There is a new video on our website if you would like to see it. It is just some footage from the trip.
Tom

Well, after our two-three hours of sleep Sunday night we awoke and left for the airport. We didn’t know what the crowds would be like on the holiday so we planned to be an hour and a half early… we got through check-in and security within 15 minutes. Oh well, better safe than sorry. We boarded the plane and all 4 of us fell asleep for a few hours. Very nice. The rest of the flight went well, our layover was short and the last flight was only 45 minutes long. Overall a good travel day, I think we’ve finally done it enough times to know exactly what we are doing.

We had so much fun on our trip, it was great to see everyone and spend so much time together. Thanks to everyone for being there and being so much fun. It just makes me all that much more excited for the reunion. Although, I need you all to help me stick to my commitment of putting Hayden to bed at a reasonable hour during the reunion so that he doesn’t get so tired!!!

As soon as we got home Hayden wanted to get out every toy he owns. It was like Christmas all over again. I helped in set up his train set in the living room and I caught him giving Danica the controller to one of his trains and he was telling her how to make it stop and go, it was pretty cute to watch.

We came home to 90-degree weather with some humidity… YIKES!! We have been house bound with the A/C cranked. I ventured out a bit today to get the backyard play equipment cleaned up but then a thunderstorm rolled in… weird weather.

I came down with a cold on Monday and have been so tired from Sunday, Danica not sleeping well and trying to get the house in order so I don’t seem to be getting over it. I’m doing everything I can to get Danica to sleep better without having to let her cry it out. While we were there I would simply nurse her quickly back to sleep but she was up every few hours. If we go to the cry it out method I have to take her binky and not swaddle her anymore since she can’t recreate these things when she wakes up in the night. While I think that it would be great to have her able to simply fall asleep without these things I don’t have the heart to take them away because she likes them so much and falls asleep so easily with them. So my first plan of attack is simply getting her to go back to sleep at night without eating. After doing that for a few nights she should quit waking up to eat… that’s what the “Baby Whisperer” says so we’ll see if she’s right. For my health and sanity I hope she’s right because I am soooo tired!

Well I best go get something done while she is napping. If only I could get Hayden to nap I would take one too but that won’t happen. Thanks again to everyone, especially Kenn and Barb for helping us to have such a fantastic trip!!

Tracey

Well hello family! It's been a while. It is so easy just to let Adina update every-so-often than to jump on here and say the same things she does. But when I actually think about it, when I do post near hers they are nothing alike.

It was really fun having a lot of family here for the weekend and prior. I feel like I put everything on the back burner and now am realizing how much I have to do. The stack of mail/papers/to do's are ever so deep. Need to start tackling all that. Fortunately Adina will take care of most of it, she goes through it much faster than I do. I look at one thing and it diverts me into another thing and pretty soon I am totally doing something else and not accomplishing anything. And by the way, LISTS work. I have been against them for so long because, imagine this, I felt they were too organized. Isn't that ridiculous!? Anyway, that is about the only way I can get a lot of things done. Now if I could only figure out where my last 4 lists have gone...

During the weekend of Memorial Day we had everyone but Mike, Kim and Treven here in Vancouver. We were going to go camping but all the sunny weather was to be the week before and the week after. The weekend was a downpour and pretty much rained the whole time. Flood in the backyard type rain. Some may say, "real campers can camp in the rain too". I somewhat agree with that. The ingredient that made it unreasonable for us was children. They would be slopping mud everywhere. It really would be more frustrating than fun and what would we do? Not much. Too bad we don't have a fleet of those $300k rolling houses that they call RV's. Then it could be snowing and we'd still go. Oh well, my thoughts are in the clouds again.

The summer is coming, the kids have about 3 weeks of school left. The boys have 2 weeks of baseball left and the family reunion approaches. Can't wait for the drive out there (I love road trips) and the fun times I know we will have out there. I so look forward to the reunions and wish that they weren't every 4 years. It seems like so much time passes in between them. When I think that Isaac will be 18 yo within two reunions time, that blows my mind. They are such fun, just wish we could continue with the Fred Duker reunions to split the time in between Duker reunions. But I think that would require the 'organizing' of the reunion to be spread around to different families since it alway seems the Schickies get it dumped on them. If they would quit doing such a wonderful job maybe we wouldn't ask them! (Don't stop, please!)

So to continue my thoughts from before (this is how I think, it frustrates the heck out of Adina), we ended up staying at mom and dad's house, all nearly 20 of us. Luckily they have all that room. It was really fun and we were able to worry about nothing but where to sleep, when to eat, and when to play. Just the way a vacation should be. I really wish Mike, Kim and Treven could have been there. I realized that our family is really growing. Get a few more children and we are going to have quite the brood.

Well, I better get this days started, I am lagging. I love you all and am really looking forward to the reunion. Everybody should buy Hearts on Xbox arcade so that we can play and get all practiced up for the reunion and actually make a stinchfield showing in the competition. Sean spanks everyone all the time.

Dave

Yeah, we said it! We feel like loners this weekend. First of all because we aren't there and because I swear everyone went down to utah this weekend that lives here. And Mom we thought something was really funny because we were going to use the olive garden gift certificate (which we are very thankful for), then we looked up the closest one.... Logan, Salt Lake, Boise and Billings. Looks like we will have to use it when we are at Anne and Peter's house. Thank you again!

Well the weather was great until yesterday and today it is hailing and stormy so hopefully it will be sunny tomorrow. We went and saw X-men 3 yesterday. It was a good movie but I don't think it was as good as the second one. But if you do go see it, wait until after the credits to leave because there is more of the movie. We are working hard in school and just chugging along. That's all from me for now, nothing more exciting.

Kimberly

Thanks everyone! Love you guys. (and even though Kim thinks it's funny, I appreciated the gift).

Treven

We just wanted to send our wishes out to you that you have a happy birth day. We have missed you guys this weekend and wish you could be here. Hopefully all is well and there is better weather there than here.

Everybody in Vancouver

If The Office were like Battlestar Galactica, this is what the intro might be...

Hey All,
So I wanted to just say that I passed my comprehensive exams and have taken the last of my finals... YAH!!! It hasn't quite sunk in that I don't need to study anymore, but I am still relieved. Especially since my ENTIRE class passed and it is a first in this program. I don't know if those of you who have gone through programs like this understand how close you get to your classmates and truly want them all to succeed... it sure makes celebrating after much more fun.
Today we had a last class in our advanced orhtopedics class where we went through some remaining case report projects and had a breakfast feast along with it. I brought waffle batter and used two of the Halladay waffle makers and others brought all kinds of yummy breakfast dishes... what a way to end the program!
Well, since there is a change in my weekend plans, I better hop to the packing and figure out what I can bring with me that will lighten the car load next weekend.
I guess I'll be seeing some of you soon and the rest I wish you well!
Buffy

I figure I should follow Tracey's lead. It really is easy when so many are here to slack off on the blog...but that isn't fair to the one's who are away!

We are really enjoying having Tom and Tracey here and getting to know Hayden and Danica. Hayden is such a little man...his language skills are amazing to me along with his complicated thought patterns. It is such fun to have all of the grandkids here playing together...even if they do run through Papa's gardens! Tonight David and Adina and kids and Brooke and the girls are coming over to watch the 2nd to the last AI together with pizza. Brooke just arrived.

This last weekend we moved Grandma into a Adult Foster Home. Her insurance stopped covering the SNF (sniff or Skilled Nursing Facility) but she needed more care than she can get at Van Mall. I debated on private paying until they would cover her again (when she can bear weight--about 3 weeks) in hopes that she could go back to Van Mall...but the chances are pretty slim. The place she is is very nice but definitely a group living arrangment. The advantage is that she gets very personalized attention...the downside is that it is not as private and "mine" as I think she would like. She is still quite confused but is adjusting...We'll see how it works after 30 days. She is still remarkably healthy.

Love you all...need to go visit downstairs.

Mom

Well I don't know how I have been surviving without checking the blogg every three hours (Danica's feeding schedule) but somehow I have managed. I finally have a minute and found a unused computer so I figure I better write since I have been so delinquent. I actually didn't take time yet to even read all the bloggs I missed because I know I only have time to either post or read... so I better post.

We are having a great time here with family. It is so fun to see everyone and watch Hayden play with is grandparents and cousins. Danica seems to love the attention and just spends a lot of time smiling! Her blessing yesterday was great. I wish more of you could have been there but it was so neat to see her surrounded by so many people that love her. What a tremendous family she has come to!! Thank you to all those who were able to attend and to make her day so special. Living so far from family makes these special times even more sweet.

Last week we enjoyed a fun mother's day and then spent the week hanging out and visiting with everyone. Monday we went to downtown Vancouver and let Hayden play in a fountain with Sadie and clan. Tuesday we spent in Washougal and hiked up Beacon Rock. Tons of fun, maybe next time we go we'll find the hat that Morgan threw off the cliff! Wednesday I went with Barb to look for places for Esther and Tom watched the kids including Sadie. Then we went to Washougal again and had fun with the clan including a trip to Target (always fun!) Thursday I spend the day with a cousin who is living in the area and Tom went to work with Kenn. Friday we drove to the Gorge and stayed the weekend at Skamania Lodge with my parents and my younger brother Matt and his wife Chelsea. They golfed, we hiked, rode mountain bikes and did lots of swimming and relaxing, lots of fun. Then they came to the blessing on Sunday. Unfortuntaly last night Hayden came down with a fever and didn't sleep well which kept Tom up. I would have stayed up with him but I was already up with Danica. I'm not sure what was wrong with her but she slept from 8:30-1:00 and then didn't settle in again until 5:30am... needless to say that luckily Tom came and took her from me just about the time I was ready to put her in the garage!! She did a lot better today and is in bed now... I am going to go to bed as well!! Fingers crossed that tonight goes better! Hayden seemed okay today but still a little sick. We went out to lunch and then went to see Over the Hedge. Very clever and funny movie, we all enjoyed it but Hayden ended up falling asleep which was too bad. He slept during the end of the movie around 3:30, slept all the way home, we put him in bed and he didn't wake up until 8:00!!! So, he is still awake but we have hopes of getting him back in bed by 11:00...again, fingers crossed! He has truly loved all the play time with his cousins, he really worships them and tries so hard to keep up. Hopefully even as they get older they will still let him join in their fun. They are so good to bring things down to his level and to make sure he is happy, it's so fun to watch. I hope none of the other kids got whatever caused his fever!

Hmmmm...I know I should have more to write than that... oh yea, before we left Cleveland we were able to go to the musical of Pippen that Max and Sam Debaltzo were in. It was very well done and it was so fun to see them acting, dancing and singing in it. You can tell that Max has so much experience and is so comfortable on the stage, he's a natural. This was Sam's big debut and he really shined. We got a call from our friends taking care of our fish that the tank had started leaking... that was a very stressful time imagining our house flooding and the fish simply dying... luckily they got it taken care of! Phew!!

All right, I'm off of to bed now. Sorry I haven't posted in so long, I'll post pictures tomorrow! Good night!

Tracey

OK, so after reading your blog Marnie all I have to say is that I'm shocked! I know this is dangerous to say with the Stinchfields, but with all these clever mac commercials about how pc's are so horrible it is a shock to hear that a mac is giving you grief. I've made my peace.

Peter

p.s. I'm really just jealous 'cause i don't have one.

So, yeah, I am tired of checking the blog and having it be the same thing so I figure I will write something even though I don't have much to write. Things are good down South. And Tom&Tracey, us San Diegans would love to have you down here! That would be great if that could work out! :)

I am just starting another work week and looking forward to Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday because it is the big season finale of Lost! That is a bittersweet subject though...I am very excited to find out what happens in these final two hours but I also am sad that it means there won't be any new Lost episodes for at least 4 months... :( And looking forward to Friday because then I get to fly up to WA to visit most of you! I hope the weather turns out to be good. It is beautiful here right now (makes me sad I am stuck in an office).

Work is good. It has slowed down a bit because I have finished a bunch of projects but it is still somewhat constant with work. Otherwise there isn't much to report. I am looking forward to more sunny, nice days so that I can try to get these paste-y white legs a little less paste-y white.

And my Mac has been acting up these past few days so I am having to do major housecleaning in there...maybe someday I will learn my lesson about downloading music. You never know where it is coming from...

I can't really think of anything else to write so there you go...that is my update :)

M

I honestly have nothing exciting to write about, but I do have a few moments to myself, so here goes...

It's been beautiful weather here - record breaking - but I feel that coming to an end this weekend. That makes sense, because we have 2 games and Dave & the kids are all running in races on Saturday! So, naturally rain is on the way.

It's been great having Tom & Tracey here - Danica's blessing is on Sunday and next weekend is camping with A&P and Marnie, too, I believe. Should be fun. Let's just hope for nice weather.

Morgan has loved the warm weather. She helped me in the yard a bit - pulling up crab grass. She was sure to hand me the "stove" when I needed it (the shovel) and tried really hard not to step on my "statue" (my shadow). We are working on her vocabulary.
Taylor brought home "Little House on the Prairie" to read from the library last week, but after some jeering from his Dad and brothers, he took it back. Happy? I'm a bit disappointed - it's a great read and at least he is reading, right? Anyway - he brought back a book on dragons. Is that manly enough, I wonder?
Isaac has another impromptu practice tonight - FRIDAY night. Whenever his coaches find a field to practice on, they call and they practice for a good 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I am a bad mother and I drop him off and have him call me when he is done. The other moms stay and chat and watch the whole practice. To each his own.
Parker is fun...still says whatever is on his mind, regardless. We walk him to school a lot and pass the high school on the way. Inevitably, there are always kids standing on the sidewalks smoking and talking - usually the really high caliber students, you know. Anyway - Parker is always quick to point out their pink hair or sagging pants - loudly, of course. "Look, Mom - she has pink hair! That's weird." "Look, Mom - he's smoking! That's so bad!" "Mom - I could see her underwear." Always an adventure.

Anyway - life is good. Love you all and hope you have a great weekend!
Adina

Not really news but Dr Craig Wong at his new clinic about 5 blocks from home has invited me to join him, starting with one day per week, in September. We have not negotiated a contract yet and I have not notified my current employer. We are going to work that out during this next few months. We will be shooting for two days per week at Salmon Creek OMS and two at Willamette. Of course, Willamette has to agree with this or I'm out on a limb. I think Willamette will allow this to happen; won't be very pleased about it, however, I think they will keep me on at the two days per week. I'll lose benefit there, matching my 401K, but, I believe the two days with Dr. Wong will go well beyond the remuneration at Willamette. We'll just have to try it and see. If it doesn't work out, then I'll drag my tail back to them and ask to be reinstated to four days per week. Chancy? Sure.

Tom, Tracey, Hayden and Danica are visiting for a couple of weeks. Tom is going in with me this morning to observe how the practice goes. I'm trying to get them assigned to San Diego by making a lot of calls to old friends back in Norfolk, San Diego and Bethesda. I don't know if it'll do any good, but we'll give it try.

We have to get off to work. American Idol tour tickets go on sale tomorrow. I've gotten them the last two years for some of my staff. I think this year it is the two of us going. Sept 1st. Who knows? Dad

Well I guess I will post again considering no one has decided to blog really since Sunday and for crying out loud tomorrow is Thursday!

I just got sick of looking at old blogs and decided to blog again.

Things are still going well, just working all day long. Tonite and tomorrow I am helping out at a volleyball camp that our club is holding for the girls being put on by Keith Rubio, the brother of the head coach at U of Arizona. It was good tonite and hope I have some more fun tomorrow. The only sucky thing is that I have to go straight from 6 hours of work to this 3-4 hour camp. But Peter has been a nice hubby and cleaned at home so that our house looks somewhat nice.

Anyways, BLOG PEOPLE!

Love,
Anne

It was announced today by ABC that there will be no re-runs or weekly breaks for Season 3 of Lost. They are going to do this by having 7 straight episodes in the fall and then it will break until February when it will run straight for the rest of the season. So it will be like 2 mini seasons with no breaks. I think it is a good idea for ABC. There is going to be a new show that will fill the timeslot in that 2-3 month break. Also there is going to be a new J.J. Abrams (guy who created Lost and Alias and directed MI:3) show as well next season called Six Degrees...looks good. Just thought I would let everyone know! ;)

Marnie

Well since I don't think I have blogged in forever and a day, I decided while I sit here at home watching Regis and Kelly, to blog about our oh so exciting and wonderful lives here in lovely HOT Boise, ID.

Well Peter is enjoying his time working and finishing up his thesis. He got a call last week from a friend from high school who was taking th discussions. He was calling to let Peter know he had decided to get baptized on this last saturday. So with the no money we have at the moment, Peter bought a ticket immeadiatly to fly out friday and come back sunday night. Remind you this is Mother's Day weekend, but I understood and let him go. He tells me he enjoyed himself down there in Fresno for the weekend but was glad to get back. He actually ran into Mary Beth Horspool(sp?) at the baptism because she is in his friend's singles ward there in Fresno. Small world. Anyways, when he went to find out when he was flying in so I knew what time to pick him up, he found out that he had actually scheduled to fly back monday night. So he paid the extra money to get home last night. I am very glad to have him back. He is such a great hubby even though he may not show the excitement of the upcoming son all the time. He bought us tickets for this friday night to go see "The DaVinci Code". Let me tell you I am so excited. It was such a great gift.

Well my mother's day was filled with going to church, having a friend from the ward invite me to a missionary homecoming luncheon for her husband's cousin, and then to be invited to have dinner at their house later that night. They were just wonderful and it is so nice to know I have great friends that will take care of me while Peter is out of town. But I had a great ending to the day when Peter finally arrived home.

Work is going well for me. I continue to work customer service at BBB and in the last couple weeks I have had quite an experience with a lady who worked there with me(she ended up quitting last week). Anyways, so when you work there, unless you are working customer service, you are constantly out on the floor working until you are called up for back up to ring at your register. Well she could not understand why, when she would get the work like 1-2 hours before I did, I was working customer service and she had to be out on the floor working. She said she gets anxiety when she has to talk to people (I guess she doesn't realize that "Customer Service" doesn't mean just stand there and do nothing). Anyways, she was complaining to on of the Cashier managers about this situation when the cashier manager said "We aren't going to put a 7 month pregnant woman out on the floor" and the girl turned to her in surprise and said "OMG I didn't even notice". Well it was quite funny and I guess I can take that as a compliment that I don't looke prego at 7 months even though she should have been able to tell in that where her register faces customer service and where my register is facing, she would be staring at my profile all day. I just laugh everytime I think about that story.
I have a little over a month and a half left of work before I stop working there but I plan to go back if I feel I want to sometime after Andrew is born.

I passed my glucose test and didn't have to worry about having the gestational diabetes. I am continuing getting the painting done in Andrew's room. I have about 3/4 of the room done. I just have to wait for Peter to move the bed so I can paint that last wall. I am starting to get a little warmer day by day but considering Boise is going to be in the low 90s the next couple days, you can understand. I finally started turning on the ac this weekend and am so glad to have it in our home especially for this upcoming summer.

Spring semester has gotten over and now I am beginning an 8 week class over the summer online so that I can get more classes out of the way. So far I have gotten all As fromt this last semester but I am just waiting to hear on two more classes.

Well, I should get going, work is calling and Peter needs me to bring him his calculator that he loves to leave at home all the time. We love you all and Happy Mother's day to all the women in my life, you all are such great examples to me and allow me to know how to do it in the end. Can't wait to see most of you in two weeks.

Love,

Anne

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

That should cover it for all the mother's out there...but here's one more for my wonderful, stupendous, unbelievably amazing, beautiful, awesome, rad, perfect mother!! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Love,
marnie

Happy Mother's Day to Mom, Brooke, Adina, Tracey, and Anne. Also to Buffy and Marnie! You all are great moms (or I know you will be soon). I always look up to you all and hope that I will do as well as you did.

Love,
Kim

Happy Mom's Day to all of you Stinchfield Mothers! I hope it includes NOT cooking or doing Dishes. :)
I went to see Mission Impossible 3 with the Halladay family and we brought along a couple that I am friends with in our ward to relieve them of their parent duties for a while since they have two kids including a couple month old baby. We had fun but I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone who wants a relaxing couple of hours. The action didn't stop and to say "intense" is an understatement.
I still find myself very tired after the exams but very relieved to be done. We won't find out our results for up to 10 days (while they item analysis the exam to death) so I will just have to focus on other things like presentations and final exams.
I can't believe the end is so darn close and I will again live in the same zip code as my husband!! I won't quite get a break once we drive back up on the Saturday after graduation because I start my internship Monday morning at 7am! I am excited to have a four day work week with Fridays off but I know it will take some adjusting to get used to the long days that end around 6:30.
Once again, Happy Mothers day and have a great day everone!
Buffy

I noticed that the first thing MOM did this MOrning was Meander over to My cOMputer, Maybe to Observe the Many blogs that were on My cOMputer. I don't know what she Might be Observing Mightly about but she May be lOoking for soMe current blog coMments of a nOrmal Mother's Day fashion. Does anyone know what that Might entail. Oh My................Love, Dad

Due to lack of new posts, your blog is currently on a probationary period. If there is not a significant increase in posts, your account with Blogger will be terminated.

Regards,

Blogger Administrator

Just wondering how the Melasoft worked out for you!

Kim

Well as you all know Buffy had her big tests yesterday and today. She is now done and has King Kong off of her back. I am so proud of her as I believe all of you are for sticking with it through the three years she had to endure. She is going to make a excellent therapist. She has completed the test, next big hurdle is the boards.
I have just been busy with Gap and leave Monday for Denver for a Regional Conference. I do enjoy my job but it is definately different from Sport CHalet and I am still getting used to the structure and rules. I can't wait until my wife is up here and I get to see her every night and day. Maybe then everything will be back to normal.
Anyways I thought I would blog seeing how I never do this very often which I promise to do better.
And last but definatly not least I would like to say Happy Mothers Day to Mom, Brooke, Adina, Tracey, Anne, and Kim. And yes also to my wife who is the future (near)mother of our children. Also Marnie, Happy Mothers Day (right now you are the mom to Remus), soon to be real kids.

Love everyone and see you all soon.
Brent

I am all smiles! You have to love the ability to zoom straight out to the strategic view and quickly back into the fight. Truly amazing.

Mike

I didn't write that...my boss gave it to me at work and I thought it was good.

M

PS: I will email it to you, David, tomorrow when I get into work.

Great post Marnie...thank you. I think I will try to apply one new one every day. Some of them I already am able to do daily.

Mike

If you can't read it well enough and want to just email me and I will send it to you.

-
Marnie

Hello all. I am officially done studying for the biggest exams of my life and thought I'd play on the computer a bit. I am going to go to the gym so I can't study and then I plan to enjoy my two favorite shows (LOST and ALIAS) tonight. I am at that point in studying where I just don't care anymore which for me, means that I am done... since I no longer have fear as a motivating factor. I know I'll be a nervous mess tomorrow morning which means I will wake up at 5 and be out of the house by 6 and then I'll have some time to look over some short term memory stuff at the university area Starbucks before I make the final dreaded drive over and walk to the examination room...AHHH!
Anyway, wish me luck and a mention in a prayer would probably not be bad either!
Take care everyone,
Buffy

That's your mom...not Grandma. I really crashed last night after many exhausting days! Today all I had was a lunch and movie with a friend to fulfill a service auction item..and I just called her and she is sick and wants to take a rain check. Hallelujah! I need a day just at home (except for the daily visit to Grandma!) I don't know how I did it when I was working except that I have become a real wuss! Part of the problem is that I have had this horrible cold going around that just saps your energy but I have been plowing through with all the things I am doing...so it seems to be lasting forever.

So after I write this blog, I'm going to go down and have breakfast...watch the recorded Medium and 24 while I do the backing on the tapestry I bought in France (which has been nagging on me) and make a quilt square that I bombed out on last night. Then after that refreshment of spirit, I need to get busy cleaning the house. I've got until 3 before I need to be at Grandma's place...and tomorrow is clear also!

One of the complications lately is that our stake president has challenged our stake to do 10,000 endowments during May. That works out to be about 10 a piece but then Dad will have a difficult time doing even that between work and Young Men's. I have been doing about 3-4 sessions each week to try to make up for Dad's deficit!! Between Dad and I, we are now at 8 sessions between the two of us...and 10 if we count Kim and Treven who went with us last Friday. Tom and Tracey...we may be counting you too! Yesterday, I went with another woman from the ward...leaving at 4:15 am to catch the 5:15 session...we then did the 7 and the 9 too! I was just talking to a friend and we were both wondering why this makes us so tired when we are just sitting all the time! I guess I'm getting old!

Speaking of getting old---a Grandma update. She is still not making great progress but is in relatively good spirits. I never know how she will be from day to day. The doctor yesterday ordered at least 2 more weeks in the rehab center which means the insurance will cover it. She still has a hard time remembering about her leg and tries to put weight on it. I am trying to get her to a window bed since she enjoys looking out and her latest roommate likes the blinds closed all day. It has been beautiful out so it seems a pity to be closed in. It is supposed to be 75 this afternoon so I am hoping to take her outside on the patio for a while to get some sunshine in her.

Other than that, we try to catch as many baseball games as we can and really enjoy any family gatherings. I think I'll be fine after a couple of slower days!!! Keep blogging...I love to read about your lives!

Love you all,

Mom

We are doing well in Idaho. We got back from Washington on Sunday night and started school Monday morning. Treven and I are taking a General Psychology class together and then I am taking a New testament class. Treven is also taking a Fit for Life class and the 2nd half of Book of Mormon. Our classes are great and it is nice to be done with classes at noon instead of 5 pm! Last night when I was at work I had a Buffy and a Marnie call in. It was just kind of funny. We also went to our 14 week appt. yesterday and got to hear the baby's heartbeat and when the doctor found the heartbeat the baby kicked the thing and the doctor turned to us and said "Wonder what he or she will be like when you can actually feel it kicking?" Anyway, we have 6 more weeks till we find out what the baby is so we are pretty excited for that to come. Treven also started his job last night and it went well. For those of you who didn't know, Treven got a job at the school doing custodial work from 8 pm to 11-12pm Monday through Saturday. It will definitely help out alot. We had lots of fun at home and can't wait to see everyone at the reunion.
Love you all and that is all from us right now!

Kim and Treven

Well, I guess security for our country has taken a new turn. President Bush has nominated Hayden to run the CIA. I know things seem strange in today's world, but this may be a new direction for all of us. He has the will power and I know that I have seen him fight the mighty evil powers in the front room of his home. When I get on I-CHAT, I can see him in the background on HIS computer, going over the many ways to defeat the dark side. I have seen him swish his sword of justice behind his father, around Danika and beyond reach of his mother. He's the man.

Hayden, my hat is off to you. I have every bit of faith in you and know we are in very protective hands. Go get 'em, my boy...Go get 'em. Papa

CLEAR.......... ------------------------ CLEAR -------- ^v--^v--^v--......

I couldn't figure out how to copy and paste it with a Mac. But my name is..... Mad Jenny Kidd. We will do Treven's name ASAP.

Kim

I realize it is my turn to blog. First off, a very grateful THANKS! to Mom and Dad and Brent! for watching the girls so Brooke could visit. As you can expect, it was a wonderful time. Second, Dave I apologize for missing your birthday, but Brooke was here and...well...it was hard to think about much else. I am sorry, happy belated birthday. Brent, I really do appreciate the love you gave the girls and all the affection and attention they receive from you. I am sure it makes up a lot for my absence. I really miss my girls, but I am glad they are getting time with you all.

Brooke and I enjoyed the ten days together. We never get in everything we want to do, but who does in such a short time? You have to give the woman credit though; after coming in late Thursday night, she was out running with me the next morning, jet lag and all. We enjoyed a nice day-hike up into the mountains that Saturday, followed by a delicious Korean meal at a local restaurant. Koreans really do not speak much English. I think it is ironic given the U.S. presence here versus Japan, but frankly, you can get by in a Japanese restaurant with English almost everywhere in Japan. Not so much here... It is always an adventure to eat when it is just the two of us. We only stood up about three times to pay the bill (stuffed) only to be hand waved to sit back down for the next portion! Then there is the actual method of eating the food, nevermind any etiquette! I guess the smart thing would be to learn Korean but I really am not interested. I will learn German though.

So...Brooke and I spent a lot of time just watching the rest of the Hornblower series, hitting some episodes of Firefly, and going for walks. We went to the Korean National Museum and the Korean War Memorial/Museum which were both enjoyable, but once again not real English friendly.

Friday before Brooke left I actually had to go on a "Staff Ride" (read Field Trip) to a Korean War battlefield up near the DMZ. Although it was not good being away from Brooke, it only took about 6 hours and it was fascinating to be on the ground. The short story is that this was a place where a British Battalion (about 800 men) defended against 27,000 attacking Chinese from 3 hilltops. Description of the battle for those interested. Although the battalion was decimated, they succeeded in killing 11,000 Chinese and effectively prevented the Chinese from reaching Seoul. Very heroic actions throughout the battle. The nice thing was that the officer leading the Staff Ride was extremely knowledgeable.

The last weekend was District Conference. The visiting General Authority, Elder Evans, impressed me greatly. He was also the Japan Nagoya Mission President about 3 years ago. Since the Branch President was out of town, I filled in at all the meetings and was really spiritually fed. Saturday morning Brooke and I were able to do a session in the Seoul Temple before conference meetings which was very nice. We sure ran from train to train a lot that day! That night it all paid off with a Drover's Platter at OUtback in Itaewon.

There is always a bit of frustration when talking to District Leadership about our branch in terms of what the Seoul Branch does, being that they are mostly made up of command-sponsored families on three year assignments and we are a bunch of unaccompanied soldiers without families. But, I realize there is still a huge reactivation role we can play here, which we should be anxiously engaged in.

My friend Clif went home this week. So I must say it is a bit lonely around here this weekend.

The good news is that I have less than 4 months left here! And, it looks like I am going to be seriously busy, mostly because I am the sole continuity between the outgoing and incoming teams which typically switch out in the summer. Having come into the division in September, I will be the last member to leave of the outgoing team. I hope that makes sense. But, basically it means I will be busy. That should make time fly!

Currently I am playing a lot of Battlefield 2 on both PC and 360. Playing a most excellent baseball title for the PSP called "MLB: The Show". Reading "blink" by Gladwell. Besides watching the usual Lost(crazy episode!) and the Office (Battlestar had its season finale already :( ), I have been watching Arrested Development's first season. I do not know if any of you watch this but I really do find it hysterical. I highly recommend it. I am also trying to prepare for the GMAT which I would like to take this summer since I am going to try going to go to Grad school after Germany, hopefully at the Y.

Well, I was planning on a long hike tomorrow but it looks like the monsoon has come to town. They also have yet to turn on the A/C which has my desk fan cooling my computer while playing games. I truly hate heat if not accompanied by A/C. But hey, at least I am not in the desert! Event though Brooke would never go for it, I could easily spend the rest of my career in Anchorage or someplace like that.

So that is it for my stream of consciouusness blog. I hope everyone is well and thanks again!

Mike

some of ye have not come forth with yer pirate name...but ye must report in yer blogs er walk the plank!! (...arr...)

Captain John Flint
Mom
Iron Tom Read
Brooke
Dirty Dave Rackham
Adina
Captain John Kidd
Red Bess Rackham
Bloody Morty Rackham
Captain Grace Flint
Peter
Iron Anne Rackham
Kim
and Treven....

All aboard!!

Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist Season One will be released on DVD May 9th, 2006.

:)

-Marnie

As I take a break between projects at work I figured I should probably write in a little update of the going ons down here in San Diego. Things are going well. I am back at work today and very glad that it is May. I think that April may just be my least favorite month (sorry Dave and Taylor!). I don't really have a reason why...maybe it is because I don't usually have big plans in April. Anyway, now it is May and not only is Lost going to be new for the next 4 weeks but all the good summer movies are starting to come out! Starting with MI3 which I will be seeing this weekend!

Work is good. I have quite a few projects going on right now so it is pretty busy, which is nice. I am really liking work right now. I am doing things that I like and designing things that I can tell have been significantly improved because of me. So that is always nice. The world at Sport Chalet continues to move about with managers being flip-flopped all over San Diego so it is always an adventure to find out the news of who I will be working with when I get there on Saturdays. But I am still liking being there and the extra $ helps for those little impulse purchases. :)

Life otherwise is good. Nothing to momentous to report. I am getting back into a workout routine that will hopefully make me not feel so lazy. I took some time off from that for a little bit and I can definitely tell the difference! I feel a lot more accomplished after even just a 3 mile jog/run. So I am determined to keep that up. And hopefully it will eventually have some effect on the waistline! :)

Also I will be joining you all over Memorial Day weekend for the camping trip! I'll be there from Friday afternoon to Monday evening. I am really excited to get to see everyone! It should be a blast! Congratulations Peter! I am so impressed that you have one of those hood thingys!

Well, time to get started on the next project! Love you all!

--
Marnie