Fast forward

It's been a little while since I've written an update. So, to bring us all up to speed on the latest and greatest, I am challenging myself (er... limiting myself?) to one sentence.

I know you'll grant me graciousness if I happen to extend myself more than that. Sometimes, I just can't help myself! Also, there are a few things that deserve their own post. These are the quick highlights.

1. We have been exploring Southwestern Oklahoma, and everything within a one hour drive of here (because, truth be told: if you're not staying on base or in town, you're driving one hour. Really. I'm not kidding.)

2. In our discoveries, we have found a wildlife refuge with real nature sightings! Nate has become quite adept at spotting buffalo, prairie dogs, wild roaming long-horn cattle, and on our latest hike, rattlesnake. 

3. Halloween happened, and our kids traipsed around housing in costumes that (in my totally partial opinion) were adorable. They rang door bells, declared "Trick or Treat" and loved the loot they raked in (which included a rather high amount of KitKats. Thank goodness they are a favourite around here.) After our 45 minutes of candy sleuthing, we walked home and saw a real live owl. In my fumble to get the camera our and take a picture, it swooped away - but it was beautiful and totally cool to see one on Halloween night.

4. We went to a Cotton Festival. Yes, friends, there is cotton growing here. And I must admit, I was rather surprised to see it growing here. I'm not sure what I was expecting to see in the vast and countless farm field around here, but cotton really wasn't on my list. In any case, it's neat to see. And of course, there was a festival! So, we went and cotton a real cotton blossom and climbed on tractors, and even saw the cotton being harvested and baled. Thanks, Oklahoma, for bringing an out fo the box experience to us.

At the cotton festival!

This is what we see when we look out the window. Yes, it's like this everywhere.

5. In our every day, we have a rotation of activities: bowling (free on Tuesdays!); the gym where I get a workout and Nate gets to shoot hoops and Brooke gets to tumble over giant foam blocks and tunnels; the community center where the retro arcade games are free and there is an actual little coffee stop (the only one in town, if you don't include the drive through that is at the steakhouse saloon); the park and story time at the library, and walks around the golf course - the path is lovely and is takes us right by the runway which the kids love because they get to see the "plane that dad flies" really close.