I left and went home. He unpacked for a minute, and then left again with Graham and Whitman.
  • We did the concession stand thing this morning-Graham reffed three games, and I think that Anderson reffed just about that many as well. Keaton and Campbell both had to ref only two games.
  • Keaton and Whitman had a game this afternoon-they lost by 3; however, this was the fussy team from last time and the best team so it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. Keaton gets oh so close to scoring every time, and she consistently gets the ball to the other net, and Whitman even played as striker some today.
  • Graham left first, and the rest of us were all home by about 3:30 or 4. Then we started on showers-we had a quick turn around because tonight was the senior dinner. It was all very nice-and Sander's Hall was full of families and seniors. 
  • Our tables, beautifully decorated tables-I might add, were in the back of the room so that was nice. We took some pictures before, and then Anderson managed to take quite a few pictures afterwards-he still probably didn't take as many pictures as his sisters did though. 
  • We were the very last people to stand in the food line, so that made supper all the better. We had bbq and all of the sides for supper, and during the program all of the kids received a Bible. 
  • After it was over, we helped set the room up for Sunday and stood around and chatted. The boys talked so long that they got an invitation to go and play basketball. They had to run home and change, and Campbell even ended up going with them tonight. 
  • Reagan came for supper-before we walked into the building, we unloaded her car and put it all in our cars. Her car was completely full of things. She told me that she was going to bring a lot back tonight, and she sure did. Hopefully, that will help out on Friday when we move her out.
  • She made it back to school before the rest of us had the cars unloaded. We have folded 2 loads of laundry since we have been home so maybe we are kind of caught up on laundry for tomorrow. 

May 2, 2025-Back in the Camper

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Sleeping in the camper is so nice-even during a rain storm. The thunder and rain woke us up briefly this morning, but then the rain later in the morning was nice as well. Though when it does start hailing on the camper, Robby does always have a panicked look. Pretty much all of our camping trips have at least some rain-we are at least consistent.

While it was raining this morning, I had a nap, crocheted, listened to my book, and even read-it was incredibly nice. We ventured out for a walk and some pokemon hunting when the rain stopped. The Wilsons joined us, and Whitman led us around the park. When he had finished his pokemon trail that he was on, he headed back to the camper.

We then sat out and visited until the next batch of rain came-I decided that a nap would be wonderful then so that is what I did. After my nap, Robby and I went to work on making refried beans and cooking chicken to take to tonight's group supper of quesadillas. 

This evening we ate and watched the Hogs baseball game. The game seemed to last forever-it is 11 and just finished. This wouldn't be a bad thing, but my morning is early tomorrow. We hurried in the camper, washed dishes, cleaned up some, and now I'm typing before my shower...plus I'm tracking the boys to make sure that they get home from pickleball. 

Graham and Campbell went to work today, and they even picked every one up ChickFila on their way home. Keaton did write to tell us that the microwave wasn't heating today so maybe it was just a fluke-we shall see tomorrow. And then this evening Anderson and Graham went to play pickleball with their buddies-we didn't have to make Reagan pay for gas, but these boys might just have to!

May 1, 2025-Back in the Camper

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Robby left early this morning to get the oil changed on the van so I had to take the girls to Mother's Day Out to work. I should have gotten up earlier than I did (the story of my life), but I still had time to work with Whitman before leaving with them.

Actually, I had already backed the big van out of the garage today while waiting on those two girls. I'm not sure what they were doing, but I was ready to go because I had things to do when I came back home. The first thing I started on was getting everyone's school ready for next week-the last week of school. But I will try to sneak some summer school in as well, so I will need to prep all of that the next week.

Then between getting school out, keeping Whitman on track, and the regular chores, I decided to make cinnamon rolls. Robby likes them; the kids like them. Plus we brought some with us camping. 

We did find out today that Anderson has found a work study job at Ouachita. It was looking doubtful for a while, and I was starting to stress (I actually think my ulcer or whatever I had going on a few months ago has come back). It is in the business department so I think it is exactly where he is supposed to be. Plus, I now know that if you need a work study job, start looking in January.

I left around 1:30 with Graham to go to church and pick up the girls. I had a stop at the library and one at Nike for a return on the way. Other than getting the girls, we had to decorate Anderson's senior table. It looks fine, but I know that there will be some fancy tables for sure. We have 2 tables, and they are huge tables so it was a bit challenging. I just have to keep reminding myself that it is not a contest.

While I was at church, Robby left with Whitman and Bentley to head to Maumelle Park. We are here for the weekend-well, really just until Saturday morning. Tonight has been perfect, but it looks like tomorrow may be wet, and we were expecting it to be a perfect Friday too.

I headed towards Maumelle as soon as I came home. Robby had set some things up, but when I arrived he did some weed eating because the grass here is pretty high. Then we just sat outside-I read and then crocheted. Then people started showing up, and we were able to visit the evening away.

We had bagel pizzas for supper tonight-I know that Whitman loved them. When it was nearly 10, we went on a loop with the dogs. Right now Bentley is up in our bed-I tried to get her to lay on the couch, but I guess the girls have trained her to sleep in a bed. Robby had to shove her off his pillow!

Anderson went to work early to help show people how to use the painter for next year. He hasn't had to paint this year season though. Graham left about the time that Anderson was coming home to go and play pickleball. And Reagan has spent most of the evening without power at school-they had their Thursday night church service on the front lawn of Cone Bottoms.