A week of firsts

(from Tamie)

It's been a whirlwind week here at Casa de Ross (for an accurate comparison, try saying "whirlwind week" five times, quickly, and that will come close to the experience of living it!)

First, it's Press Week. Enough said! :)

After two approved delays, I showed up bright and early Monday morning to fulfill my summons for jury duty. I was fashionably late, thanks to the ignorant bliss of not having to drive to downtown OKC every morning, thus not knowing that there's a wreck and traffic backup on the Broadway Extension each Monday. I wasn't alone, thankfully.

As it turned out, I needn't have been in a hurry. I sat. And sat. And sat. And ate lunch. And sat. And sat. And finally I was called in the pool that was told to report to juvenile court at 9 a.m. the next day.

Bobby likes to joke that I make friends wherever I go. Monday was no exception. I walked in with a woman who looked about my age - wearing a similar expression of forced civil service. Five or 10 minutes later, another woman about our age came to stand by us along our little piece of the jury holding room wall. We became jury buddies. We chatted all morning. We ate lunch together at the museum cafe across the street. I learned lots about these ladies! I was almost sad to leave them behind on the green-cushioned pew Monday afternoon, but we all knew I was going to a better place. :)

Of course, that knowledge came with the realization that I likely wouldn't get a cushy little civil case now that I was headed to juvie.

I didn't make many friends on Tuesday, but did read half a book. I was assigned to a case, and right before we were called in, the defendant accepted the DA's deal. I was so, so relieved.

In other news from the home front, Kendall got her braces this week. She's seeing the same ortho that put her oldest brother in braces at age 8.

She was so, so excited to get them! A few hours later, she was begging for me to take them off for her. Poor bunny.

We are told she'll be in this first stage of treatment for less than a year. She picked out some sweet little heart brackets for her front teeth to liven things up a bit. I am amazed, two days later, how much her front teeth already have moved!

Here are some shots from the big day. (She picked pink bands for Valentine's Day.)











And here's one I snapped this morning, for comparison. Yes, the chapped lips are pretty! Kendall hates putting stuff on, and with temps in the teens, it's brutal!



All three children have been home at various times this week with the mysterious central Oklahoma "fever virus." The symptoms include ... fever. And the need to lay around and play video games. Very strange virus.

Bobby's getting over an ear infection, and I had a sinus infection earlier this week. Our house is oozing antibiotics! Hopefully this is it for awhile, because I'm dying to see and hold Miss Maggie Tryggestad, Erik and Jeanie's first baby. Just making sure I'm not a carrier of anything before I go calling. :)