Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Happy Start to the Holidays!
The girls are getting a good start to the holidays, so I thought I would share their spirit.
Bella refuses to take off her black Christmas dress and the twins are infactuated with the pumpkins outside.
We had a chance to snap a couple of pictures, I hope you all enjoy.
Can't wait to see everyone over the holidays!
Love,
Jeannie
Twister Title 2 and Other Holiday News
Hey All! Can you believe that Christmas is less than 2 months away!?! I can...it was ch- ch- chilly out there on my run this morning. Couple that with Kade's attempt tonight to pick out "a few" things from the Toys R Us Big Christmas Book (he marked something on practically every page, including the $500 battery-powered Jeep), and I've now got the holiday spirit.
So, without further waiting, here is the proposed holiday plan. Thanks to Terry for getting an early start on this, by the way. Sounds like the party will be in the afternoon/evening on the Saturday after Christmas, so Dec. 27. This will allow Terry and Tammy to get Taylor and get to the farm, and allow Dave and Melissa and family to spend time with the Bondes on Friday. Mom will be juggling some work days, but thinks she can get it figured out. Jeannie/Jason and Jill/David, please respond so we know this will work for you.
We will continue the White Elephant tradition with the usual stipulations, so start cleaning those garages and closets or shopping if you are so inclined! Also, as started last year, we will not do formal gifts for the adults but will do a freewill offering for a charitable cause. Mom and Dad had the opportunity to collect the offering and pick the charity last year, so that right now passes to Dave and Melissa and family. If you want to contribute, bring your donation in an envelope to the party. Dave and Melissa and crew can tell us the charity at that time.
We have drawn names for the preteens/kids and I have/will email you with your name. (Zach has chosen to join the adults in the White Elephant exchange.) The exception to this is Adelyn and Alexandra. Because they are new to the family, and just so darn cute, we figured everyone would probably want to buy them something. Diapers, anyone?
Have I covered everything? Post a note if I haven't! We are looking forward to another fabulous Christmas with the Krizes. We'll bring the Twister, so start stretching out now. :-)
Ho, ho, ho! See you in two months.
So, without further waiting, here is the proposed holiday plan. Thanks to Terry for getting an early start on this, by the way. Sounds like the party will be in the afternoon/evening on the Saturday after Christmas, so Dec. 27. This will allow Terry and Tammy to get Taylor and get to the farm, and allow Dave and Melissa and family to spend time with the Bondes on Friday. Mom will be juggling some work days, but thinks she can get it figured out. Jeannie/Jason and Jill/David, please respond so we know this will work for you.
We will continue the White Elephant tradition with the usual stipulations, so start cleaning those garages and closets or shopping if you are so inclined! Also, as started last year, we will not do formal gifts for the adults but will do a freewill offering for a charitable cause. Mom and Dad had the opportunity to collect the offering and pick the charity last year, so that right now passes to Dave and Melissa and family. If you want to contribute, bring your donation in an envelope to the party. Dave and Melissa and crew can tell us the charity at that time.
We have drawn names for the preteens/kids and I have/will email you with your name. (Zach has chosen to join the adults in the White Elephant exchange.) The exception to this is Adelyn and Alexandra. Because they are new to the family, and just so darn cute, we figured everyone would probably want to buy them something. Diapers, anyone?
Have I covered everything? Post a note if I haven't! We are looking forward to another fabulous Christmas with the Krizes. We'll bring the Twister, so start stretching out now. :-)
Ho, ho, ho! See you in two months.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Long Lost Family Members Searching for Relatives!
Hello!
My name is Jill and I believe I have found my family - YOU! Do you still remember me? Am I still accepted in the family? I promise to make cheesecake if I'm invited for the holidays! Well, it's been a long time and I'm sorry I haven't blogged. It has been more than hectic here. We moved a month ago and you would never know it with all of the boxes stacked in the garage and in the bedrooms. We bought a new townhouse, 2 story, 3 bedrooms. It's the exact model/plan as the townhome that Anne and I lived in together. It's the perfect starter home for us! Our first mortgage payment is due next week so we don't really like that part of the whole thing, but I guess we'll pay it. I would love to show you pics, but we can't find the cord for the digital camera! (I'm sure it's in one of the many unopened boxes!) I have a new camera that I haven't figured out yet either so please use your imagination on what the place looks like.
School has been really difficult this year. I have a tough group of 3rd graders, or at least a handful that will take every ounce of patience I have. I say it every year, but I think this year is the most difficult. We are piloting a new online gradebook and report card system, and glitches are popping up daily. We have a new math curriculum that was supposedly aligned with the state's standards, but is so far out of alignment that we're being told to just deal with it and the fact that our students will not do well when it comes to testing! I don't have my trusty sidekick Anne anymore since she moved across town, so it's depressing at times. I vent to her voicemail and email quite often. I think I should have been less greedy and accepted a position at a 12 month school. Our lovely governor has also decided to chop education funds so we have been busy trying to cut $122,000 out of our school's budget for next year. What fun!
On the positive side, David's job is going well. He's been talking about applying for a new property opening next summer, which is a pretty big promotion. He has a few opportunities in the next year that he's being considered for so things look good.
Anyhoo...once again, it sounds as though carving was fun. When will the pics of the masterpieces be on the blog? We miss all of you. It sounds as though we will probably be home the weekend after Christmas Day. Is that still the plan?
Love,
Jill and David
My name is Jill and I believe I have found my family - YOU! Do you still remember me? Am I still accepted in the family? I promise to make cheesecake if I'm invited for the holidays! Well, it's been a long time and I'm sorry I haven't blogged. It has been more than hectic here. We moved a month ago and you would never know it with all of the boxes stacked in the garage and in the bedrooms. We bought a new townhouse, 2 story, 3 bedrooms. It's the exact model/plan as the townhome that Anne and I lived in together. It's the perfect starter home for us! Our first mortgage payment is due next week so we don't really like that part of the whole thing, but I guess we'll pay it. I would love to show you pics, but we can't find the cord for the digital camera! (I'm sure it's in one of the many unopened boxes!) I have a new camera that I haven't figured out yet either so please use your imagination on what the place looks like.
School has been really difficult this year. I have a tough group of 3rd graders, or at least a handful that will take every ounce of patience I have. I say it every year, but I think this year is the most difficult. We are piloting a new online gradebook and report card system, and glitches are popping up daily. We have a new math curriculum that was supposedly aligned with the state's standards, but is so far out of alignment that we're being told to just deal with it and the fact that our students will not do well when it comes to testing! I don't have my trusty sidekick Anne anymore since she moved across town, so it's depressing at times. I vent to her voicemail and email quite often. I think I should have been less greedy and accepted a position at a 12 month school. Our lovely governor has also decided to chop education funds so we have been busy trying to cut $122,000 out of our school's budget for next year. What fun!
On the positive side, David's job is going well. He's been talking about applying for a new property opening next summer, which is a pretty big promotion. He has a few opportunities in the next year that he's being considered for so things look good.
Anyhoo...once again, it sounds as though carving was fun. When will the pics of the masterpieces be on the blog? We miss all of you. It sounds as though we will probably be home the weekend after Christmas Day. Is that still the plan?
Love,
Jill and David
Happy Halloween all!!
Thanks for the great pumpkin carving weekend, you guys. Was great fun- from wrestling with the little kids, getting to cook for a crew, playing with the twins, and watching all the big and little cousins interact. Even (kinda) enjoyed the tromping through the slew grass-- and watching the pheasants thumb their beaks at our line of hunters.
Hope you all got home with a minimum of trouble. Jeannie and Jason, hope you didn't need the extra baby food and empty bottles in your blue bag-- will bring it up next time we come. By the time I found it you were probably home already! I might also have one heavy blue sweatshirt-- kinda looks like a Jason size and a few stray socks.
The wind this afternoon was really unreal. Dad says it knocked a lot of corn down-- guess it's a good thing there isn't too many acres left out there to be harvested. Hope it blew itself out-- now it really feels cold-- might get a good freeze tonight.
Missed the Minnesota Kriz's and of course the Las Vegas crew. Hope you all had as much fun this weekend as we did. How did Taylor's volleyball tournament turn out??
Love you all-- till next time--- Mom and Dad
Hope you all got home with a minimum of trouble. Jeannie and Jason, hope you didn't need the extra baby food and empty bottles in your blue bag-- will bring it up next time we come. By the time I found it you were probably home already! I might also have one heavy blue sweatshirt-- kinda looks like a Jason size and a few stray socks.
The wind this afternoon was really unreal. Dad says it knocked a lot of corn down-- guess it's a good thing there isn't too many acres left out there to be harvested. Hope it blew itself out-- now it really feels cold-- might get a good freeze tonight.
Missed the Minnesota Kriz's and of course the Las Vegas crew. Hope you all had as much fun this weekend as we did. How did Taylor's volleyball tournament turn out??
Love you all-- till next time--- Mom and Dad
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Job Update
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to give everyone an update on my employment status. It was a long day today, but I came out of it with my job. There were a total of 78 job cuts today of which 16 were in the IT department. My team and my bosses team did not have to cut anyone so that is the good news. The bad news is that I knew almost all of the 16 that did get cut. It was hard to hear some of them get cut as they were friends of mine. Hopefully this will be the last cut for some time. I am also hoping this economy turns around so that people can feel safe and secure in what they do.
I hope you all are doing fine and that you are having a good fall. I am not sure we will make it home for pumpkin carving as Taylor has a VB game that Saturday and it sounds like she kind of wants to play at it. If she changes her mind then I will let you know, but for now it is not looking very good. This will likely relieve the rest of you, because now you will at least have a chance to win the contest. hehe.....
Well I have rambled long enough. Talk to you soon.
Terry
I just wanted to give everyone an update on my employment status. It was a long day today, but I came out of it with my job. There were a total of 78 job cuts today of which 16 were in the IT department. My team and my bosses team did not have to cut anyone so that is the good news. The bad news is that I knew almost all of the 16 that did get cut. It was hard to hear some of them get cut as they were friends of mine. Hopefully this will be the last cut for some time. I am also hoping this economy turns around so that people can feel safe and secure in what they do.
I hope you all are doing fine and that you are having a good fall. I am not sure we will make it home for pumpkin carving as Taylor has a VB game that Saturday and it sounds like she kind of wants to play at it. If she changes her mind then I will let you know, but for now it is not looking very good. This will likely relieve the rest of you, because now you will at least have a chance to win the contest. hehe.....
Well I have rambled long enough. Talk to you soon.
Terry
Monday, October 13, 2008
Fall at its Finest
I got the chance to have a little taste of home this weekend by participating in a cross country relay race from Omaha to Lincoln. It was really fun running down the rural roads as combines were cutting beans and hunters were looking for turkeys (the REAL kind, not the running kind ... it was opening weekend). It certainly got me excited for the party in a couple of weeks.
Here's a photo story on the relay, in case you are curious. http://media.journalstar.com/comments/?mid=M48f1c61776b2b
See you in a couple weeks!
Here's a photo story on the relay, in case you are curious. http://media.journalstar.com/comments/?mid=M48f1c61776b2b
See you in a couple weeks!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Fall Bounty
Just a quick note to let you all know that it is apple season again. I made pies today and probably will again since I get a huge guilt complex when I look out at all that free food. If you are interested in taking pies home over pumpkin carving weekend, give me a little guidance as to how many you want. What kind do you prefer- the two crust or the crumb topping kind?? I will make and freeze as many as I have time for and you should bring a cooler or something to transport them. Also I am processing the last of many batches of spagetti, and pizza sauce ( they are about the same tasting) , as well as salsa--and my shelves would be glad to part with some of these. Should you be harboring some of the jars from last year I'd be glad to take them out of your way as I am kind of low on them by now.
I am trying apple butter tonight. The jury's out on whether or not this is a good idea. Let you know later ---
Don't need to feel obligated to pick up any of the above mentioned options-- maybe you are still trying to use up last years!! Tammy, I know you have been canning also.
Am looking forward to pumpkin carving weekend. Of course it is my weekend to work, but I think I have arranged at least to have Sat. off. Love, Mom
I am trying apple butter tonight. The jury's out on whether or not this is a good idea. Let you know later ---
Don't need to feel obligated to pick up any of the above mentioned options-- maybe you are still trying to use up last years!! Tammy, I know you have been canning also.
Am looking forward to pumpkin carving weekend. Of course it is my weekend to work, but I think I have arranged at least to have Sat. off. Love, Mom
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Twas a Lovely Day on Campus
Hi all! Kade and I just returned from a quick trip to beautiful South Dakota! Sure is nice weather up there.
We hung out with Jeannie, Jason and the kids, on Friday and Saturday nights, and Jeannie and I took Kade and Isabella to experience Hobo Days (SDSU's homecoming) on Saturday. We took in the parade and part of the football game, until the kids folded over in exhaustion. Jeannie and I both agreed that perhaps the most fun of the whole weekend was seeing the Armour/Corsica band come marching around the corner in the parade and embarrassing Zach as he moved past. We saw the band's banner, looked at each other and said, at the same time, "Do you suppose Zach is marching?" It was a nice surprise to see him drumming in the back - although we almost missed him because he looked so different without his glasses and in his band hat (AND he wouldn't look at us until right at the end as they were headed down the road)!
Anyway, the only thing we could have done without is the flu bug that Kade picked up. It was a long four hours home today, but he was a trooper. Hope we didn't leave any bad germies up there for Jeannie and Jason and kids.
Farmers were combining soybeans, and some corn, all the way up on our drive. Made me very homesick, as is usual this time of year. Glad to hear that Dad and Dave have the beans done, but I am hoping there'll still be a little bit of combining left to do when we come up in a few weeks.
Lastly, sorry to hear about the MN Twins. Maybe next year, Melissa!
Hope everyone is doing well. Happy Fall to All!
We hung out with Jeannie, Jason and the kids, on Friday and Saturday nights, and Jeannie and I took Kade and Isabella to experience Hobo Days (SDSU's homecoming) on Saturday. We took in the parade and part of the football game, until the kids folded over in exhaustion. Jeannie and I both agreed that perhaps the most fun of the whole weekend was seeing the Armour/Corsica band come marching around the corner in the parade and embarrassing Zach as he moved past. We saw the band's banner, looked at each other and said, at the same time, "Do you suppose Zach is marching?" It was a nice surprise to see him drumming in the back - although we almost missed him because he looked so different without his glasses and in his band hat (AND he wouldn't look at us until right at the end as they were headed down the road)!
Anyway, the only thing we could have done without is the flu bug that Kade picked up. It was a long four hours home today, but he was a trooper. Hope we didn't leave any bad germies up there for Jeannie and Jason and kids.
Farmers were combining soybeans, and some corn, all the way up on our drive. Made me very homesick, as is usual this time of year. Glad to hear that Dad and Dave have the beans done, but I am hoping there'll still be a little bit of combining left to do when we come up in a few weeks.
Lastly, sorry to hear about the MN Twins. Maybe next year, Melissa!
Hope everyone is doing well. Happy Fall to All!
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