Well well.

It's been a while since we've updated.

In that time, Justin went to China for 2 weeks, which honestly is all a blur.  Working almost full time, always a full time mom, I don't remember much from the last month.  Both a blessing and a curse, I guess!

Things to look forward to this month:  Michael turns 2 on Wednesday and Xavier turns 4 on the 22nd...right before Thanksgiving.  Incidentally, also one of my favorite holidays ever.  Turkey, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and everything else, all spent with my favorite family.  My mother and law are trying to decide if we are going to do Black Friday this year, which is when the stores offer up (sometimes) amazing deals on products and gifts you might be eyeing for Christmas, and they open at 4 a.m. or earlier.  This year, I've heard several stores are opening at midnight.  Which...yay!  I wouldn't even have to go to bed.

This week Steven starts conditioning for basketball.  I gave him my blessing to move our basketball hoop around to the front of the house where it can actually be used, so he practiced some over the weekend.  He said he's never really played before.  I was busy with other stuff this weekend, otherwise I would've gone out to help him with his form.  I showed him how to shoot properly...but it's going to take some practice.  He's going to need to have an awareness of where the ball is and know how to dribble well without looking down at the ball.  All of which just takes time and practice!

Nothing else is jumping to mind here.  I think Steven is realizing we aren't a very exciting family.  The first few weeks we had plans and things to do, and now...now we start going dormant for the winter.  What an experience!

In a word...nothing.

That basically describes what has been going on.  I've been busy editing a ton of pictures from a bunch of sessions I've had over the last month and a half or so, and still trying to get caught up.  Work is going to get busier as I learn some new responsibilities, and it's always busy busy busy at home when the kids are up.  At home, I feel like I'm in a constant state of motion.  No wonder I always feel so tired!

Not much new to report, other than Steven had his first land judging contest yesterday and I believe placed 3rd individually out of a large number of kids at this contest.  I honestly have no idea what land judging is--I'm not going to lie.  With any luck, Justin will be able to explain that one at some point; after all, he used to organize entire programs for land judging when he worked for the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts.

Xavier has a preschool field trip tomorrow to the pumpkin patch, and I'm excited to have a work schedule now that allows me to accompany the group.  I'll be in charge of 3 or 4 kids as we make our way around the patch.  Fairly certain I can handle that...we will see! 

The two youngest, Xavier and Michael were sick last week, but seem to be getting over it now.  Thankfully Emma hasn't gotten the bug yet, nor have Justin or I.  And I hope Justin won't, since he's due to leave for China in about a week and a half for an international golf show.

Everyone has really hit a stride and have grown comfortable with their new roles with Steven in the house.  Well, Xavier has been saying he doesn't like Steven, but then again, he also says he doesn't like mommy, he doesn't like Michael, he doesn't like Emma, and he doesn't like Mrs. Cheney (his preschool teacher).  He's just about 4, and I think this age has been the worst for him as far as attitude goes.  Steven asked me this morning, "Why does Xavier have such bad moods?"  Well, they don't call it ''f'ing fours" for nothing.  Or maybe he likes to have a reason to spend time in his room, I don't really know.

So that's all for my update.  This weekend is the big Ohio State game, and next weekend is the Apel Family's annual fall cookout, which is always fun.  Hot dogs and s'mores over the fire with potluck foods, games and a hayrack ride!  I'll update more then.

Plenty of Room

Wow how time slips away!  It has been a while since my last update and although this will be short, there has been a lot going on.  Each night seems like a new adventure, whether keeping all the kids busy, making sure everyone has what they need for the next day, and Melissa and I know where each kid needs to be and when.  The week of the 12^th is behind us.  Our anniversary was fun to celebrate, but all week long we had the Calfee family in our thoughts.  Their news is still very sad and Facebook posts and newspaper listings still keep the entire event fresh.  Regardless, she had such an impact on friends around us she will never be forgotten.  I hope for the idiot drunk drivers family that he didn’t destroy two lives with his careless behavior.  It is insult to injury that he just got done with probation for a 1^st offence violation of drinking and driving.

I cannot even tell you what we did that weekend, it obviously wasn’t very exciting.  It was a day game televised and Nebraska pulled off a win with Washington.  I think that was the third time we played them in two years that was unique.  I think I helped a friend roof his garage, that may have been the weekend before.  Also that night was Steven’s homecoming.  I needed to rush home from roofing to help tie his tie.  He and the group of friends had a great time.  I wasn’t able to stay awake to make sure he made curfew, if he was anything like me growing up it wasn’t a problem.  Check Facebook for pictures of the group. I do not have any to post.

Last Tuesday we had parent teacher conferences for Emma and Steven.  Steven stayed home with Emma and Michael while Melissa, Michael, and I made the visits.  First was Emma’s teacher.  My first impression was not good.  She overran with the appointment ahead of us by nearly 10 minutes so we had a very short time with her.  Her plan would have been to carry over and make the next family wait, but my frustration was already too great.  I told her we didn’t have much time and hit the points.  Emma had a great report.  Finally a teacher that basically says “your kid is progressing and is still acting like a kid”..  What a relief.  We know Emma is “busy” to say the least, but I’ll take an extravert over the alternative any day except when hung-over..  After our short visit with the near twin of our sister-in-law Kelly, we headed for Palmyra to visit with Stevens teachers.  It worked out great, it was near the end of the night and we were able to visit with all of his teachers.  He had shuffled his Math class a few weeks before that changed his schedule.  For a few teachers Steven was relatively new in their class so there was not much to report other than his schedule for catching up with the other students.  He had great comments from all and has adapted very well to school.  All of the teachers offered their help in keeping us informed if he appears to slip in any classes and we want to maintain that his cross country and extracurricular activities do not interfere.  After the conferences we met another host family Lori and Steve at the Palmyra bar to swap FES stories..  Getting home late I think had both Steven and Emma nervous at how their reports went.  It’s good to make them sweat a little.

Last Thursday night I left for Wyoming with my brothers and dad to surprise my sister and attend the Husker vs. Wyoming game.  What a blast!!  It was fun to spend time with my brothers and dad, something we have not been able to do for a long time.  Hopefully sometime soon we can all get together back on the farm like we use to do growing up.  A week later my ribs are still sore from laughing.  I’m sure my brothers are sore also from falling in a creek bed trying to take a shortcut.  Nothing will top my younger brother having to be walked home and put to bed by my dad and leaving my sister and I with his cell phone.  Lots of hacked posts!

Melissa will have to report on last weekend’s activities. 

This week went quickly.  The routine of cross country and school work for each night.  Tonight we are keeping Lou from up the street while Steve and Lori (his host parents) head to Las Vegas for their anniversary.  Lou will be staying with us until Sunday night.  Melissa and Xavier are home today.  This morning X walked in as he normally does and was out of his routine, normally he wants to shower but this morning he wasn’t feeling good.  He laid on our floor wrapped up in a blanket.  Before I left he was acting a little like himself by wiping the kiss off his cheek I left for him.  Melissa sent a text and said he is acting find now, he may have tricked us..  She said he stomped on a long legged spider and said “I squished him but that’s ok he’s waiving at me”.  We will have to watch him faking now that he knows what works.

Tonight we expect Lou and tomorrow night is a big night at the football game, parents night for all sports so we will go represent FES x2.  We are way ahead in the host parents race, Steve and Lori missed Lou’s parent teachers conference and are now missing parents night…  The other German kids host parents couldn’t win a….  better leave that one alone…  Saturday we have another roofing job and I plan to put Lou and Steven to work.  All from the ground of course, no heights or ladders, just some good old picking up trash and nails duty..

Empathy

A couple of weeks back, the kids and I were at Target shopping for clothes for Steven and ran into Mo (she's the little sister of the girl whose funeral we attended yesterday).  She was holding a purple hippo Pillow Pet.  She said her mom wouldn't buy her one so she thought she might buy it herself.  I don't think she ended up with it that night, but I can't be sure.  Last night, I took Emma and Steven to Kohls to find Steven some clothes to wear for Homecoming and somehow Emma found the mini Pillow Pets.  There happened to be a mini hippo.  Emma said, "We should get this for Mo.  Maybe it will help her not be so sad about her sister."

How could I not?

9 Years!

Last Sunday we were at Melissa’s parent’s house on the farm while some of her extended family was in town for a visit and her parents were having a BBQ.  While the kids were all playing outside Melissa’s dad pointed out a piece of equipment sitting out that I wanted to show Steven.  It is a 3-wheeled floater sprayer and from a distance isn’t all that impressive, yet I knew up close Steven would be amazed especially when he saw the tires.  While we were walking across the farm yard we went past their barn and it reminded me of when I was in grade school and we were out for a birthday party.  We walked past a small fenced coral where I remember bringing my nephew Jack out once when he was very little to ride.  We walked by a spot where in college I helped her dad dig up a broken water line.  Steven was asking questions about the buildings, the farm ground, animals (especially the smell of the hogs) all the while I kept thinking about how many memories I have of Melissa and her family growing up and while I was telling Steven the stories, I can’t wait to tell my kids when they are old enough to remember.  Nine years ago today Melissa and I were married.  We had been dating since our second year of college yet had actually grown up together as friends.

I never thought nine years ago we would have a 7 year old in 2^nd grade, a son in Preschool, and another son learning to talk along with an exchange student in high school.  It goes to show that we make a great team and how lucky I am.  Happy Anniversary honey, I love you!

HOMECOMING WEEK!

You already know from Justin's post yesterday that this last weekend was another busy one.  We went to the air show on Saturday, which was really pretty neat.  It took about an hour of waiting in the car, slowly making our way to the air field, but it was worth it.  We ate overpriced hot dogs and nachos and watched the jets and planes dip, duck, dive, duck and dodge.  I could imagine being up there with the pilots, getting sick all over the instrument panel.  I don't handle heights or things that spin very well.  We left before the Blue Angels came out, which was a little disappointing, but we could still see them from the tailgate spot, and they did perform a fly over the stadium.  After tailgating, we went home to listen to the game.  I'm pretty sure everyone in the house was asleep by 10:15 p.m. (unheard of!); we were all just exhausted.

Sunday I took some pictures for a friend and met up with Justin and the kids to pick out a ceiling fan to replace the one that quit working.  Once back at home, Steven helped Justin with some projects (putting the fan up, messing around with the fire truck), while I made a pasta salad for a cookout my parents were having.  My Aunts and cousin were in town from California and everyone gathered to see them.  I was a little worried about Steven.  That's a lot of family to process at once!  My 3 sisters, my grandma, parents, an aunt, a great aunt, and a cousin.  He did very well though.  It was fun to show him the farm I grew up on.  I told him how, when I was little, I HATED being on the farm because all of my friends lived in town, and I never got to play with any of them.  Now, though, I'd give anything to be back on the farm.  He told me that in Berlin, you live in town, have friends in town, but you still don't see them.  I guess that could be true, but that's the difference between a city of 4 million + and a town of 1,600.

That brings me to my main point of this post...it's Homecoming week at Palmyra High School!  I'm glad to have something else to focus on Thursday, after our friend's daughter's funeral, and that would be...homecoming shopping.  Our Steven has a date!  Incidentally, her name happens to be Emma.  I've seen her picture and she looks like a nice, cute girl.  I really didn't think at this age, I'd be worrying about homecoming clothes or anything, but this is fun.  I'm taking Steven and Lucas in on Thursday after school to buy an outfit which he can wear Saturday to the dance and a few more times for other events like church on Christmas and Easter.  My plan is to take them to my very favorite store, Kohls, where I also happen to have a 30% off coupon.  Yay for Kohls!  We're also going to need to order a corsage to have picked up for Saturday.  Lucky for us, I work right near a flower shop, so that shouldn't be a problem.

He's also got another cross country meet this week.  He came home from the first one last night, and he told me he ran his 5k in about 30 minutes.  Not bad, but he didn't place well.  I reminded him that he pretty much JUST started running last week and the only place he can go now is UP.  I'm sure he'll do better next time.

Now...off to plan some homecoming outfits!

2 week summary

Some of my info might not match Melissa's prior posts but just remember, just like at home, I am always right..

I’m finally finding a few minutes to get caught up on this blog.  We have had an exciting two weeks, staying very busy with EVERYTHING.  The kids are off and running in the school routine and we have been able to show Steven a bit of Nebraska.  Labor Day weekend began with tailgating with my younger brother at his annual tailgate location across from the stadium.  Steven got to witness firsthand what downtown Lincoln looks like on a home Husker gameday in the fall, how the stadium becomes the 3^rd largest city in our state, and the “sea of red”.  Friends of ours from Bennet have tickets and Chad invited Steven to attend the game with him.  It was perfect weather and a perfect afternoon for a game.  The team played well and Chad was able to secure access to the field after the game for a few pictures.  Very few people ever get that opportunity.  After the game Steven and Chad met us at our friend’s house in Lincoln where we were watching other college games and having an extended tailgate party.  It was a late night. 

 Chad & Steven

 Melissa, Steven, X, Emma, and Miko

 Tailgate Spot

Justin and Beezer

Beezer & Miko

Waste of Money Band

Sea of Red

Emma ended up spending the night at their home and Sunday morning Melissa, Steven, Xavier, and Michael along with our neighbors Sarah and son Hunter loaded up for a 2.5 hour drive towards the center of the state Grand Island now home of the Nebraska State Fair.  Sarah’s husband Joe and I stayed behind.  I needed to work and Emma was boating with our neighbor.  While at the fair Steven jumped on the big rides, almost flipping his own pizza on the ride that spins around while completely inverted…  Melissa has video proof on her Facebook.  He also took Xavier on some of the smaller rides.  Sunday night we had company over but the kids including Steven went to bed early. 

Monday we all went shopping and hung around home most all of the day.  Steven had his first Cross Country practice Monday afternoon in Bennet.  Their coach had them run 4 miles and he was in enough shape to keep up.

Tuesday was back-to-school routine.  Steven needed a Doctor checkup to allow him to participate in sports so Melissa took him that afternoon.  That evening Steven was fighting the start of a stomach bug and stayed home to recover on Wednesday.  He told us in Germany you go to school unless you are near death.  We told him we’d rather he recover at home quicker before it gets worse and more important to avoid contaminating other students.  A day’s rest must have helped because he was ready to go back on Thursday.  This was his first Cross Country meet however the coach had him just attend as a spectator. 

Saturday was very busy.  All were up early to head into Lincoln for the Lincoln Airshow at the airport.  Later that afternoon we once again went to my brother’s tailgate.  This was an evening game so we left just before kickoff and drove back to Bennet.  Saturday morning we had some very sad news that a friend of ours daughter attending college had been killed in a motorcycle accident Friday night.  Her and her boyfriend were away at college and an oncoming car swerved into their lane killing them both.  Alexis (Lexi) was an amazing girl.  Homecoming queen, amazing athlete, and comes from a very neat family that are very active in our community.  It is one of those horrific stories you hear about happening in a small town where it affects everyone because everyone knows them..  Melissa and I can’t even imagine what that would be like.  I think for both of us we wanted to keep into our plans for the day but it really made us both want to be home that night.  We weren’t able to watch the game at home because of our cable so while listening to the team play poorly, I honestly didn’t care.  Even with 9/11 the next day, nothing, football nor dedication ceremonies seemed nearly as important as what we knew our friends were dealing with.  Emma is at an age where she understands and although she is sad for Lexi, it is heartbreaking when she mentions how sad she is for Mariah (Mo), Lexi’s younger sister that Emma knows from babysitting and from our neighbor’s daughter and Mo playing with Emma and her friend Tara.

Sunday morning was perfect weather.  Melissa was in Lincoln doing family pictures for some friends so Steven and I had Emma, X, and Miko outside enjoying the day.  We left to meet Melissa around lunch to do some quick shopping.  The early afternoon Steven helped me with a project outside.  I brought home a pickup truck we had bought a few months ago for our fire department.  I’ll keep it in our garage while I fit it with lights, sirens, radios, and run plumbing for hoses.  I use to do these projects at the fire station but it is so hard to get away for that much time I have found it much easier to have it home where I have all my tools and where I can work on it for a few minutes here and there.  I think Steven was surprised when I took down the headliner in the cab, lined up brackets to start drilling holes in the center of the roof of what he thought of as a new pickup…  I showed him pictures of the wreaked truck we were replacing to give him an idea what it would look like (hopefully) when we are all done. 

Melissa had some extended family visiting in Syracuse so we headed to her parents house on the farm Sunday afternoon.  Steven was able to meet the rest of Melissa’s family including her older sisters and parents.  He got to see a little life on the farm seeing where Melissa grew up.  We walked around, he was impressed by some of the equipment.  I’m excited for him to go down at harvest time and ride with Melissa’s dad in the combine and trucks.

We headed home early since it was a school night, the kids would need a bath from petting horses and having played outside, and Steven needed rest since today is his first CC meet.  It is almost an hour north of Lincoln so Melissa and I aren’t able to go watch. 

After the kids were bathed and Miko was in bed Steven wanted to head back out to work on the truck.  We worked another 45 minutes, Emma and X watched until bed-time.  He asked this morning if we were going to work on it tonight and was disappointed when I told him I was gone to meetings.

We broke him.

Sadly, Steven was feeling ill towards yesterday afternoon.  He looked a little bit like he did after riding the Windsurfer ride at the fair on Sunday (perhaps a delayed reaction?), so he stayed home today.  He told me last week, that in Germany that unless you're dying, they expect you at school.  I told him, "Here in America, if you're sick, you stay home.  We don't want your germs." 

So it took a week before we broke him.  I haven't talked to him since this morning, so I hope he's feeling better!

Autumn Begins!

Wow, what a fun weekend!  Friday night, we kicked it off by having supper with the neighbors.  Nothing beats grilled burgers and brats with good friends.  Steven told us how in Germany, you might know of your neighbors, but not like this, and certainly not several houses away.  We do live in a pretty great community; it’s not always like this in other communities—even in Nebraska.

Saturday was a big day for all.  Once everyone got ready, we all piled in the car to go to the first home Husker tailgate.  We armed Steven with a camera and the knowledge that he was actually going to go to the game!  Our friend, Chad, had a couple of tickets that he was going to give us, since his dad couldn’t go.  However, being the smart husband that he was, Justin didn’t want to leave me at the tailgate with all 3 kids, so Steven went to the game with Chad.  We were really excited to hear what he thought of the whole thing, from the fanfare of the pre-game show, the tunnel walk, and the game itself.  Truly, there is nothing like the feeling of being downtown or the stadium on game day.  The excitement is palpable and I was thrilled Steven was going to experience it firsthand. 

The game was a big win over Tennessee at Chattanooga, 40-7.  Justin, me and the kids ended up at another friend’s house in Lincoln to watch the game and Chad and Steven met us there afterwards.  It took them quite a while to get there because Chad took Steven down onto the field to get some pictures.  I wish I had those pictures with me, because I’d post a few.  Pretty neat…they even got close to Coach Pelini and the players.  Steven seemed to have enjoyed himself.  It’s a good thing, too.  Husker football is a way of life around here, and a pretty good inauguration to life in Nebraska.

Sunday, a neighbor and I decided to take the kids out to the state fair in Grand Island, Nebraska.  Neither of us had been since it moved away from Lincoln a few years ago, and I really hadn’t been even when it was in Lincoln in probably 10 years.  It was a good way to let our husbands get some things done around home while we got the kids out and entertained them for a day.  Sarah, her son Hunter, me and my kids—Steven, Xavier and Michael arrived in Grand Island around noon.  Little did we know, on the main road trying to get to the fair park, there was an accident which kept traffic at a standstill.  Of course that’s when Xavier had to go to the bathroom.  So while Sarah and everyone else was still on the street, Xavier and I ran to the nearest motel to find a bathroom.  When he was done, we exited out the side, which led right back to the street.  I figured Sarah & company couldn’t have made it too far up, so we walked a couple of blocks before I decided to call.  Turns out, they pulled into the motel after us and were waiting in the parking lot for us to come out.  Too funny!  They pulled back into the street and while they stopped, we hopped in and continued on to the fair.

Once inside the fair gates, we attempted to navigate the exhibition hall.  Let me tell you, it’s not easy with strollers.  There were way too many people in what I thought was too small of a space.  We did manage to find a John Deere booth, where Xavier got a new tractor and book.  After that, we’d all had enough and shoved our way back out into the light to look for some lunch.

Bellies full, we approached the midway to purchase some tickets for a few rides.  Xavier was excited!  We got enough tickets for Xavier, Steven and me to go on a few rides (I knew either Steven or I would have to ride with Xavier for a few of them).  First up—the kiddie swings.  I  really thought I would be ok on this one.  As a person who regularly gets carsick and fears heights, I don’t do many rides because I just don’t handle them well, but this one didn’t go too high and I’ve always liked the swings.  Xavier had a lot of fun on it, but I started to get dizzy and have a vaguely unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Still, I thought I’d be ok to ride on the Typhoon, which I had pointed out to Steven earlier.  Steven and I climbed on, and after being secured in, the ride began to swing us up to the left….and back down to the right….and back to the left….until it built up enough momentum to swing all the way around.  Then it stopped and went the other direction.  After my stomach tried to make an exit through my mouth, the ride was over, and we debarked.  Weak-kneed and feeling a bit queasy, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of going on the next ride with Xavier, so I made Steven take him.  It was the kiddie version of what we just rode.  As the ride was in progress, I saw a little girl start to cry and Steven leaned over to comfort her, which I thought was pretty sweet.  We walked around the rest of the rides, taking the kids on a couple of others and saving 5 tickets for this monster of a ride Steven wanted to go on.  I had pointed it out to him while we were at the top of the Typhoon and he was just crazy enough to try it.  I don’t remember what it was called, but this thing was insane.  They strap in a row of people into the seats so that the legs dangle.  The bar lifts everyone up to the top and flips the seats upside down and lets them dangle.  Then it drops everyone, upside down, back to starting position and flips them upright.  Again and again and again.  The look on Steven’s face as he endured this torture was priceless.  I really thought he was going to lose his lunch and I wasn’t going to be able to watch that happen.  Finally, after what seemed like forever, the ride was over and Sarah and I laughed as Steven hobbled off, drank the rest of my iced tea and tried to recuperate. 

It just so happened that behind us stood a woman who also had a foreign exchange student from Germany living with her and going to Milligan-Exeter high school.  Funny, how I’ve never known anyone to host an exchange student before and now, not only are some friends telling me their parents had done so in the past, I run into people on the street now.  We could start our own club; I think we should.

It was 4:00 and the tickets were gone and it was time to head home, thankfully.  I can skip the state fair for another 10 years again.  Except for the hot beef sundae, which I will definitely have to recreate at home (mashed potatoes covered in shredded beef and brown gravy, sprinkled with cheese and a tomato on top for your health).

After such a busy weekend, I think we all looked forward to a nice relaxing day at home on Monday.  I had some pictures to take for friends, so I did that while Justin and the kids went to Menards to get a new ceiling fan and some blinds for Steven’s room in the basement (the paper ones we put in place when we moved in 4 years ago are rather brittle and you can’t open them).  That afternoon was his first cross country practice, where he ran 3.5 miles right off the bat.  Good thing we went in last week and purchased him some running shoes!  That crazy kid even came back after his 3.5 mile run and asked if I wanted to run again, but I denied.  Two miles was good enough for me that day.  The rest of the evening consisted of supper (I tried yet another new recipe on my unsuspecting family—Steven appreciates me!), baths and bed.  I was amazed to look at the clock at 9 p.m. and realized everyone but Justin and me had gone to bed.  Shortly after folding the clothes and reading a few chapters in my book, I went to bed too.

What a fantastic, fun weekend!  I may need the rest of the week to recover.

An Exciting Wednesday All Around...

After what was kind of a panicky start to my workday yesterday, I got 2 calls that turned it all around.  The first was that one of our agents found a pair of football tickets that I had mailed him the day before (I just KNEW I hadn’t lost them!) and the second was from a coach at Palmyra high school to talk to me about Steven.  Turns out, Steven is quite speedy.  From what I understood, he out-hustled (insert the name of the kid I don’t know), who is apparently difficult to out-hustle, during some sprints in physical education class.  The coach had even walked into English class where Steven was, to talk to him about it.  As you can imagine, whenever class is interrupted by a teacher and someone is called to attention, the kids in class had comments.  Steven took the jibes well, and had a funny comment of his own in return.  If only I could remember what it was, exactly.  Turns out, a group of cheerleaders took notice and told the coach, “You have to see this!”  Of course, I had to rub that into Steven a little bit…cheerleaders?  On your 3^rd day?!  Coach asked me how I felt about Steven joining the cross country team.  He really wants him on the track team, but that doesn’t start until spring semester, so cross country is a good option.  If he’s interested it will let him get involved in a team sport and actually participate right away, as opposed to football, where he might get to practice, but sidelined for games.  I’m such a proud “mom!”  I couldn’t hold back the excitement when I called Justin to tell him that bit of news.  This weekend we will be shopping for a good pair of running shoes and some extra p.e. and workout clothes—fun!  J

After supper, Steven took Emma and went to kick the soccer ball around with Lou up the street.  It was so good of him to take her along, but before he left, he asked me one more time if I need anything.  I wanted to tell him, “YES!  I need you to go enjoy yourself for a while!”  Instead I just said, “Thank you, but I’m fine.  Just taking Emma with you helps me out enormously.”  He smiled and they were off, but not before asking what time Emma needed to be back.  I told him by 9 p.m. would be great, but he could just send her home and he could stay out a bit later if he wanted.  “No,” he said, “I will come home when she needs to come home.”  It was 8:30 p.m. when they both walked through the door.

He had a couple of tests today at school and I hope that my grammar skills have served him well.  I’m realizing that I’m very rusty in the grammar department--no longer the Viking I imagined.  Hopefully this means he won’t have much homework to deal with for the weekend and we can possibly go into town to look for shoes.  Tomorrow marks the end of his first full week at an American high school and Saturday is his first season as a Nebraska Cornhusker fan!

Wheels

I forgot to mention yesterday that Steven once again had a reading lesson from Mrs. Emma.  He needs to learn my trick and pick easy books to read to her.  It is a lot of fun to watch the two of them interact especially when it comes to reading and talking about Germany.  Emma has a plan this weekend to get to learn everything about Germany and in return, the following weekend she plans to teach Steven all about the US…  Stay tuned.

Melissa will have a good post, she can explain this better than I will… Mid-afternoon she called me yesterday excited about a call she had just received from the Palmyra High School.  She wasn’t sure if it was the coach or principal that had called her, but the reason for the call was to ask us as host parents if Steven could participate in running with the Cross-Country Team.  Apparently during Steven’s Physical Education class his running speed was noticed by a few of the other students.  He can keep up with some of the schools best runners and news of this quickly spread through to the coaches.  Steven said during his next class the coach interrupted his English class and asked “Which one is Steven?”  The other students asked if he was in trouble and Steven said, “Yes, I’m a bad when I travel” that got a laugh out of the class.  The coach asked if it would be alright if he contacted us to see about participating in sports.  Steven eagerly agreed.

Last night Emma and I were home a little early and Steven was beginning his homework.  He immediately asked if we had a phone call from school for him.  I explained that they had called Melissa and asked if he was interested..  You will be seeing posts soon about Steven participating in Palmyra sports.  Looks like German’s have some wheels!

Last night I had a meeting and two local Palmyra residents were also at the meeting.  When they discovered Steven was living with us, they said they had heard he is a fast runner!!!  News travels fast…

Xavier has never been very good about naming his colors.  He can easily spot a John Deere tractor so we knew we were good with green, but other colors seemed to be a problem.  It was enough that Melissa and I were thinking he may be color blind and we passed along the concern to his Preschool teacher to help watch for further signs or development.  Below is a note from the teacher.  It seems that X is just messing with us…

“I will keep you posted on the color concern.  I can tell you this however, yesterday when we were outside he wanted to get out the set of primary colored bean bags from ball cart in the garage so I gave them to him.  He used the red cart to load them all up...sorting them by matching color pairs very carefully and stacking them according to the pairs then wheeled them away to a picnic table.  Once there he unloaded them and proceeded to arrange them in a pattern of alternating colors 2 by 2 by 2 very carefully, when another child wanted a bean bag I asked Xavier to share and he looked them all over, then very carefully sorted out the two red ones to give to that child.

Now I can't tell you he knows the names of those colors but he could clearly see a difference in red, yellow, blue and green because he kept the matching bags paired up all the time and arranged them as pairs. 

We will keep an eye on things!  Kids always keep us on our toes don't they!”

Getting into the swing

Last night’s homework was Chemistry, Pre-Cal, and English.  English was done and Steven was finishing up his Chemistry and fortunately didn’t need any assistance.  The Pre-Cal book was open with several questions on problems he needed to complete.  While he finished up his Chem I sat down and began reading the chapter in Pre-Cal to see if I could get my mind back breaking down formula’s and charting algebra..  Let’s just say that Steven’s homework shows a detailed chart and summary of an attempt to solve the problem that he and his teacher will need to review prior to submittal…  I left to go mow while Steven took X outside to swing and play.  We also had a visit from our neighbor Sara and her young son Hunter along with our friend John.  For a while the house was busy but quickly settled down.

After the kids went to bed, Steven needed to read and sign the Palmyra High School Student Manual so he was working on understanding the high school rules.  Melissa and I were having a chop stick contest on who could pick up the most items in a set time, Steven was our referee.

This morning Emma and X beat Steven to the breakfast table.  Steven needed to be dropped at the High School for a prom fundraising meeting for all Juniors so we sent the recon team downstairs to see if he was ready.  The three emerged all looking like they needed a few more hours of sleep.  Melissa and I were rushing to get ready as well and we were out the door heading to the meeting.  Shortly on the way we received a phone call from Lou’s host family and we had a miscommunication last night that Lou would be riding with us to school.  A quick detour and we were back on our way.  We had a heavy fog this morning making it difficult to see.  Today the forecast is to be hot with tomorrow being very hot.  Both days plus 100 heat index. 

On the way Lou and Steven asked about favorite tv shows in the US.  I was surprised when Lou said Two and a Half Men was a favorite show in his country along with Germany being Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother.  All of those shows are popular here but not considered our primetime lineup..  Once new seasons begin this fall it will be fun to watch with Steven.  Our Tivo may have to move to the living room so we can all watch together because I can’t think of the last time I watched a show actually when it aired.

On another note, below is a note from Xaviers preschool teacher.  Glad to hear he is adjusting well.

Melissa and Justin,
I wanted to let you know that Xavier has settled in very well to our routines and to the general idea of preschool.  He seems to be enjoying the day, is for the most part quite compliant with my requests and is making good choices as he goes about his day.  He is playing well with others, nothing that a typical preschool child does not experience or exhibit from time to time in that regard. 

He has good ideas and likes to try a variety of centers and projects, he likes to tackle the paper pencil activities we do and is very willing to let Mrs. Poe or I work along side him to teach or to help him complete a task. 

Just wanted to send a "happy note about your son"  and tell you we are enjoying him and he is off to a great start!

Sincerely,
Jean

My 2 Cents

Steven’s first day of school went well.  Some of the classes that are easy for him in Germany are a little more difficult for him, simply because the teaching methods are different, and of course the language is different.  He was asking me some questions about a chemistry assignment and I didn’t have many answers for him.  Why?  Well, it’s chemistry.  Math and science were never my thing—chemistry, science and I have an understanding that they will keep doing their thing, and I will continue to be blissfully ignorant.  Therefore, my brain is quite rusty after years of little to no use.  Basically, I was worthless except for helping translate some words and phrases.  When he began his English homework, I knew I could help.  To quote Ralph from The Simpsons, “That’s where I’m a Viking!”

Even so, I had to look up what, exactly, were prepositional phrases.  If they start diagramming sentences, I’m out. 

Steven is more disciplined than I ever was in doing his homework.  He said, “In Germany, we work first, then we have fun.”  Case in point, he wasn’t even distracted when his friend, Lucas, an exchange student from Brazil who lives up the street, stopped by with a couple of girls and asked if Steven wanted to take a walk.  He actually said, “I will finish my homework first.”  Impressive.  Just seeing him sitting at the table working inspired all 3 of our kids to get to work.  Emma did her 2nd grade homework sheet while Xavier practiced cutting lines and Miko scribbled on paper.  I see Steven is already creating a very positive influence in our house.

I needed to go to the grocery store and asked Steven if he needed anything or would like to tag along.  Seeing that it was 7:30, I wasn’t sure if he’d be able to go hang out with Lou, as it would be 8:30 or later by the time we got back.  He insisted on going and we picked up a couple of school items for him, among all the stuff I bought.  On the way, Emma typed on her little pink computer, “Steven I love you.”  Very sweet.  At the store, she really thought he needed some football-shaped Oreo cookies, so she got him a package and proceeded to choose a package for herself.  Hold it right there, missy…nice try.  Turns out, Steven is pretty handy to take along because he’s taller and has longer arms to reach the top shelf.  He also doesn’t kick the cart and complain 5 minutes into the shopping trip like Justin.  AND, he helps unload the car and put things away, too!  All without complaining.  Perhaps it’s because he doesn’t know the words?  I didn’t hear him mutter in German either, so I’ll take it.

On the way home, Emma demanded to know what Germany was like and how you “speak in Germany.”  Steven taught her how to say “I love you” and how to count to ten.  Between the two of them, they made a deal that Saturday and Sunday were German days, when Emma could ask him anything she wanted about being German; in exchange, she would teach him about America.  As a side note, before Steven arrived, Emma had been telling everyone that he was from Japan and she was the only one who could talk to him, since she was the only one who could speak Japan.  When Justin corrected her she said, “They both start with the ‘juh’ sound, how was I supposed to know?!”  Classic Emma.

Before the kids went to bed, they talked Steven into reading them a book.  I don’t know that he will want to do it again, knowing what a stern teacher Emma turned out to be.  Of course, Steven has a heavy German accent and while he does very well with English, ‘th’ sounds like an ‘s’ and ‘v’ sounds like ‘w.’  Emma took him to task for pronouncing “things” as “sings.”  She said, “No, no, it’s THINGS.  Not sings.  TH TH TH THINGS.”  He said it again, and once again, she got after him.  Justin and I were trying not to laugh too loudly from the kitchen, but after a while, we took mercy on the boy and explained to Emma the beauty of accents and language and how people from different places talk in a variety of ways. 

Once the kids were tucked away, Steven stayed up with us, giving us a virtual tour of his hometown of Berlin plus a lesson in German History.  Although the pictures from Google Maps were about 3 years old, technology is amazing.  To be able to see where he lives and where he goes to school is pretty darn cool.

This morning, he was up and ready for another great day at Palmyra.  Justin took him to the school bus shuttle (which incidentally, is very clean, according to Lou!).  Tonight, I’m just hoping he has homework I can understand.

Self Discipline

Yesterday began my longest run of the year of consistently being home.  Since February I have logged 30,168 miles on the road to 31 cities and nearly 3 of the 4 corners of the US (stats from Tripit.com).  I’m sure there is a way to see the number of nights I have been away, it has to be nearly 60 so far for the year with another 22 planned before the year-end.  My schedule has me home until mid-October and I am very excited for that.  I hope to discipline myself to keep up on these entries as much as I can while I am home.  Hopefully between Melissa and I we can keep this going.  As we talked last night, we want to keep this for later years to remember back on this experience.

Last night on my way home from work I pulled into our neighborhood and Lou and some of the neighborhood girls were sitting out visiting in Lou’s driveway.  When I arrived at home Melissa was working in the kitchen, Xavier, Emma, and Michael were in the living room, and Steven was working on his homework at the kitchen table.  Steven said he had a great first day, was able to find the shuttle for his ride home and had been working through catching up in his classes.  I told him that Lou was outside visiting with some new friends and he said that Lou had already stopped by to invite him out, but he wanted to finish his homework first.  Melissa joked with me that I needed to help him with his Chemistry; I laughed but am excited to see what I can remember..  I told her I’d handle the science and math if she handles the English and history.  You will see by my posts that my English needs a lot of work! 

Fortunately the chemistry book was closed for the night and he was working on his English assignment.  He needed to underline the prepositions and circle the noun in a group of sentences.  I can’t do that and I speak English, it amazes me that someone can do this with their second language..  Melissa had no problem helping him, while the three of us worked on his assignment, Emma pulled her homework out of her bag and joined in.  Not be outdone, Xavier had some lines on paper from preschool where he was learning to use scissors.  To join in on the fun we made him some more lines to practice cutting.  Michael finally climbed to the counter and colored on paper while everyone worked.  For nearly an hour the 4 kids were busy working on their assignments.  During the time Lou rang the door bell to once again invite Steven out to visit but Steven insisted that his schedule for the night was homework first, then supper, then he’d ride with Melissa to the store where he needed to pick up a few school supplies.  If time allowed, then he would socialize…  I was very impressed, I know I would need a little “wind-down” time if I was him after all of his travel, first day at school, and new family..  The last thing I would want to do is find a noun in a sentence especially if the neighborhood girls wanted to hang out.  Not to mention neighborhood girls that just installed an underground swimming pool… 

Melissa, Emma, and Steven headed off for the store while Xavier and Michael and I spent some time outside.  It began to sprinkle so we went for a quick walk then got them ready for bed.  When they returned they all carried the groceries in and Steven already knows where we keep the items and helped store everything away.  Melissa told me about Emma quizzing Steven on how to speak some German phrases and Steven did his best to help her understand.  Emma and Steven practiced speaking “I love you”.  With Michael in bed and Emma and Xavier ready for bed, they asked Steven to read them a bedtime story.  It was one of Xavier’s tractor and truck books.  Steven got to experience a challenge much greater than any Chemistry, Physics, American History, Advanced English, or Anatomy class; that is reading a book to Emma..  She is quite the critique.  As hard as he tried, Emma would not let him miss a word in the book.  She is bound and determined to correct the German accent where “t” sound like “s”… Good luck Emma, I know you will try.  I wonder how long it will take Steven to learn to have the kids sit in front of him rather than on his lap so Emma cannot see the words he may need to skip.  Melissa and I could hear the lesson from the kitchen and we were both tried very hard not to laugh and Emma’s English lesson…  I finally had to ask Emma to ease up on him. 

With the kids in bed Steven used my iPad and Google Maps to show us pictures of his home in Berlin.  He could zoom in on his school, showed us where he plays, landmarks around Berlin, and shared a bunch of stories about Germany, their culture, and his family.  It is amazing how the technology let him show us how you can walk up his street, see his back yard and his home.  We used the map so he could show us where else in Nebraska a friend of his is staying.  She, also from Germany, is staying in Eustis Nebraska that is around 2.5 hours away in central Nebraska.  Steven would say his “girl friend” when describing her.  We asked if they were dating back home, he said no, just friends.  Melissa and I then explained the difference between a “girl friend” and a “friend that is a girl” terminology.  It was fun trying to explain the differences and why, especially when we tried explaining the difference why Melissa can call her friends “girl friends” and why I should not call my friends “boy friend’s”… 

Steven brought a new laptop with him.  We needed to set it up to work with our internet.  It took a little work to have it recognize our wireless signal, his laptop display is all German and I needed to have him translate the error screens until we were able to set the password.  Once it synced, he had over 100 emails.  I told him he was more than welcome to spend the rest of the evening catching up as long as he didn’t stay up too late yet he only wanted to quickly scan through and make sure there were no important emails that needed answered.  In less than a minute he closed up the laptop and was done.  He said he only wants to check his email one a week…  The determination I am seeing in Steven I truly believe he will be that disciplined about it.  Where so many kids can’t be away from Facebook for even a few hours, he had not been on for days.  I would want to send notes and posts on where I was yet he wanted to visit with Melissa and I.

We all were woken up early this morning by a quick thunderstorm.  The first crack of thunder had me wide awake thinking about ALL of the kids.  Emma and X are not scared of the storms, they usually use it as an excuse to climb into bed with us although there were no signs of them.  For Michael he isn’t scared either, but that kid needs his beauty sleep so we cross our fingers that he is not woken by storms just so we don’t have to get up and play with him.  I wondered what Steven thought..  His basement room has two large daylight windows and he is certain to hear and see the storm.  The house remained quiet despite the storm passing through.  At 6am you could hear movement downstairs.  Melissa was up getting ready and Steven beat me to the kitchen.  He was fully dressed, bags packed for school by the door ready to go and he was getting his breakfast ready.  As Emma and Xavier were getting ready, Steven helps get Emma her breakfast while we negotiate with X that he cannot have chocolate.  This morning there was no celebration for a dry diaper for him. 

I dropped Steven off at the Elementary school so he could catch a shuttle to the High School.  On our way to the school I asked him about the storm.  A storm like that was nothing new to him, he said it sounded “stronger” than what they are use to in Germany.  I started telling him that our spring storms are normally much stronger, especially as we start warming into summer.  We were at a point in town where you can look up the road and see the driveway where a home use to sit that was completely destroyed by a tornado about 7 years ago, yet I held off on that story for another day.  That conversation can wait until we have 12 inches of snow on the ground.

Tonight will be a true test of his self discipline.  I need to do some yard work up the street at a home we take care of for an older couple.  Last night I told Melissa that when I get home from work I plan to come in and change and head out to mow their yard and need her to cover for me with Steven as she does with X when he wants to tag along.  Steven asks over and over if he can help around the house with projects and is excited to do some work outside.  Knowing he will be at the table on his homework, I’m certain he will want to finish up to come with me to help.  Little does he know that he will have endless opportunities to work.  I’m excited for him to meet our (Melissa’s and my) parents and our siblings.  He will get a true taste for a mid-west work ethic and his determination will have him fitting in when it comes to work.  My father-in-law already has extended the open-invite and I am excited to have Steven on the farm with him and working with my dad.  His Agriculture class will be very informative but it does not do justice to the real thing that he will get to see in a few short months when harvest in Nebraska gets underway..  My boys have already showed signs of being hard workers raised the same way my brothers (and sister) and I were and I am excited for the day when they can get involved.  I already have a sense from Steven that he rather-be working than visiting with the neighborhood girls.  He will find in time that is the best way to change having "friends that are girls" into "girl friends".

First Day of School

This morning our regular routine began once again.  Melissa has the schedule, from having been gone while school began she knows which kids go where each day.  Some mornings we take a neighbor girl and other days Emma goes to their house. Being the first day for Steven he and I left at 7:30am to check in at school and begin his enrollment.  As he and I were getting ready to leave, Emma was up and eating her breakfast and Xavier was celebrating another dry morning.  He is working very hard at earning the morning special treat he gets when he wakes up with a dry diaper.  This morning’s victory began with him asking where Steven was, midway into his ask he saw Steven in the kitchen and just smiled when he realized he was still there.

I could tell on the way to school that Steven was excited.  At first it was a quiet ride, I can’t help but think about his challenge as he looks at or speed limit signs and direction signs as he has to convert the distances and speeds from standard to metric, but also as we pass the gas station I know what he has to be thinking.  Steven couldn’t believe the size of my truck and the other vehicles in the airport parking lot.  He said in Germany because the cost of fuel, nearly $8/gallon, they all own efficient vehicles.  Our society would cease to exist if it hit those prices.  Thinking about earlier in the summer when we were at $4/gallon and the outcry…  He sees the gas station prices at $3.50/gallon, still a little high for what we like, I’m sure he thinks we are spoiled.  As we got closer he wanted some stats on the football team and their upcoming game this weekend.  I told him Saturday’s game would be exciting as a number of starting positions are up for assignment and the fans are anxiously waiting how the coach sets the starting player lineup.  Although we are favored to win, it will be an exciting game.  Also he needs to say that we are excited to be in the Big 10 conference and have a difficult schedule ahead….  He really wants to know more about the team and we are excited to take him with us tailgating and one day to a game.

When we reported to the office the principal Mr. Bottrell was very welcoming and directed the staff to immediately begin the process of registering him.  He then insisted we report back after meeting with the counselor so he could personally see to it that Steven was taken to his locker and first classes.  As we walked to the counselors office to begin setting his schedule Steven remarked at the size of the school lockers.  He said in Germany not only did you have to pay for a locker if you wanted one, it would also be the size of what we would consider a bowling ball locker…  I’m sure for Steven his scheduling was overwhelming as we talked through the class options.  His schedule is Agriculture Sciences, Study Hall, Chemistry, Pre-Calculus, American History, Anatomy, Advance Physical Education, and English.  I’m excited he picked Agriculture.  Not only is it the lifeblood of our state, knowing the teacher personally he will enjoy that experience and give him a local flavor of our state. 

We checked back to the office after registering his classes and he received his locker assignment and combination.  Mr. Bottrell sent for a student to take Steven to his locker and first and second classes.  Steven was excited to get going, I had a quick visit with the staff where they told me another German student is also suppose to be coming.  That will be a nice surprise for Steven.

Mr. Bottrell also is going to make sure Steven and Lou meet up at the end of the day to catch the return shuttle.  Somewhere in the mix there is a meeting with the football and track coaches as both Lou and Steven are interested at becoming involved.

Just as I was leaving Melissa sent me a note asking how everything went.  I called her and we visited on my drive to work.  It was fun to talk about Xavier and getting him ready for preschool for his second week and Emma as she goes to 2^nd Grade.  Having Steven here is a great experience for us preparing for when our children are old enough to be in high school.