The Cornfield Maze

Last weekend we went to the cornfield maze in Shawnee (about 45 min. NE from Norman). We went with our friends Scott and Michelle Grawe and their children Lydia (6), Caleb(4), Julia(2), and Alyssa(5 mos.). We had a great time together and then went out for pizza afterwards!
Here are some pictures:

Our Friends

Petting and feeding the farm animals

Inside the Maze

On top of the hay. As you can see, we had beautiful weather.

Riding in the barrell cars

Picking the "perfect" pumpkin. She has named it "Pumpy"!

If I were one of the seven dwarfs...

I had forgotten just how tiring early pregnancy can be. I remembered that I was very tired with the other kiddos, but I don't remember being THIS tired. Of course, I am waiting tables 4 nights a week, I have 3 other kids to care for and I am just a tiny bit older - ahem...Anyway, I was doing a phonics lesson with Madeline earlier. She is at the point in her reading where we go over a new rule for the day, then she reads her word list and her daily story. In the middle of the story, I feel a nudge as Madeline says, "Mom, you are listening with your eyes closed again." OOPS!

Normanites are CRAZY!

So, while everyone is off from work and school today, we Okies here in Norman are not...why, one might ask?...It is Columbus Day and all... Ya, but on Saturday OU played TEXAS, so schools and various places of employment closed on Friday so everyone could get ready for the "BIG GAME"! They are really nuts around here. Neal had forgotten that the game was Saturday, so last Wednesday he began assigning the reading for one of his classes on Friday. Several students immediately raised their hands, panic on their faces, reminding him that the university was going to be closed and hoping desperately that he was not going to make them be there. A graduate teaching assistant was telling me the other day that she had assigned a paper due that day and her students refused to do it. Can you imagine? Telling your college professor or teacher "no" to their assignments because of a football game?! And what is even crazier is that the dean of the university would back them up!
All year long you can find "BEAT TEXAS" paraphernalia anywhere around here. People wear hats, t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. all year long, just for one game! It is pretty pathetic too because it is such a one-sided rivalry. For UT, OU is just another team to beat. You will not find any "BEAT OU" paraphernalia anywhere in Austin.
This is quite indicative of the overall attitude that Okies have about Texans. Okies don't like Texans. They make fun of us, our sports teams, and anything they can think of. They claim that Texans are stuck up and proud. I think it is sad really. We Texans are proud. We are proud of being Texan. But, I have learned that other people, especially those in Oklahoma, are not proud of where they are from, so they have to put down those who are.
Oh well...
This year, the OU Sooners beat the Longhorns. Neal and I are some of the very few people disappointed by this, but at least the attitude around here is good. People are happy and they are happy to go to work and school on a holiday because their college football team won.

Spilling the Beans

So, my uniform pants are getting VERY uncomfortable. I have to wear an "Outbacker" shirt tucked in to black slacks with a belt. Not good for a pregnant woman with an expanding belly. I have been waiting for this uncomfortable point to let my boss/manager/proprietor guy know about the pregnancy. Some of you have asked why I have been waiting. The reason is I did not want them to think that I want or expect any type of special treatment while pregnant. I did not want people to get any kind of preconceived notion of "pregnant women" and have that reflected upon me. I wanted my managers and co-workers to see that I have been pregnant for 3 months and there has been no change in my work performance. So, as I was about to leave work on Tuesday, I found the manager in the back making "from scratch" whipping cream - he let me lick the spatula - and I told him I had something to tell him. He stopped making whipped cream scoops and gave me his full attention, and I told him, "I am three months pregnant." I could not have asked for a better reaction. He was absolutely beaming and bubbling over with excitement. He gave me a hug, told me (and to pass on to Neal) congratulations and wanted to know how I was feeling, and the due date, and if we are going to find out if it is a boy or a girl, etc. He and his wife are Christians and they have four kids. It turns out that she worked through each of her pregnancies at the Outback as a server/bartender. So, he is VERY supportive. After his giddiness wore off a bit, I asked him about my clothing situation. I was relieved to find out that they have maternity shirts and I don't have to tuck them in with a belt! I go into work tonight and I will order a couple of shirts. I have not told anyone else yet, but I am sure it won't take long for the news to spread.
It is such a nice thing, and in this case a relief, to tell someone you are pregnant who is genuinely supportive and happy for you. In this society, after you have your 1 girl and 1 boy, you are expected to be "done". Isn't it odd how people impose their views about children on others, making comments like "Was that planned?" "Don't you know what causes that?" (I know I am preaching to the choir here since my family is one of the "small" ones in my circle of friends.) However, I am very blessed to work for a man who will be supportive and not give me a hard time during this less than ideal situation of waiting tables while pregnant. I know that I will have to modify some of my job related activities such as lifting extremely large and heavy trays of steaks over my head as I get bigger, but I know that I will have a group of helpful people around me.
I am thankful to all of you reading our blog who have sent along your sincere congratulations, good wishes and support of our growing family. What a blessing you all are in our lives!