Christmas at the Air Station

Paul ended up with duty today. Instead of skimping on anything with Christmas, we decided to extend everything and push back the true festivities two days. Therefore, we can allow for an appropriate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on the 26th and 27th.

Today, we went over to the air station to have a nice lunch that was provided for the crew and their families. It was good and the people were kind, but there is just something about spending a Christmas meal at work instead of home, listening to Steve Miller Band, instead of Christmas carols. We absolutely made the best of it and the kids had no idea because they can't read a calendar anyway. On a positive note, while everyone else's Christmas is over, ours will just be starting!

With family and friends in just about every state from Alaska to Hawaii to Florida and New York with many points in between, we now have our new extended family in Norway! We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and God Jul! We also would like for anyone reading this to think of our friend Joseph, who is spending his Christmas defending our country in Iraq and our friend Justin, who is spending his Christmas defending our country in Afghanistan. We all have so much to be thankful for and feel blessed in so many ways!

Happy Holidays!

We're still around...

Greetings and Happy Holidays!

We're still around and busy just like everyone else this time of year. We've had a pretty wild ride these last few weeks, which is the reason for the absence. But, we're slowly gaining momentum again, just in time for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year or "God Jul" as we are learning too!

First, on December 3, Karel's husband Howard passed after a long, courageous fight with Cancer. We headed down to Columbus for the services and had an opportunity to meet some of Howard's family and friends. It's always hard to loose someone, but before the holidays is especially tough. Please keep Karel and all of Howard's family in your thoughts and prayers. We are thankful for our time and memories with Howard, especially S'more's on the back deck and Blue Angels, Cherry Festival adventures!

As we were preparing to head back up North, our sweet Kailey became VERY ill. What started out as a stomach virus, rapidly turned into almost four days at Nationwide Children's hospital. She was one sick little girl, but is now thankfully as good as new. It was scary for Paul and for me because our little girl was so sick that she slept for almost 50 hours straight while her systems healed. When she woke up, I got some pretty cute pictures!

Soon after she woke up, she kept trying the bribe the nurses and doctors. She'd only let them look at her if they gave her My Little Pony stickers!

Her first meal in 4 days and the nurses let her have pizza!

So happy to see her favorite buddy!

The day after she was released from the hospital, we were able to make it back up to our winter wonderland, just in time for my finals. Finished those (with an A in the course!) and both Paul and I promptly got sick ourselves. It's been a rough few weeks, but we are feeling better and really looking forward to an amazing holiday and an even better 2009!

What else are you going to do on a snow day?

We had our first snow day of the year yesterday. Even better, it was Sofie's first snow day ever! Even though they get a lot more snow in Norway, I guess they deal with it better than we do. But, it's a great American tradition and Sofie's reaction was priceless!

At 6:00 a.m., I turned on the TV to find out that we and everyone else in the area had the day off of school. I walked down to Sofie's room and told her to turn off her alarm clock, because it was a snow day. She literally squealed! She was SO excited! Very cute.

After Paul plowed the driveway for about the eighth time in four days, (You see, you have to do it once just to get out of the drive way, then again once the city plow goes by because it throws so much more snow up into the driveway...pain, pain, pain!) he plowed a trail in the backyard for Eddie to run to the back when he has to go. It's affectionately known as the poop path. It's also a great sled trail. Lot's of giggles and laughs and an overall awesome snow day!

Sofie's Volleyball Banquet

Sofie and Coach Placek

Sofie and the other Seniors

Sofie had her volleyball celebration last Sunday. It was a lovely afternoon complete with Sofie earning a Varsity letter. Sofie also earned the third highest GPA on the entire team, with a 3.9! Way to go, Sofie! We're all so proud of you!

Just because

Look Who's the Star Student!

The pride is overwhelming! She was the star student last Tuesday, 11/11 and of course we celebrated with ice cream after school, as seen on Owen's shirt! Yeah, Kailey!

Field Trip to the Airstation

Kailey's Pre-K class got to take a field trip to the air station, led by the most awesome tour guide anyone could have ever imagined. The kids had a great time climbing in the helicopter, looking through night vision goggles and riding (just a few feet off the ground in the swimmer shop) in the rescue basket. It was lots and lots of fun!

Bowling!

Last Sunday, we ventured out to the relatively new, smoke free (!) bowling alley for a fun family time. We did know about the special bumpers that come up for the gutters, but we were unaware of the awesome ramp for the little ones. All they had to do was push the ball down the ramp and away it went. Everyone had a great time and of course, Paul beat all of us! I think, however, the best part of the day was the fact that K and O got to wear size 7 bowling shoes.

He did it!

Paul is now, officially, an Aircraft Commander! This was a long, long, difficult process, one that we realized today took a great deal of time, school and training. Not counting college (because at the time, he didn't know he was going to be a pilot), this amazing accomplishment took 6 months of officer candidate school, 19 months of flight school and 35 months of syllabus training here. That's a grand total of five years to reach this goal. To reach this milestone, he had to pass many, many flights and be grilled for hours during an oral exam. And of course, he was brilliant!

While in the aircraft, he is now the head honcho, in charge, decision maker, the big kahuna...every other career accomplishment after this one is just a cherry on the proverbial cake.

Way to go, Paulie, we are all SO proud of you!

So, if you're reading, leave a comment and give a big shout out to the United States Coast Guard's newest Aircraft Commander!

What an amazing day...

Alright, I feel passionate and I have to write about it. While I've always been very patriotic and followed elections because they are exciting, I've never, in my voting history, been so moved by a politician. As a matter of fact, I've always thought most politicians are pretty smarmy.

Flashback: 2004

I was big and pregnant with Kailey. We were sitting in our tiny little house in Pensacola and I was flipping through the channels and came across the Democratic National Convention. I left it on and Paul sat down. We were captivated by the speaker. We both stopped what we were doing and watched intently what this amazing speaker had to say about hope, change and the UNITED states of America. It was breath-taking. Paul, who was never into politics (at all) looked at me and said, "Wow, that guy was a great speaker." That guy (or That One as he's been called) was Barack Obama.

Since then, I followed his career, read about his positions and overall felt hope about our country, something that had been waning. I didn't like where our country stood in the world's view. I felt concerned for my children. I was questioning where my country stood despite the passion I'd always felt.

I've never been open about my politics. It was something my mom taught me, don't talk religion or politics. But, I couldn't help myself this time. This time, above anything else, I wanted someone who could inspire change and bring people together in one common goal; to make this world a better place. I craved something positive in a world that has seemed so sad and negative.

I look at Kailey and Owen and feel what I'm sure most mothers feel. I want this world to be better for my children than it is for me. I want them to have opportunities that I could never have dreamed. I want the sky to be the limit. But something was different this time too. We often talk to Sofie about why she wanted to come to America. She is quite articulate for a 17 year old and believes that America is vast and has boundless opportunities. She has taken an entire year away from her family and friends to be here, in America. This is the country that she chose. It's amazing to me.

Last night, as the results poured in, I waited at 10:58 as the west coast projections arrived. I will never, ever forget hearing Wolff Blitzer on CNN say, "This is the moment everyone has been waiting for, this is the moment in history, Barack Obama will be the 44th president of the United States." Then, I watched the celebrations around the world and honestly teared up. I don't remember people celebrating like that for any other presidential win. It was like New Year's Eve in Times Square. Regardless of his positions and beliefs, this man has brought hope, excitement and enthusiasm to the country. He has a tall order, but for today I feel hope and joy for the future of my country and for the future of my children.

Halloween: Parts I, II and III

We had a marathon Halloween extravaganza. Everyone had awesome costumes, the weather cooperated and Paul was even able to participate in all the appropriate events. Norway doesn't celebrate Halloween the way we do, so this was a chance for Sofie to experience her first 'Americanized' holiday to the fullest. It was awesome!

Sofie: The Sorceress

Kailey as Tinkerbell And Owen as Captain Hook




Part I: Halloween party at Kailey's school

The Halloween party happened on Thursday morning with songs, stories and of course, pizza! Since Paul had duty on Thursday night, we were all able to go and spend Kailey's special morning with her. All of the kids (all 20 of them!) were cute, wired and even somewhat overwhelmed by the excitement of it all. Owen was dressed up and wanted to join in the fun by laying in the middle of the circle during story and singing time. The teachers encouraged it, some mean other mommies clearly did not. As a former teacher, I was a little mortified by his behavior, but quickly got over it once I realized that everyone (except the mean mommy) was fine with it.

Part II: Downtown Trick-or-Treating

We, along with the rest of TC, went downtown to all of the business for some good Halloween fun. Paul was able to meet us down there and while he pushed the stroller, we got all of the loot! We continually heard whispers behind us, "Oh my gosh, look at that pirate!" "Or, that little Tinkerbell is all smiles!" I know, we're the parents, but I swear, ours were some of the cutest down there!

Part III: Neighborhood Trick-or-Treating

We picked up Sofie from volleyball practice, had some pizza, then headed out to the neighborhood with our neighbors Miles and Nora. (After of course, as quick stop from the Jones' Pirate family and their new parrot)! Also, check out Paul's awesome pumpkin! Boo!

Apple Pickin'

Sundays are for family. That's been what we've been striving for since our crazy schedules have taken over the rest of the week. This week, we ventured out to a local apple orchard that was really geared toward little kids. There were sunflower and hay mazes, giant tee pees, pumpkins, club houses and bonfire. Or course, there was also a huge apple cart with probably twenty different apple varieties. We all had a fantastic time enjoying a true fall tradition. Our favorite apples were definitely the humongous honey crisps...yum! I've also already made an apple crisp and plan to make a pie to freeze. Yep, call me Betty Crocker. Pretty impressive!