Another Sunday, another visit to a new church. All these churches we are visiting have their own strengths and "vibe" if you will, it is quite fascinating. This one was a Lutheran church (Mo.Syn.) and they were a happy, huggy bunch (and really good singers)! We felt very welcomed by everyone. Jacob was unusually calm (not fidgety or bouncy) during the service, very quiet and taking everything in. It might have had something to do with the cushy pews...
Lisa was with us for the day yesterday, which meant that Paul had to go pick her up in the van before church, in case Layla was coming too, since Layla needs a car seat, and the van has one built in. However, he failed to remember that I lost my keys to CEL, so I had to drive Fabio instead when I came to meet him at church with the rest of the kids. That was not a problem since I have missed driving my big truck. Anyway, after church we grabbed a quick lunch at BK, and then headed out to go home. Paul let me choose which I wanted to drive home, so I chose the minivan, mostly because I usually get the impression he would like to NOT have to drive it.

So he hopped into Fabio, and as I was backing out, I saw him walking toward me across the parking lot, waving me down. I stopped and rolled down the window (which surprised me greatly, since the driver's window has been stuck "up" for a week or so) and he said that he had apparently royally flooded the engine, and could he please have a ride home. Of course, I had to snicker a little that HE had flooded it, when it had started up fine for me in the morning when it was cold.
So anyway, fast-forward about an hour or so, back at home and everybody is chilling out, playing on computers. Paul says hey, drive me back to BK so I can bring the truck home. Good enough, off we go. So, as he's getting out he says, "Ok, now WAIT till I get it started before you leave!" Lol. Good thing... cuz that engine was just NOT going to start.
Sigh.
Out came the chain. Fortunately, the truck was parked on a bit of an incline, so he was able to just coast it out of the parking space in neutral. The chain came off 3 times before we left the parking lot, but the last time he got it on securely and we made it the mile-and-a-half home at a very slow pace, without further ado.
With a high five to my honey for our great accomplishment, I went inside and marshalled the girls to get their shoes on so we could all go for a walk, rather than having them all vegetating in front of computers for the rest of the day. What I really wanted was some exercise and quiet thinking time for myself, though, so I brilliantly conceived of a plan to achieve both. I gave the four girls a $20 bill and a list of ingredients for the pico de gallo and guacamole I wanted to make for supper, and sent them over to the Ranch Market (1/2 mile away). Then I took off in the opposite direction!

I have never sent my kids off on their own to the store like that before... this neighborhood always makes me a little trepidatious. But having Lisa along as a bodyguard, I felt pretty secure that they would be fine. And I had myself a wonderful walk -- I always think better when I walk. If I'm not getting my walks, I am not getting my thinks, so I really have to get back into the swing of it.
While we were walking, Paul and Jacob were working together on diagnosing Fabio's illness. I got back and found Jacob looking at the manual and reading numbers to his dad, who was up on top of the engine inside the hood, checking spark plug wires. When he had gotten everything plugged back where it should go, he sent Jacob up to the driver's seat and had him crank the engine to see if it would start, and lo and behold! It did! That was fun for The Boy.
Unfortunately, there are still some unresolved issues, so Fabio is not yet drivable... Something about a coil. I don't know what that means, except I'm not to drive it, or even attempt to correct the kitty-wumpus yard-encroaching parking job my husband did when he backed it into the driveway from the street where I had towed it to a stop.
It was another 10 minutes after I got inside before my "personal shoppers" marched in, all of them exclaiming in bewilderment over the masses of people in that store. I chuckled, since I have witnessed the fiesta-town it becomes on Sundays. What I had forgotten was that this was SUPERBOWL Sunday, and oh, my. People were mashed up in there like sardines! The girls spent more time in line than they did shopping... I could only laugh. I'm glad they had a memorable experience!
The rest of the afternoon was quiet. I set about making my tostada supper while the kids watched Ice Age and Paul went to visit Susan, who is doing a bit better since her most recent surgery, and I think her infections are subsiding too. When he got home, everyone piled their tostadas with taco beef, refried beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, black olives, shredded cheese, and plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream (wow, YUMM!) and we had a
Pretender party. Such a fun show... remember the 90's? Miss Parker and her
micro-mini skirts... lol! I always thought
she was
so glamorous, if only she would
add about 18 inches to her skirts.
Anyway... we wound it down after a couple of episodes and I took Lisa home so she could do her laundry for the week. And that was our Sunday in a nutshell.
Now we are into another week of school, and I'm looking at doing some painting, taking the boy to karate and another dr's appointment, picking up my new glasses some time this week, and helping Jeff get sorted and packed for the move to his new apartment this coming weekend. Lots to do! I'd best get on it!
