This has been a VERY L-O-N-G week! I took the twins to Oklahoma on Monday, after Charles passed away that morning. I couldn't stay because it's my busiest week of the year at work, so I came back Monday night. Brandon and I went back down on Wednesday morning for the memorial service at 10am, and then I came right back to work that afternoon (Brandon stayed). I went back down to Oklahoma yesterday to spend Thanksgiving with my family, and then the kids and I came back last night! I've spent over $200 on gas since last Wednesday. UGH! Corby is still in Oklahoma. They had a graveside service in Fairfax today, where they buried the two urns that had mixtures of Charles and Margaret's ashes. Charles told us shortly after Margaret died last May that when he died he wanted his ashes mixed with hers, so we made sure we accommodated his wishes. Corby is still going through things in the house, trashing the junk, and getting everything else set aside for an estate sale we will have next weekend. He had planned on coming home tomorrow, but we have to meet with a lawyer on Monday, so he may just stay. Charles' life insurance policy had only Margaret as his beneficiary, so we have to get his brother & sister to sign off on the policy so that Corby can distribute the funds as Charles wanted him too. It's not very much money, but we now have to pay a lawyer $2500 of that money just to get things settled. We thought Charles had all his affairs in order, but he apparently didn't think about changing the beneficiary on his policy.
We have found a temporary home for the dogs. The ladies who live next door to him, and who became very good friends, said they would take the dogs and try to find them a home where they can stay together. They would keep them except they already have 3 dogs! We are so grateful to them, not only for taking the dogs, but for showing Charles an inordinate amount of love and caring the last few months! As they say in Oklahoma - "they're good'uns!"
We did enjoy a quiet, peaceful Thanksgiving yesterday. None of us, Corby's brother Doug & his family, and his sister, Shal, wanted a traditional Thanksgiving this year. Everyone was too stressed and exhausted. Doug & Debbie graciously had us all out to their new house outside of Edmond for a fajita meal - which was GREAT! They just moved about a month ago - to a house with about 2 acres, lots of trees, and lots of PEACE & QUIET. They are loving it, and we had a great time! In fact, I teased both Doug & Debbie that the Joplin Thanksgiving tradition will continue at their house from now on! We've always celebrated Thanksgiving with Corby's family, and now that his folks are gone, we have to make sure to get together with his brother & sister and their families. Debbie and I made a pact to get Doug and Corby together every now and then, because quite honestly, they've grown apart over the years. So we're all hoping to get together sometime after the first of the year. (Debbie - be thinking about what we're going to do! Maybe go to a casino? Hang out at your place? Hang out at our place? Put your thinking cap on!)
Oh, and I can't forget the highlight of Thanksgiving - COOPER! Doug & Debbie's grandson entertained us all. He loves men, especially his Pa, so he took to Corby, Brandon and Kaleb. In fact, it was cute seeing Brandon and Kaleb playing with him. Kaleb has always been good with little kids, but Brandon normally stays away from them, like he's scared or something. He took to Cooper though. With this face, how could you not?
It's great having Brandon home, but the house is rocking right now! He bought the new video interactive game - ROCK STAR - and that includes a guitar, drums and microphone for singing along to a video game. I don't mind the guitar part, but the drums are pretty darn annoying! He has only attempted the singing twice, and gives up because he thinks he sucks (no comment from mom here!). Don't know how he's going to get away with playing it in the dorm, but I guess it's not my problem. He bought it on his way back to Wichita on Tuesday.
We are enjoying Wichita's first snow of the year, though they are forecasting it won't amount to much. It was beautiful driving home around 7pm tonight in the dark and seeing the snowflakes coming at me. I'm not ready for icy roads, but the snow is pretty.
We have found a temporary home for the dogs. The ladies who live next door to him, and who became very good friends, said they would take the dogs and try to find them a home where they can stay together. They would keep them except they already have 3 dogs! We are so grateful to them, not only for taking the dogs, but for showing Charles an inordinate amount of love and caring the last few months! As they say in Oklahoma - "they're good'uns!"
We did enjoy a quiet, peaceful Thanksgiving yesterday. None of us, Corby's brother Doug & his family, and his sister, Shal, wanted a traditional Thanksgiving this year. Everyone was too stressed and exhausted. Doug & Debbie graciously had us all out to their new house outside of Edmond for a fajita meal - which was GREAT! They just moved about a month ago - to a house with about 2 acres, lots of trees, and lots of PEACE & QUIET. They are loving it, and we had a great time! In fact, I teased both Doug & Debbie that the Joplin Thanksgiving tradition will continue at their house from now on! We've always celebrated Thanksgiving with Corby's family, and now that his folks are gone, we have to make sure to get together with his brother & sister and their families. Debbie and I made a pact to get Doug and Corby together every now and then, because quite honestly, they've grown apart over the years. So we're all hoping to get together sometime after the first of the year. (Debbie - be thinking about what we're going to do! Maybe go to a casino? Hang out at your place? Hang out at our place? Put your thinking cap on!)
Oh, and I can't forget the highlight of Thanksgiving - COOPER! Doug & Debbie's grandson entertained us all. He loves men, especially his Pa, so he took to Corby, Brandon and Kaleb. In fact, it was cute seeing Brandon and Kaleb playing with him. Kaleb has always been good with little kids, but Brandon normally stays away from them, like he's scared or something. He took to Cooper though. With this face, how could you not?
It's great having Brandon home, but the house is rocking right now! He bought the new video interactive game - ROCK STAR - and that includes a guitar, drums and microphone for singing along to a video game. I don't mind the guitar part, but the drums are pretty darn annoying! He has only attempted the singing twice, and gives up because he thinks he sucks (no comment from mom here!). Don't know how he's going to get away with playing it in the dorm, but I guess it's not my problem. He bought it on his way back to Wichita on Tuesday.We are enjoying Wichita's first snow of the year, though they are forecasting it won't amount to much. It was beautiful driving home around 7pm tonight in the dark and seeing the snowflakes coming at me. I'm not ready for icy roads, but the snow is pretty.
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I've been awake since 3 a.m. I hit JC Penneys at 4 a.m. and Target at 6 a.m. I am exhausted. Thanksgiving morning I hit K-Mart at 5:45 a.m. and walked away victorious and on Christmas morning I will be awarded with the "Mother of the Year" as this momma walked away the much sought after Nintendo Wii. I've got to get up and get my Thanksgiving dinner going in the morning. whew.
I'm sorry the week has been so hectic for you.
the new place in the country sounds great. once james graduates high school and is off to college, that's what i want to do... find a nice little place in the country. preferably with a pond for shawn to fish, and a barn for me to play with my horse. :)