Lessons Learned In My First Week as an Okie

9 minutes.   I timed it yesterday.  9 minutes. 

That is my morning commute time to Kaelan’s school.  3 four-way stop signs, about a 40 cows,  numerous “roller coaster” hills, and BOOM!  We are there.

To say I love this new traffic free commute is an understatement.   Our old drive to Kaelan’s school in Austin wasn’t much further in mileage, but oh, the drama of traffic and detours we often faced really stunk. 

You know Austin and her traffic issues.

I have learned traffic in Edmond, OK consists of two cars staring each other down at a  four-way stop, each determined to be the most polite and let the other go
first. Or a BIG “jam” consists of  4 cars behind a tractor waiting to pass.  

Thus, giving me….

Lesson 1: Edmond does not have a traffic  issue…and this makes me happy.

To say that there is a rivalry between UT and OU really does not do justice to the true depths of hate that are rooted between these two.   Really, I think OU folks have a distaste for any school with Texas in the name. 

There is actually a portion of Kaelan’s student handbook that states, “no students are allowed to wear apparel of other colleges unless it is of University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, or other colleges within the state”. 

Check this out. 

Lesson 2:   Don’t take your 1 year old baby to the local Target in a UT shirt and think you will go unaccosted.

Seriously, even babies aren’t exempt.

I love meeting new folks (and we have met some great ones already) and listening to their advice on living in Okie Country.   Most conversations go something like this one I had with the sweetest farmer from down the road.   We met at the corner gas station where he pulled in with his awesome little farmer overalls on his John Deere.  His name is Harold.

Harold:  Well, you aren’t a local (eyeing my license plate).

Me:  No, sir.  Just moved here from Austin.

Harold:   Austin, huh?   Smart move.

Me:   I hope so.   You don’t look like you are just traveling through (eyeing his tractor).  You must be a local.

Harold:   Yes, Ma-Umm.   Born and raised here.  

Now, here is the part we keep hearing…..

Harold:     You gotta shelter?

Me:   A storm shelter?   Yes, we do.

Harold:   (Smiling and whistling through his teeth).   Whoo-eee.   That’s good.  Come spring you’ll be glad for it.   Keep you from blowing back to Austin.   Good luck!

And with that, Harold climbed back on his machine and left.

Lesson 3:   Make sure that storm shelter is ready come Spring.

 

I am learning more each day.   I really love the area we live in.  I feel all Pioneer Womanish…..only I live a little closer to a Target and Kohl’s then she does.  

Oklahoma is growing on me in ways I didn’t know it could. 

Check back in with me in the Spring to see if that love affair is still going………

 

We sing this at least 13 times a day.

 

 

Fun on the 4th

We started our 4th of July off with a little Patriotic parade in downtown Round Rock.   Seth was rocking his baby hawk and was ready for some fire trucks.

We met our favorite family, The Boyds on Main St. at a sweet spot they had scouted out and saved for us.  They greeted us with a box of fresh Round Rock doughnuts.  Did I mention they were our favorites?

Lorri and Sweet Mr. Patton

                   

After dealing with a bunch of crazies at the egg drop in April, I have become well aware that sometimes people lose their minds when they attend large events with big attendance.   The crowd at the parade did not disappoint….they simply lost their minds and begin moving their chairs up past the barrier lines as the parade started.   Despite the fact that the cops came several times to try and regain crowd control and move them back, after a while the barrier was pretty much down and folks were right out in front of the parade floats.  Several times, the parade actually had to stop to avoid hitting the crazies.   So…..those sweet seats we had at the beginning of the parade were pretty much back of the class by mid-parade.   Seth took to the penthouse view (aka dad’s shoulders), while Kaelan and Darian forgot about the parade and fought the crowd for thrown candy.     The good news was that the back row scored the most candy…..or is that really good news?

I must have carried two pounds of jolly ranchers back to the car.

We ended up heading back to the car early to get out of the heat and to get a better view of the fire trucks.   We saw the trucks.  We got candy.  Lots of candy.   The kids thought it was awesome. 

I guess that is all that matters.

You guys, I am seriously having a problem with these kids.  They just keep growing up.   It is killing me….

Remember this?

Look at them now.

       

Totally random, but my boy has an issue with kissing strange items lately.   Telephone poles, lamps, luggage….sometimes the urge just overwhelms him and he just has to stop and kiss it.  

The tree was calling……

We had a great time with the folks from our ‘hood having potluck food, family water fight (yes, I got soaked AGAIN) and sparklers.   We tore away for a bit to drive up by the lake to watch the Pfluger Lake firework show from the back of dad’s truck.   Seth was in awe, and even my big 6 year old lady who is SOOOO over that stuff sat wide-eyed and smiling throughout the show.  

Ever watch the reflection of fireworks in your kiddo’s eyes? 

Hands down, the highlight of the whole day for me.