Retirement……LOVE IT!

The week before this past week (April 27- May 4), we were in Oklahoma visiting with our youngest son and his family (a.k.a THE GRANDKIDS!).  They had recently moved from Moore, OK, to Edmond, OK.  We were excited to finally get to see their new home, and they were excited to show it to us.

As a family of five, they were in dire need of some more “space” in which to live.  They went from a house approximately 1500 sq. ft. to one around 2400 sq. ft.  It is a really nice house in a nice neighborhood.  It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a great room (kitchen and living room totally open!), and dining room on the first floor.  It has one bedroom, a bathroom, and a family room upstairs.  And MOST IMPORTANTLY, when you live in Oklahoma, it has a lovely storm shelter with access from inside the garage.  During our week there, we spent one afternoon and evening glued to the weather forecasters on TV and ready to go to the storm shelter on a moment’s notice.  That’s just a way of life in the springtime in Oklahoma.

The day after we arrived was a very special day for our oldest granddaughter, Jade.  It was her prom.  Jade and her mom spent the whole afternoon getting ready for the big event:  hair, makeup, getting dressed, pictures, etc.  We (the whole family) were lucky enough to get to have dinner with her and her date and his family.  They chose a sushi place for dinner and that was a first for Jack and I.  However, we weren’t brave enough to try any sushi.  Maybe next time.

Jade’s dress really looked pretty on her. Jade’s date’s sister did her makeup and did a fabulous job.

Just a beautiful young lady!

A friend of Jade’s mom did her hair. It was really pretty; elegant and sophisticated but not too much or too “old” for her.

Jade and her date, Micah.

Ooops! Micah closed his eyes. The guys have to learn that they must look good in ALL the pictures because the ones that the girl looks best in will be the ones used or posted! 😆

Monday evening was another special event:  both granddaughters were being inducted into the National Honor Society (Jade – High School) and National Junior Honor Society (Kylee – Middle School).  Since they are both home schooled through Epic Charter School in Oklahoma, the induction took place at Rose State College with all the other Epic Charter School inductees.  There were A LOT of students receiving that honor that night.  I’m SO glad we were able to attend this special event.

Sorry, this is a little blurry.  They are one their way to the stage.

Miss Kylee walking across the stage after her name was announced.

Miss Jade walking across the stage after her name was announced.

Of course, Jackson had to get in the pictures with his sisters (L to R: Jade, Jackson, Kylee).

Man! These grandkids are growing up WAY TOO FAST!!!

The rest of the week in Oklahoma we just “hung out” with the grandkids.  I took the granddaughters shopping a couple of times.  Jack and I played numerous games with them:  Scrabble Alphabet Scoop, Trouble, Jenga, and Animalopoly (just like Monopoly only with a jungle animal theme).  Why, oh why, did I say I’d play that Monopoly game?!  Jackson beat us all!  He is going to be a shrewd business man some day!  Too bad I didn’t get any pictures of us playing any of the games.

We did discover one pitfall:  When you leave your dog with the granddaughters while you run an errand, you come back to this:

All wrapped up in a blanket because they thought she was cold.

We like to keep Zoey’s hair in pigtails. We came home to the pigtails BRAIDED!

They said Jade had to hold Zoey while Kylee braided. 😆 It did look pretty cute, though!

We spent the next week (May 4-10) in Springfield, MO, visiting Jack’s mom (Lill), brother (Carl) and sister (Carol) and her husband (Delano).  We played a lot of Skip Bo games with Lill, and I’m sad to report I didn’t win ANY of the games at all.  Jack won most of the games with his mom coming in a close second.  We had good visits with Jack’s Aunt Jerry and Aunt Glenda.  When we visited with Carol and Delano, we also got to see and play with their newest great-granddaughter, Francis.  Man!  She is a doll!  (I can’t believe I didn’t get any pictures of her)  Carl was down with his back, so Jack just went to his house one day to visit with him.  Thursday afternoon we took Lill for “lupper” (lunch/supper) at Asian King Buffet at 2:00 (Chinese food buffet with a  Mongolian wok).  From 2:00-3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays Senior Citizens (age 60+) only pay $4.99!  It was a pretty good meal!  I didn’t take ANY pictures while we were in Springfield – BAD BETTY!

Today (May 11) we got up early and are on the road to Arnold, MO (south of St. Louis).  My folks live there and so does my younger sister, Lisa, and her family.  We will be spending about a month there.  My parents are in their late 80s; mom is in a nursing care facility, and dad still lives at home.  It will be good to spend some time with them since we have been gone for 4+ months.

Since the next month will be all about spending LOTS of quality family time (and not about traveling), I probably won’t be blogging much.  However, who knows: we may find some interesting places to “visit” around the STL area that I could blog about.  We will see ….. just don’t give up on me if I don’t post anything for a month or so.

When we leave the STL area, we will be heading North for the summer.  We’re not exactly sure just yet where; maybe Michigan or the Wisconsin Dells area.  I guess you’ll just have to wait and see when I post again and tell you where we are.

So, for now ….. “On the Road, Again!”

Betty