The Day

We left the house at 8 this morning and got back around 9 at night, all of us. In between was one very busy day.

After I got Kaylee off to school, I finished straightening up the house, typed up a note for the cleaning ladies, and ran over to Sheridan Airport where myself, Michaele and Jeff did a little presentation for a Girl Scout "Brownie" Troop. There were about 14 girls, all about Kaylee's age, and Michaele gave them a talk about the history of women in aviation, jobs available, passed around her pilot's license and medical to show them what it looks like, all that good stuff. :) Then Jeff took half the girls and I took the other half. Jeff gave them a tour of the facilities and the maintenance areas, and I gave my half a talk about what makes airplanes fly, how the controls work, what the parts are and what they do, and then I sat them in the plane one at a time, took their photo, and told them some of the stuff inside the plane. Then we swapped groups. The kids really did a good job grasping everything, and I got some cute photos to give them on a disc later. Afterwards they had a picnic while I put the plane away (and pulled a muscle doing it). At this point, it was time for lunch at Glenndale, so I ran back to the office and got there just in time. I left there about 90 minutes later to run errands. I got to the post office, Fed Ex, and the bank, and then went on out to Kokomo Airport where I flew with a student. When we finished up and got everything put away, I went and got Kaylee from "extended care" at school, came home and changed clothes, and took her to a graduation ceremony.

Basically, Kaylee's former kindergarten teacher needed help with this graduating class this year, so Kaylee and I went to go help. Kaylee did great! She did her thing while I did my thing, and she was quite helpful. She handed out programs at the front door for everyone who came in, while I went downstairs into the kitchen and got all the food and drinks prepped, decorated, set up and ready to go. Yes, I know, but I did. I made two large bowls of punch, even scooping balls of sherbet on top to melt into a creamy foam. I decorated the table, set up the gold and purple cupcakes in a lovely pattern, got the forks and napkins spread out nicely, etc. Kaylee came down then, and took some of the glitter, and she placed it on the white trays with the arranged cupcakes, in her words, to give it some more pizazz. It worked-it looked quite good, actually. :) After I got the refreshments and kitchen set up, I went upstairs and helped get the kids in their robes/gowns and caps. That is also ironic, since I can never keep Kaylee's hat on her head when I pin it, but apparently I've learned, because none of the kids I did lost their caps. I took a few photos, and then it was my job to cut and serve the cake to all the parents/kids. Last but not least, Kaylee and I helped clean up, do dishes, put away food, all that good stuff, and we made it home around 9 pm. One of the ladies at the school asked if I could help with the corsages for the teachers, and I did recommend anybody but me to do that. I just know I'd stab them in the chest with the pin should I attempt that. Serving punch and cake all night was pushing my grace limits, but fortunately I did not in fact dump a piece of cake or cup of punch down anyone's shirt, the floor, the table, or anywhere but where it was supposed to go. And it was even a cake with a raspberry filling layer. ;)

When we made it home, it was to a nice, clean, dust-free, freshly scrubbed home. They even moved all the knick-knacks and stuff in order to dust under them. It looks good and it feels good. I'm still a little disturbed at the thought of people I don't know in my house, cleaning my dust and dirt, but it really helped that I had things decluttered and in decent shape before they arrived. I find it relaxing to know it's had a thorough cleaning (and one I didn't have to do).

Well, today is Devon's 10th birthday. It's been a quiet day on that front, and we weren't home in order to celebrate it, so we'll probably do something small on Sunday. It really is hard to believe he'd be celebrating his double-digit birthday. If I thought about it, I could imagine him with his siblings, a couple of friends, blowing out candles, opening presents, too big to hug in public now, small enough to let me hug if no one is looking. But I don't dwell much on it, because it...isn't. I am sure he is well and happy, and he is loved and remembered as long as we are here. Happy Birthday, Devon. :)