Fred is an Organ Donor

We have a lot of news to share, and when there is a lot, we use bullet points for brevity.

Fred

• Fred is our 1992 Geo Prizm with Toyota design. Fred has been Sweetheart's commuting car for 3 years. In February Sweetheart decided to let the local high school auto shop fix a head gasket oil leak and to bleed the brakes. After multiple weeks and phone calls, Fred returned home for about 12 hours at the beginning of April. Fred came back without the oil leak fixed, the brakes questionable,  some of bolts on the engine block missing, a different battery than the original, and he sounded like a 747 airplane when on the road. That weekend we bought Finn, a 2001 Toyota Prius. All our cars have names.
  
• After returning Fred to the school, we heard nothing. I finally called the principal who lit a fire under the teachers to finish the car since school was ending. The teachers "fixed" Fred.
• I picked Fred up on May 16. Cyndy, my neighbor, brought me and followed me home. The teacher met me, and we exchanged our frustrations in a civilized manner. He told me that Fred was not fixed, but the brakes did work and the engine sounded like a speedboat. I drove Fred home - almost. He did sound too well. He ran out of gas 1.5 miles from home. We filled the tank up and then couldn't turn the key over. Finally the key turned over and Fred came home.
  
• We needed to make a decision since the fix was to unhook the alternator and connect the car directly to the battery. And really who drives a Prizm that sounds like a speedboat? We couldn't sell Fred with a good conscious as a fixer-upper car. We needed to decide if we should donate or sell him for scrap. Fred was sold to a scrapyard the next day.

Underfoot

• Underfoot caught a bug on the day of the parent picnic for school. He wanted to go only for the picnic and come home. Sweet boy wanted the party at home and school. He went back to school the next day.
• He read the most books for the accelerated reading program at school. He was awarded a movie in the library.
• He finished piano for the semester and will take summer piano lessons. He has learned a lot and enjoys playing but not practicing.
• He created with Hurricane a zoo for Mother's Day. It was a very sweet village with lot of animals, roads, and buildings. Their babysitter gave them the idea and got them started. They finished it over the next few days.
  
  
• He participated in field day at school. The fire department came and sprayed down all the children with the truck.
  
  
  He thought it was awesome and wanted the truck to spray down all the teachers and parents too.
  
  He brought extra clothes to change into as he got soaked to the bone.
• His last day of school he invited Hurricane to spend the day with him.
  
  He was excited to finish the 1st grade but not sure he wanted to leave his teacher. She has been spectacular for him.
  
  He has grown by leaps and bounds and is confident in his learning.
• We hosted a summer kick off night with ice cream. His teacher and some classmates came over for ice cream and watermelon. He played and played and played.
• Once a year, the boys get a clean up haircut by a professional.(Mama normally cuts their hair.)
  

  

  Before

  He got his hair cut short.

  

  After

  Not quite buzzed like Uncle Eric did to his boys in the summer.

Hurricane

• We hosted the last week of Joy School.
  
  Hurricane was thrilled to have his friends at our home as we learned about how important each one of them is in their family. He was a very good teacher helper every day and wanted to make sure there were plenty of treats.
  
  He and his classmates learned songs and played well together.
• Joy School Graduation was also on the last day of Joy School.
  
  The children sang their songs and thanked their Moms.
  
  After graduation, Hurricane finally decided that it was okay to be a kindergartener. He tells anyone that will hold still long enough to listen that he will be in kindergarten.
• Hurricane grew rather attached to Fred. Fred is the first car Hurricane attempted to drive as Hurricane took Fred out of gear, released the e-brake, and drove the car backwards down a hill. When we said Fred was going away, Hurricane melted down completely into uncontrollable crying. He wanted a picture with Fred.
  
  He called his Grandpa Kirky to tell him. Grandma Jilli talked Hurricane through having Fred go away. Hurricane said he wanted to take Fred all apart. Jilli and Hurricane decided that Hurricane needs his OWN tool box and to take apart things in a taped off square at the house. He is not allowed to take apart other things in the house without permission. He is also to put them back together. This consoled Hurricane with the promise that one day he could take apart a real car at Jilli's house.
• Hurricane was telling his friend, Noah, about Fred leaving and going to be a parts car at the scrapyard. Noah said, "So Fred is now an organ donor?" We thought that would be a clever advertizing for a u-pull-it junk yard.
• Hurricane also participated in field day.
  
• Hurricane got his haircut as well.

  

  Before

  He did want a shaved bald haircut.

  

  After

  I opted for crazy hair.
• Hurricane's friend, Mr. K-man, is moving in 6 days.
  
  Hurricane wants to play with Mr. K-man as much as he can and asks over and over again. They get to play quite a bit, and Mr. K-man came on our marathon day of errands. Hurricane talks about how we will visit them later this year.

Sweetheart

• Allergies have attacked Sweetheart something horrible. He itches after feeding the fish in the morning. That job takes 3 minutes. We have discussed pulling out our carpet and tiling/carpeting/staining the concrete. We think we have a plan and will pullout some carpet to test the theory. Any opinions of bedrooms without carpet for resale purposes? WE AREN'T MOVING. But we might one day and don't want to make a really expensive mistake.
• Work has been a highlight. He likes to go. He even gets up at 3:30 am and goes. That is partly because of allergies and he can't sleep.
• We had a game night at our home with the youth that Sweetheart mentors. They played games, laughed, ate, and stayed late. Our sons love game night because they get to watch movies. Sweetheart likes game night because he can play games I won't usually play.

Mama

• Physical therapy continues to be a constant in my life. I graduated from the spine and neck treatment and will be moving on to hip, knee, and ankle next. I continue to see someone for my tailbone that was readjusted from the bike fall I had last fall. I've done quite a number on the muscles in my body. As active as I was last summer, I'm not going to be this summer. It is frustrating, but I can recover and return.
• My funny with the physical therapist was that he asked if I had seen any swelling because of my injuries. I replied, "If you count the fat I've put on then yes there is additional swelling." He wasn't sure if he should laugh, but he did eventually.
• I continue to make monster pants. Mr. K-man wanted a few pair before he left. Hurricane is a great walking advertisement. He loves his monster pants.
• We have filled our 7 weeks of summer with lots of plans.

So that is our not so brief update. We hope you are each well and happy.

Be well.