I think I've confirmed directly with everyone - there may still be a little bit of discussion between spouses as needed. But I'll go ahead and throw this up here anyway. If anyone has any problem with this, please just call me and we'll figure something out.
EXCHANGE 1: Here are the names for the exchange. Mom and Dad have opted to not participate in this, so if you get them a gift, it will be separate from this.
Trina and Adam -- give to Tawnia
Eric and Laurel -- give to Clarissa
Jared and Michelle -- give to Mindy
Tawnia -- give to Nathan and Amanda
Emily -- give to Jared and Michelle
Nathan and Amanda -- give to Eric and Laurel
Mindy -- give to Trina and Adam
Clarissa -- give to Emily
For the theme, I like Jared's idea of giving something inspirational - a book, picture, CD, etc ... that has influenced you and that you think would benefit the other person/couple. I don't think we need to put a price limit on this, since all of us are dirt poor and figuring out our budgets, so no one is going to get anything expensive anyway.
EXCHANGE 2: This would be for the 7 grandkids. Maybe a book exchange? (For one thing, it would be easy to mail - a padded envelope would work. Same idea, and again, please let me know if anyone has any problem with this. All of the babies/toddlers are obviously easy to get books for (board books!!), but Jared, please let us know what books Brooke and Bryan are currently interested in so they can get something age appropriate that they would enjoy.
Brooke -- give to Rosemary
Bryan -- give to Allison
Stevie -- give to Joshua
Summer -- give to Brooke
Joshua -- give to Bryan
Allison -- give to Summer
Rosemary -- give to Stevie
85 days until Christmas!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sorry it's been so long
Life here in Lafayette has been rather busy, at least for me. Between work, my callings and my Christmas projects I'm going all the time. Nathan pointed out, yesterday, that I haven't posted in over a month, so I guess I should get with the program. I've been working on a few upgrades to the timeline and such but they aren't quite ready yet. But I figure it's time for us all to have a new question to answer...What is the best present you have received? What is the best one you gave? I'm looking forward to your answers.
Love ya,
MOM
Love ya,
MOM
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Cookies
So I just finished making cake mix cookies to take to Break the Fast tomorrow. I made one batch using devil's food with m'n'm's in them and one using funfinity with coconut in them. Good stuff!
Today was interesting. It was really overcast all day which was reminding me of a good old Oregon fall day... and then it started snowing. Not so Oregon like. When I left the RS Broadcast my friend Tiffany noted that it didn't smell like fall, it smelled like Christmas. So now I'm in the mood for Christmas music and all that Christmasy stuff. Speaking of Christmas, are we doing an exchange or not??
I am doing well in my classes. I got a 93% on of the tests I took on Friday. I'm not sure what I got on the other one. They were both on the computer but one had fill in the blanks, so the teacher (or more likely his TA) has to go in and manually correct each test. I took a different test earlier last week and got 100% on it. So I would say I'm doing well. I'm trying to stay caught up or ahead in everything, especially because once the week gets going I don't have a whole lot of time to spend on school.
I have been getting up at 6 a.m. and going walking on Mon, Wed, and Fridays. It has been a bit cold, but was actually a little warmer this last Friday. I'm not sure what Monday will be like (what with the snow and all). It is a nice start to my day. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I tutor at 7:20 in the morning, so I get up and get ready for the day at 6 am instead of going walking.
So yeah, Work, school, tutoring, walking, dancing, FHE, Institute, Choir, and Church are keeping me busy! And out of trouble.
Love,
Tawnia
Today was interesting. It was really overcast all day which was reminding me of a good old Oregon fall day... and then it started snowing. Not so Oregon like. When I left the RS Broadcast my friend Tiffany noted that it didn't smell like fall, it smelled like Christmas. So now I'm in the mood for Christmas music and all that Christmasy stuff. Speaking of Christmas, are we doing an exchange or not??
I am doing well in my classes. I got a 93% on of the tests I took on Friday. I'm not sure what I got on the other one. They were both on the computer but one had fill in the blanks, so the teacher (or more likely his TA) has to go in and manually correct each test. I took a different test earlier last week and got 100% on it. So I would say I'm doing well. I'm trying to stay caught up or ahead in everything, especially because once the week gets going I don't have a whole lot of time to spend on school.
I have been getting up at 6 a.m. and going walking on Mon, Wed, and Fridays. It has been a bit cold, but was actually a little warmer this last Friday. I'm not sure what Monday will be like (what with the snow and all). It is a nice start to my day. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I tutor at 7:20 in the morning, so I get up and get ready for the day at 6 am instead of going walking.
So yeah, Work, school, tutoring, walking, dancing, FHE, Institute, Choir, and Church are keeping me busy! And out of trouble.
Love,
Tawnia
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
This week at work
Last night at work was . . . interesting. One person is on vacation, and another is injured, so there are fewer people who have to work. And yesterday, a bag of sugar was spilled; there was a nice pile in the stockroom. Then a stack of juice bottles fell . . . twice. And people kept paying with one dollar bills, so I ended up with almost a hundred of them in my drawer. Fun day, right? And I can't work on Wednesday, because I'm one of the officers in the history honor society (I'm the historian) and we need to have a meeting. And I want to go to W&L in order to get some primary sources for my paper. But I could be the only one who can come in on Thursday. And I've got a biology test on Friday, and next week there are tests in Am Civ and German. In German, I'm still having some problems with dative and accusative cases; most prepositions are one or the other, but there are some that are either/or (auf, an, hinter, vor, in, uber, unter, neben zwischen). Those who have taken German might know what I'm talking about. For those who don't, I'll put it simply. Thank goodness English only has one word for "the."
Monday, September 24, 2007
Happy Monday
Hi all,
Lately I've been commenting that the family doesn't post nearly as much as everyone used to...and then today I realized that I ought to post - it sure has been awhile! Things are going pretty well with us. While we still have apartments we need to fill, it isn't quite as daunting when another 30-day notice jumps through our mail slot. Just a sigh...and on to more paperwork and phone calls, etc. I suppose it is calming down, but people aren't nearly as interested in renting these days - summer was crazy! Anyway - that's pretty boring...
Joshua is doing great! He's doing a lot that you can't quite see in pictures - grasping onto things...looking like he's scratching them, and generally doing a much better job of being able to grab what he wants to. He's enjoying some of his solid foods - rice cereal is pretty good...carrots are ok, green beans are the best, and bananas made his tummy upset.
He has finally become interested in rolling over, and sometimes he will keep on going - over and over...it is the end of an era - an era of leaving him on his back and knowing he'll stay there, and the era of poopy diapers not really being that scary. Now they are quite scary. Ah well. His feet can touch the ground now in his little play table like Summer's, but it may be awhile before he can actually push enough to move around in it. He figured out how to push this little whale, which makes the fish spin around in a circle...and when he figured it out, he did it over and over and over...we got a little film of him doing it - he was very proud.
Grandma and Grandpa Rozen came down to see him (and us, of course, but mostly Joshua!) this weekend and that was a whole lot of fun. He especially enjoyed singing with Grandma and playing with his caterpillar on the floor with Grandpa.
Joshua likes to sing some funny songs with his Mommy also - his all-time favorite (even more than Old McJoshy, amazingly!) is "Bubbles the Baby Spitbug." Some of you have been able to enjoy the amazing song, written by Joshua's Mommy. He also likes, "Poop-inator Poop-inator ate a little alligator" but that is generally reserved for the changing table.
Also, his "Aunt" Ashley got married this weekend! He is a bit upset about this because he loves his Aunt Ashley and she has been staying with us off and on since he was born, so he's not so sure about forgiving his new "Uncle" Adam (he already has a REAL uncle Adam) for taking Ashley away...but it'll be ok.
Things are going well for us across the board - worrying about money and the future and all of that, but it'll all work out, I have no doubt.
Well on that optimistic note, I gotta go play with my baby who is rather perturbed that I'm paying attention to the computer rather than him! He is just like his Daddy!
Love you all, and I hope to see more posts! Sorry that I haven't posted much, either.
Manda
Lately I've been commenting that the family doesn't post nearly as much as everyone used to...and then today I realized that I ought to post - it sure has been awhile! Things are going pretty well with us. While we still have apartments we need to fill, it isn't quite as daunting when another 30-day notice jumps through our mail slot. Just a sigh...and on to more paperwork and phone calls, etc. I suppose it is calming down, but people aren't nearly as interested in renting these days - summer was crazy! Anyway - that's pretty boring...
Joshua is doing great! He's doing a lot that you can't quite see in pictures - grasping onto things...looking like he's scratching them, and generally doing a much better job of being able to grab what he wants to. He's enjoying some of his solid foods - rice cereal is pretty good...carrots are ok, green beans are the best, and bananas made his tummy upset.
He has finally become interested in rolling over, and sometimes he will keep on going - over and over...it is the end of an era - an era of leaving him on his back and knowing he'll stay there, and the era of poopy diapers not really being that scary. Now they are quite scary. Ah well. His feet can touch the ground now in his little play table like Summer's, but it may be awhile before he can actually push enough to move around in it. He figured out how to push this little whale, which makes the fish spin around in a circle...and when he figured it out, he did it over and over and over...we got a little film of him doing it - he was very proud.
Grandma and Grandpa Rozen came down to see him (and us, of course, but mostly Joshua!) this weekend and that was a whole lot of fun. He especially enjoyed singing with Grandma and playing with his caterpillar on the floor with Grandpa.
Joshua likes to sing some funny songs with his Mommy also - his all-time favorite (even more than Old McJoshy, amazingly!) is "Bubbles the Baby Spitbug." Some of you have been able to enjoy the amazing song, written by Joshua's Mommy. He also likes, "Poop-inator Poop-inator ate a little alligator" but that is generally reserved for the changing table.
Also, his "Aunt" Ashley got married this weekend! He is a bit upset about this because he loves his Aunt Ashley and she has been staying with us off and on since he was born, so he's not so sure about forgiving his new "Uncle" Adam (he already has a REAL uncle Adam) for taking Ashley away...but it'll be ok.
Things are going well for us across the board - worrying about money and the future and all of that, but it'll all work out, I have no doubt.
Well on that optimistic note, I gotta go play with my baby who is rather perturbed that I'm paying attention to the computer rather than him! He is just like his Daddy!
Love you all, and I hope to see more posts! Sorry that I haven't posted much, either.
Manda
Friday, September 21, 2007
Live from Santa Ana
Let me begin tonight's post by expressing my condolences, sympathies, and concerns for Bryan's most recent injury. I hope he's healing up well.
It's been nice to read everyone's news. Sounds like you're all making good progress. Well done.
In honor of Allie's turning two months old today, and finding my long lost camera the other day, I've updated my family's little page. Check it out for very recent pictures (this afternoon) and other fun surprises.
As you can see from these pictures, Laurel gave Stevie a haircut yesterday. We're sad to see his curls go, but they'll be back. I think Laurel did it because the man at Albertson's thought he was a girl.
Allie has been a bit of a whiner these days. Maybe it's a growth spurt or something but she's eating all the time and wearing poor Laurel out.
Stevie is getting bigger and funnier and more talkative. He said "The Mommy's Book" today. He repeats everything we say, which is pretty dang cute. And a little scary.
I've been busy working. I have two big projects that are coming to fruition now. I had a conference call this morning at 5:30, then a Kinkos run, then a day at the office. I got a nap tonight which was very nice. Then Stevie woke me up by standing on me and stomping on my head.
It's been nice to read everyone's news. Sounds like you're all making good progress. Well done.
In honor of Allie's turning two months old today, and finding my long lost camera the other day, I've updated my family's little page. Check it out for very recent pictures (this afternoon) and other fun surprises.
As you can see from these pictures, Laurel gave Stevie a haircut yesterday. We're sad to see his curls go, but they'll be back. I think Laurel did it because the man at Albertson's thought he was a girl.
Allie has been a bit of a whiner these days. Maybe it's a growth spurt or something but she's eating all the time and wearing poor Laurel out.
Stevie is getting bigger and funnier and more talkative. He said "The Mommy's Book" today. He repeats everything we say, which is pretty dang cute. And a little scary.
I've been busy working. I have two big projects that are coming to fruition now. I had a conference call this morning at 5:30, then a Kinkos run, then a day at the office. I got a nap tonight which was very nice. Then Stevie woke me up by standing on me and stomping on my head.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Christmas
So Trina, Jared, and I think that a gift exchange would be a good idea... do the rest of you dislike it because you already have gifts going for everyone??
For Christmas I am going to visit Eric, Laurel, Stevie, and Allie. I'm very excited. I will be back in Utah for New Years though. I fly out on the evening of the 19th and back on the evening of the 30th. Speaking of that trip... I'd like to send Eric and Laurel my flight plans but I don't have a current e-mail for them. So please e-mail me. Also to Eric and Laurel - I'd love to see new pictures of Allie on the website.
Life is keeping me busy. I'll probably make a chain of the number of days I work between now and Christmas, or something like that, soon. I have to have something to keep me going through frustrating days at work.
Actually work isn't to bad at the moment. I feel like things are going well.
-Tawnia
For Christmas I am going to visit Eric, Laurel, Stevie, and Allie. I'm very excited. I will be back in Utah for New Years though. I fly out on the evening of the 19th and back on the evening of the 30th. Speaking of that trip... I'd like to send Eric and Laurel my flight plans but I don't have a current e-mail for them. So please e-mail me. Also to Eric and Laurel - I'd love to see new pictures of Allie on the website.
Life is keeping me busy. I'll probably make a chain of the number of days I work between now and Christmas, or something like that, soon. I have to have something to keep me going through frustrating days at work.
Actually work isn't to bad at the moment. I feel like things are going well.
-Tawnia
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Oh, by the way...
I noticed that no one seemed to be expressing any concern for Bryan... then I realized I had posted it on my page, but not here. If you haven't seen my page since the weekend, the news is there.
updated pictures
So, Clarissa, Mindy tells us on the sisters blog that you have news. So what's the deal?
Mindy The Great has also updated Summer's month-to-month pictures, adding 4 more shots (13, 14, 15, 16 months). Summer is growing like a weed. I have a couple of other new pages of pictures to add, but I need to figure out the specific pictures. I'm planning on getting that to Mindy in the next week or so, so that they'll hopefully be up by the end of the month. And when Mindy comes out here in November to help with the girls, she will show me how to do this stuff so that I can put the pictures up myself. (Imagine that! And it's one of my top 100 things - learn how to post pictures on the webpage.)
Rosemary is also growing like a weed. I'm going to the doctor every 2 weeks now, and in the last 2-week stretch, my stomach measured 4 inches larger. I expect a similar change at my next appointment (which is next Monday), and then I think I start going for checks every week. She's been getting up into my ribcage over the past week or so, which has definitely been the most painful part of this pregnancy. Lots of hassles with my hip joints and sciatic nerve and the like, which makes it rather difficult to move at all, but the ribcage thing hurts worse. It's either her head or her rear end, rather than her legs pushing up there.
Any other comments on the Christmas gift exchange ideas? Mom and Dad, what do YOU think?
Mindy The Great has also updated Summer's month-to-month pictures, adding 4 more shots (13, 14, 15, 16 months). Summer is growing like a weed. I have a couple of other new pages of pictures to add, but I need to figure out the specific pictures. I'm planning on getting that to Mindy in the next week or so, so that they'll hopefully be up by the end of the month. And when Mindy comes out here in November to help with the girls, she will show me how to do this stuff so that I can put the pictures up myself. (Imagine that! And it's one of my top 100 things - learn how to post pictures on the webpage.)
Rosemary is also growing like a weed. I'm going to the doctor every 2 weeks now, and in the last 2-week stretch, my stomach measured 4 inches larger. I expect a similar change at my next appointment (which is next Monday), and then I think I start going for checks every week. She's been getting up into my ribcage over the past week or so, which has definitely been the most painful part of this pregnancy. Lots of hassles with my hip joints and sciatic nerve and the like, which makes it rather difficult to move at all, but the ribcage thing hurts worse. It's either her head or her rear end, rather than her legs pushing up there.
Any other comments on the Christmas gift exchange ideas? Mom and Dad, what do YOU think?
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Hello, family
Hello, everyone. Trina, I sent you an e-mail with the dates for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the school's temple day. It's yahoo, right? (There's also plans for a temple trip in November sometime, I believe; I'm the ward temple trip coordinator. Isn't that one of the neatest callings?) I'll call you later, Trina, but right now I'm in the library. I need to do research for my senior paper, and write a little paper for biology.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Work
So my life just got slightly more busy and interesting. I was asked if I'd be willing to come in four days a week in the mornings and help with the reading groups in the second grade in the mornings. So I'll be doing that between 9 and 10 am Tuesday through Friday. I also just added tutoring one of my old students on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (7:30 to 8). And I decided to change my other tutoring to just Wednesday and Fridays frm 4:30 - 6:00, so that I could have my Mondays completely free for homework.
Anyway, along with taking the four more hours at work, I also got myself a pay raise of a dollar an hour. Actually they had originally promised me that amount and then on the contract it was a dollar lower... so I said that I could take the job if I could have the original amount. And they gave it to me. So I think I might actually survive the school year financially.
Now I just have to find the time to study between all those other things. That's why I have Mondays free... Monday is my BIG study day where I try to get as much done as possible. And then I almost always end up doing stuff on Saturdays... but this Saturday is the Manti Temple Trip so that might be tricky. Anyway, I have work to do.
Love,
Tawnia
Anyway, along with taking the four more hours at work, I also got myself a pay raise of a dollar an hour. Actually they had originally promised me that amount and then on the contract it was a dollar lower... so I said that I could take the job if I could have the original amount. And they gave it to me. So I think I might actually survive the school year financially.
Now I just have to find the time to study between all those other things. That's why I have Mondays free... Monday is my BIG study day where I try to get as much done as possible. And then I almost always end up doing stuff on Saturdays... but this Saturday is the Manti Temple Trip so that might be tricky. Anyway, I have work to do.
Love,
Tawnia
Thursday, September 13, 2007
another Christmas question
To answer Jared's question first ... we will be spending the holidays here in DC, as usual. Adam's sister Naomi and her family are coming up from Georgia for Thanksgiving. Adam is already planning to spend a lot of Christmas break at the library (also as usual) getting ready for moot court in February - he'll be in one of the top national competitions. I think the first one is regional, and if he places, he would compete at national in March or April. (Or something like that. Adam, feel free to correct me.) Anyway ... I also expect we'll go up to Baltimore once or twice to visit our friends there. Those are the plans so far.
My question is: does anyone want to do a gift exchange with the siblings? We could have some kind of theme, like something unique to the state you live in (since most of us live in different states), or your favorite children's book, or whatever. I think it would be cool to see what other people come up with, and it would be nice to be part of a larger family Christmas even though no one has any money right now and we'll all be in different places. It would one gift per couple for those of us who are married, and everyone could do what they want for Mom and Dad. Or Mom and Dad could participate in the exchange too - their choice.
Also, for those of us with kids - do you want to do a gift exchange among the cousins? I know they're mostly babies, but I still think it would be cute to do. Same logic behind it - be part of a larger family Christmas, and hopefully our kids will grow up with more awareness of their cousins even with the distance.
Other than that, all is normal around here. Adam is gone long hours at school, because he has evening classes 3 days a week but is still on campus studying in the library all day. Summer and I hang out at home or go to the park. Park time is starting to get cut because I'm having a harder time keeping up with her, and our park is not fenced in. Yes, she likes to take off running away from the playground in various directions, laughing the whole time. Baby prep currently involves going through clothes, and sorting them by size and season. I'm feeling okay for the most part - just generally starting to be more tired. Right when Summer's energy level is going up ... nice timing ...
My question is: does anyone want to do a gift exchange with the siblings? We could have some kind of theme, like something unique to the state you live in (since most of us live in different states), or your favorite children's book, or whatever. I think it would be cool to see what other people come up with, and it would be nice to be part of a larger family Christmas even though no one has any money right now and we'll all be in different places. It would one gift per couple for those of us who are married, and everyone could do what they want for Mom and Dad. Or Mom and Dad could participate in the exchange too - their choice.
Also, for those of us with kids - do you want to do a gift exchange among the cousins? I know they're mostly babies, but I still think it would be cute to do. Same logic behind it - be part of a larger family Christmas, and hopefully our kids will grow up with more awareness of their cousins even with the distance.
Other than that, all is normal around here. Adam is gone long hours at school, because he has evening classes 3 days a week but is still on campus studying in the library all day. Summer and I hang out at home or go to the park. Park time is starting to get cut because I'm having a harder time keeping up with her, and our park is not fenced in. Yes, she likes to take off running away from the playground in various directions, laughing the whole time. Baby prep currently involves going through clothes, and sorting them by size and season. I'm feeling okay for the most part - just generally starting to be more tired. Right when Summer's energy level is going up ... nice timing ...
Monday, September 10, 2007
Jared says Hi
I have a question for everybody... What are your plans for Christmas / New Years? I know that Mom and Dad have bought their tickets to come here to Texas over the holidays, and that Tawnia will be going to California to spend time with Eric and Laurel. What about everyone else?
In our latest news, we just went to Schlitterbahn on Saturday, and had a lot of fun. It was a company picnic, and so we got discounted tickets and lots of free food. I got a bit too much sun though. The kids are doing well in school, and Brooke starts Girls Scouts again this week. Michelle had a bit of bad news this week - she went to the dentist and ended up getting a crown and a root canal. I think that's her third one.
In our latest news, we just went to Schlitterbahn on Saturday, and had a lot of fun. It was a company picnic, and so we got discounted tickets and lots of free food. I got a bit too much sun though. The kids are doing well in school, and Brooke starts Girls Scouts again this week. Michelle had a bit of bad news this week - she went to the dentist and ended up getting a crown and a root canal. I think that's her third one.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Address
Laurel, I sent you an e-mail with my address but I'm not sure if it was to a current e-mail. Also, I think Mom sent out a list with everyone's up to date information awhile back... I know it's in my e-mail box somewhere. Maybe Mom could resend that to everyone. (Does it have current e-mail addresses on it? I don't remember!) Since this board can be viewed by any old Joe Schmo, I don't want to put addresses, etc. on it. And I'm sorry to hear about Allie's hernia. Is there anything they can do about it?
Off to more studying.
Tawnia
PS I'll see you at Christmas!
Off to more studying.
Tawnia
PS I'll see you at Christmas!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Alli's Hernia
Alli is fine with the hernia. You can push it in and it pops back out over and over again. It makes a squishy noise when you push it in. The Doctor says it doesn't hurt her. She says it does not bother her at all. I'm getting used to it, although it gets bigger everyday. When it gets me down I just sing "living with a hernia" to myself. Then I don't feel so bad.
hola crumb-bums
This is laurel by the way, a.k.a. eric on this blogger. Hey, y'all, I want your addresses. The only correct address I have is Frankelyn's, so unless you all plan on moving back home by the time I get around to mailing the birth announcements you should post or email me the address you reside at.
This would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation on this matter.
On a personal note, Stevie and I are getting back to a sort of normal life now that we've been interrupted by the new kid. She's O.K.. She cries sometimes. She also spends a lot of time pooping. She also eats.
We went swimming today, Stevie and I. Allison slept in the stroller. Someday all three of us will go swimming. Then the next new kid will sleep in the stroller.
You guys are awesome.
Love, Laurel, not Eric.
This would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation on this matter.
On a personal note, Stevie and I are getting back to a sort of normal life now that we've been interrupted by the new kid. She's O.K.. She cries sometimes. She also spends a lot of time pooping. She also eats.
We went swimming today, Stevie and I. Allison slept in the stroller. Someday all three of us will go swimming. Then the next new kid will sleep in the stroller.
You guys are awesome.
Love, Laurel, not Eric.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
travel log
Thursday: I picked up Adam at school when his evening class finished, and then we picked up Summer at her buddy Ethan's house. She was there so I could take a nap and finish getting the car loaded. We were on our way at about 8 pm.
Friday: About 9:30 am, we got to Jill and Marc's new apartment in St. Augustine (the couple getting married - Jill is from Adam's high school group that is still in close contact with each other). I was wiped out and REALLY not liking the level of humidity outside. So I stayed indoors while Adam took Summer across the street to the beach for awhile. She loved it - she played in the waves and played in the sand, and came back completely dirty from head to toe. I was getting sand out of her ears for the rest of the weekend. After having lunch, we went to check into our hotel. We had to wait another hour or so, and it was pouring rain so touristy stuff was out, so we went to the outlet mall across the street. I went to the bachelorette dinner/party that evening - I was going to just the dinner and skipping out on the drinking and frivolity. Unfortunately, just the dinner took substantially longer than I had estimated ... needless to say that Adam and Summer were not particularly happy about being stranded at the hotel and that I took so long bringing them their dinner. That was not one of the highlights.
Saturday: Another "girls only" event in the morning at a salon to get nails done (I got a "repair job" done from my last haircut), and a girls-only lunch. I took Summer with me, and Adam went with a bunch of the other husbands to play golf and have their own lunch. We converged on Marc's grandparents' house - the wedding was in their backyard, so the rehearsal was there as well.
Then things got exciting ... we had a couple of run-throughs of walking up the aisle in the backyard, and a thunderstorm was coming in so everyone went inside. It POURED for a good couple of hours, and there were about 3 inches of rain in less than 1 hour, which proceeded to flood the house. One minute, Adam is telling me that he's going to help with a flood in the bathroom, where the rain was getting into the house. The next minute, there were 20-30 people rushing around with loads of towels to try to dam the 1-2 inch waves coming down the hall and into the living room, rolling up area rugs before the water could get to them, and moving furniture around. Most of the first floor of the house had over an inch of standing water by the time the mops and Shop-Vac came around. Meanwhile, many small children were VERY hungry (as well as 3 or 4 pregnant women) because we hadn't had the dinner yet. Adam finally went to ask if he could get something for Summer, and was told to take whatever he wanted that was ready. Summer was also frustrated because I had to keep her corralled while the water was being cleaned up - she couldn't run around. In the end, everything calmed down nicely - that couple would have been in a lot more trouble with the flood if so many people hadn't been there to get it under control so quickly.
Sunday: The wedding was at 9:30 am, and it was already suffocating outside with the heavy, heavy humidity. I have no idea if the photographer got any pictures of Summer coming down the aisle - I actually doubt it. We didn't get any either. Adam had the camera up at the front, and I was at the back with her. She wouldn't take her flower basket from me - I was holding it, and she would reach in and take petals out, but not hold it herself. When I finally got her pointed in the right direction (after all the other flower girls had gotten to the front, and one was coming back for her), she made it up to Adam in about 5 seconds, before he could get any pictures of her. The flower girls did not have to stand at the front with the bridal party - they were sent to sit with their parents. So we took Summer around to the back again and let her run around.
The reception was a brunch at a restaurant - we were happy to be in air conditioning. It was a very nice reception, and it was good for Adam to get caught up with so many people. I finally met the last one from the high school group who I hadn't met yet - he's in the Navy, and he's been overseas every other time we've been to Florida.
We left the reception early to visit Adam's sister Naomi in Georgia for the rest of the weekend, and got to her house at about dinnertime. We met her new husband, Eric, and had a good visit with them. We also learned that she will NOT be going to Iraq - her commanding officer said that he's not going to just randomly send people to Iraq just because they've finished their ROTC programs and training, and haven't deployed yet. He wants specific jobs and all, so he's not sending people over there just to get in the way. Makes sense ... (imagine! The US Army doing something that makes sense!) So for the moment at least, Naomi is off the hook.
Monday: After breakfast, we went swimming for a while at the pool at Naomi's complex. That felt SO GOOD. We headed for DC around 2 pm, when Summer was ready to crash for her nap. She was a good little traveler. We stopped as soon as possible when she started fussing and getting restless in her seat, which really wasn't that often. She would run around and stretch for 10-20 minutes, and then we were back on the road. She also fell asleep around 8:30 pm - her usual bedtime - and slept most of the rest of the way. We got home at 11:30 pm.
Today: My brain is awake but my body is very worn out from all the time in the car. Even when I would recline the passenger seat, I still wasn't really able to stretch out as much as I needed to for the baby. So I'm getting everything unpacked and put away, and there is lots of laundry to do. But mostly, I'm taking it easy.
Friday: About 9:30 am, we got to Jill and Marc's new apartment in St. Augustine (the couple getting married - Jill is from Adam's high school group that is still in close contact with each other). I was wiped out and REALLY not liking the level of humidity outside. So I stayed indoors while Adam took Summer across the street to the beach for awhile. She loved it - she played in the waves and played in the sand, and came back completely dirty from head to toe. I was getting sand out of her ears for the rest of the weekend. After having lunch, we went to check into our hotel. We had to wait another hour or so, and it was pouring rain so touristy stuff was out, so we went to the outlet mall across the street. I went to the bachelorette dinner/party that evening - I was going to just the dinner and skipping out on the drinking and frivolity. Unfortunately, just the dinner took substantially longer than I had estimated ... needless to say that Adam and Summer were not particularly happy about being stranded at the hotel and that I took so long bringing them their dinner. That was not one of the highlights.
Saturday: Another "girls only" event in the morning at a salon to get nails done (I got a "repair job" done from my last haircut), and a girls-only lunch. I took Summer with me, and Adam went with a bunch of the other husbands to play golf and have their own lunch. We converged on Marc's grandparents' house - the wedding was in their backyard, so the rehearsal was there as well.
Then things got exciting ... we had a couple of run-throughs of walking up the aisle in the backyard, and a thunderstorm was coming in so everyone went inside. It POURED for a good couple of hours, and there were about 3 inches of rain in less than 1 hour, which proceeded to flood the house. One minute, Adam is telling me that he's going to help with a flood in the bathroom, where the rain was getting into the house. The next minute, there were 20-30 people rushing around with loads of towels to try to dam the 1-2 inch waves coming down the hall and into the living room, rolling up area rugs before the water could get to them, and moving furniture around. Most of the first floor of the house had over an inch of standing water by the time the mops and Shop-Vac came around. Meanwhile, many small children were VERY hungry (as well as 3 or 4 pregnant women) because we hadn't had the dinner yet. Adam finally went to ask if he could get something for Summer, and was told to take whatever he wanted that was ready. Summer was also frustrated because I had to keep her corralled while the water was being cleaned up - she couldn't run around. In the end, everything calmed down nicely - that couple would have been in a lot more trouble with the flood if so many people hadn't been there to get it under control so quickly.
Sunday: The wedding was at 9:30 am, and it was already suffocating outside with the heavy, heavy humidity. I have no idea if the photographer got any pictures of Summer coming down the aisle - I actually doubt it. We didn't get any either. Adam had the camera up at the front, and I was at the back with her. She wouldn't take her flower basket from me - I was holding it, and she would reach in and take petals out, but not hold it herself. When I finally got her pointed in the right direction (after all the other flower girls had gotten to the front, and one was coming back for her), she made it up to Adam in about 5 seconds, before he could get any pictures of her. The flower girls did not have to stand at the front with the bridal party - they were sent to sit with their parents. So we took Summer around to the back again and let her run around.
The reception was a brunch at a restaurant - we were happy to be in air conditioning. It was a very nice reception, and it was good for Adam to get caught up with so many people. I finally met the last one from the high school group who I hadn't met yet - he's in the Navy, and he's been overseas every other time we've been to Florida.
We left the reception early to visit Adam's sister Naomi in Georgia for the rest of the weekend, and got to her house at about dinnertime. We met her new husband, Eric, and had a good visit with them. We also learned that she will NOT be going to Iraq - her commanding officer said that he's not going to just randomly send people to Iraq just because they've finished their ROTC programs and training, and haven't deployed yet. He wants specific jobs and all, so he's not sending people over there just to get in the way. Makes sense ... (imagine! The US Army doing something that makes sense!) So for the moment at least, Naomi is off the hook.
Monday: After breakfast, we went swimming for a while at the pool at Naomi's complex. That felt SO GOOD. We headed for DC around 2 pm, when Summer was ready to crash for her nap. She was a good little traveler. We stopped as soon as possible when she started fussing and getting restless in her seat, which really wasn't that often. She would run around and stretch for 10-20 minutes, and then we were back on the road. She also fell asleep around 8:30 pm - her usual bedtime - and slept most of the rest of the way. We got home at 11:30 pm.
Today: My brain is awake but my body is very worn out from all the time in the car. Even when I would recline the passenger seat, I still wasn't really able to stretch out as much as I needed to for the baby. So I'm getting everything unpacked and put away, and there is lots of laundry to do. But mostly, I'm taking it easy.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Why are college students such morons?
Okay, so my upstairs neighbors invited a bunch of people over for dinner, and we talked and we played a couple rounds of Mafia. Fun, fun.
Then I try to suggest playing some games from the Palmer Family Game book. Trying to get them to understand in the Manner of the Adverb was hard enough, and they decided not to play a game that singled someone out. Okay, I can deal with that. Then I try to suggest the Game of the States. One girl -- incidentally the blond -- says, in a rather disgusted tone, "History." Her roommate had to correct her; she meant geography. And the Game of the States has nothing to do with that anyway, but they wouldn't even let me explain. After being brushed aside for the second time in three minutes, I left. I knew if I stayed, I'd only get angry.
Any games in our book that one person can play alone?
Then I try to suggest playing some games from the Palmer Family Game book. Trying to get them to understand in the Manner of the Adverb was hard enough, and they decided not to play a game that singled someone out. Okay, I can deal with that. Then I try to suggest the Game of the States. One girl -- incidentally the blond -- says, in a rather disgusted tone, "History." Her roommate had to correct her; she meant geography. And the Game of the States has nothing to do with that anyway, but they wouldn't even let me explain. After being brushed aside for the second time in three minutes, I left. I knew if I stayed, I'd only get angry.
Any games in our book that one person can play alone?
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Keeping on Top of Things
Hey family -
Well, I've survived my first week of classes. So far, so good. I took my first test on Friday and got 100%. I have also taken four quizzes and received 100% on all of those and so far have 100% on all my assignments. So I'd say that I'm doing pretty well so far. Of course, this is only the first week. I am enjoying my classes so far. I am learning a lot and some of it is review (which is nice.) I had to write a couple of one page papers which I'll probably post to my blog. They are entertaining, at least I think they are. You'll have to tell me what you think.
Work is getting better. Things were tough the first week, but I'm learning the kids names, so I know which ones to keep an eye on more. I didn't have to work on Friday because everyone was on a field trip. That was nice because it gave me more time to work on my school work. I'm actually well on my way to having things done for this next week. I like the idea of being about a week ahead on things.
In other news I bought my plane ticket to LA for Christmas break. I'm looking forward to that one. I then looked into tickets for Thanksgiving but was unable to find anything within my budget. I'm thinking that I'll stay here and get a lot of school work/prep stuff for work done as well as working on Christmas presents. I finally finished Allison's present last night. (I'm only doing things for the grand-babies this year and I hope to get them done... at least that's the plan for right now.) They are rather time consuming gifts.
Jared - I really enjoyed your videos. I watched all of them... though I did fast forward through the fireworks one.
I love you all.
Tawnia
Well, I've survived my first week of classes. So far, so good. I took my first test on Friday and got 100%. I have also taken four quizzes and received 100% on all of those and so far have 100% on all my assignments. So I'd say that I'm doing pretty well so far. Of course, this is only the first week. I am enjoying my classes so far. I am learning a lot and some of it is review (which is nice.) I had to write a couple of one page papers which I'll probably post to my blog. They are entertaining, at least I think they are. You'll have to tell me what you think.
Work is getting better. Things were tough the first week, but I'm learning the kids names, so I know which ones to keep an eye on more. I didn't have to work on Friday because everyone was on a field trip. That was nice because it gave me more time to work on my school work. I'm actually well on my way to having things done for this next week. I like the idea of being about a week ahead on things.
In other news I bought my plane ticket to LA for Christmas break. I'm looking forward to that one. I then looked into tickets for Thanksgiving but was unable to find anything within my budget. I'm thinking that I'll stay here and get a lot of school work/prep stuff for work done as well as working on Christmas presents. I finally finished Allison's present last night. (I'm only doing things for the grand-babies this year and I hope to get them done... at least that's the plan for right now.) They are rather time consuming gifts.
Jared - I really enjoyed your videos. I watched all of them... though I did fast forward through the fireworks one.
I love you all.
Tawnia
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