Coming Clean

In the spirit of coming clean, let me say that these first few days back in Texas have been more overwhelming than I expected.

Putting some stuff in storage and arranging a living space at my parents wore me out more than I'd like to admit. Or maybe it was the 4 year old who looks to me for most of his daily activities. Or maybe it was the 2.5 month old who likes to bond with me in the wee hours of the night. So, I'll admit that I've been online less than an hour in 2 weeks. For me, that's SO ODD. I won't qualify it as good or bad; it just is.

Thanks to you who have been waiting patiently for updates. I'll break them down into smaller parts over the next couple of days. For today, here's what's happening with housing and jobs:

Michael's internship with Kaiser was over August 7, and we loaded up the truck August 8. (Thanks to Nathan and sweet girlfriend, Gretchen, Matt, Detrah, Peter, and Jenn for coming by to encourage and/or take boxes to the Penske truck. It saved us HOURS of work.) Now that we're here, what's the plan?

Our work with Apartment Life (approx. 70 hours a month) begins when we are placed in an apartment complex. The length of the placement process can vary, depending on the availability of participating complexes and how accurate of a match it is with the team. And because it can take from weeks to (gulp) months, it would be difficult for us to find an apartment with a leasing agreement that flexible. What to do, eh?

Well, we're back with the best landlords we've ever had...Mom and Dad. Both sets of parents were willing to have Owen and June live with them, but we figured the transition would be easier for Owen back at my folks because he's lived here before. So, on the housing end, we wait...and pray...and wait...and pray.

And on the job end? Wait...and pray...and wait...and pray. Are you seeing a theme in our lives?

Michael does have a part time counseling job that he can build up through networking with other local psychologists, churches, schools, etc. Until those hours build up to full-time, he will need another job, so he is looking at more psychology jobs in the area. The paperwork side of Apartment Life (reports, etc.) will be my part time job as I stay home with the kids for now.

It's all good, but I must admit it's a little difficult for me right now. So, I looked for the rainbow amidst it all...and look, it was right in the backyard. ;)

For Wade (and Other Cowboys Junkies)

Here's the story that goes with the slide show.

Michael and Joe went on a tour of Cowboys Stadium last week, and the only other person I know that would not think Michael was a total dork is Wade S. So, for you I post a slide show of pictures Michael took while they walked the stadium.

Joe was patient to endure the tour AND the commentary on the ride home (he's a fan of many teams...usually choosing one that will intentionally annoy you...the Raiders, for example). God love them both!

I didn't label every pic, but unless you intentionally avoid all NFL-related news (like my mom), you've probably seen pictures or heard commentary. The tour was a lot cheaper than game tickets, and you get more access...locker rooms, luxury suites, etc. That's the last time I want to hear Michael's been in a shower with Joe.

And in typical dude style, Michael or Joe are in none of the pictures. Grrr. But it is a jewel in the City of Arlington's crown. Now, if only Jerry can manage the team as well as he does the stadium. GO COWBOYS!

I Know, I'm a Tease...but

Several weeks ago, I presented the question "Sanity or Savings?". Should I save money and drive cross-country with Owen and June, or should I remain a (somewhat) sane person and just fly home?

Well, I'm delighted to tell you that we did both...we moved ourselves and stayed sane. Well, sane as we ever were.

The last week at a glance:

Saturday, August 8th: packed the moving truck.

Sunday: drove to LA to visit the Emmetts

Monday: picked up Joe in Pasadena and headed out

Tuesday: left from outside Pheonix

Wednesday: left from Van Horn, TX and arrived in Fort Worth at 8 pm

Thursday: unloaded stuff to storage and my parents' house

Friday: organized and begin culinary tour of Fort Worth (for Joe)

Saturday: Apartment Life training all day (first day away from June) and church

Sunday: Family Day

Monday: Organizing Stuff and Playing with Kiddos

Tuesday: Organizing stuff and playing with kiddos

Tomorrow: continue praying for placement in an apartment and a full-time job for Michael as I stay home with Owen and June

I'll post more about the trip later in the week; don't worry. I have to have a chunk of time.

Here are a couple of pics to tide you over, though:

Owen and June at the Super 8 Hotel. For all of you who like June's chubby cheeks, I wish you were there to lovingly clean out the drool that collects under those jowls after a 10 hour car ride. BLECH!

Look, who's happy? EVERYONE!

Inventor of the portable DVD player...I salute you!

The Princess and Her Court

Here's the princess:

And here are some pictures of her favorite people:

Main man: her big bro (who fell asleep at his Grammy's kitchen table with a ring pop in his mouth...all I could think of is "I Love My Nuki")




Her friend Hazel, who is 3 weeks older. Here's Hazel giving June advice for how to weather her 2 month doctor's visit next week. (Hazel's dad and Michael work together)


Here is Auntie Audrey holding her brother Joel (1 week younger than June) and June. She is the oldest of the 5 Wilkinson children and one of the only people that Owen lets "boss" him around. Thanks Addie for all your help with Owen at church and on play dates!


June meeting Ian Rose and comparing birth stories. "You were delivered by your dad on the way to the hospital? Man, I just came out backwards."


Here's are the rest of the Arnolds and Roses at the zoo this week. We hadn't seen the Roses since they moved to New York at Thanksgiving. It was a quick, but great visit.


Katie got called on to help with the show. She was so brave!




Goofy picture that reminds me that child photography is worth every penny because getting these goobers to really smile is an art. ;)



Whew! Finally caught up on pics! Now off to pack. WE'RE PACKING THE TRUCK IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Earthly Treasures (aka: "Oh, that bear?")

Our first big trip since June's birth...back to the homeland.

Here we are, Texas bound.

I'll ignore June's face that says, "Mom, wanna put on some makeup? You're about to see your mother!"

Jet lag...what a beating. The nice part about Texas being only 2 hours difference is that we usually stay on our CA schedule. Owen wakes up at 8:30 instead of 6:30 and goes to bed at 9:30 instead of 7:30. So, here we are, back in Fresno.

For all who've been wondering and praying: our trip was good. We did get the Apartment Life position, so now we are awaiting placement in an apartment. Michael declined one of the jobs he applied and interviewed for because they did not include the hours in the job posting. He would have had to work Sat and Sun from 7 am to 7 pm each week AND do 2 overnights a week (from 7 pm to 7 am). He made the call that it would be too disruptive to our family and church time to have such an odd schedule. I agreed and wonder whose body could switch from nights to days each week.

So, we're hoping he'll get some more call backs from the other places he applied. He'll continue to apply this week to other leads he received from friends while we were at home.

Owen and June did well, but on the return trip (2 flights and the drive back to Fresno from LAX), Owen started the "are we there yet mantra?" around Magic Mountain (no it's not really Magic; it's just how we know we are entering/leaving LA traffic). The last 2 hours were a test of his patience, but I thought that was pretty good considering we spent about 1.5 hours at Delta baggage claim trying to work out how to get Spooky Bear back to Fresno.

Security blanket

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"A security blanket is any familiar object whose presence provides comfort or security to its owner, such as the literal blankets often favored by small children." AND THEIR MOTHERS!

Yes, we left SB on the plane in Salt Lake City. I thought I was doing so well to help Owen keep up with these little Star Wars guys my mom gave him (c3po and r2d2) that I didn't notice that Spooky went under the seat after some cuddle time. Then on the plane from Salt Lake to LA, he got really sleepy and asked for the bear. It immediately hit me where he was, but I continued to look in every bag like the lady trying to find her lost coin. By the time I looked up to tell Owen (holding back tears), he had fallen asleep in his seat. Thank God for small mercies. Then, I started crying. Michael was listening to his iPod and holding a sleeping June when he looked over to find my tear-streaked face. Needless to say, he was confused.

The gate agent in LA was so helpful. He called both cities the plane had been in since we left (Salt Lake and San Jose), navigating the Delta system much better than I could have, and he finally located him.


He told me to call Salt Lake's baggage services to claim Spooky. We went down to LA's baggage services to get the number. In the meantime, Owen had not gone to the restroom since leaving the house in Dallas (6 am CST) and it was 2 pm CST. And he still was being stubborn. Michael "tricked" him into playing tag all the way to the restroom. After finishing their business, they ran back. Upon arriving to the baggage claim office, Owen immediately threw up all over one of our bags while I'm on hold in Salt Lake for 20 minutes.


Not a long distance runner on our hands. We cleaned up, and Owen immediately started playing again. Michael and I soldiered on to wrap up our phone call and then ride the shuttle back to our car. This whole time, I had managed not to let Owen be aware of what we were actually looking for.

On the drive back to Fresno Owen finally asked for him as he was getting sleepy again. The dreaded moment where I admit my failings and say he was lost...but Michael jumped in and creatively told Owen that Spooky decided to extend his vacation and catch up with us in a few days in Fresno. Owen was amused to think of Spooky flying by himself on his own trip instead of crying thinking about him being lost alone on a plane. Same thing: bear alone on a plane, but I guess it's all in how you frame it. The question is: were we trying to save him some anguish or ourselves? Both, right?

I remember when our friend Mary was distraught for DAYS over the disappearance of Luke's "Duck". I never mocked her (I mean, my blankie is sitting in my chest of drawers right now...30 years later), but I did not understand the depth of guilt she was feeling. Now I do (and Duck was found later, so Mary AND Luke recovered fully).

I finally talked to the Salt Lake baggage claim office, and the lady said, "Oh, that orange bear? We have him. We were just making fun of that guy." OUCH. If she only could empathize.

Spooky is set to arrive FedEx tomorrow. I seriously will not forgive myself if I have lost that bear for good, so I'll be a little off until he arrives on the door step. Makes me wonder who is more attached...

One More Question...

Of all the tricks to extend bedtime, Owen does employ the "I have one last question" bit often. Tonight, he emerges after 20 minutes of radio silence to announce his "last question".

"Yes, son?"

"I have one last question: I have not given all my love to my June yet." Pause. "And I have a lot of love to give."

Aw, come on! It wasn't a question, but, man, that made up for a long, long day with the O-man. And he got to stay up for 3 more minutes (we're such suckers)!

The object of his affection: