Thing have been going pretty good around here… Not much really to talk about. The three day weekend did leave me thankful for the week again, but the shift in Kevin’s schedule is just enough to completely throw my mornings off….

Over the weekend, Kevin got me a new toy. He bought me a digital camcorder and I love it. I only seem to have one problem with it, it doesn’t save to the computer for upload. No, it backs up onto the computer in a format that non of my players will play, and trying to find software that will convert and compress has been difficult. The camcorder has an 80GB hard drive on it and it takes the mini SD cards. So it seems more designed for storing memories then sharing… So if anyone knows a good software that compresses MPEG files, please, please, please, send me the info! LOL.

I have a good chance to use the DVD feature this month, Kevin’s dad’s birthday will be in a couple weeks, and I want to create a message from the kids to mail him. I am just trying to think of a way to actually do this… Just having the kids sit infront of the camera to wish him a Happy Birthday would be way to short, so I need to come up with some ideas to make it a bit longer and special for him….

Not much else is really going on… Tuesday I got my FitLinks account set up at the base gym. Interesting program, really worked my muscles and I am sure sore today and I didn’t even do that much! FitLinks is a program for the military to track fitness of their active duty members. Spouses can have an account also, only our accounts wont be able to be accessed online like active duty accounts… Since I didn’t even know about that feature, it wasn’t too saddening to hear that, so I got my account set up. I did 40 minutes on a new form of elliptical that can do three forms of motions, it can act like stairs, short strides, or longer strides. It really is an interesting machine. Hit three target areas without changing machines… I LOVE it! BUT it isn’t in the FitLinks system yet so I could record it. After the “warm up” I headed in to do the Natialis weight machines. It was interesting working with the FitLinks system. Each machine I had to set my rang of motion and my sets/reps. It took me about 4 machines to get the hang of it… So the next time I go in, my info will be a bit off, but that is ok… I just like the tracking it will do!

The hardest part of the FitLinks is that it has a timer for each motion you do. If you do it too fast, it yells at you, too slow it gets onto you. So learning to stay in its set time really was a work out on its own. On one machine (that works the arms), you had to do one rep in 3 seconds…. Normally I am in the middle of my second rep by the three second mark, so really holding the weight added another workout. My arms sure can feel it today, and I didn’t even do a huge amount. So I really think this FitLinks will help in the longer run….

Today, since I am sore in both legs and arms, plus my back is killing me, I think I am going to rest today, then tomorrow pick my legs, and leave Friday for my arms again.. Seperate what I work on, and then when I have a full week to work out, just see about going Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays… But that is a plan for another day… Today, I just want to rest, try and do laundry, and maybe get a little knitting done.

My Friday was a lot more busier then I had planned…

1. Got the pets dropped off at the vet for their health certificates.
2. Got Derric dropped off for his last day of school… My big boy.
3. Made my reservations, well, all but the shuttle, it had another run that day and wont be available, but working on another shuttle place….
4. Kevin has out processed from this base. He no longer has a squadron or a base. He is now, officially in limbo. Such a fun place to be.
5. Headed by finance, got our dislocation set. Should get it the day we leave. That will help greatly.
6. Ran by to pick up the pets, only they needed more shots! Oi, pets got expensive fast! But the good thing, they are taken care of.
7. Because of how long it took to get the pets taken care of, we left and went straight to Freya’s grooming appointment. She looks so pretty now!!
8. Dropped Cheyenne off at the room and then headed to lunch.
9. Picked up Derri, oh so sad to see the teachers say good-bye.
10. Ran by the elementary school and got a copy of the kids’ school records.
11. Picked Freya up and came back to the room.

My day was busy lol.

The room was wonderfully calm, even thou we had the kids in and out from the part between the TLF buildings. They enjoyed the running and playing they got to do. While they did that, Kevin ended up taking a nap. Silly guy. I ran by a crafting website I requested to join at the beginning of Dec. Got the invite, made my account, but never used it.. So today I decided to use it. Got to work on it and found I really like that site. Kiki! You should check it out. It is called Ravelry. Very cool. It is still in beta, but man it is good at resources for both knitting and crocheting. I really like it.

I have been looking for a pattern that I can do for a good market bag. With us being in Germany where there will be markets for daily trips, I was hoping to make myself a bag to use… So far, they have all been just beyond my grasp. So far the ones I like require a basket weave stitch that isn’t  like the one I am used to…. So it has been a very large challenge, one leaving my hands hurting because of how tight the stitch gets working this pattern… And it has messed up each time.

Oh well, always tomorrow night, after all the running we have to do, to work on it. If I am lucky, I will get it done before spring lol..

Night all.

No, not really…

But, I will say, Thanksgiving is a go for Tomorrow. I am very happy about that.

Thanksgiving was on hold because of this under planned, under manned TDY they sent Kevin on.  They sent Kevin away butte ass early on Saturday. They didn’t have the return tickets even bought yet. They were hoping to send the guys home Wednesday, but no word came of that. They were supposed to send the guys home Thursday, that looked a bit more promising, but still depended on the jets. But, it was all still very much up in the air.

So, because it was looking promising that the return was for Thursday, we decided to hold off on Thanksgiving until Friday, that way Kevin could be a part of it.  But, now that hold off is off… Kevin called last night, he was to meet up early today for the drive to the air port. Not sure when his flight is for, but he said he would call once he got the info. So I am waiting on word from him.

Our plan for today, kids will do a flash clean of the living room… the ONLY room I have been trying to get them to clean for the past two weeks. What used to be clean clothes and towels are scattered across my entire house. I am still waiting on the kids to put their towels away and clothes that they stacked in the hall way… No, I am not sure why their clothes or towels are stacked in the hallway… But they are.. And because of this, they haven’t done anything with the clean clothes and towels that were washed for them Sunday. So those, now 90% furry from dog fur, are strown around my entire living room. Not something I really want Kevin to come home to. Also, the dining room table. I got the kitchen pretty much done, except for a few messes the kids just haven’t felt like cleaning up that they made. You know, I can’t wait for life to get back to normal… honestly I can’t. But I fear life wont get back to normal until we are secluded away….

Anyway, I was talking about things to do today.

1. Living room pick up.

2. Kitchen, clean up messes kids made, dishes away, wash dishes

3. Dining room table.

4. Pick Kevin up

5. Crabtree mall (Build-A-Bear)

6. Macaroni Grill

7. Home/Movie

8. Quality alone time with hubby, which means lots and lots of snuggling, probably me falling asleep on his chest while he watches tv. Mmmmm sounds good to me.

My plan for today, since Kevin was going to be gone, was work on Thanksgiving decorations. Work on making the Thankful tree… But you know. I honestly think, I messed up. I had such a wonderful idea. But the kids just wouldn’t help out with the cleaning, so I spent my money on nothing. I got tons of supplies, felt, stencils,  glitter pens, and craft glue. Then I had all the stuff for the kids to make Thanksgiving place mats. Oh well, there is always next year. I will just pack it all up in a craft box and see what we can do next year…

Oh, and I Fell In Love with the teacher supply store here!! It was full of the most wonderful of stuff. Math counting blocks, flash cards of all types, work books, and so much more. A little sad I couldn’t find any work books for German, they ONLY had Spanish. Kinda hoped I could find something for the kids… But I found so much to help the kids with their school work. Mostly Kauchana with her math. I did pick up some paints for the kids, Kauchana has been asking me to paint, but the paints we had were old and not all that great. I also got some books for education games for Derric. I like the File Folder Games that his teacher has introduced him to. He has been doing good on those. Granted he does much better when he isn’t crowded by his siblings, but he does enjoy the games. So I wanted to make a few of my own to take for him to work with. I also grabbed a little modeling clay that doesn’t harden, so basically a play-dough. They didn’t have the hardening clay for a decent price, $25 for about 10oz of clay? No thanks. I can get 20oz of clay at Michael’s for only $6.

But besides a few items I really liked being way over priced, I just fell in love with the store. I might look into going back one day, without Derric, to take a closer look at some of the work books…. Something I can work on with the kids at home. I would love to find someplace that has German work books….

Well, kids are now done with breakfast, so I think I am going to go ahead and get to work on cleaning/picking up. That way when I get informed of Kevin’s arrival, all that will need to be done is a run through a shower, dressed, and head on up.

So later all!

Good Halloween Morning all..

Not much on my chore chart for the day, just cleaning of the living room, getting laundry put away, maybe even get a couple more loads done. Other then that, not much going on.

I called Jen up after Derric and I got done with supper around 6:15. Kids weren’t ready yet, they had just sat down to eat their supper, so I asked if she would please call when they are done. Xavier, I knew still had homework to finish, so I needed the kids home somewhat early for him to have time to work on it. She called back around 6:45.

I went over to her hotel. Kids were no where in sight, they were hiding from me. They honestly didn’t want to come home. I know it must be hard leaving her. Finally got them loaded into the truck, asked how their day was. They had a good day, she took them to the only good park here, Herman Park. She video taped them running around and playing.

They asked how my day was, I honestly told them lonely without them. Dokota looked at me and said “well, we are home now!” which the other two agreed with. It made me smile that they still do care about me lol.

    

I decided to have some fun with the kids, since they were disappointed about not being able to carve a pumpkin. I felt about it. I have NEVER done something for just Derric like that before.

Anyway, wanting some fun, we got dressed in costumes, found out it takes roughly 20 minutes to get 4 kids costumed up. Probably more with the face paint and all… Good to know for tonight. Kauchana’s pirate costume turned out good, sassy, but good.. Dokota’s wicked jester costume is going to be interesting, it is still on the too big side, so the stuffing in the jester hat doesn’t stay in. Xavier’s Spiderman costume is just the right size, so he has no grow room… Which in a way pisses me off since his was the most expensive out of the group. Derric’s cheap one is good…

Kids had fun with their swords, battling each other. I was glad we had that time. I got some really good family pictures. After the fun, came in, got to work on homework. Found out Kauchana still had a bunch of sentences to write. Xavier changed who he is doing his report on at the last minute, which means he wont get the dress up grade. Oh well.

Today will be interesting.

Going to end with a test of a project. I bought the FlipAlbum software, which allows me to create fun flip photo album books. I made up one for Halloween, please help me test this. It does require Internet Explorer for opening the link (I personally can’t get the Firefox plug-in to work). It will ask that you download a viewer program. Once you have the viewer, you will be able to view all the flip albums I showcase here. It only needs to be downloaded once, unless you uninstall it… But please, if you wish, help me test this idea: Halloween 2007 FlipAlbum

Ok everyone, I need to get Derric ready for school. Have a great day!

I have finally finished a scarf! LOL. Kauchana’s Fuzzy Fun Scarf is done.

Now I am going to work on Dokota’s Gryffendorf scarf and try to get that done within the next two or so weeks. Shouldn’t take as long since his is simpler to make. The fuzz on Kauchana’s actually made it slightly hard. I will update later when I get a picture of her with it!