Parker story.....

Every Saturday and Sunday the kids go to Chinese School. Now these schools are at two different locations. Saturday we take the kids to China Inn 2 (restaurant) to learn Chinese from the owner and someone else who works there occasionally, but also teaches Chinese at Colorado college downtown. This is the location where the kids get to eat snacks and play while learning the Chinese language. The other school is located by the north entrance to the AF Academy and is where they also spend 2 hours every Sunday learning more of the culture and language but in more of a school setting. So now on with my story...

Yesterday morning Parker came to me and told me that he didn't want to learn Chinese anymore. Now shocked and disappointed in this admission of his. I pointed out that this would also include NOT going to China Inn 2 with the other kids on Saturdays and getting all kinds of wonderful snacks, which all the children enjoy. He understood but stood by his decision. So I told him that if that is what he wanted that during Chinese school time he would be sent to his room to read and rest on both days. He understood.

So after this discussion he left and went downstairs to brag to his siblings that he no longer had to go to Chinese school. In the mean time I'm wondering just what I'm going to do about this new situation.

So.... What is my job? Well I'm to make sure they have love, they're safe, have clothes, are fed, have fun, etc.

What is Parker's job? To go to school and learn, go to Chinese school and learn, clean his room, brush his teeth, etc.

So quickly the answer came to me... He wasn't do all of his jobs. So if he didn't have to do one of his jobs, that meant that I didn't have to do one of my jobs. So I quickly sent a message downstairs (via his sister) that since he wasn't doing his job going to Chinese school, then I wasn't going to do my job and set up play dates for him. Especially with Tristan, a favorite friend of his.

I guess about 5 minutes passed and I hear footsteps climbing the stairs. Parker rounds the corner and informs me that he has changed his mind and wants to go to Chinese school. I told him how proud I was of him and that I had to think about whether or not I was going to change my mind about play dates. He left understanding my dilemma.

So after a few minutes I called him over in front of me and told him that I had decided that since he was going to be doing all of his jobs that I also felt it would be best if I did all of my jobs. He leaned over, hugged me and in my ear said, "I'm so glad you made the right decision!"

They're off...

David and Kaitlyn left a bit ago for the recruiters office. Kaitlyn called this morning to find out what she needed to bring with her for the 11:30 meeting. SS card (cant' find it), birth certificate, passport, they'll pull her school records.

Then something happened that I didn't think of. The recruiter asked her some questions to find out if she would even be accepted! I hadn't thought she might not meet their standards! What a surprise. So after asking her, her height - weight - medical issues, diploma?, etc. We learned that apparently she did qualify to sign up for enlistment. Whew! I can't imagine getting the nerve up, being scared but ready to make a commitment and then to find out that your to short or overweight, etc. Talk about letting the wind out of your sails..... that would be terrible.

So I'm waiting for their return...

After their return I learned that the Navy will be contacting the school to get her records and to find out that the school is accredited. After that they will contact us and I assume that they will set up a date and time for Kaitlyn to go to Denver to get the testing done and physical. She did take a pre-test here and passed with flying colors. More later....

Changes and more.....

We've had a hard couple of months here with Kaitlyn and school. The last 2 fall seasons Kaitlyn spent very ill. Strep took its toll last year, she had it 7 times, and she ended up getting her tonsils out before Christmas. This year she ended up with the flu and missed 5 weeks over all. All of the absences ended up throwing her GPA into a tail spin that she just couldn't recover from and time marched on leaving her further and further behind. So the result was ending her high school career with joining AAOL (Air Academy On-line) this year. AAOL is new to District 20 and she will graduate with 8 other students who are also taking the AAOL curriculum. If any comfort can be taken by her situation its that she isn't the only student felled by illness and being unable to recover her GPA.

We have also, as a family, tried to help her with making decisions for the future. David, Kaitlyn and I feel that the Navy is an excellent choice. She is very excited about the possibilities of being able to support her country, getting her education, possibly traveling the world, and being able to possibly make a career out of the Navy. (Privately, we're hoping that she tests well enough in Linguistics to warrant special attention.) She and David have both been researching the Navy from all angles. Kaitlyn has also had a wonderful opportunity to talk to people we know that have spent years in the Navy or were in the Navy. By all accounts she's getting all thumbs up from everyone. David and Kaitlyn will be heading to the recruiters office on Tuesday to check into it more and possibly start the sign up process for her. Our hope is that if this is what she truely wants that all will go easy.

January - off and running, finished book, school starts and more....

David completed and turned in the last 25% of the book this morning. He is so excited to have that off his plate and be able to concentrate his efforts on other things. The draft still has 3 reviews to get through so he has time for changes if he chooses to make some. You can check it out at the below link to Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Innovate-Future-Radical-Approach-Innovation/dp/0137055153/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262796673&sr=8-1

School starts back tomorrow and I'm very ready for the children to be back in their routines. They, though not overly excited about school resuming, are "kind of" looking forward to tomorrow. Almost 3 weeks being out of school is long enough for all of us, I think!


I'm providing proof that I've actually started socks for myself. This is the "Bayerische" pattern. These are size "0" needles and the cable patterns are single stitch. An eye popper and hand cramper pattern, but Oh! so lovely...
This is the "Four Strand" sock pattern that I think I'll probably end up finishing first. The needles are size "3" and the yarn is a DK weight. This pattern really moves quickly. My first toe up sock...


"Baroque". I just love this pattern. I know you can't see the pattern I still have a bit more to do before it will be noticable. Unfortunately the color is off in the pic, it is really the most beautiful of purples.
I have started another pair of socks called, "Lakeside". I decided against taking a pic of this start as there is even less there than on the "Baroque" for the moment. So when I get a bit further along with the pattern I'll get a pic.

That time once again. Yesterday the decorations started coming down. Normally I have the house void of Christmas decorations long before now, but this year I'm being lazy. I hope to have the rest of the stuff up and put away by the end of today. We'll see...

I went out yesterday to take a pic of the ice we STILL have on the road in front of the house after almost 2 weeks. Our nights have just been so cold. But the days have warmed up just enough to melt a little day by day. Anyway.... While I was taking a pic our squirrel was kind enough to sit still until I shifted positions...

Yesterday was also hand washing day. I just thought this was an interesting pic. in that it reminded me of the days when we'd go run through the laundry hanging on the line in our own back yards. Interesting, now that we have laws saying that we can't hang laundry...

So now my laundry and breakfast rooms become places to lay flat or hang items that have been personally washed.

Happy New Year! 2010

Happy New Year!