Miss Abby 2008

Abby received her crown from Miss Lawton 2008. She insists that she's wearing it to school on Monday. (Sound the least bit familiar Bridget?????)

Lawton International Festival 2008

Today we went to the Lawton International Festival. Our favorite display was that of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The kids loved watching the knights fight. We also watched a weaver, a silversmith and a blacksmith. There were food booths galore, and a miniature ferris wheel that was $4.00 per ride...NOT. We also watched the Lawton Kickers and visited the Lawton Animal Welfare Division petting zoo.

And Where was Abby?

And where was Abby from the previous post? She was waiting for the BBQ chicken. This is a picture from when she came up to me and in her saddest expression told me she had dropped her precious chicken leg. Melissa quickly got her a new piece and Abby's universe was quickly restored.

Picnic in the Park

Friday night we went to a picnic for Sam's work.

Jacob loved pitching horseshoes.
Dad grilled. Shay watched.

Melissa posed for pictures.

Andrew and Alexander played football.

Jacob got a back rub. This was actually quite funny because it's a toy that you skate on.

And then the Armadillo showed his face (or backside). And then for the rest of the night the chase was on. Jacob actually chased a couple of them. Alexander made stupid faces and noises at one and it chased him. Poor Armadillos.

Putting on the Uniform

Andrew finally got to put on the Eisenhower JROTC uniform. He was definitely in his element.

Then he said, "Do you want me to do my mean face." Yeah, Andrew do your mean face.
Cadet Culotta
Eisenhower High School
Lawton, Oklahoma

Wating for the Letter

Melissa has been waiting rather impatiently for the mail to run each day. The 6th grade this year moved to another school and at the beginning of the year there was nothing in place for the gifted students. Then a couple of weeks ago the school tested students for the program. In the end, Melissa probaby didn't need to take the day long test as her Terra Nova scores alone were enough. I can't believe how impatient she was for this letter (and she's only 11). Can you just imagine her being 18 and waiting for a BYU letter?

Eyeballs

Dirk our dog, still has an obsession with eating eyeballs out of stuffed animals. He then leaves then in piles under my bed. Anyway, Alexander picked up a set of the eyeballs the other day and decided to be a little goofy!

AT the HOP....

The Sock Hop was so much fun! I think the adults enjoyed it as much as the kids. There was hula hooping, the limbo, twisting, bubble gum blowing, pinatas shaped like dice and strawberry icee's for a treat!

It might say something that ALL three of the little ones were in the winners circle for hula hooping, but I don't know what. The girls had no problem dressing up but when I "suggested" to Jake that I slick back his hair.....the conversation was over.

Poodle Skirts

The Kids were invited to a Sock Hop tonight at Church. The girls "requested" poodle skirts. So I made these for them. I told them they could also "reuse" them for Halloween next month!

Haircut and a New Job

Jacob insisted that he take my picture this morning, since it was my "first day". (Gosh, his mom must take too many pictures!) Anyway, I was offered a position at the Elementary School. I love the school, so it was really no surprise that I said yes. So, I decided that since our life was about to get a little more busier (if that's possible) that I would just chop off the hair. Sam was not exactly thrilled and Abby said ..."OOOOOOOOHHHH you're gonna be in trouble when dad gets home". But I like it.

Happy 18th Birthday SHAY!

Customer Complaint: Large Family Penalty

Last night WE took the kids to a local sandwich shop. Besides the person paying for his purchase at the cash register there were no other customers in the store. As the sandwich maker asked to take our order, WE replied with our usual order 5 cold cut combos, a spicy Italian and a ham with cheddar. THEIR reply. We need 24 hours notice. WHAT????? For 5 or more sandwiches they need 24 hours notice! Now I know I have been in there at lunch time and there have been people placing "office orders". WE asked to speak to the manager and were told they could not do that. WHAT???? After deciding that this was going nowhere fast, we had two options, send the kids in one by one, and they would happily take our order. Or leave. WE LEFT, drove down the street to the next closest sandwich shop and ordered the same 7 sandwiches. NO PROBLEM. WE were out of the store in record time.

This stuff really aggravates me. I could understand if they were busy, but they weren't. This is not the first time that WE have been refused service because of family size. The hamburger chain that is on every corner would not let us go through the drive through with our order and a pizza place added an 18% gratuity for our "party" of 8.

I'm thinking next time I want a sandwich, I'm paying with pennies.....500 of 'em! And I'm not rolling them either.

And Bridget, no Spicy Italian comments.~ Lorie :)

Little Helpers: Eagle Scout Project

Abby made sure the benches were comfortable.
Jacob was in charge of putting on the nuts and bolts. He did a great job!

Shay: Eagle Scout Project

Shay's Eagle Project was to build two benches for the Deyo Mission Kiowa*Comanche*Apache Intertribal Cemetery in Lawton, Oklahoma.
With supplies donated by family and friends and Sutherlands Lumber Co. in Lawton, he was able to build the benches for around $200.

The Prep Work took the longest.

Alexander helped to put the benches together.

Sanding.

Brandon sanded and helped with the polyurethane.

Shay putting on the polyurethane.

Sam, Kyle, Trevor, Tyler and Andrew digging holes for the benches.

One bench in the ground.

Finished!

Bugs or Technically, Arachnids and Cicadas

We spotted these cicada shells in the tree......
which I proceeded to collect, about 12 in all. Then I stuck them to my clothes and walked into the house and went to stand by Melissa, when she noticed she let out a scream that I'm sure could be heard around the world! I hate bugs, but I like cicadas.


Meanwhile, this Golden Orb Weaver that is living on the side of my house has got to go.