The journey over was quite uneventful in itself. True to form I was about 15 minutes late to the airport which meant I was pulled out of the queue at the ticket counter so I could check in. There was a guy who was argumentative with the sales lady. "Why do I have to wait 30 minutes longer because people get here late." I do see his point, but on the other hand, if people didn't get to the airport 4 hours before they needed to, the queue wouldn't be so long and I wouldn't have had to jump the queue. Also, whether he wait 30 more minute waiting to check in or waiting for his plane to board - he would have still be waiting somewhere in the airport. Nevermind. I made it to Dallas (Texas) via a lay over in Chicago. It took me 2 and a half hours to get my luggage and rent a car. How ridiculous is that?! It took less time to go through immigrations and customs and get my luggage in Chicago!!!
It was just after 7pm by the time I made it to CDR. I grew up going to CDR every summer and it holds a very special place in my heart. There was a 50 year anniversary celebration there and not long after I strolled up the guy at the microphone welcomed me (he was stunned I'd come all the way from England for it). That was neat for me, but at the same time odd to be singled out because there were a fair few that had traveled quite a distance to attend. I enjoyed getting to catch up with the grown up version of my friends and catching up with their lives now. The bad part was that I was sick. Properly sick. Not nice at all. I think it was a combination of the serious heat and lack of sleep, whatever it was, it was not pleasant. I ended up sleeping the night in the Mess Hall (the canteen area) on a couch in the back as there were toilets near by. I think I ended up quite nice off as it;s one of the only air conditioned buildings on the property. Unfortunately I didn't get to take many pictures as (1) I wasn't well and (2) the only camera I had was the one on my phone.
After church on Sunday morning at camp I drove the 7 hours up to Cheryl and Scott's. This was a hard drive as I was still very unwell and I was still suffering from jet lag. There were several stops along the way and pit stops on the side of the road, but I made it. Everyone (Cheryl, Scott, Madi, Mom and Dad and some of Scott's family) was at Scott's parents house having a BBQ. It was good to visit with them, the last time I saw Scott's side of the family was at Cheryl and Scott's wedding 9 years ago. Scott's nieces had fun listening to my accent and talking about living in England. They're cute girls. I see why Cheryl speaks so highly of them.
Madi didn't get a moment of piece. As soon as you had her, someone else wanted her off you.
Cheryl and Madi
Cheryl and Madi
Me and Madi just after I arrived. Look at those cute cheeks!
Mom feeding Madi
Dad with Madi
So you get the picture, Madi was passed around :-)
This is Mike (Scott's brother), Cheryl with Madi and me
In the front sitting down is Scott and Ceryl's standing next to him. In the back are Mike's friends, no clue on names ... I think there's a Jason in there somewhere?
Scott, being the good son he is, took his Mom some BBQ for dinner. He got the old truck out that he and family restored. Dad got to tag along for the ride.
Then he took Mom for a spin
I got to feed Madi some breakfast. Notice I'm opening my mouth too (check out the above picture of Mom feeding Madi ... no denying I'm her daughter!) - why do we grown ups do this :-)
William (dog on the left) often doesn't eat if my parents leave him behind and go on a trip, so Mom decided to take hime to Arkansas with her. He still didn't eat much, so Mom thought she'd hand feed him .. that wasn't fast enough for this hungry boy. He chowed ddown on 2 lots of food.
Meanwhile Dad and Scott were upstairs watching Transformers in Scott's "play room". It's not a play room, it's a transformer room. Look closely at the walls
Let me help point them out. I guess there's no where better to watch a movie about transformers than in a transformer room. Scott even has transformers on display in a show box inset into the floor!
Mom tends to be a bit camera happy (notice all the picture's I've posted - and it's not all of them!) Cheryl and Scott get tired of it and try to mess up the pictures. Here Cheryl is pointing at her lovely wall as to avoid the photo. "Don't worry Cheryl, I'll still take the photo" says Mom :-)
Mom and Dad had to get on the road so they could get home and ready for work on Tuesday. I ended up staying at my sister's house so I could spend more time with them and Madi. But we got a family photo before they left.Can't you see how much she loves me - it's written all over her face :-)
Take 2
Mom showing Madi some more love before she heads off
Mom, the camera girl, was gone, but I filled her shoes pretty good.
Madi "working" with her Daddy editing photos for her blog
Madi "working" with her Daddy editing photos for her blog
Her daddy was finding ways to amuse her. Post it note's are great.
"There's something on my head"
"Hey, where'd that go"
"These make good eatin"
"num num!"
"What mischief can I make on the floor?"
"See how strong I am"
"Look Mom, one hand"
"One adult down, who's next. They just don't make grown ups like they use to!"
"I guess I'll have to amuse myself now. Who's that pretty baby in the mirror?"
"Cameras - I want to take a photo, give me!"
Madi was "acting up" while I was feeding her dinner which was unusual for her and her parents weren't impressed. I think she wasn't feeling so hot either as shortly after we abandoned feeding her she launched all her dinner out of her stomach in style. Luckily this happened on the kitchen tile and was easy enough to clean up.
Tuesday I drove down to Mom's flat in Tyler (another 7 hour drive), at least this time I wasn't sick! I stopped in Paris on my way through and had lunch with my "Yaya" at TaMolly's (my all time favourite TexMex restaurant). Sherry has been fun adopted grandparent to have in my life since I was a late teenager. It was good to catch up with her, but the time was too short!
I got stopped waiting for a train to pass on the way to Mom's from Paris. I thought it was picture worthy as I can't remember ever getting stopped by trains growing up - there's so few trains on the go in the States
I made it to Tyler around 8 (this is the front to the apartment complex she's in)
Mom was already in her pjs ready for bed! Old timer :-)
"Karen, why do you have that camera, put it away"
"Fine, I'll hide from you"
"Hey"
Wednesday mom went to wok and I worked on our school timetable from the flat. I did take a break to go for a quick swim ... timetabling by the pool, now that's how to timetable!
We went to church just after Mom got back from work. I was surprised to see a few familiar faces from the CDR reunion, but it was good to know Mom's in good hands down here in Tyler. After church we headed to The Olive Garden, one of my favourite Italian restaurants in the States. We were so full from dinner that we cam home and crawled into bed.
Mom cracks me up when she talks on her mobile phone. Having a mobile is a new thing for Mom, and she, well she holds the phone like this when she's speaking into the mouth piece. Bless her.
Mom had the day off on Thursday (as she has to work on Saturday). Mom pottered about in the kitchen making some chocolate covered pretzels as a thank you for a neighbour downstairs and some finger foods for a birthday celebration at work on Friday while we waited for the maintenance man from the apartments to come by. (Mom punch a hole through the tiles in the bathroom wall. No she's not that strong and she wasn't angry - the sheet rock behind the tile has serious water damage and it was "an accident waiting to happen" as they say.) I took the time to timetable some more.
Thursday evening we wondered down to the mall for a few hours were, of all things, I bought a dress. It was just so cute and it was 50% off - how could I pass it up! The last dress I wore was my wedding dress! The last skirt I wore was 5 years ago to a wedding. So watch out for the photos - you might never see them again!
We got back from the mall, via the grocery store, quite late and we were both pretty hungry. Mom had sow cooked a roast all day - it made the flat hot, but it sure was tasty!!! Mom had to finish a few things for Friday's work thing so we didn't get to bed till 11:30. This is really late for my mom.
And that brings us to today, Friday. Mom's back at work. I'm waiting around for the maintenance guy to come back and finish off while writing this blog, all procrastinating working on the timetable. Tonight Mom wants to take me to the Tyler Rose Gardens. My mother loves her nature and the beauty you find in it. The rose garden's not big on my "to see" list, but I get to spend time with my mother and I know it's something she likes (and doesn't have many people around to do "stuff" with), and I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
I always laugh at Mom and how long she spends getting ready. We're polar opposite - I get up last minute and tonrnado through the house. She gets up hours before she needs to and leisurely gets ready.
Such concentration is needed when doing your hair :-)
Now then, lets see, this was a while back now..... I believe this is from 10th May. That week was our first proper sunny weather. It was great! I went to Xena's flat to say hello. She was on her way to her eldest daughter's house and invited me along. So I spent Saturday afternoon at Anna's (Xena's daughter) house with her 3 youngsters.
