Anderson/Hatgidakis/Nelson/Metcalf: Newsletter
Old news: December 2004
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Nelsons
12/31/04
Happy New Year!!
Have a good trip Amanda!
Paul, Lori, Lindsey, and Olivia
12/31/04
Happy New Year Everyone!
Have a good trip Amanda!
Grandma
12/31/04
Happy New Year, Everyone!
Have a great trip, Amanda!!
Gary
12/31/04
Have a great trip, Amanda! Starting the 2nd, I'll have a London weather tracker and a London webcam on the front page so we can keep track. If you get near a computer with web access, drop us a newsletter item! (Our URL is home.windstream.net/ga55637)
Also, Happy New Year everybody!
Karen
12/30/04
Congratulations Amanda!!
Gary
12/30/04
Straight A's plus Honor Roll! Check it out.
Amanda
12/30/04
Grandma~ I forgot to write up the caramel recipe, could you post it on here when you get time? Also, Lindsey, could you post your mom's potato soup recipe? Thanks!
Amanda
12/30/04
Is today LOTR marathon??
Well, that was the original plan. But when I got attacked by that bug that everybody seems to be getting (I blame George Bush), I called it off yesterday. Having me there moaning and sneezing would have been no fun for anybody.... We're going to re-schedule for some upcoming weekend when all the interested parties can be there. --Gary
Amanda
12/30/04
We are home! We left Lincoln yesterday at about 8:30 and we pulled into our driveway at about 6:30. It was an uneventful drive. We drove separately & listened to different books on CD, and that made the drive go by SO nicely! The girls had lots of down time watching DVD's, and just relaxing, something we hadn't done in days! Today we are unpacking, enjoying our Christmas/birthday presents, laundry, taking down Christmas decorations and most importantly, preparing for LONDON!!!!!
Karen
12/30/04
I think I am finally beginning to feel better, but Brent is sick now!! Been a really enjoyable vacation for us :) Sounds like Teghan had a great birthday -- any pictures?? Are the Metcalfs back in TX now? Erika has a fun day tomorrow. The museum called her yesterday and asked her to help with classes in the afternoon. The City sponsors an all day celebration on New Years Eve, in the afternoon they have kid activities. Not sure what they will be doing, but she is looking forward to it.
Marsha
12/28/04
Thanks to all for the Christmas gifts! Tristen, John loves the cool St. Nick you gave him and I love the jewelry from Ryan (I heard you helped pick it out!) Erika, Zach really likes the calendar & gift card, Samantha loved the art stuff & gift card from Karen and Anna loved the pj's from Grandma. We are going to enjoy the treats from Mom for a long time to come! We had just a few snowflakes falling on Christmas morning but not enough to make a snowball. Weather is pretty warm for December. Hope Karen, Gary & Mom are over the bug soon.
Gary
12/28/04
Hi Emily-- I'll answer your question about Teghan's party as I'm sure everyone else is busy today. I'm staying home because I got sick too! Yuck.
Last night Teghan had a pre-birthday party at Grandma's house, and tonight she's having a big bash at Chuck E. Cheese. Teghan's favorite movie is "Princess and the Pauper," and that was the theme last night: tablecloth, plates, napkins, those party favor blow-out things, and cake all were P&P -- and she noticed it all! Teghan had trouble at first mustering up enough wind for the blow-outs, but soon got the hang of it. After pizza from Valentinos, she blew out her three candles -- not once, but twice, including having us all sing "Happy Birthday" the second time. Then lots of gifts, one of which was a princess-dress from the movie, which she immediately put on -- I mean she was peeling off her clothes right there in the living room until Lori grabbed her and took her into the next room to help her finish. When she made her entrance, we put her DVD of the movie on, and she was in another world. She forgot about the dozen or so people watching her and began to sing and dance along with movie, movement for movement. She loves that movie! Ryan took a short video of it on his digital camera which (until I can figure out a way to put it on the website) is viewable on Grandma's computer. A great party!
Emily
12/28/04
Hey everybody! Sounds like everyone is having fun in Lincoln, Mom has been sick again so we haven't been doing much.
We went shopping a little today, and got some stuff to get ready for State. I think we are going to the mall later so Dad can use his gift card.
My Homer rubicks cube is really messed up now too!! It doesn't look so hard, but we can't get it right now!
When was Teghan's birthday party, how was it?
Donna
12/28/04
Happy Birthday, Teghan! Thanks for inviting me to your birthday party! It was really fun!
Dad, Mom & Tristen
12/28/04
Happy Birthday Teghan!!
John, Marsha, Zach, Sam & Anna
12/28/04
Happy 3rd Birthday Teghan!!!
Brent, Karen, Emily, Erika
12/27/04
Happy 3rd Birthday Teghan!!!
Gary
12/27/04
Ryan's right. It's a hard puzzle! But thanks, Emily and Erika! :-) Sam, thanks for your great package, including the Shakespeare Action Figure. Way cool. And thanks to all for everything else. It was a great Christmas!
Ryan
12/27/04
Emily beware the Homer Rubicks Cube. Gary got one this Christmas and we messed it up. How hard could it be right? Well I tried to help him out putting it back together. When I gave up, Homer's face was right but his neck was sticking out and backwards. I couldn't get it right. We all had a fun Christmas. Thank you all for the gifts. Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!!!!
Erika
12/26/04
Thanks 4 all of my presents everybody i got a mini digital camara, a pac-man game, a bath stuff, a squishy pillow, 2 fleece blankets, a scrap book, a lock box, harry potter 3, what a girl wants, a c.d. player, a blow dryer, a curling iron, a stuffed puppy, a magic 8 ball, a pin, a necklace, braclets, a purse, plastic cats, calenders, and earings.
Karen
12/26/04
Hope everyone had a good Christmas. I did!! Thanks to everyone for the great gifts. Gary -- I love the book you gave me, didn't get much into it yet, but plan to this week. The cocoas are fast disappearing. Mom -- the breakfast goodies are great, can't wait to have them. We've been using the cups a lot and sipping some of the coffees. Donna -- I love the candle you gave me, it looks so pretty on the mantle. Marsha -- Brent really likes the Star Trek calendar, we are planning to go shopping tomorrow to spend his gift card.
We had a nice day yesterday with all the Nelson's here. Way too much food, still recovering today. I just got done taking down the tree, may put away a few more decorations tomorrow.
Gary
12/26/04
Take a look at the new Christmas pictures!
Emily
12/26/04
Hey everybody! We had a nice Christmas too and we all got lots of nice things. I got a DVD player for my room and a bunch of DVDs, a little digital camera that can take movie clips, a pac man video game, a big care bear, a homer rubiks cube, a stuffed puppy, some clothes, and a ton of candy. Then from Grandma I got a really cute charm key chain, and a little fairy. From Donna I got a really cute little shoe, and we all got a bunch of fun computer games from Gary. And Paul got me a really nice tank top and jacket. Thanks everybody, I love it all!!!
Ryan,
Amanda,
Tristen,
Teghan,
Lindsey,
Olivia,
Paul,
Lori,
Donna,
Grandma
12/25/04
Merry Christmas!!
A
n
n
a
12/25/04
Hey everyone! I had a really nice christmas. I got my Lettermen jacket, a s'more maker, a very nice blanket and some cute cloths from Grandma, a cute little shoe from Donna, some fun computer games from Gary, a lot of bath and body stuff, a lot of flamingo stuff, ear rings, a couple bags, body spray, i got a disney seen it game and other games and movies and more little stuff. Thank you Everyone for Everything!! I hope everyone has a great christmas and I hope Grandma gets better soon!! Feel Better!!!
E
m
i
l
y
12/25/04
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
G
a
r
y
12/25/04
Merry Christmas everybody!
Karen
12/24/04
Merry Christmas Everyone
We are just about to go to brunch at an Italian restaurant. We are having a relaxing day, then presents this evening. Tomorrow all of Brents family will be here for a big meal. Erika is feeling fine now, so we were able to do our fun day yesterday. We all went to lunch at Culvers. Then a quick trip to see the people at the mall. It was busy, but not as bad as I expected.
Lindsey, I am shocked that your parents let you pierce your belly button!! Emily said that in the dance squad and competions they have to remove all jewelry. Surprised that you don't have to too :)
Anna
12/22/04
Hey everyone! I also got a new email address it is anna321989@yahoo.com. I'm really glad to be on break. It is going good and I dont have a lot of homework eather. My mom and I are planning to go driving some time soon and I will have to do 5 hours with a driving instructor soon. Then in June I can take the last test and Hopefully get my license. Well I hope everyone feels better and has a good christmas!
The contact page has been updated with your new address! --Gary
Lindsey
12/22/04
I love my belly button pierced!!! My dance director doesn't care if I have it, like it's fine in competitions and stuff! I really like it a lot!
Emily
12/22/04
Well I am feeling better, but now Erika is sick. So, we proably won't be doing our shopping and lunch tomorrow.
Lindsey, I can't believe you would want to get your belly button pierced! Hope you like it. How are you going to be able to keep it in until April with dance?
Dang! Get well soon, Erika! --Gary
Lindsey
12/22/04
We had a fun time yesterday shopping and just making cookies and hanging out. We also did manicures and did a parafin wax thing and a scrub that Amanda had, it was fun! No more school! Tristen and Teghan are coming over at about 4:30 today so in about 15 minutes and they are going to spend the night with us. That should be fun! Also Monday night for my birthday, I went and got my belly button pierced and a few people have seen it. I really like it and they did really good at the shop and they are very clean and professional but I really like it. I have to keep it in until April but then I can change it!
Emily
12/22/04
Hey everybody! I am feeling better today, still not great though. But, now we are off of school for the rest of this year!
I was just reading some of the old newsletters and realized I hadn't written anything since the 10th! I guess we haven't been doing too much this month. Last week I got a letter from Mayor's Youth Commission saying I was selected for Executive Council! It should be fun, I will get to do alot more activites now, and we get really cool sweatshirts! :) At our last meeting we were also talking about the legislative trip we always take in January to Des Moines, 10 of us will get to go, so far it looks like I will proably be going, but not sure.
We've been working on our stuff for State in debate all month too, I'm very glad I'm going because since I have to do research for that I am excused from our last spontaneous debate! But, State should be fun we will be there the 7th and 8th, and it is in Ankeny, which is right by Des Moines.
We've been working on our recital routines already for dance. But they're looking nice and we already have costumes ordered and pictures will proably be coming up soon.
Sounds like everyone has been having fun in Lincoln! The Nutcracker sounded like fun, that is my favorite ballet! There was an old one on tv last night that reminded me of it.
The pictures of Christmas in Texas were really cute! We are also having out Christmas early. On Christmas Eve, then all the Nelson's are coming down on Christmas day.
Congrats to everyone who is out on break today!!! (and Anna who got out before all of us!! :) & Merry Christmas
Gary
12/22/04
MMmmmmm, Culvers.... Have fun, but stay warm. Very cold here too. Yesterday was the shopping and baking day, which I understand was lots of fun. Next Grandma whipped up an excellent supper that everyone loved, and then -- while Teghan enjoyed her favorite movie (Barbie in "The Princess and the Pauper") -- the rest of us played games. The highlight of the evening -- to some -- was when I dropped something on the floor and reached down to pick it up, my chair slid out from under me and I hit the floor. Everybody laughed, but especially Tristen!!! And then Marsha, unfortunately for her, chose just that minute to call to say Grandma's gift box had arrived. I answered the phone on my way up from the floor, and all she could hear was everyone howling like banshees. I'm sure we scared her off. Sorry, Marsha! Oh also, when I say Teghan enjoys that movie, I mean she really enjoys it! She knows it by heart, she sings and dances along, she yells at the screen, she calls us all in for the good parts, and she flees the room during the bad parts. :-)
Ryan started his trip north about 2 in the afternoon yesterday, and called in a few times during the evening with progress reports. I didn't see him arrive, but when I left at 10 he was already somewhere in Nebraska. No doubt sleeping late this morning!
Today is the last day of school here in Lincoln too, for Lindsey and Livy; I, however, have one more day before my vacation begins....
Feel better, Emily!
Karen
12/22/04
Finally, the last day of school!! We get out at 1:00 today, then off until the 3rd! Had a party at St Pauls on Monday, fun day and lots nice presents. Emily has already started her vacation, she is home sick again today. She didn't go in yesterday either, must have gotten my flu germs. What's been going on in Lincoln? Has Ryan arrived yet? Nasty cold here, only to be 5 today and tomorrow. If Emily is feeling up to it, we hope to go shopping tomorrow (mostly just to watch the people) and then out for lunch at Culvers.
Gary
12/20/04
Hey, today's the big shopping/baking day over at Grandma's. Sounds like fun. Wish I could be there, but I'm stuck here in my office. But I do have a tip to pass along: If anyone needs a last-minute gift item, check this out!
Karen
12/20/04
Gary, your box arrived today, yesterday actually (it was in the door and I just noticed it this morning). Thanks!!
Hope you like. Merry Christmas! --Gary
Lindsey
12/19/04
The Nutcracker is over!! After a tiring weekend and 9 straight days of dancing but all in all it was fun and I can't wait until next year so hopefully I can keep getting better parts each year! Hope everyone who attended liked it! I always thought it was a pretty neat production! I get 2 weeks off from dancing now! Woohoo!
It was great, Lindsey! We all really enjoyed it. Now you can enjoy two dance-free weeks! :-) --Gary
Karen
12/19/04
Glad to here that Amanda and the girls made it to Lincoln OK. As Gary mentioned Emily and I went to the Orpheum Theater to see the Messiah. St Pauls gave all the employees free tickets to see it. So it was too good to pass up. Brent was not at all interested in attending, so I asked Emily. It was probably wasted on us, but a nice evening. We were at least able to see the theather. It is a beautiful building that was restored about two years ago. We were in the "cheap seats," Emily commented on how pretty the ceiling was.
Unfortunately once I got home I was sick. Not a pleasant way to end it, planning to park on the couch all day and hopefully be at school tomorrow. Erika had a slumber/swimming party on Friday night. She had a great time, but slept most of the day yesterday.
Gary
12/18/04
Quick update on the Lincoln scene: Amanda, Tristen, and Teghan arrived at Grandma's about 1:30, and Olivia came over a few hours later. (Lindsey was busy dancing "The Nutcracker" today -- two shows!) We just stayed around the house this afternoon, playing games and talking. (Got cold here today!) Somehow after the long car trip Tristen and Teghan were both totally wired and were bouncing around all day. :-) Paul and Lori (and later Sean and Lauren) came over for dinner, and Lindsey arrived a few hours later as soon as her evening performance was over. Then games and craziness til late in the evening. Tomorrow: We all attend the "Nutcracker" matinee, starring Lindsey!
Hey Karen and Emily: How was "The Messiah"?
Samantha
12/18/04
Hey everyone! Just wanted to know that i got a new email which is xxxxblondie8504xxxx@yahoo.com. Alright talk to you all later!!!!
I've made the change on the contact page. --Gary
Karen
12/17/04
Erika had her band concert on Thursday night. She did a GREAT job!!
Lindsey
12/17/04
Can't wait until you guys get here!!
I had dance rehearsal Wednesday (my birthday!) for two hours and then last night from 4-9:30 and then I have it tonight from 6-10! But I think it should be really cool because it's the 20th anniversary and they have a bunch of new really cool props and it should be a really cool production!
Amanda
12/17/04
FINALS ARE OVER!!! Now, I just gotta wait for grades. We are packing now, hope to leave in about 2 hours... I went to a pre-London meeting last night. Thought I would send a link to our itinerary, which will be changing as they schedule more things. But for now, you will get some insight into what I will be doing...
Karen
12/16/04
Lori - we got your package on Tuesday - thanks
Marsha - your package just got here -- thanks to you too. We will all enjoy the goodies! Glad you are back on the web page :)
Have fun Gary. Happy Bday Lindz
Ryan
12/16/04
GET OFF THE ROADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CRAZED TEENAGE GIRL RECEIVES LEARNERS PERMIT! ROAD TAX TO INCREASE DUE TO MILLIONS FEARING TEENAGE DRIVERS! Just kidding Linz, I was thinking of all the big head line news to put up there. Congrats.
Hey, there's two of 'em, Ryan! You may not have seen Anna's note when you wrote yours. :-) --Gary
Hatgidakis Family
12/15/04
Happy Birthday Lindsey!!!
Anna
12/15/04
Hey everyone!! We finaly have gotten our new computer. I like it SO much and its nice to go on with out any problems, well today I had a really good day. It was my State Permit Test and I PASSED!! I can now drive. Happy Birthday Linz!!!! I think it is so cool we both got our permit on the same day. Go us. well now that I have a working computer I will be writing in a lot more now!!
'Bout time!! :-) --Gary
Gary
12/15/04
Attention newsletter-writers: I'm going to be at a Christmas party/retreat most of tomorrow, so this page won't be updated til late afternoon or so. Go ahead and write when you want, of course, but it won't appear on this page til then. The party's at the Wilderness Ridge Lodge -- should be fun!
Lindsey
12/15/04
Geez Gary, thanks for forgetting my birthday! Thanks Amanda!
Just kidding, Gary!
Lindsey
12/15/04
I got my learner's permit today! The picture is OK but nobody ever likes their picture. Anyways so now I can drive legally!
Grandma
12/15/04
Happy Birthday, Linz!!
Amanda
12/15/04
Speaking of LOTR I see Arwen (Liv Tyler) had her baby Tuesday, the same day the DVD came out. It doesn't have a name yet, maybe she will name it cash, or Peter.
Or "Eldarion," which was the name of the son of Aragorn and Arwen (glimpsed in a vision by Arwen in the movie) who became king after Aragorn. ...eh, probably not. --Gary
Gary
12/15/04
End of an era: For the first time since the countdown page started, there is no mention of "Lord of the Rings"! :-) The Extended Edition DVD of the final part of the trilogy was released yesterday, which brings the whole LOTR saga to an end. I picked up a copy at Best Buy yesterday, though haven't watched it yet. I breezed through Disc 1 last night looking for new stuff, and watched a few scenes; the rest I think I'll save for when/if we all gather to watch it here. I can say this: There's enough new stuff to make it seem almost like a whole new movie.... Woo-hoo!
Lindsey: Do click on today's Advent Calendar thing. It's not much, but it's now there! :-)
Donna
12/15/04
Happy Birthday, Lindsey!!!!
Amanda
12/15/04
I thought that is what happened Gary, good thing her sister is here to save the day!! :)
Amen to that. My bad, Linz! :-) --Gary
Amanda
12/15/04
So Lindsey, have you gotten to drive yet??? Did you get your permit first thing this morning? Was it a good picture?
Gary
12/15/04
OMG! I totally missed your birthday, Lindsey! I was home for two days because of my car, and not near my "official" calendar at work -- so I lost track of birthdays and didn't make you a special B-Day greeting (sorry!!). Happy Birthday!!
Ryan, Amanda, Tristen & Teghan
12/14/04
Happy Birthday Lindsey!!!
Lindsey
12/14/04
Cute pictures! Hope you guys had a good Christmas there and can't wait until you guys get here!
Donna
12/14/04
Great pictures! I hope there's room for Teghan's fancy dress when you pack for Lincoln. I'd like to see it on her. And Teghan, I'm pretty sure you're going to love the birthday present I got you. ;-)
Ryan, I would love to have that shop of yours open all the time!
Donna
12/14/04
Just saying 'hello' to Sean!
Karen
12/14/04
Hi Sean :)
Sean
12/14/04
Just saying "Hello"
Gary
12/14/04
New TX pix!
Ryan
12/13/04
Ok, I neeeeeed to get home because the whole family's vehicles are falling apart. For Gary and Donna, when I get home I will open a shop that will be a "parts only cost" shop. That means all labor will be free of charge. I hate hearing about things like Donna's serpintine belt and Gary's catalytic converter breaking down. We'll have to think of a flashy name for it though. Like "Ryan's you break it, I'll fix it" shop. Good luck Gary!!!!
I could have kept you busy the past few days! --Gary
Karen
12/13/04
Gary-- what fun for you! Hope this is the end of your repairs for awhile. So, since you don't have a car, does that mean you are staying home from work? Cold and windy, if only we had some snow it would be a blizzard. It's to get to 7 tonight!!
Amanda -- How was your Christmas? Are you busy packing for Lincoln? Did lots of baking yesterday, presents are bought and wrapped. So I guess we are ready. In fact I think we are opening our presents on Christmas eve this year. Brent's whole family are coming here Christmas day and we thought it would be nice to open gifts the night before...
I was going to take a day off later this week anyway, so I switched it to today. I'll be taking tomorrow too, until I get the call that it's fixed. That's the silver lining, I guess. :-) --Gary
Gary
12/13/04
'Tis the season for giving! Just last week I spent $550 on my car, which was -- I thought -- a generous gift to myself. But there was more to come! This morning I started up my car to head for work, and immediately knew something was wrong. I had had hints of it over the past couple of weeks (occasional slow acceleration, funny noises, etc), but this morning it was much worse. I nursed it along for three blocks to the nearest repair station, left it with the guy and walked back home. A few hours later he called with the news: blocked exhaust pipe and blown catalytic converter, with a total cost of $480. Parts have to come in from Omaha, so I won't have the car until tomorrow sometime. Wheeee! :-)
12/12/04
Sounds like a good book, Erika. I'll keep my eyes open for it!
Erika
12/11/04
Merry Christmas Tristen, Teghan, Amanda, and Ryan!!!
Karen
12/10/04
Geez, Gary, now you will have to return those tires I have under the tree for you!! What a special treat for you :)
Erika is back to school and seems to be feeling OK. So glad it's Friday! Wish this was my last day of school.
Hey Tristen, how come Santa is coming to your house this week-end? We have to wait two more weeks!! Not Fair!! You must have been EXTRA good for him to come early!! Let me know what he brought for you.
Donna, I am glad you have been enjoying the presents, Brent was pretty busy shopping for all of those.
Chilly this morning and windy, just a few flurries as I took the kids to school. I just read the book Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham. (The movie is Christmas with the Kranks). What a fun, nice book. Helped to get me in the spirit. Also some movie notes, has any seen the movie the Wool Cap -- another Lifetime movie with William Macy. What a great actor and a very good movie. Didn't see all of it, but was interested in seeing the Five People you will meet in Heaven. Need to catch the last half of that one two. Two good movies to catch if you can.....
Emily
12/10/04
Congrats on your last day of classes Amanda!!
I wish i was done too, but only 2 more weeks until break!
Erika is feeling better, she went to school and dance yesterday.
Gary
12/10/04
Hey, guess what I got myself for Christmas yesterday: two new tires, a new muffler, and a transmission flush! I don't normally spend that much on myself, but I just couldn't resist. ...Actually, I've been resisting for months. My muffler had been getting more and more noisy, and one of my front tires had lost a chunk of tread big enough to make the whole front end wobble as I drove. (Which was a surprise; I thought I just needed an alignment, didn't think about the tires.) So if any of you were planning on getting me a muffler or tires this year, don't! :-)
Amanda
12/10/04
Today is my last day of class, woohoo! 4 finals and then I'm done!!
Last day of class always gets a running dog! --Gary
Donna
12/9/04
Today I got a photo album, yesterday I got a Xmas cup. Thanks Brent!
Tomorrow's gift is addressed to me and Mojo. I bet it's catnip.;-)
Donna
12/9/04
Amanda, your trip sounds like so much fun. I wish I could go with you!
Erika, are you feeling better? I hope so!
Emily
12/9/04
Amanda, we don't really take a certain side for the topic we debate on. We have to prepare both sides, and for most competitions we have 4 rounds, and do 2 affirmative rounds and 2 negative rounds.
Your London trip sounds really fun, how long will you be there?
Tristen, good luck in your play, that sounds really fun!
Lindsey
12/9/04
I like the web background, looks like the advent calendar is hanging on a tree.
Amanda
12/8/04
On behalf of Tristen, I'm glad the orders got delivered. Sean might be asking for a cut of the profits soon with all this delivering he is doing. And I agree with him, the malted milk balls are way too chocolaty, there is not a good ratio of malted ball to chocolate... I am more or less done shopping. I have a couple I can't get til I get to Nebraska, so, I consider that done. I agree about the weather. We are doing our Christmas here on Sunday, and it is supposed to get to 70. How about no snow until December 21st though, the day we are baking & shopping. But not too bad, that is also the day Ryan will be driving to Nebraska. Tristen is in a play at the Methodist Church on Sunday, we will record it. She has a small part because they gave all the parts out and she thought she would be in Nebraska so she didn't ask for one, then she found out she will be here, so she asked for something then. She says she is both Joseph & Mary.. I don't know how that will work, we will see Sunday. I had one final today. Next is on Saturday, then one Monday night, Wednesday afternoon and last one next Thursday night. Can't wait to be done, this semester has been a lot of work. I have a pre-London meeting next Thursday night too, so I will have lots more details then I hope. On January 1st we will be taking a 2005 Excursion Limo from MSU to DFW airport, about 3 hours... And then it will pick us back up on the 10th to bring us back to campus.. How cool is that? Emily, do you have to take a side about the democracy/church & state separation debate? And did you have for or against positions for the US promoting democracy to other nations? I think we all need a present every night for the whole month. Tristen LOVED it last year, and it sounds fun for Donna this year...
Karen
12/8/04
Erika is home sick again, upset tummy and dizzy! Hope this isn't a start to a long winter illness. Just two more weeks until Christmas vacation, I am ready for it. Shopping is done and decorations are all up, but still not in the "spirit". Snow would help, but to be up to 50 this afternoon.
Feel better soon, Erika! --Gary
Donna
12/8/04
Tristen, thanks for sending my Girl Scout order. Your delivery man (Sean) gave it to me last night. Great service. I haven't opened them yet, but they look good. Sean says he remembers the malted milk balls as being 'too chocolaty' but I don't think that's possible.
Donna
12/8/04
Hi Emily, thanks for the reminder. I keep forgetting to write about it. "Brent" has given me 25 presents I've been opening every day since the first. I've received some really nice stuff so far--ornaments, bath beads (that was my present yesterday, Emily), Jr. Mints, an angel pin, Xmas notepad and pen, kitty stake (I think you put it in a plant for decoration). It's been really fun opening a present every day. Can't wait to see what I get tonight. Glad you like the Xmas card. I thought that was pretty funny.
Emily
12/7/04
Hey everybody! Erika and I had an early out for school today at 12:30. But, we haven't been doing much this afternoon. I had my interview for Executive Council last night, I should find out if I made that soon. Today at school I took the PACT test so I only had 2 classes.
Grandma, no I didn't make anyone cry this time :), the topic we were debating at Okoboji was "The United States has a moral obligation to promote democratic ideals in other nations" but, for State our topic is "Democracy is best served through strict separation of church and state" and we will be there January 7 and 8.
Donna, we got your Christmas card yesterday, I love the reindeer! What was your 25 days of Christmas present today?
Donna
12/7/04
Obviously the copy editor didn't check my note before submitting. ;-)
Yes, I red your note first, but I guess I mist that. --Gary
Glad you got your Christmas card already. That was pretty fast. I just mailed it Friday. Did you add the day of shopping to the countdown page? I was going to and found out it's already there. That's going to be a fun day!
Amanda
12/6/04
Marsha~ if you are there, did you get our box? My tracking number said it got delivered today (Monday 6th), but I can't believe the post office actually delivered it that fast, I mailed it out on Friday! Just wanted to make sure it actually got there..
Speaking of postal service, Donna, I got your card & nut money today... And is a tropy better than a trophy? :):)
Donna
12/6/04
Nice job, Emily! What a great looking tropy.
Great pictures too. I love the egg nog picture. ;-)
Erika, are you feeling better?
Grandma
12/5/04
Congratulations, Emily! You are one busy girl! You didn't make anyone cry this time, did you? What were you debating this time and when do you go to State? Hope everyone is feeling better. We had rain since noon pretty steady and hope it doesn't turn to ice or snow overnight. Linz and Livy were here last night and went grocery shopping with us, What fun!! The place was packed and some poor soul had to have the rescue unit come to cart her away, heard no details. Donna and Linz put greenery and lights on the new deck rails so it looks pretty festive in the backyard. Gary and I plan to go shopping tomorrow if the weather is o.k.
Karen
12/5/04
Here is a picture of Emily and her debate trophy.
Mom and Dad
12/5/04
Congratulations Emily :)
Emily
12/5/04
Hey everybody! Well, I had a good day at Okoboji yesterday. I won all of my rounds, and I got the third place trophy!
Way to go, Emily! --Gary
Amanda
12/3/04
Hey all, Tristen had her friend Miami spend the night and this morning we made a gingerbread house... Teghan just kept trying to eat the roof, but they all had fun. Merry Christmas!!!
Emily
12/3/04
I love the pictures of Tristen and Teghan, and the deck looks great too!
I cheered at the basketball games last night, it went well, it was a long night though 4:30 to almost 10. But, we won the varsity game so that was good.
My interview went well too, I think, but I will find out if I got the job next week.
Tomorrow I go to Okoboji for debate it will be another long day but it should be fun. We also found out who will be going to State, and I will be one of the 6 that go! It is in Des Moines on January 7-8 it should be fun.
Everyone but me was home sick today. They all have a flu type thing, so we proably wont be doing much this weekend.
The advent calendar is working well on our computer too, we've been having fun with it!
Mom thinks the Santa on the "you peeked" pages is Gary, but we're not sure...
At least you didn't say, "You sit on a throne of lies!" :-) But yes, your mom is right. --Gary
Lindsey
12/3/04
I LOVE the pictures of Tristen and Teghan! Too cute! Yea I will get some more of the deck since it is ALL done maybe this weekend if I'm over there or something.
Gary
12/3/04
Lotsa new photos today! I finally got the deck photos up (sorry it took so long!), and they're on a separate page here. (Note that we still don't have a picture of the final finished deck--but we will!) Then there are some new photos from TX on the regular photo page.
Amanda
12/3/04
Hey, Marsha & John, today we mailed off your package, so be on the lookout next week!!!
Grandma
12/3/04
The advent calendar is up and running at my house as of yesterday!
Excellent. Should be working for everybody now. Hope so, anyway! --Gary
Ryan
12/2/04
Gary I don't know much about Java Script, but maybe some of the "other computers" have java script blocked. Agian you may be using this code all the time and I would never know. I have done some code writing myself and what you have looks good. Your are right, it can get VERY FRUSTRATING!!! I would like to get more schooling about writing code. Good Luck!!!!
Thanks. I thought about the blocked Javascript thing, but it wasn't working even on machines where I know Javascript was enabled. But I think I got it now. Should be working for everybody (...?). Turns out it was one set of quotation marks ..." "... that I accidentally erased. Some machines didn't like that, others didn't mind. Sheesh! :-) --Gary
Gary
12/2/04
My apologies for not getting the Advent calendar working yet. What's frustrating is that it works perfectly on some computers, but not at all on others -- and it sounds like most of us here have "others." It's working beautifully on my office computer, so it's difficult to experiment with the code and find out where I've made a mistake. Here's an example of what some of the code looks like, by the way --
|
SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript"
!--
function popup(mylink, windowname)
{
if (! window.focus)return true;
var href;
if (typeof(mylink) == 'string')
href=mylink;
else
href=mylink.href;
window.open(href, windowname, 'width=250,height=250,scrollbars=no');
return false;
}
//-->
/SCRIPT
|
Thanks for your patience. Hopefully I'll have something or other working soon.
Karen
12/1/04
The advent calendar isn't popping on for us either. Emily seems to be feeling OK, just really tired. Alhtough she isn't going to dance tonight. Erika was back to school today, seems to be feeling a little better. There is an outbreak of pink eye in St Pauls, 8 of the 17 kids in first grade have had it. Two more were sent home today, and the teacher now has it. My eye has been itchy all afternoon. Hope I'm not getting it too!!
Donna, did you remember to open a present today??
Tristen, I want to see a picture with your missing tooth :) Amanda I am so jealous, hope you will send daily reports.
Livy, what did the dentist do to you?? Hope you are doing better now.
Gary, hope your day got better.....
Grandma
12/1/04
Gary, The Advent calendar isn't popping up here either.
Livy is here today, had a bad day at the dentist, but is bouncing back this p.m. Just eating some soup. Our snow is melting some today and we swept most of it off the deck awhile ago.
Tristen, you will look so different when your new teeth grow in!
What is wrong with Emily and Erika, just tired, I hope.
Dang, bad news on the calendar from all sides... I may have to re-do it, so please be patient, everyone. --Gary
Donna
12/1/04
The Advent calendar isn't working on my computer.
Hmmmm. Anybody else having trouble? I'm working on it! --Gary
Gary
12/1/04
Yeesh, what a morning! Didn't sleep well at all last night, then slept right through the alarm this morning. Called in to say I'd be late, and got ready to go. Then discovered I couldn't find my wallet and checkbook. Ransacked the place, then thought to call Mom who said yes, I'd forgotten my stuff over there last night. So I go out to the car to head to her place and notice my right rear tire is verrrry low... So I drive carefully to her place, get my wallet, and then head immediately to a repair shop to fix the tire (picked up a nail). And then to my office. Amazingly, only a little more than two hours late.
Hey, quick poll: Is the Advent calendar working for everyone? That is, when you click on the numbered ornaments, a pop-up box appears? I couldn't get it to work on my home computer (though it works fine on my office computer), and wondered if anyone else was having the same trouble...?
Karen
12/1/04
Happy December! Glad to see the advent calendar again. Look forward to seeing it each day. Emily is home from school today, very tired, so I let her take the day off. Erika was home yesterday. Didn't seem a whole lot better today. Marsha, I am mailing your box this morning, look for it in a couple of days.
Amanda
12/1/04
It is finally cold here! 27 this morning! I only have a week and a half of regular classes left, then just finals! Woohoo! I can't wait. We got our Christmas stuff up, all of it. Last year after Christmas I bought a prelit fake tree and we are using that this year, it's a very nice tree, I am impressed with it. The house looks nice. It's nice to have cold weather and to be able to say it is December. Ryan did a 100 point inspection on my car last night, it is about to flip over to the big 100,000 miles, and the girls and I will be driving alone in two and a half weeks, and it had been acting very suspicious. I am pretty much done shopping. Just a few more things. I need to get a box off to Minnesota. I got my passport in the mail yesterday, so I feel very official now. I am getting excited for London, one month from today. BTW, at the TOP of my Christmas list is CASH, I need spending money for when I am there!! I need to do some checking, but I hear the exchange rate for dollar/pound is not so good in my favor. I will be losing a substansial amount of money... Grandma, I found out one of the things we will be doing on one of the first days is talking a guided tour of the Jack the Ripper sites. I'm glad I read that book last year. Our desktop computer is in the shop. It finally went kaput. Actually, the power supply fan went out and when it did we smelled burnt plastic. It was a little scary, I thought it was our new tree. This happened Sunday and I freaked a little because I had a paper on there that I had been working on for 2 weeks that was due Monday. You always hear to "back your stuff up, back your stuff up", but you never think it will happen to you, well, it does. Anyway, needless to say I am VERY glad Ryan got the laptop a while back, and glad he spend so many hours networking them. We got what we needed off the hard drive of the desktop and put it on the laptop and took it to the shop. 2 weeks they say... Tristen lost another tooth. This time a top one. So she has the bottom two middle ones and a top middle one gone. No real loose ones for now. Anyhow, I blabbed on long enough...