The Oklahoma "Hello!"

So for those of you who've seen "Oklahoma!" you are aware that the Oklahoma "Hello!" can be pretty...hot and steamy :)  Well, that is exactly what we got for a hello- hot and humid!  It has been over 100 every day since we got here, some days up to 113 degrees outside!

Luckily, we have great AC in our house.  However, it does tend to give me cabin fever to not be able to go outside.  They need a Monkey Bizness here!  That is something I am going to work on :P

They do have great parks here, we just have to go after the heat starts to wear off...we usually try to stay indoors until after 7pm, and it gets dark by 9.  But those 2 hours at the park are closer to 85-95 degrees, minus the harsh direct sunlight and packed with other families.

So far Nathan's 2 favorites are a sports park and a sprinkler park just a few minutes from out house.

This picture was taken at 8pm!

And we stayed until about 9:30 this time because the kids had both gotten good naps (perhaps out of pure bordom..booo).

Even Hannah was still having a good time on the slides :)

Additionally, Jeremy has been working with Nathan on some learning projects.  Nathan LOVES the time with his parents, the positive attention and the new skills he's learning.  He has learned to button and unbutton his own shirts, trace and write all the letters of the alphabet and numbers 1-10.  He has also been learning to draw pictures (rather than scribbles) using the shapes that he knows, do puzzles with 48 pieces all by himself, and properly use scissors. 

Perhaps his favorite activities are the "motor skills" ... can't imagine why :)  He has been practicing doing stairs with only one foot on each step, and we have been learning about Flamingos (what they eat, where they live, etc.) and of course, how they stand.  Nathan is so proud that he can not stand on one foot for at least 10 seconds, and have a one-legged race :)

We have also joined the YMCA, so that I can exercise, kids can play and we have unlimited access to the indoor pool!

There was one day that we spent some of the hottest hours of the day outside, but it was worth it!  Our stake help a huge primary activity inviting all the kids and their families to join in a Temple Trek in honor of pioneer day.  Our closest temple is Oklahoma City, which is about an hour and a half away (well, 3 hours if you skimp on the toll road, but that is so not worth it for $7!).

I was really impressed with how many people showed up for this!  It started at 10am and there were 3 stations.  There is a stake center in the same parking lot as the temple, so only one rotation was outside :)

The first rotation talked about ordinances and how special the temple is.  Kid's got to make a paper temple and see people in their wedding clothes, etc. (Nathan missed most of this one due to some drama of shutting his fingers in the car door on the way in...sad).

The second rotation was walking around the temple.  The lady who did our tour did a good job of stopping in places that had shade to look at different parts of the temple or tell stories about the temple.

Yes, it was sunny, and yes, I still wanted a picture!

As we got around to the back of the temple each child was given a white, temple-shaped sponge they could dip into one of the buckets of water and wash the steps of the temple.

Nathan was a good little washer!

They also had a really nice fountain in the back that produced a nice mist when the wind blew.

You betcha that is where daddy and Hannah were hanging out!

As we continued around the temple each child got to walk up and touch the actual building right below the Holiness to the Lord House of the Lord sign.

The last rotation was inside the temple (the waiting room before you enter the temple).  Each group got to sit in the temple and hear a special message from the temple president about how we can prepare to enter the rest of the temple for baptisms as a youth and other ordinances as grown-ups.  He gave each child a picture of the Oklahoma City temple and shook everyone's hand.

When we finished all 3 rotations they served a lovely lunch before everyone started the trek back home.  This was such a fun day and a special opportunity for Nathan.  I am so glad we made the effort to go!

As we prepared to leave we got a picture of the whole family outside the front gates of the temple.

Despite the heat, it was definitely worth it!

The best part: while walking around the temple our guide talked about the statue of Moroni and how he always faces east, so he can blow his horn and tell the world when Jesus is coming.  Not 30 minutes later a loud horn (that sounds a noon every Saturday to test tornado sirens) sounded and Nathan looks up and me and says, "Mom! It's Moroni!  Jesus is coming!"

We have only begun exploring the adventures here, and plan to go more especially after things cool down a bit (a few more weeks, supposedly!).  I plan to keep you all posted of our adventure here for however long it may or may not last!