I know...been awhiiilllle since I've posted, but if you check out my track record, regular posting is not on the "to do" list. Holidays and all...I do have a lot of pics to share and the kids are on winter break, so I may find some time between the Cosmic Catch, trying to figure out where to put the Wii and taking care of those little details like dinner (Thanks, Jesse! I owe you...) I hope to get back on here with some life moments to share!
Hope you're having a great winter holiday!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Happy Anniversary Jesse & Angi!
Jesse and I have been married for 16 years. Hard to believe - the time has flown by so fast! We are celebrating in our usual fashion...separated by an ocean (or desert...), emails and text messages. Here's the (very) abridged version of our story.
It all began in middle school - Jesse was in my 7th grade science class (Hi, Mrs. Allen!) He was seated at a table in the back and usually attracting the attention of the teacher... : ) At the time he was just someone in my class. It wasn't until a friend of mine had a thing for him in high school that I really noticed him. I thought he was cute, but my friend liked him, so I didn't give him a second thought then.
We hung out with the same circle of friends, but not together. One day, my girlfriend and I went to BK and grabbed something to eat. While in the drive-thru line, she decided that she wanted to go to her boyfriend's house. No problem! I changed clothes in my car while we were waiting for our food and then off we went. Jesse was at the boyfriend's house hanging out. He was playing Nintendo, so I joined him.
We played and the rest, well, (ahem) is history (remember - history is as someone perceives it - Jesse could have a slightly different version...he beat me at Tetris sometimes...) we dated through highschool, had a baby, got married and have been busy ever since between kids and the military!
We've come a long way, Baby! In honor of our anniversary...spark some love, play Tetris! (The up arrow key turns the pieces.)
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Dude - where's my kid?!
Sometime last week, I was doing the usual. Running errands with E. G. was on a field trip with her class and K. and J. were in school. Normally, on piano days, I pick up G. and JT (E. is already with me), we eat a snack and then G. goes to piano near the school. While she is at her lesson, we drive to pick up K. from her bus drop off point. She eats a snack and then it's usually time for G. to come out and K. to go in.
This day I get to the school a few minutes behind the norm, but still before the kids usually get out. I don't have to pick up G. until almost 6 from the local bahnhof (train station), so I'm looking for JT. I park the car and wait. 10 minutes pass and no JT. In another 5, the buses will leave, so I run up to our bus and ask the bus driver (who speaks very little English - have I mentioned how much German I don't know?) if she has seen JT. She shakes her head. At this point, I'm not too worried, maybe he stopped to talk to a friend along the way, so I make my way down the long line of buses.
No JT. And no piano teacher. I look at my watch and start to panic - just a little. I call the after school program, SAS, but they haven't seen him. I call the school's front office, but no answer. It's almost time to pick up K. I call a friend and ask her to keep an eye out at home and to call if he shows up. I get in the car and start driving towards the drop off for K., totally forgetting that there is construction that makes what is usually a 5 minute drive, 10.
I call K. to explain the situation and find out her ETA. She agrees to meet me en route. She calls the piano teacher and lets him know we are on our way. I have her call a friend to verify the time for G.'s pick up. The friend says she thinks it's 10 till 6, but she'll check to make sure. Murphy must be my best friend...pick up time is 10 till 4! That was in 10 minutes!
Still no JT. My friend at home calls to tell me that he didn't show up. I'm driving like a mad woman to the bahnhof, knowing that I'm going to be late. It's almost 15 after 4 by the time I find a parking spot. Whew! I am not the only bad parent today - there were still 6-7 kids waiting with the teachers. I apologized profusely while running back to the car.
My phone rings. It's SAS. They found JT! We make it back to the piano place and walk in. It's actually the teen center. He is sitting on the plump couch, laughing with some boys, watching cartoons. He is not only safe, but having a great time!
For the tiniest part of one second I wanted to scream! The whole time I am running around, totally panicked (did I mention that security on the installation was beefed up? Armed soldiers, in combat gear, patrolling?!) imagining the worst...he was fine.
When he noticed me standing there, he said, "Hi, Mom! Do I have to go now?!"
(After calming down and talking to the staff at the teen center, apparently JT showed up, literally on the doorstep. One of the staff asked what he was doing. He told her that "every Thursday was piano day and I meet my mom and sisters here." Someone recognized him and let him in...my cell phone wasn't listed in the main system (I only wrote it down on every form I filled out for SAS, the teen center and piano lessons...)
I'm thinking about buying those GPS shoes for kids...
This day I get to the school a few minutes behind the norm, but still before the kids usually get out. I don't have to pick up G. until almost 6 from the local bahnhof (train station), so I'm looking for JT. I park the car and wait. 10 minutes pass and no JT. In another 5, the buses will leave, so I run up to our bus and ask the bus driver (who speaks very little English - have I mentioned how much German I don't know?) if she has seen JT. She shakes her head. At this point, I'm not too worried, maybe he stopped to talk to a friend along the way, so I make my way down the long line of buses.
No JT. And no piano teacher. I look at my watch and start to panic - just a little. I call the after school program, SAS, but they haven't seen him. I call the school's front office, but no answer. It's almost time to pick up K. I call a friend and ask her to keep an eye out at home and to call if he shows up. I get in the car and start driving towards the drop off for K., totally forgetting that there is construction that makes what is usually a 5 minute drive, 10.
I call K. to explain the situation and find out her ETA. She agrees to meet me en route. She calls the piano teacher and lets him know we are on our way. I have her call a friend to verify the time for G.'s pick up. The friend says she thinks it's 10 till 6, but she'll check to make sure. Murphy must be my best friend...pick up time is 10 till 4! That was in 10 minutes!
Still no JT. My friend at home calls to tell me that he didn't show up. I'm driving like a mad woman to the bahnhof, knowing that I'm going to be late. It's almost 15 after 4 by the time I find a parking spot. Whew! I am not the only bad parent today - there were still 6-7 kids waiting with the teachers. I apologized profusely while running back to the car.
My phone rings. It's SAS. They found JT! We make it back to the piano place and walk in. It's actually the teen center. He is sitting on the plump couch, laughing with some boys, watching cartoons. He is not only safe, but having a great time!
For the tiniest part of one second I wanted to scream! The whole time I am running around, totally panicked (did I mention that security on the installation was beefed up? Armed soldiers, in combat gear, patrolling?!) imagining the worst...he was fine.
When he noticed me standing there, he said, "Hi, Mom! Do I have to go now?!"
(After calming down and talking to the staff at the teen center, apparently JT showed up, literally on the doorstep. One of the staff asked what he was doing. He told her that "every Thursday was piano day and I meet my mom and sisters here." Someone recognized him and let him in...my cell phone wasn't listed in the main system (I only wrote it down on every form I filled out for SAS, the teen center and piano lessons...)
I'm thinking about buying those GPS shoes for kids...
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Here I am!
Just wanted to pop in and let you all know that I did great on my midterms - A's for both - and now I'm waiting on the final grades. The waiting is the worst part. I've done the work, everything's submitted (as of last week) and now I have to wait. The instructor's are supposed to have the grades in by May 4th, so only a couple more days to go...
Big man is doing the job thing and is currently in Vegas, soaking up the heat. Lucky him! The wind's been blowing here and last night I actually thought about turning on the heater, but that would have required me to get out of bed to do it...not happening!
A couple of weeks ago, the family took a trip to a water/theme park in Wassenaar, Holland. The kids had a great time and the adults, well, let's just say we enjoyed the down time! I'll post about the trip later this week (I hope!) and share the details.
The kids will be out of school soon, which signals the end of the "gotta go here, gotta go there" portion of this year (at least until school starts up again!) It also foretells of our upcoming trip to the states to visit family and friends. Looking forward to that!
Okay, that was the short version of what's happened lately. Details to follow soon!
Big man is doing the job thing and is currently in Vegas, soaking up the heat. Lucky him! The wind's been blowing here and last night I actually thought about turning on the heater, but that would have required me to get out of bed to do it...not happening!
A couple of weeks ago, the family took a trip to a water/theme park in Wassenaar, Holland. The kids had a great time and the adults, well, let's just say we enjoyed the down time! I'll post about the trip later this week (I hope!) and share the details.
The kids will be out of school soon, which signals the end of the "gotta go here, gotta go there" portion of this year (at least until school starts up again!) It also foretells of our upcoming trip to the states to visit family and friends. Looking forward to that!
Okay, that was the short version of what's happened lately. Details to follow soon!
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Thursday Thirteen #4
13 Things I did instead of studying for my midterm
1. Paid the bills
2. Washed laundry
3. Walked the dog
4. Put the clothes in the dryer
5. Printed copies of Shel Silverstein's "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out" for the girls in my youth group to recite.
6. Made breakfast for dinner
7. Ate dinner
8. Went to Activity Days (youth group) and discussed how we were going to dress up like garbage bags and recite this poem for an "Untalent Show"
9. Drove home
10. Caught up with P. Sunshine about her day
11. Emailed parents a reminder about what the girls will need for the "Untalent Show"
12. Emailed P.Sunshine's math teacher about make up work
13. Typed a T13
Special thanks to http://fruityspirit.com/phoblography/?page_id=2 for the T13 header!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun!
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