Sunday, October 24, 2010

Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore!

Waiting out the night with a storm a brewing outside.
In case you didn't hear we were under a tornado warning last night.  Unfortunately, we didn't know a thing was brewing until Cory, Isabella and I were at the PTO Fall festival at the high school with some friends.  Our internet had been down all day and it was the weekend.  It was a stormy day, but what day in east Texas is not.  A little bit windy, but fall is here.  We soon heard over the loud speaker that a storm was brewing and that in Tyler they had seen tornado's.  The announcer said the festival would continue until 9.  So we stayed for a little while and texted Rye and Drake that if anything too bad happens to run to the bathroom at the RV park.   Cory and I just did not feel right being in a safe place while the big kids were in the trailer; so we left.  Yes, that is exactly what kind of parents we are...LOL On our way home we went through some pretty bad wind and came home to find everything put away and strapped down.  The kids were awesome in preparing our trailer for the worst.  I would like to applaud Rye, specifically, for her bravery and cool, mature handle on things while her Dad and I were away (Did I phrase that right Rye?...LOL).  The night produced a lot of rain, wind, thunder and lightening but we were all safe.  One family spent most of the night in the bathroom with their kids.  I told Drake this was Cory's new job...storm chasers, of course he did not believe me...JEEZ


With that said, Cory did get a job this week and it's not as a storm chaser.  Cory is back with Pepperweed as a consultant.  We will be traveling with his job from location to location.  We will let everyone know when we find out our first assignment.

I know that I have mentioned before that my grandma was diagnosed with lung cancer.  She went in and had surgery on Friday to have it removed.  The surgery seems to have been successful, but she is now fighting a fever and some fluid in her bronchial tube (?).  She is still in the ICU until  they feel that she is ready to be moved.  I am flying back to Oregon next Monday and will be there for a week to help out.

We did make it to a pumpkin patch this past week. It is strange to go to a field with pumpkins lined up neatly.  They must not grow pumpkins or have real patches in the area.  I miss looking for the perfect pumpkin among the mud and vines.  The other thing we cannot find is a corn maze.  Last year we had a lot of fun with the kids trying to find our way out of the maze.


We have become friends with one of the families in park.  They have two very cute little girls.  Isabella and Jordan are real buddies.  Isabella cannot remember Jordan's name so she calls her George.  Isabella loves her friends and they hug and hold hands like long lost buddies. 

I do have to tell this funny story about Drake.  We had just finished having family prayer.  Drake had said a few words and ended the prayer.  Cory looks over at Drake and says "Aren't you grateful that I got a job?" and with out missing a beat Drake says "Well I forgot, you get jobs and then lose them so fast, I just thought it wasn't that important."   UUMMM...you could have heard a pin drop for about 30 seconds and then we all busted up laughing.  Cory was sweet about it, Drake was embarrassed, Rye and I just thought "WOW"....he will not live this down for a long time.  Kids say the darnedest things.

Isabella with her dolls.






My what big muscles you have.


Karaoke night, Isabella sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Isabella and Jordan

Rye is showing her support to TX, HOOK EM HORNS!



We are having a really good time.  The kids are doing great in school.  We will be carving our pumpkins this week.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

COMPOST TOILETS, LETTUCE AND WATER AND THE DISAPPEARING CAT










Yes, she is a little peace of heaven to our family!  I love you Isabella!!
I know, I know...it's been forever since this lazy butt girl has written on the blog.  We have been in Austin this past month and "lying low", so to speak.  I feel pressure to write about things we have done and the funny events in our life.  This past month was just ho-hum...until I made the list and realized that I should stick to my weekly goal of writing on the blog.  I will try and do a better job of this....my blogee's are waiting.  Yes, I did just make up that word!!!!...LOL  I am still funnier than hell in my own mind.

I got my hair cut...bangs baby!  It was either that or Botox...My forehead is not aging smoothly!
The first two weeks we were at the state park and I believe that is all mentioned in the previous blog.  Still love that place!!  Our next spot was La Hacienda RV Resort.  Notice the word  resort in conjunction with the acronym RV.  This place was the Ritz of RV parks.  We had so much fun and learned so much from our friends and neighbors.  The people that are spending their lives doing this full time are absolutely amazing, talented and beyond incredible!

While at La Hacienda we were introduced to our first Prevost motor coach.  They start at $1,000,000.00 dollars.  START AT THAT PRICE brand new, for a motor home!  They are very nice.  They are amazing to look at but I am so happy with my humble Dutchmen...I have kids, pets and too many hobbies to worry about that much money on wheels.

Reid Wilson and My So Called Friends, Band
We met and became friends with some great families and couples.  We met Freddy and Catharine Powers.  Freddy has written a ton of country songs.  A lot of these songs are for Merle Haggard.  While at the resort he celebrated his birthday and some of his friends came.  The music was really good.  My friends must know that I love live music!!  Gretchen and Jimmy were another couple that we had an amazing time getting to know.  We spent a lot of time with them because they had little kids.  Isabella was in heaven.  They are Messianic Jews.  It was stimulating to learn something new and to be able to have some great discussions.  Cory and Jimmy are both in the IT industry so they had lots to talk about too.  My friends, Arlene and Bob, were grandparents to Lexi, another of Isabella's friends.  Arlene has been a breast cancer survivor for 34 years. Her very good friend is Susan Love (look her up or read her book).  Arlene did an interview with NBC as one of the longest living survivors of breast cancer, while at the park.  I feel so blessed to have been able to meet these people.  We also had a scary event, one of the RV's in the park caught on fire.  They were all okay but totaled
 their home.  We also met a lady who was having her 5th child IN THE MOTOR HOME!  She had a midwife and doula helping her.  
Freddy Powers and Cory
My brain is on overload!  Cory and I were introduced this past week to compost toilets.  I have to tell you that I have never heard of such a thing.  But, they are for real.  It's a toilet designed to turn poo into compost.  Doesn't that sound good!! Anyways, it really does work; EXCEPT, the key is you need to eat an organic diet.    Why did we learn this?  We were talking to a couple who are building a home "off the grid"...(another new word or phrase learned).  Talk about being prepared.  There are too many details to go into a single blog about this but it's something to think about, and YES...it's extreme, and not for everyone...but, I love the idea of growing your own food, raising your own animals and living with solar. This might make it to our bucket list.......

This is darling if you can eat them, they are all around Austin!  Cup Cake Airstreams!
FOOD!  I hate it, or I should say it hates me.  I have had a difficult time with my Celiac disease this past month.  I am addicted to bad food.  I love it!  It hurts me and I still eat it.  But, I have been gluten free for 2 weeks and following a recommendation to eat certain foods for my blood type and I feel amazing.  In fact Cory says he is seeing signs of the old Sherron....I am sure he meant to say something other than old...LOL.  I know what he means though.  My energy level is back, no headaches, nausea or memory issues.  So you may be wondering what I eat.  I eat a lot of veggies and fruit, mostly organic, fish and chicken and a lot of water. I went to a Chicago Style hotdog house with the family last week.  I could not eat anything on the menu. When I asked if they had any lettuce for a salad, she said no......ok, one LARGE glass of ice water please.  LOL......lettuce and water, I am living large and on the edge.....when all I really want is a big Freakin KRISPY CREME DONUT!

I haven't painted in 33 years...my first attempt and I love it!
The cat is lucky.  We were pulling out on Saturday to come back to east Texas and the damn cat took off.  I have renamed it this because I think it should be damned for running off.  I am talking the car is loaded, trailer attached, we are paid and done in the office and the cat takes off.  We waited an hour, came home and no cat.  Rye refused to get into the car without the cat.  We left on Saturday to give us an extra day in case something should come up, and it did.  So we go back to the office, unhook the trailer and wait.  I caught the cat around 6pm and peace was restored once again to the Watson home.  I won't go into details, but you can only imagine my state of mind.  Rye is saying she is not leaving and Cory is doing the New Years Eve countdown..."we are leaving in 7 minutes, we are leaving in 6 minutes"...are you starting to get the picture.   Lots of tears and harsh words.  Glad that day came to an end!

We will know in the next few days where we will be heading next.  I am so excited but I cannot tell you yet...offers are on the table and we are trying to decide what is best for our family.  We also want to follow the promptings and go where we will be needed and helpful.  It's a big decision, and one I know that Cory will do a great job in making!  He is the best Dad, Husband and friend!!  He has worked so hard and worried too much over finding a job.  I appreciate all that he does for our family.

I hope this new blog entry finds all of our friends and families in good health, good spirits and living life to it's fullest. Please drop us a comment to let us know how you are doing.  We miss talking to everyone.