Oklahoma!

August 3, 2009

Before Max and Jenny left, we were able to celebrate two very special birthdays together. Dad's birthday is July 2, and Tim McCracken's is on June 30. Yummy food, (including the Dad's favorite pies, peach and pumpkin made especially by Kaylee) a picture slideshow, presents, and a movie out under the stars made the evening very special. What would we do without family? So often, it is relationships above any other earthly 'thing' or activity that truly give meaning to life.

Two happy couples
And two happy Dads. :-)

The presentation of the pies

Presents and onlookers. :-)


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This picture is an example of the precious evenings we spent with Max and Jenny during their time living here. :-) We miss you three!

Graham toes

The birthday celebration happened while Mom was in Alaska for cousin Natalie Semmen's wedding. This is another thing that happened while she was away . . . Jayni learned how to de-bone a chicken! "Yay!" cheers Sister Sally, "Ewww!" groans Jayni. ;-) Actually, she was a great sport and did a good job.

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Saying Goodbye: The morning after Mom flew home from her week in Alaska, Max, Jenny, Simon and I loaded up in the already loaded van and headed down our dusty driveway bound for Oklahoma. I'm so glad that McCracken's were able to come out that morning for the final good-byes. It was a tearful, heart-wrenching, bittersweet morning. Tears mingled with smiles as we promised many e-mails and phone calls to each other. Guilt flooded my heart as I stepped into the van, for I had a few more days with them ahead of me. The trip to Oklahoma was special, and the trip back, a great experience for Simon and I. It was the first time we had ever drove that distance by ourselves. I felt like a grown-up!

Necessity forces creativity. :-) It actually worked!


Tired but happy.



Prayer before we left.



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Fernando Ortega + Graham = Picture below :-)



Supper in the hotel room . . . These hotel stays were cozy evenings together, chatting about all kinds of things, enjoying yummy drinks from Trader Joes, and in this particular case, watching Arranged on our laptop. This movie promotes some interesting thoughts, and is a good one to discuss after watching.
On the road again . . .
We passed many beautiful canyons on the way.

Poor Graham. Teething and long car trips are not the best combination. (As we found out! :-)

Simon kept smiling through it all though. As his shirt says, Do Hard Things! Does moving to Oklahoma count?

Hanging out during another hotel stay . . . in which we found somebody's supper leftover's on the top of the entertainment center. Yummy! Just what you are craving after hours and hours of driving. Imagine the laughter and joking that ensued after that discovery!

Here, Simon demonstrates the common feeling. :-P

Getting gas . . . again . . .

I spy a Graham! Can you find him?

Thank goodness for laptops!

Ipods.

And faithful drivers!

Turning on Frank Street. We're almost there!

Exclamations of delight were erupting when this picture was taken. The adorable yellow house on Frank Street was whispering a welcome.



From this . . .

To this! Hooray!!



Graham was relieved to be out of the car. He looked so tiny in the midst of the empty house.


Uncle Craig and Aunt Rene' arrived a few minutes after we did. They kindly offered to help move in, and came with plastic containers full of goodies! Everything from cleaning supplies to bottled water, they blessed us all and especially Max and Jenny with their thoughtfulness. After a big day moving in, we enjoyed a night out at Pizza Hut, and lunch the next day together. Uncle Craig, (Dad's brother) and Aunt Rene' only live about three hours away from Max and Jenny, so thankfully, they aren't too far away from family.


Movin' in!


Simon meets Oklahoma humidity.

Sunday afternoon was a perfect time to explore the neighborhood.


Nothing goes to waste with a Graham around!

To celebrate the move, we opened a bottle of sparkling cider on Sunday night. The funny thing was, it had been placed in the freezer to chill a tad too long. :-) Max got the job done though.


And what is Sunday night without popcorn? In addition, how can one have popcorn without butter? The absence of gas and a microwave forced Jenny to take desperate measures. Her patience payed off in the end and we enjoyed delicious popcorn as a result. Hoorah for candles!


Goofin' off

,The morning we left, we all hopped into the car one last time. Max and Jenny took Simon and I into Norman, which is only a few miles away, where we saw his new college. The campus was cool and grassy, with large tree's shading it's lawns. Many brick buildings built with grand architecture were clustered together forming an extensive university. I'm sure Max will enjoy the rich, cultured feel of the campus.

I hate saying goodbye. Especially a good-bye such as this one! Jenny and Graham stood outside and waved until I couldn't see them anymore. A very sweet season in our life drew to a close with the move of Max and Jenny. We love and miss you very much!

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On our way home, Simon and I stopped at the Meteor Cater in Arizona. What an amazing sight!


Back on the road . . . miles and miles of it . . .

Simon was an awesome driver, protector, mechanic, and companion. That trip created special memories for the two of us.

Silly pictures that happened as a result of boredom. :-P