Sutton In The Shadow

Monday, August 21st, was the Great American Solar Eclipse. Fortunately for us, Sutton was directly in the path and received 2 minutes and 34 seconds of totality. My mom and dad joined us Sunday evening and then Kelly and the kids drove up Monday morning. It was such a fun day. We packed a picnic lunch as the partial eclipse began at 11:34 AM with the totality beginning at 12:59 PM. No one knew what to expect but the experience was enjoyed by all. Isaac was quite entertaining as he had brought his very own tablet and thermometer to chart the change in temperature through the event. Nerd alert!

Made dad brought a special centerpiece for my solar eclipse dinner. The heavy door weight has been sitting on the shop floor for as long as I can remember. He thought it needed to make the trip to Sutton to be a part of the once in a lifetime spectacle. Jentry helped him spruce it up with a big yellow sun. My dad, he is just too funny!

 

 

The Mobile Earth and Space Observatory (MESO) also made its debut at the Sutton Public School. The mobile lab came from Colorado Springs and was designed to be a science center on wheels to engage and excite students, teachers and local residents with hands-on educational and research activities. Mason had a blast with the bubbles and Jentry got to make her very own dippin' dot ice cream with liquid nitrogen. They had several telescopes and held some night observing that Nathan and my parents said was pretty neat.

My favorite part of the eclipse was the 360 degree glowing horizon during the totality. It was a breathtaking view and unforgettable feeling. Just a glimpse of God's handy work. I am thankful however that I only had to drive five minutes home unlike a few that traveled to Sutton from Canada.

Pre-K and Kissing Frogs

This kid started Preschool today and could not have been more excited. No worries, no hesitation, no tears, pure enthusiasm.

Shortly after I dropped him off at daycare I received the following text from Melisa, his caregiver.

Conversation at lunch today:
Mason: Hey guys, my mom is getting married and no kids allowed!
Melisa: Mason, I thought your mom was already married to your daddy?
Mason: No Melisa, she has to turn into a princess and daddy has be a king first.
Melisa: How does that work?
Mason: They both have to kiss a frog.

This kid is such a character! Good luck to you Mrs. Mau. You are definitely not getting paid enough to wrangle this kid and his energetic classmates.

School Facts

This week Jentry started 4th Grade with Mrs. Wademan and Mason will begin Preschool with Mrs. Mau next Tuesday. How can this be a fact in my life?

Joining the MOB

Sunday we made our first trip to the ER. To preface, the weekend had been going splendidly up until 6 PM Sunday evening.

Friday morning Jentry, Nathan and I headed to Hastings for our 20 week ultrasound.

We could not wait to see the baby and have the tech place the gender in an envelope that we could open later that evening. It was the weekend of the annual Travis Carpenter Memorial Softball Tournament and we hosted our usual Friday evening BBQ with family and friends. Jentry helped me shop for pink and blue service wear, drinks, table coverings and we even made pink and blue sugar cookies. Boy or Girl?!?! We could not wait to find out!

Thanks be to God, the baby looked healthy and was measuring in at 12 oz. This was in the 50th percentile for 20 weeks. 

 

The weather was cooler than average all week and that made the tournament so enjoyable. The kids had a blast playing with friends at the ball field and Nathan's team ended up with their predictable Runner Up title in the Championship game.

  

As soon as the game was over, I left Mason playing at the field with Nathan and headed out of town to take Jentry to her dad. A few miles from the meeting point I received a call from Nathan. 

N: "Are you on your way home yet?" 

Me: "Not yet but we are almost there, why?"

N: "OK, you will want to come home through Henderson and stop at the hospital."

Me: "Noooo"

N: "Mason fell and cut his head on the bleachers. He is going to need stitches."

Me: "Noooo"

N: "Ya, Shelly Mau has been kind enough to drive us and we are on our way there now."

Me: "How is he doing?"

N: "He has been very good. He is calm right now."

Me: "OK, I will see you there."

I had no idea what I was going to walk into but I tried to remain calm and positive and prayed the rest of the way to Henderson. When I arrived Mason was sitting on Nathan's lap on the hospital bed with a bag of ice held up to the injury. I thought he looked fairly well and then Nathan pulled the ice away so that I could see the cut.

It was much more than a measly cut! It was a huge, deep hole in my baby's forehead that immediately created a huge, deep hole in my heart. Thank goodness Nathan was there first. He is much better at remaining calm and making good decisions under stress.

The next several minutes went by quickly as they prepped him for the numbing shots and sutures. He was amazingly brave and hardly even whimpered. 

  

After the doctor had finished, she brought him a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Sitting on the bed he asked, "Do you have a table? We don't eat ice cream in bed." The nurse rolled over a tray for him to use. He then asked, "Why does this table have wheels? Next time, I want chocolate ice cream." 

Next time!?!?! How about we don't have a next time! OK? This poor mother can't take another ER visit anytime soon. By the time we arrived home, Mason had fallen asleep and so we simply moved him from the car seat to his bed. Nathan and I were wiped. This parenting gig can be a bit much at times. I couldn't sleep a wink worrying about my sweet boy and wondering if he was going to be alright. I checked on him a dozen times throughout the night. 

When I was pregnant with Mason, I was certain he was a girl. It took me a long time to wrap my head around the idea of being a mother to a boy. Mason is without a doubt ALL boy. I am actually surprised we haven't had to make a trip to the ER already. And unfortunately, if he doesn't slow down, we will probably end up there again. I guess the scar on his forehead will match his missing front tooth. Ugh. 

I am not sure I am cut out for this life in the MOB (Mother of Boys) but God must know differently because he has blessed us with another son. Baby Boy McKenzie, we are so in love with you and can not wait to smooch on you. 

 

  

Sweet baby boy, if I could make just one, small request...can you please have just a smidge of caution and fear? Sincerely, your nervous Nellie mother.