January and February posts from our last blog

Well, I'm not going to transfer everything over from the last blog, however, I thought that January and February would be good. I didn't transfer all the pictures because I still haven't figured out how to format multiple pictures exactly where I want them. From here on out, the postings will be new stuff. See ya!

From 02/21/06

Well, there isn't too much to report this week but I thought I should at least report that.

Paul had a birthday. We avoided the Valentine's day crowd and did a "combo" dinner at the Gaucho Grill. Yummy, yummy, yummy! We skipped on over to the Renaissance Cafe' for dessert where we ran into an old friend, Melissa. She was actually one of Colin's first babysitters when she was in junior high. It was great to see her. I used to work with her mom and was a sponsor in the high school group with her sister. So, they're a very special family to me.

The kids are doing their usual thing. Nothing new to report. The braces count down is really beginning: 1 week, 2 days to go! Marley question of the week, "When we go to heaven, will we be little kids again?"

So, that wraps it up. Wow, I didn't know I could write anything with that few words!

See ya next time.

Mary


From 02/02/06

Fantastic February: 1/12 of the way through 2006! Is it just me or do the months really start flying by as one gets older? There was a time when I thought if I had a month to do something that was quite a long time. Now, if I have a month to do something, I know there is going to be a time crunch somewhere down the line.

Here is the latest news:

Marley has been excited since the school year began to get to stay for lunch like the older kids. Well, this week began the practice of kinders staying until 1:15 on Wednesdays to get them used to a little bit longer day. It was a resounding success as far as Marley is concerned and she is looking forward to next Wednesday when she will actually buy a school lunch. Corn dogs are on the menu, whoopee!!!

Unbeknownst to Marley, there are been some concern at the school that the program she is in might not be continued next year. The school principal came to a parent meeting yesterday to assure them that shouldn't be the case. The worst case scenario seems to be that there wouldn't be kindergarteners in class next year. Although we are glad Marley was able to get into the class for kindergarten, it seems to actually be something the teachers think would be better for the class environment overall. So, we'll see.

Our athletic little daughter was supposed to try out for a gymnastics team but wasn't up for cooperating; so, we'll try again next week. We aren't sure if she'll do the team because it means practices 2 times per week for 2 1/2 hours each time. It also means more money, too, of course. We'll wait to see if she'll actually do the try out, then she if she qualifies for the team and THEN decide.

Colin has big news... Are you ready for this? HIS BRACES ARE COMING OFF!!!!! Yeah! Now, as long as this has taken, he's not too sure he believes them. March 2nd, though, he has an appointment to have them removed and molds taken for his retainers. Of course, the battle will now begin to have them wear the retainers 24/7. Not that I don't understand his not wanting to wear them.

Other than that, Colin has started his last semester of eighth grade and is enjoying his new electives: weight training and video production. He is not enjoying the prospect of the honors examination this Saturday. After originally deciding not to make him do it, Paul and I changed our minds --- for a number of reasons. If he qualifies, we still aren't sure we'll have him take the honors classes but it will give us the option.

Lastly, he had his first chance to go snowboarding this past Sunday. Paul took Colin and his friend, Jeff, up to the mountains to snowboard. It had been about a year since he went, but he didn't have any trouble getting back into the snowboarding groove. Hopefully we'll find some more opportunities for him to go again before the season is over.

Paul is still pretty busy with work but should be in town more this month. He was supposed to play an acousitic show at a local cafe' this month but it was cancelled due to some stuff from the cafe' end. He'll try again in March. Actually, he is due to play the same day that Colin gets his braces off.

I'm just walking and walking and walking. I've been trying to get back into the exercise groove and been doing okay with that. Now I need to get back into eating better. A year or two ago I had lost quite a bit of weight and now have gained alot of that back. Ugh! Fortunately, I met another mom from Marley's class who is pretty dedicated to the walking. She is a lot of fun and interesting to talk to which helps the exercise go down a better!

I'm considering looking for something to do for a "career." The most obvious thing would be to go get a credential to teach high school English. I'm checking out the credentialing program at Cal State but am really considering what else I might be interested in. I've been thinking it would be wise to have some options in case I ever have to go back to work.

Paul and I celebrated 18 years of marriage on January 29th. It is wild to think about being married for that long. We just spent a quiet evening at home with good Chinese food and a movie. The grandparents let the kids stay overnight. Isn't is amazing how much of a treat a kidless evening is?

Well, we still have Paul's birthday and Valentine's coming up this month and that's about it.

I hope you are doing well. We love you all!

Mary (and Paul, Marley and Colin)


From 01/23/06

Let's see, the last entry was January 15th and the time since then has been a blur....

I have vague recollections of birthday parties galore... We ran the gamut from traditional at home party to a special Build-a-Bear outing with Marley's special friend, Myah. I exercised quite a bit and kept busy with the routine, catching up on laundry, etc. Paul's trip was a longish one, so we were all ready by the time he came home Friday night.

Friends like Imee took care of me by checking in or bringing dinner. All in all, though, by the weekend, I was so exhausted I kind of stopped functioning. I was able to rest part of Sunday and part of today so I think I'll manage okay while Paul is gone on trip #4 for January.

One highlight (more like a reluctant reality check) was going to Colin's future high school for a parent info. meeting. Do Paul and I really have a kid old enough to go to high school? Yikes! The meeting was very interesting and I think it is an excellent school with lots of opportunities for Colin to explore different interests.

So, not too much to contribute this week. Hopefully the next entry will be more fascinating!!!

Love ya,

Mary

From 01/15/06

Marley:

Last week, Marley went to Disneyland for a birthday party. She was not a big fan of the "rocket mountain," but did enjoy the Matterhorn later in the day. It is amazing to see Disneyland through the eyes of a child and to remember the wonder of it all. They are celebrating their 50th anniversay and the park is freshly painted. Sleeping Beauty's Castle is amazing right now. Of course, with so much to see, there is also so much to want. After the Space Mountain debacle, I felt a little bad for her and ended up buying her the Princess Minnie Mouse hat and a big, fat Minnie Mouse mylar balloon. All in all, it was worth it. We had another birthday party on Saturday for the big brother of a classmate. A more traditional kid party, Marley got to play on a backyard swing, hit a pinata and participate in other classic birthday party games.
This week, we have two more birthday celebrations, including a trip to John's Incredible Pizza Company (Las Vegas for kids) and Build-a-Bear. Other than that, it is business as usual for her. If you think about it, say a prayer that she will have a good week. Paul is out of town and she usually has a more difficult time when Daddy is gone.

Colin:

Last week, Colin had school and skateboarding. The usual. He did get a chance to go a couple of times to a local skate park. A family friend has been taking him and he really enjoys that. It is a better park for him than the ones he usually gets to go to and Paul and I are happy to have someone we trust taking him so we don't have to! Other than that, I'd say the highlight of his week was seeing the picture of his sister on Space Mountain. He regretted not being there to witness it all.

Mary:

Last week, I spent walking, preparing for these birthday parties and taking care of business in general. I've been able to meet regularly with my friend Sharon. We go through some spiritual formation material and that is one of the highlights of my week. I've also started going through the same material with a mom in our small group who is having a hard time right now. We'll do a short run until her classes start back up. It makes the week a little busier but it will only be for a few weeks. I've also tried to be a little more involved in Marley's class and hope to do a "mini-class" for the first-third graders that would involve them memorizing and doing poetry recitation for their class.
This week, there will be more of the same but without Paul backing me up. I've got all this stuff I want to do but I am usually worn out by the end of the day. My priorities right now are walking and keeping moving better throughout the day. Hopefully, I'll start to feel the benefit of it soon and can then move on to working on eating better. You could pray that I will be disciplined, patient, kind, patient, etc. with the kids. I'm trying not to snap at them at all and I'm doing better; however, there is always room for improvement!!!!

Paul:

Last week, Paul was home almost every day. Yeah! He was busy getting ready for this next week but he did manage to sqeak in a music rehearsal and some football. He follows the Broncos and I guess they were doing pretty well. Sounds like they just lost a game, though.
This week, Paul is up in Grass Valley with some other people from Kramer doing some training. He is driving up on Sunday and will be home on Friday late or Saturday. That will be a long trip for us. He is also out the following week from Monday through Thursday. Please pray for his safety traveling back and forth.

I hope you are all thriving and enjoying your January. "Talk" to you soon!

Mary

From 01/07/06

Well, we have all survived week one of 2006. So far it looks like business as usual. Marley and Colin in school and Paul on the road.

Highlights

Marley came home from her trip to Arizona with Grandma and Grandpa Bogan. She seemed to enjoy herself and Mom was ready for her to come back. Although we initially thought we would wait for Marley to see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I took her this week to keep her busy and so that she would stop pestering her brother. We brought a blanket so she could cover her eyes at the scary parts and she seemed transfixed by the movie. She loves the "good ," Lucy and Susan and the beavers and Aslan. Paul brought her back a book that is a movie tie-in with pictures and she couldn't keep her eyes off it while he read it to her.

Mom got a chance to do some serious walking with some of the other parents from Marley's class. She really needs to get back in the exercise groove and having people to walk with really helps. Also, I've taken some time in the mornings to focus on journaling, Bible reading, and hanging out with friends. It has been quite a treat.

Dad has some really good sushi in Atlanta. There's that old saying about pizza that even when it is bad, it is good. I don't think that works for sushi, so finding some above average stuff is pretty exciting, I guess.

Colin took some of his not-so-hard-earned allowance and bought a new deck for his skateboard. And, there is a chance that he will get to go skateboard in someone's empty pool today. If that happens, that will likely be the highlight of the month.

Challenges

Mary - 6:30 am comes very early in the morning. Mom is determined to get up earlier in the morning, and while 6:30 may not be as early as some of you have to get up, it is a change in the schedule for me! So far, it hasn't been exactly 6:30 every day, but definitely before 7:00.

Paul hit the road this week for the first of 4 trips in January. As part of my new year plan is to stop being "Psycho Mom," I am challenged right out of the gate with kids getting back in the school routine, readjusting to their sleep schedule and dealing with our Lord of the Rings-sized braces drama.

Paul - After the cushy holiday work schedule, going back to work "for real" is not so much fun. Good thing the extra good sushi helped to counteract all that hard work.

Colin - School, Math, Braces. I guess Colin might say that so far 2006 sucks. There was a disappointing trip to the orthodontist. They keep saying we are in the fine tuning stage, but that has been months now. Mom needs to have a long talk with someone in the office and get a drop dead, for sure done date from them.

Marley - Take one Christmas holiday, a trip to Arizona and mix them up with needing to get back into the school routine and, while she may not be able to see it, she has been a challenge this week. She would probably say that the hardest part of her week was Daddy being away.

Looking forward to Week Two

Paul is only gone one day this week, Mary will keep after her exercise routine, Marley should be settled in more and Colin will, hopefully (fingers crossed,) be diligent in using rubber bands on his braces. That is probably it for the week. Be back in a week or two for more updates!

Mary