A bunny lives under our deck. He's a cute little guy, but not the kind I'm used to. His ears are small for a rabbit, maybe only 3 or 4 inches long, and narrow with a rounded tip (like a spoon). Rabbits are all over the area, but I wonder if this one was domesticated, because it is so plump.
Anyway, we wandered outside today to try to catch a glimpse of the bunny. Hannah, Hyrum and I crouched down and peered under the deck in complete silence for a whole five minutes. (I like that kind of game.) When Bunny didn't show, Hannah ran inside and got a carrot. Then Hyrum managed to spear the carrot like a marshmallow on a stick, to lure the bunny out. When bunny didn't appear, we left the carrot-on-a-stick by the steps. We'll have to check it tomorrow.
Rusty then took the kids "adventuring" which means wandering the neighborhood, poking around the creek, and helping the kids find all of the culverts so they'll get in trouble for playing in them when they're older. This time he brought along his videocamera, so maybe you'll see a video of their adventures in the near future. By the way, check the sidebar. We added a link to some of Rusty's videos, if you'd like to see them!
Take care, everyone!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
"So...how do you like Kansas?"
That's the most-asked question lately. So...some random impressions/updates:
1- McCall's (and Butterick and Vogue) is based in Manhattan. That's the town where Rusty works, but no, he's not switching over to designing sewing patterns. Just a random "factoid."
2- Chrysler was born in Wamego (the town we live in). It's his house that has the witch's legs sticking out from under the foundation. Hyrum is still as fascinated as ever.
3- the bus driver (who probably still thinks I'm an idiot but is too kind to mind) is the nicest guy ever. On Friday I was held up in Manhattan at Nate's doctor appointment and ended up being 20 minutes late picking up Hyrum. NOT GOOD. The driver was therefore held up on his route by 20 minutes but didn't complain, and even met me at Pizza Hut to hand over Hyrum before finishing his route. What a kind guy. (I hope I never put him in that situation again, however!)
4- I finally got out on my first big outing on Saturday. We drove two hours to Olathe and visited college friends of mine that I haven't seen for eight years. We had a BLAST! (We hope their cat survives the ordeal of meeting my children.) I've sure missed those two, and we are all thrilled to be within "day-trip" distance. It's really comforting to have ready-made friends nearby, especially ones who probably understand me better than most other people do. And they still like me anyway! ;oP
5- I didn't think it was possible, but I think people here are even friendlier than people in Idaho. At least on first acquaintance. We do attract more open stares here, though... and that's okay. I encourage kids to meet Nate, and ask questions, so they won't feel they have to be afraid of people with disabilities. I want kids to be comfortable looking a disabled person in the face and smiling, not looking away quickly. Nate doesn't mind the attention, either!
6- Rusty is still IN LOVE with work. He was actually disappointed when he didn't get to go into work last Monday (because of the holiday). Funny guy.
7- On our trip to Olathe, we got to experience toll booths for the first time. Yeah, we're hicks. I spent a good hour online the day before researching toll roads so I'd be prepared. (Pausing while you laugh your head off at how sheltered we are). The best part was the trip home- we got on the highway, then Hyrum got unbuckled, so we exited and paid the tiny toll. Buckle him up, get on the highway...he does it again. Exit again, pay the toll. Buckle him up (and threaten him), turn around, go through the EXACT SAME toll booth, drive for two more exits and then exit the tolling area (toll #3 in maybe 15 miles).
That's about it. We're getting more "settled" week by week. Still got a lot of organizing and paperwork to get Nate's medical care, health insurance, and the old house all taken care of, but we're making progress. We hope you all are doing well. Take care!
1- McCall's (and Butterick and Vogue) is based in Manhattan. That's the town where Rusty works, but no, he's not switching over to designing sewing patterns. Just a random "factoid."
2- Chrysler was born in Wamego (the town we live in). It's his house that has the witch's legs sticking out from under the foundation. Hyrum is still as fascinated as ever.
3- the bus driver (who probably still thinks I'm an idiot but is too kind to mind) is the nicest guy ever. On Friday I was held up in Manhattan at Nate's doctor appointment and ended up being 20 minutes late picking up Hyrum. NOT GOOD. The driver was therefore held up on his route by 20 minutes but didn't complain, and even met me at Pizza Hut to hand over Hyrum before finishing his route. What a kind guy. (I hope I never put him in that situation again, however!)
4- I finally got out on my first big outing on Saturday. We drove two hours to Olathe and visited college friends of mine that I haven't seen for eight years. We had a BLAST! (We hope their cat survives the ordeal of meeting my children.) I've sure missed those two, and we are all thrilled to be within "day-trip" distance. It's really comforting to have ready-made friends nearby, especially ones who probably understand me better than most other people do. And they still like me anyway! ;oP
5- I didn't think it was possible, but I think people here are even friendlier than people in Idaho. At least on first acquaintance. We do attract more open stares here, though... and that's okay. I encourage kids to meet Nate, and ask questions, so they won't feel they have to be afraid of people with disabilities. I want kids to be comfortable looking a disabled person in the face and smiling, not looking away quickly. Nate doesn't mind the attention, either!
6- Rusty is still IN LOVE with work. He was actually disappointed when he didn't get to go into work last Monday (because of the holiday). Funny guy.
7- On our trip to Olathe, we got to experience toll booths for the first time. Yeah, we're hicks. I spent a good hour online the day before researching toll roads so I'd be prepared. (Pausing while you laugh your head off at how sheltered we are). The best part was the trip home- we got on the highway, then Hyrum got unbuckled, so we exited and paid the tiny toll. Buckle him up, get on the highway...he does it again. Exit again, pay the toll. Buckle him up (and threaten him), turn around, go through the EXACT SAME toll booth, drive for two more exits and then exit the tolling area (toll #3 in maybe 15 miles).
That's about it. We're getting more "settled" week by week. Still got a lot of organizing and paperwork to get Nate's medical care, health insurance, and the old house all taken care of, but we're making progress. We hope you all are doing well. Take care!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
visitwamego.com
We're serious! That is a real website, and you need to check it out! And it's an open invite to all who want to make the 2 to 27 hour drive (depending on which friend/family member is reading this) to come here!
It was an incredible 60 degrees today, and the whole town seemed to be at the park. It's an amazing place: huge playground, 1/4 scale train to ride around (on certain days), historical museum and buildings, huge working windmill, pond, pretty scenery... I was glad Rusty dragged us out of the house.
Do Squirrels Make Nests or Burrows? Umm...
Well, we're all doing better this week.
Rusty still loves his job, and he has worked really hard helping me get the house more like a house and less like a warehouse. He also is always very willing to run errands for me (maybe because he usually gets us some ice cream while he's at it). He's been very patient with all of us as we settle in.
Michelle has made friends with the bus driver, located an overly enthusiastic pediatrician for the kids (we'll see how long this will last), and made dinner ON TIME almost every day. And unpacked 3/4 of the boxes. Now where do I put all the STUFF?
Hyrum LOVES school- the toys won him over right away. They have a great resource room full of awesome sensory "interventions" (read: toys); right next to the regular classroom which has 10 fewer students than his old classroom. The teachers had a great autism intervention plan in place that has been a good match. The only drawback is that he doesn't have a consistent aide yet, so he is getting away with not doing much of his own work right now, but otherwise they are really on the ball.
Hyrum also has apparently seen the Wizard of Oz (which is strange since I haven't even seen it all the way through yet), and talks about it a lot. The kids got a cardboard playhouse to color and play with, so every once in a while Hyrum will take a big stuffed animal, pin in under the playhouse, and put shoes on it, then drag us in to see the witch stuck under the house. He's constantly begging to see go to the OZ museum, which is conveniently a few blocks away. Maybe next week?
The child that I thought would adjust the easiest has actually been having the hardest time. Hannah has cried numerous times, missing her old school and friends, and asking how many days we will live here before we go back. She is still a pretty cheerful kiddo at other times, however. Once she gets over her fear of the automatic potties at school and doesn't wander into the wrong classroom anymore, she will be a lot happier. She wanted me to add this: "I love the cat that is pink. I love my pretty balloon."
Nate is finally over his tummy troubles (post-surgery issues), and his oxygen flow is improving, and we have got the ball rolling for SSI, Medicaid, pharmacy, and pediatrician. We'll work on specialists and therapies over the next couple weeks, but he certainly doesn't mind the more laid-back, no-need-to-rush-to-another-appointment schedule he has had lately!
We hope you all have had a great start to the new year, and keep in touch!
Rusty still loves his job, and he has worked really hard helping me get the house more like a house and less like a warehouse. He also is always very willing to run errands for me (maybe because he usually gets us some ice cream while he's at it). He's been very patient with all of us as we settle in.
Michelle has made friends with the bus driver, located an overly enthusiastic pediatrician for the kids (we'll see how long this will last), and made dinner ON TIME almost every day. And unpacked 3/4 of the boxes. Now where do I put all the STUFF?
Hyrum LOVES school- the toys won him over right away. They have a great resource room full of awesome sensory "interventions" (read: toys); right next to the regular classroom which has 10 fewer students than his old classroom. The teachers had a great autism intervention plan in place that has been a good match. The only drawback is that he doesn't have a consistent aide yet, so he is getting away with not doing much of his own work right now, but otherwise they are really on the ball.
Hyrum also has apparently seen the Wizard of Oz (which is strange since I haven't even seen it all the way through yet), and talks about it a lot. The kids got a cardboard playhouse to color and play with, so every once in a while Hyrum will take a big stuffed animal, pin in under the playhouse, and put shoes on it, then drag us in to see the witch stuck under the house. He's constantly begging to see go to the OZ museum, which is conveniently a few blocks away. Maybe next week?
The child that I thought would adjust the easiest has actually been having the hardest time. Hannah has cried numerous times, missing her old school and friends, and asking how many days we will live here before we go back. She is still a pretty cheerful kiddo at other times, however. Once she gets over her fear of the automatic potties at school and doesn't wander into the wrong classroom anymore, she will be a lot happier. She wanted me to add this: "I love the cat that is pink. I love my pretty balloon."
Nate is finally over his tummy troubles (post-surgery issues), and his oxygen flow is improving, and we have got the ball rolling for SSI, Medicaid, pharmacy, and pediatrician. We'll work on specialists and therapies over the next couple weeks, but he certainly doesn't mind the more laid-back, no-need-to-rush-to-another-appointment schedule he has had lately!
We hope you all have had a great start to the new year, and keep in touch!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
We're Here!
Well, it took us four days but we got here! We arrived at 6 pm Monday, at the exact time Rusty had arranged for the branch to help us move in. We had several guys working hard, and I kept overhearing comments like, "there can't possibly be fragile glass in all of these boxes!" Well, if you pack only 5 canning jars per box (with a lot of scrap fabric or clothes or baby blankets around each jar), and you have as many jars as I do, then YES, you do end up with an impossible amount of boxes labeled "FRAGILE: GLASS". Rusty started to say something about how many canning jars I have, and how maybe I could get rid of them since it'll be a while before I have a big garden again. I about took his head off. He got genuinely scared- I think I've only snapped at him like that maybe two other times, ever?
;o)
Anyway, I've unpacked most of those jars, and half of the house. The mattresses are still on the floors and I can't find my kitchen knives, and Hyrum had to go without underwear last night because I couldn't get to the dresser and the rest was in the wash, but .... things are slowly pulling together!! I guess I'm showing my stress, because after Rusty finished telling me all about his awesome day at work and how much he loves his job, he paused, then told me very seriously that if I'm not happy, we can move back. I laughed. Poor guy, he's a good sport.
The kids' schools are really great, and everyone is really nice. Hyrum's bus driver thinks I'm an idiot, but he's very patronizing about it. Aaarrrgggg. Long story. I'm realizing that I have a lot more anxieties than I remembered, so it'll take a while before I relax, but things are off to a good start. I just have to slow down long enough to let it all sink in.
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