Well, the day began early--not--when we all slept in and missed the 9:00 shuttle to the metro station. We were subsequently disappointed when the 10:00 shuttle was full. The driver assured us he would be back in 10 minutes, yet 1 hour later he returned and the shuttle filled up again before our family of six could get on. This was a good challenge for us. Could we stay kind? Could we roll with the punches? Could we withhold grumbling about the hotel and its service? No, we could not. But we did try to pull ourselves together as best we could. We took our van to the metro station and parked it there, which we could have done two hours earlier if we had only known.
But once we boarded the metro we were back on track. It only took three monuments for us to fall seriously off again: the Lincoln memorial, the Korean war memorial, and the Vietnam memorial. We are smiling in the pictures, but by the time we limped onto the site of the WWII memorial--hot, thirsty, and tired--there was some definite bad blood going on. A 10-minute rest with our feet in the water there did wonders, and we forged on to the Smithsonian with famial harmony renewed. A long break and $20 worth of lemonade put us almost as good as new.
We lingered at the Air and Space museum for awhile--more on that tomorrow--and then we caught the free 6:00 pm concert at the Kennedy Center. I would be lying if I said that all the kids were as enthusiastic as I was about this opportunity, or if I tried to claim that once they heard the music they became engrossed and subsequently asked my forgiveness for their reluctance. But some of us enjoyed it and thanked the others for sticking in there--though not quite until the end of the concert.
We had a contest today as well, but not about civics. This morning Meredith was feeling put-upon, and I realized that what she needed was a Day of Adoration. So I told the other big kids that whoever could serve and adore Meredith the most effusively would be granted an as yet undisclosed award. As usual, Jacob was motivated by the competition and the reward and Sophia was motivated by the moral challenge, so Meredith lived like a princess. Jacob carried her purse all day long. Can you believe that? Meredith hates to carry her purse, and yet she really wants it with her, so she was beyond delighted at this service. Sophia was marvelously kind and solicitous as well. Meredith just announced the winner right before we turned off the lights for bed (I'm writing in the dark), and Jacob won by a slim margin because of his purse-carrying stunt. He is just willing to do anything to win.
Sophia is still up reading her scriptures and look, I'm blogging! More tomorrow!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Day 2 of 9
Our first two days of vacation are mostly driving. We left yesterday from Lawrence about 2:00 pm. The original plans were to leave early, but those were foiled when Jacob got a tuberculosis test last Thursday (required for boarding school). Turns out a TB test must be read in person three days later. So there we were on Sunday morning at the immediate care clinic having Jacob's forearm reviewed for signs of infection. Nada of course.
We had rather a blessed day in the car yesterday. The kids were all in a jovial mood, due they think to the lingering fun of theater camp. Doug points out that there was a lot of sleeping. They also played Mafia, a favorite game for which skills were honed during theater camp warm-ups. Jacob and Aidan sat in the very back of the van, and Jacob kept Aidan so entertained that we hardly heard a peep out of him. Aidan, that is. We heard lots of peeps out of Jacob. Even when his headphoneswere on he would be singing at the top of his lungs. Aidan only piped up when he had been injured in a game of tackle. How do you play tackle in the back seat of the car? Ask Aidan and Jacob.
Things are going smashingly today as well. We stayed last night in Richmond, Indiana, which is where Doug and I met 17 years and 2 months ago. We had breakfast at a Bob Evans; Doug got fried mush to show the kids what it's like. He used to have fried mush a lot when he was little at Grandma Patzner's farmhouse. Then we actually drove over to the Hill's Richmond plant, where 17 years ago I was engrossed in my business school internship and one certain information systems team leader. When we stepped out of the car in front of the plant, the scent of corn gluten washed over us. Doug and I inhaled deeply and enjoyed the memories; the kids thought it was nasty and pulled the tops of their t-shirts up over their noses as filters. We took pictures of our four children in front of the plant. Who would have thought 17 years ago that we'd be all married with four such spectacular offspring?
We headed on down I-70 toward West Virginia. We were going to dump Jacob's stuff at his school early so we don't have to haul it around all week. As we were driving, Jacob decided he needed some of Sophia's string to make a friendship anklet, and so ferocious bargaining ensued. Jacob thought foolishly that she could be persuaded if he 1) demanded the string from her loudly. After I talked him through the merits of negotiating with your subject's interests in mind, he mistakenly attempted to 2) persuade her with an offer of payment. Finally, Sophia stepped in with a compromise: if Jacob would read the book on Congress she had checked out, she would give him the string. He took her up on that and then I upped them one, and we had ourselves another deal: if they would read the book and take a quiz, they would receive a cash award, the amount based on their performance on the quiz. Sophia was enticed by the learning challenge, and Jacob was enticed by the competition and the cash reward, and Meredith wasn't enticed by any incentive at all so we told her we'd pay her a buck if she's simply read one page and take the quiz.
Here it is:
Quiz about Congress
- What is a filibuster?
- When our government was first being formed, what was the dilemma about representation to Congress? How was it solved?
- What is the leader of the House of Representatives called?
- What is a bill? How does one get passed?
- What is the leader of the Senate called?
- The two groups of representatives who make laws are together called ________.
- What is the name of the document that described how our government would be organized and that made the first laws of our nation?
- Are you allowed to carve your name in your desk if you are a Senator?
- True or False: Only the president can declare war.
- What are the small groups that leaders break into to talk about ideas and write bills?
Something new was learned by everyone, so we'll call it a success.
We arrived in DC about 9:30 at a rather stinky hotel where we had to wait an hour for the computers to be fixed before we could checked in, but it's cheap and so no complaining. We're off to the National Mall in the morning!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Family Vacation
What better way than to initiate another probably doomed attempt at blogging than by reporting on our family’s summer vacation?
We are headed east--our entire family: all four kids, both parents. It feels like a long time since we all six of us made it away together. Our plan is to see some sights in DC, then head up to Philly for a visit with my sister and her family, then back to West Virginia to drop Jacob off at his new school.
Jacob had a most remarkable semester at the military academy. By his own reckoning, it took about two weeks for him to feel comfortable and make friends. Then he was off. He enjoyed his classes, especially Spanish. He enjoyed making friends with the international students and learning cuss words in several foreign languages, including Spanish and Korean. He became quite an expert at hospital corners. He did not much enjoy the food. When he came home at spring break, he cooked us up a breakfast MMA-style: sloshy, watery oatmeal, saltless scrambled eggs, and grapefruit hunks floating in a vat of water. Nevertheless, he shed a tear or two when it came time to say goodbye. Need I mention that he received the top academic award for his grade? Both his social and academic performances were stellar. We were very proud of him and were delighted to see him thriving.
Shortly after bringing him home for the summer, Jacob got going on a little neighborhood mowing business.
Meanwhile, the younger kids and I headed west to Albuquerque for a couple of weeks. Most recently, Jacob, Sophia, and Meredith came off three weeks of theater camp, sponsored by Uncle Rick and Grandma Susie. Those events deserve their own posts, but we’ll skip them for now and move on, as promised, to the Full Family Vacation. But first, I should note that Jacob recently turned 14, was advanced to the office of a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood, and attended his first church dance.
Now back to the introduction to our family vacation.
We all adored MMA, but Jacob had caught a glimpse of the co-ed prep school lifestyle when we made a round of boarding school visits last January. He decided to give MMA a go for a semester and then take up at a coed prep school this coming fall. He’s going out for soccer and starts pre-conditioning in early August, so we thought we’d bring the whole family out to deposit him at school, and might as well make it into a sightseeing extravaganza while we’re at it.
We are headed east--our entire family: all four kids, both parents. It feels like a long time since we all six of us made it away together. Our plan is to see some sights in DC, then head up to Philly for a visit with my sister and her family, then back to West Virginia to drop Jacob off at his new school.
Jacob had a most remarkable semester at the military academy. By his own reckoning, it took about two weeks for him to feel comfortable and make friends. Then he was off. He enjoyed his classes, especially Spanish. He enjoyed making friends with the international students and learning cuss words in several foreign languages, including Spanish and Korean. He became quite an expert at hospital corners. He did not much enjoy the food. When he came home at spring break, he cooked us up a breakfast MMA-style: sloshy, watery oatmeal, saltless scrambled eggs, and grapefruit hunks floating in a vat of water. Nevertheless, he shed a tear or two when it came time to say goodbye. Need I mention that he received the top academic award for his grade? Both his social and academic performances were stellar. We were very proud of him and were delighted to see him thriving.
Shortly after bringing him home for the summer, Jacob got going on a little neighborhood mowing business.
Meanwhile, the younger kids and I headed west to Albuquerque for a couple of weeks. Most recently, Jacob, Sophia, and Meredith came off three weeks of theater camp, sponsored by Uncle Rick and Grandma Susie. Those events deserve their own posts, but we’ll skip them for now and move on, as promised, to the Full Family Vacation. But first, I should note that Jacob recently turned 14, was advanced to the office of a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood, and attended his first church dance.
Now back to the introduction to our family vacation.
We all adored MMA, but Jacob had caught a glimpse of the co-ed prep school lifestyle when we made a round of boarding school visits last January. He decided to give MMA a go for a semester and then take up at a coed prep school this coming fall. He’s going out for soccer and starts pre-conditioning in early August, so we thought we’d bring the whole family out to deposit him at school, and might as well make it into a sightseeing extravaganza while we’re at it.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
New quote but not much else
I have added a new quote from the MMA handbook. Be sure to check the right hand column every time you visit for new nuggets of wisdom.
Jacob called me today very excited to have received two excellent grades on English assignments. He read me both papers over the phone. Things seem to be going dandy.
Now I'm going to try to "catch up" on all those months I fell behind blogging. I will post date them, so the entries will come up below Jacob's cadethood. This is for our family's benefit; some of these events happened months ago, but we want to have a record of them in the blog, which is printed out yearly. So no need for all readers to go back and plod through those. I'll try to keep on top of current events at the same time at the top of the blog.
Doug had my camera in Colombia last week, so I regret I don't have any photos to add today!
Jacob called me today very excited to have received two excellent grades on English assignments. He read me both papers over the phone. Things seem to be going dandy.
Now I'm going to try to "catch up" on all those months I fell behind blogging. I will post date them, so the entries will come up below Jacob's cadethood. This is for our family's benefit; some of these events happened months ago, but we want to have a record of them in the blog, which is printed out yearly. So no need for all readers to go back and plod through those. I'll try to keep on top of current events at the same time at the top of the blog.
Doug had my camera in Colombia last week, so I regret I don't have any photos to add today!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Promotion!
I had a call from one very excited young man today. The call came from his own cell phone number! This is important because his cell phone (a Christmas present) was being held by the Officer in Charge until Jacob's first promotion. So I knew by the caller ID that there was good news in store!
Sure enough, Jacob got is first promotion today. He moved from Recruit Candidate to Recruit 2nd class (R-2). Also this week he earned the privilege, based on his academic performance, of staying in his own room for evening study hall. Now that he is R-2, besides getting his phone, the major perc of this promotion is that he can now wear his pajamas during evening study hall in his room (rather than his uniform). He was very thrilled about this! With all these exciting privileges, he said that after class time, all the rest of the day is fun: first comes athletics, then mess, then study hall in your pajamas!
Jacob said that yesterday, the last full day of his third week at MMA, was the first fun day. He says that things are just really clicking and he is enjoying himself very much.
This weekend is an "Open Weekend," so Doug is going to head east instead of west when he arrives home from Colombia tomorrow, and spend a day with Jacob in Columbia. Did you get that? (Note the spelling difference.)
Now, on another note, I have reviewed the MMA Middle School Cadet Handbook and Regulations and found that I heartily approve of it. It has many words of very good advice for young men. It also has many important rules that suddenly make our system here at home--once viewed as oppressive and constrictive by our burgeoning adolescent--look like a blissful sojourn in Tahiti.
Therefore, I have decided to periodically share some quotations from this handbook for your edification. See sidebar. Check often.
Sure enough, Jacob got is first promotion today. He moved from Recruit Candidate to Recruit 2nd class (R-2). Also this week he earned the privilege, based on his academic performance, of staying in his own room for evening study hall. Now that he is R-2, besides getting his phone, the major perc of this promotion is that he can now wear his pajamas during evening study hall in his room (rather than his uniform). He was very thrilled about this! With all these exciting privileges, he said that after class time, all the rest of the day is fun: first comes athletics, then mess, then study hall in your pajamas!
Jacob said that yesterday, the last full day of his third week at MMA, was the first fun day. He says that things are just really clicking and he is enjoying himself very much.
This weekend is an "Open Weekend," so Doug is going to head east instead of west when he arrives home from Colombia tomorrow, and spend a day with Jacob in Columbia. Did you get that? (Note the spelling difference.)
Now, on another note, I have reviewed the MMA Middle School Cadet Handbook and Regulations and found that I heartily approve of it. It has many words of very good advice for young men. It also has many important rules that suddenly make our system here at home--once viewed as oppressive and constrictive by our burgeoning adolescent--look like a blissful sojourn in Tahiti.
Therefore, I have decided to periodically share some quotations from this handbook for your edification. See sidebar. Check often.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Introducing: Cadet Von Feldt
There has been a long dry spell on this blog, but look what photos I have for you at last: Cadet Von Feldt.
Yes, it's true that Jacob transferred to Missouri Military Academy just over two weeks ago.
Here's how excited he was to go:
The decision was a long time coming, but all parties--parents and teenager--came to feel happy about it after many struggles and much fasting and prayer.
After some research, Doug and I and Jacob first took a weekend to visit a couple of boarding schools, and we settled on Missouri Military Academy (MMA). It is only about 3 1/2 hours away in Mexico, MO which is near Columbia, home of Mizzou (University of Missouri). Rather unfortunate neighbors if you are a KU fan, but many of the boys are not from Missouri at all and so have no particular devotion to Mizzou.
Please enjoy these photos of Jacob's send-off, his first day at MMA, and our first visit to see him there after his enrollment.
Yes, it's true that Jacob transferred to Missouri Military Academy just over two weeks ago.
Here's how excited he was to go:
The decision was a long time coming, but all parties--parents and teenager--came to feel happy about it after many struggles and much fasting and prayer.
After some research, Doug and I and Jacob first took a weekend to visit a couple of boarding schools, and we settled on Missouri Military Academy (MMA). It is only about 3 1/2 hours away in Mexico, MO which is near Columbia, home of Mizzou (University of Missouri). Rather unfortunate neighbors if you are a KU fan, but many of the boys are not from Missouri at all and so have no particular devotion to Mizzou.
Please enjoy these photos of Jacob's send-off, his first day at MMA, and our first visit to see him there after his enrollment.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
That Brings Us to Jacob's Birthday
which was on July 10. He turned 13. I am now the mother of a teenager. And believe you me, I am well aware.
Here are some shots of the family party, held at Grandma's after a fine day of theater camp for Jacob, Haley, and Megan.
Here are some shots of the family party, held at Grandma's after a fine day of theater camp for Jacob, Haley, and Megan.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
More All-American Stuff: Baseball This TIme
What gets the Von Feldts out to a Royals baseball game in Kansas City on a hot Saturday afternoon?
BUCK NIGHT!
It was a beautiful evening at the K, at least after the sun went behind the bleachers.
The Royals' diamond:
We love the Royals. At least some of us. Others are rather disinterested, no offense intended.
One fan and one of the disinterested parties:
Hollerin' for the Royals:
Cotton Candy! Not part of buck night, but it's hard to resist the plaintiveness of a three-year-old. It is very sunny and hot!
This is a spectacular shot of Meredith's freckles. I adore them. It is funner to take shots of them than watch a baseball game. Doug says that at least watching baseball is better than watching golf.
Those disinterested among us bring a good book. Sophia is hoping to finish Harry Potter 4 before seeing the movie of Harry Potter 5.
It actually turned out to be an unusually fabulous game, with all of us standing and whooping by the end. The Royals won it by a point in the bottom of the ninth!
BUCK NIGHT!
It was a beautiful evening at the K, at least after the sun went behind the bleachers.
The Royals' diamond:
We love the Royals. At least some of us. Others are rather disinterested, no offense intended.
One fan and one of the disinterested parties:
Hollerin' for the Royals:
Cotton Candy! Not part of buck night, but it's hard to resist the plaintiveness of a three-year-old. It is very sunny and hot!
This is a spectacular shot of Meredith's freckles. I adore them. It is funner to take shots of them than watch a baseball game. Doug says that at least watching baseball is better than watching golf.
Those disinterested among us bring a good book. Sophia is hoping to finish Harry Potter 4 before seeing the movie of Harry Potter 5.
It actually turned out to be an unusually fabulous game, with all of us standing and whooping by the end. The Royals won it by a point in the bottom of the ninth!
A Lawrence Fourth
Funny, but last year for the Fourth of July we were also homeless, as we had just sold our country house in Lawrence and were awaiting the close date on our Lamar house. We were welcomed last year at GR's party, and that's where we headed again this year. In the meantime GR and Joe have both gotten their professional pyrotechnic licenses. It was one well-organized, beautiful evening. And let me tell you what, the fireworks and the company could not be beat! We spent a lot of time catching up with old friends from Wakarusa Valley Ward and Second Ward. I'm glad the congregations are still so close, even though it has been three years since they were split. Then we enjoyed the spectacular show! And guess what: those professional-grade fireworks are LOUD!
Here, Sophia, Meredith, and Aidan have donned their flag baseball caps in a display of patriotism:
Jacob is really growing up, don't you think?
Jacob loves to lavish his little brother with affection and play. He helped Aidan admire and catch the parachutes that Joe set off early in the evening!
Now, those of you who know Jacob know that he is destined for his own professional pyrotechnic license someday: he LOVES fireworks. In the days leading up to the fourth, his grandpa took him along to help out at the Knights of Columbus fireworks tent. Jacob enjoyed tagging, organizing, and perusing the fireworks each day. He also bought quite a few of them! So on the third of July, our family had our own event to shoot off our favorites at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Click to play:
(I have switched templates again because that green template was just buggin' me. I really like the way photos look against black. I'm sorry that I'm am using the same template as good friend Kristy, but I hope she won't mind too much.)
Here, Sophia, Meredith, and Aidan have donned their flag baseball caps in a display of patriotism:
Jacob is really growing up, don't you think?
Jacob loves to lavish his little brother with affection and play. He helped Aidan admire and catch the parachutes that Joe set off early in the evening!
Now, those of you who know Jacob know that he is destined for his own professional pyrotechnic license someday: he LOVES fireworks. In the days leading up to the fourth, his grandpa took him along to help out at the Knights of Columbus fireworks tent. Jacob enjoyed tagging, organizing, and perusing the fireworks each day. He also bought quite a few of them! So on the third of July, our family had our own event to shoot off our favorites at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Click to play:
(I have switched templates again because that green template was just buggin' me. I really like the way photos look against black. I'm sorry that I'm am using the same template as good friend Kristy, but I hope she won't mind too much.)
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Play House
Thank you to our realtor, Janet, for not only helping us find a new home, but also a temporary one. She has put us up in one of her townhomes which was vacant while awaiting the return of a graduate student and his family in August.
Sophia, Meredith, Jacob and I moved in and melted into it. I felt so good to have our own space at last! Generous friends and family have lent us linens and cookware. Grandma sent over a tv. We went to the video store and stocked up on movies, hit the grocery store for hamburger helper and laundry detergent. A three-bedroom condo never felt like such a palace to me!
To Sophia and Meredith, it seems like an enormous playhouse! They like to pretend that they are the adult tenants here, so they do a lot of dish washing and laundry-folding just because that's what grown-ups do when they live in a house. They especially enjoy putting the groceries away. And I am NOT COMPLAINING!! I let them decide where everything goes. So they just tell me how I can help.
With the least possible delay we invited some of the girls' friends over. Here we had returned to Lawrence and all their old friends, and we had hardly had the opportunity to see them! Rachel and Renae came over for some water balloon games at the park, a late night watching movies, and some dancing in the living room the next day:
Sophia, Meredith, Jacob and I moved in and melted into it. I felt so good to have our own space at last! Generous friends and family have lent us linens and cookware. Grandma sent over a tv. We went to the video store and stocked up on movies, hit the grocery store for hamburger helper and laundry detergent. A three-bedroom condo never felt like such a palace to me!
To Sophia and Meredith, it seems like an enormous playhouse! They like to pretend that they are the adult tenants here, so they do a lot of dish washing and laundry-folding just because that's what grown-ups do when they live in a house. They especially enjoy putting the groceries away. And I am NOT COMPLAINING!! I let them decide where everything goes. So they just tell me how I can help.
With the least possible delay we invited some of the girls' friends over. Here we had returned to Lawrence and all their old friends, and we had hardly had the opportunity to see them! Rachel and Renae came over for some water balloon games at the park, a late night watching movies, and some dancing in the living room the next day:
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Aidan is 3
(This is a revision of an earlier post.)
In the middle of the house hunting portion of our summer, Aidan turned three (on June 20). Who can believe it? We celebrated at Grandma's house in Topeka (you'll remember that that's Doug and Jacob's home base for the summer).
When Aidan went to blow out his candles, someone suggested that he make a wish. So he shouted vigorously and sincerely, "I wish . . . to fight bad guys!" And with that blew out his candles with gusto.
Yesterday was Jacob's 13th birthday (that post will follow later), and Aidan picked up a few more goodies that weren't ready in time for his actual birthday. Aidan also enjoyed cheesecake and raspberry sauce again since that was Jacob's choice for a birthday cake as well. Our family had gathered once again for this celebration in Topeka with Grandma, Grandpa, Great Grandma, and also cousins Haley and Megan.
Aidan said another funny thing at Jacob's party. At first, the only one to notice what he said was Jacob, who was sitting next to him. Jacob asked him, incredulously, to repeat what he had just said. And then again, just to be sure, Jake had him repeat his exclamation one more time. By now, we all heard clearly what he said, though none of us could believe it. Do you know what Aidan said, rather matter-of-factly? Here is what he said: "Damnit." He explained that his "strawberries" (actually raspberries) had fallen off his spoon, so he said, "damnit." After we all whooped and hollered with laughter, the most obvious question was, Where had this three-year-old learned this word? Doug and I certainly don't say it! Grandma also vigorously denied responsibility! So did Jacob! When queried, Aidan responded earnestly that he had made up the word himself. I don't think so.
He repeated the word again today when he dropped a ball he was playing with. The girls and I explained to him that this is a bad word, but he insisted innocently that it is a good word. I guess he finds it to be a very useful way of expressing his internal state in the face of certain minor mishaps.
We will continue to make efforts to reprogram this habit. We hope we have success by the time preschool starts next month.
Here's some shots of Aidan's second haul:
In the middle of the house hunting portion of our summer, Aidan turned three (on June 20). Who can believe it? We celebrated at Grandma's house in Topeka (you'll remember that that's Doug and Jacob's home base for the summer).
When Aidan went to blow out his candles, someone suggested that he make a wish. So he shouted vigorously and sincerely, "I wish . . . to fight bad guys!" And with that blew out his candles with gusto.
Yesterday was Jacob's 13th birthday (that post will follow later), and Aidan picked up a few more goodies that weren't ready in time for his actual birthday. Aidan also enjoyed cheesecake and raspberry sauce again since that was Jacob's choice for a birthday cake as well. Our family had gathered once again for this celebration in Topeka with Grandma, Grandpa, Great Grandma, and also cousins Haley and Megan.
Aidan said another funny thing at Jacob's party. At first, the only one to notice what he said was Jacob, who was sitting next to him. Jacob asked him, incredulously, to repeat what he had just said. And then again, just to be sure, Jake had him repeat his exclamation one more time. By now, we all heard clearly what he said, though none of us could believe it. Do you know what Aidan said, rather matter-of-factly? Here is what he said: "Damnit." He explained that his "strawberries" (actually raspberries) had fallen off his spoon, so he said, "damnit." After we all whooped and hollered with laughter, the most obvious question was, Where had this three-year-old learned this word? Doug and I certainly don't say it! Grandma also vigorously denied responsibility! So did Jacob! When queried, Aidan responded earnestly that he had made up the word himself. I don't think so.
He repeated the word again today when he dropped a ball he was playing with. The girls and I explained to him that this is a bad word, but he insisted innocently that it is a good word. I guess he finds it to be a very useful way of expressing his internal state in the face of certain minor mishaps.
We will continue to make efforts to reprogram this habit. We hope we have success by the time preschool starts next month.
Here's some shots of Aidan's second haul:
Monday, July 09, 2007
House Hunt
After our marvelous Key Largo vacation, Doug and I went our separate ways--me back to Richmond, and Doug to Topeka to start his new job. He's loving it and very excited for the challenge!
The kids and I visited with Aunt Annie, Uncle Jeff, and Ashtyn for a couple more days and then drove back to Kansas to begin househunting--here are some grassy shots taken in a mall parking lot, of all places. Kids can have fun anywhere!
Back in Kansas, we landed at Shannon W.'s as our home base while I began scouting out the Lawrence home market. Our spectacular realtor, Janet G., who sold our home last summer, took me in hand. I think we saw every home on the market in Lawrence two or three times! She was a total trooper! There are no pictures to show of that process, and that is because I was utterly focused on the mission at hand, which was to get my family into a house before school starts. Luckily, Janet was focused on the same mission, "like a bull terrier grabbing a hold of something and refusing to let go," as she put it. Three weeks into the search, still without a house we all felt great about and my panic level rising--Janet scoped out a home new to the market that she thought was perfect. The phone calls flew and we had snapped it up by the end of the day! Yay! We are so happy with it and grateful to the owners for making arrangements to be out quickly so we could be in well before school! I will be there for the inspection tomorrow and can hardly wait. We close on July 27th. Pictures will follow soon!
The kids and I visited with Aunt Annie, Uncle Jeff, and Ashtyn for a couple more days and then drove back to Kansas to begin househunting--here are some grassy shots taken in a mall parking lot, of all places. Kids can have fun anywhere!
Back in Kansas, we landed at Shannon W.'s as our home base while I began scouting out the Lawrence home market. Our spectacular realtor, Janet G., who sold our home last summer, took me in hand. I think we saw every home on the market in Lawrence two or three times! She was a total trooper! There are no pictures to show of that process, and that is because I was utterly focused on the mission at hand, which was to get my family into a house before school starts. Luckily, Janet was focused on the same mission, "like a bull terrier grabbing a hold of something and refusing to let go," as she put it. Three weeks into the search, still without a house we all felt great about and my panic level rising--Janet scoped out a home new to the market that she thought was perfect. The phone calls flew and we had snapped it up by the end of the day! Yay! We are so happy with it and grateful to the owners for making arrangements to be out quickly so we could be in well before school! I will be there for the inspection tomorrow and can hardly wait. We close on July 27th. Pictures will follow soon!
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Return to Kansas, but first: Key Largo
Oh my blog-reading friends! How patiently you have waited for my return to blogland. The good news is that we have also returned to Kansas, found a home, and even found a temporary home to stay at while we wait for our closing date.
But many things have happened in between, and I would like to update you and show you some of the sites along the way. I'm sure it will take a few posts to bring things up-to-date.
I believe I last posted about the trip to Virginia Beach that we took while the younger kids and I were visiting my sister and her family in Richmond, Virginia.
While we were there, Aunt Annie gamely agreed to watch my kids for four days while I took a vacation. Meanwhile, back in Kansas, Grandma and Grandpa were willing to keep an eye on big brother Jacob so Doug could meet me. This made it possible for us to celebrate our 15th anniversary--a few months late.
We met in Miami and, after a quick stop at a Cuban restaurant--one of Doug's favorite cuisines--we drove to Key Largo. We had booked a room at a small resort that got great online reviews, and boy, did it turn out to be spectacular! The owners of Kona Kai Resort and Gallery have created a spectacular but cozy oasis, personally choosing all of the magnificent plantings on the grounds and creating a beach-like feel on the Florida Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. They were also incredibly helpful in suggesting restaurants and activities.
We read and relaxed, ate, kayaked, snorkled, ate, read some more, relaxed some more, enjoyed a eco-tour to explore the mandrake keys and to spot ocean creatures, enjoyed the inn's gallery and orchid gardens, then read and relaxed some more. It was just what we needed and we can't wait to go back!
Doug and I ate fish caught locally for every meal (except for breakfast, of course). Doug's favorite, mahi-mahi, is abundant in local waters, but so is grouper and yellowtail snapper. We also had Conch Chowder, a local specialty, and of course Key Lime Pie. My favorite dish of the trip was jerked yellowtail, which I followed with some more Key Lime Pie.
The trip was just what we needed. I'm sure we'll find our way back to the Florida Keys again soon.
Enjoy the pics--just click on the arrow to begin a slideshow of our trip. You can pause the slideshow, too, or advance and reverse at your own pace. Or, double-click and you will be taken to a larger version of the photos.
But many things have happened in between, and I would like to update you and show you some of the sites along the way. I'm sure it will take a few posts to bring things up-to-date.
I believe I last posted about the trip to Virginia Beach that we took while the younger kids and I were visiting my sister and her family in Richmond, Virginia.
While we were there, Aunt Annie gamely agreed to watch my kids for four days while I took a vacation. Meanwhile, back in Kansas, Grandma and Grandpa were willing to keep an eye on big brother Jacob so Doug could meet me. This made it possible for us to celebrate our 15th anniversary--a few months late.
We met in Miami and, after a quick stop at a Cuban restaurant--one of Doug's favorite cuisines--we drove to Key Largo. We had booked a room at a small resort that got great online reviews, and boy, did it turn out to be spectacular! The owners of Kona Kai Resort and Gallery have created a spectacular but cozy oasis, personally choosing all of the magnificent plantings on the grounds and creating a beach-like feel on the Florida Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. They were also incredibly helpful in suggesting restaurants and activities.
We read and relaxed, ate, kayaked, snorkled, ate, read some more, relaxed some more, enjoyed a eco-tour to explore the mandrake keys and to spot ocean creatures, enjoyed the inn's gallery and orchid gardens, then read and relaxed some more. It was just what we needed and we can't wait to go back!
Doug and I ate fish caught locally for every meal (except for breakfast, of course). Doug's favorite, mahi-mahi, is abundant in local waters, but so is grouper and yellowtail snapper. We also had Conch Chowder, a local specialty, and of course Key Lime Pie. My favorite dish of the trip was jerked yellowtail, which I followed with some more Key Lime Pie.
The trip was just what we needed. I'm sure we'll find our way back to the Florida Keys again soon.
Enjoy the pics--just click on the arrow to begin a slideshow of our trip. You can pause the slideshow, too, or advance and reverse at your own pace. Or, double-click and you will be taken to a larger version of the photos.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Virginia Beach
Today we hit the beach! It was the kids first trip to the beach--that they remember. Toward the end of the day, it was a little cloudy and overcast, but that didn't stop us from having a moment of fun.
Besides splashing in the waves, we admired mole crabs, searched for shells, buried each other in the sand, and did lots of digging.
After shaking the sand out of our suits in the parking lot, we headed to Norfolk--Aunt Annie's old stomping grounds--for some ice cream. The littlest cousins, Ashtyn and Aidan, were fast asleep long before we arrived. They had their ice cream much later--after a good dinner at home.
Check out the pics:
Besides splashing in the waves, we admired mole crabs, searched for shells, buried each other in the sand, and did lots of digging.
After shaking the sand out of our suits in the parking lot, we headed to Norfolk--Aunt Annie's old stomping grounds--for some ice cream. The littlest cousins, Ashtyn and Aidan, were fast asleep long before we arrived. They had their ice cream much later--after a good dinner at home.
Check out the pics:
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| 2007-05 Virginia Beach |
Aunt Annie's house!
We are having so much fun in Virginia with Aunt Annie, Uncle Jeff, and cousin Ashtyn.
Check it out:
Check it out:
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| 2007-05 Vacation in Virginia |
Saturday, May 26, 2007
So now what?
School was out on May 11--over two weeks ago. What have we been up to since then?
First, we packed up our belongings and moved out of our house. We had some friends who had seriously looked at our home when it was on the market last summer, before we bought it, and they wanted to purchase it from us. We were delighted, since with 700 folks losing their jobs at O'Sullivan, we worried that the market may be a bit sluggish. So that was a great blessing--both to sell our house without putting it on the market, and also to turn it over to good friends.
This is how we ended up moving out of our home before we had a new job or a new house! Again, we are blessed that Doug's parents were very willing to take us in for a few weeks . . . or months . . . as needed. Doug remained working in Lamar, staying with generous friends from the ward, while the kids and I headed north to make his folks' home in Topeka our home base for the summer. At least.
Now we have big news. As of yesterday, Doug has accepted a new position at a new company! He has been actively engaged in a job search for nearly six months and has considered many interesting and varied positions throughout the land. But the one that captured his heart is at . . . Payless Shoe Source! Many of our readers know that this is in Topeka, Kansas, and therefore we will be moving right back to the place from which we exited last summer: Lawrence, Kansas. Originally, when Doug first started talking to a recruiter about the opportunity and decided it sounded quite promising, he didn't know what company had posted the job nor where they were located. He was floored when it was disclosed that it was Payless! We have had so many friends who worked there through the years! Is that not wild?
Doug is very pleased with his new position. He feels it is the best opportunity of all those that he was offered during his long search. He will be starting up the IT group for an international expansion. This is a high-profile position that will give him more exposure to international work and will be great experience.
We are all relieved, and as you might imagine the kids are just thrilled to be moving back "home." We are sorry to leave our friends in Lamar. We really liked it there and had hoped to stay much longer. We are pleased, however, that it is only a short drive to visit.
Now I must reveal that with Doug's company closing and all the accompanying uncertainty, we have been through a rough time in our family. We have been cognizant of all our blessings and grateful for tons of family support, but nevertheless, the last few months have been difficult and stressful in many ways. We have leaned on friends and family and have been bolstered by prayers offered on our behalf. Thank you to everyone.
I just need to thank two people in particular for their help in Lamar. The first is Carla S. Oh. My. Goodness. While we were packing, she watched kids day and night, made sure they were fed, got us through two hospitalizations, and even showed up to deep clean my kitchen once all the goods had been socked away in storage. All the while providing a listening and sympathetic ear. You have no idea. This saintly woman got us through the last two weeks.
Also, my friend Michelle B. took mercy on me when I was stymied by the massive job of packing our belongings (for the second time in a year). She kindly provided the impetus to get me going, wrapped up most of my dishes and glassware in newsprint, and perhaps more importantly, offered many wise words of counsel. This is more amazing if you know that her family is the one moving into our house! So she was packing up my kitchen only to turn around and unpack hers into the very same cupboards a couple of weeks later. Imagine.
That kind of sounds like the academy awards, but there is nothing so touching when you are in need as to have friends set aside their own deadlines and concerns just to take on yours. It is just hard to adequately express how grateful we are.
Now we have one big decision left to make: we must find a new house. Doug is working in Lamar for a few days more, and meanwhile I have made my way to Virginia with the younger kids (Jacob is staying at Grandma's so he can attend summer basketball and soccer activities) to visit my sister. We're all a bit shell-shocked. But after a couple of weeks of R&R, we'll get on with becoming the Lawrence Von Feldts once again.
First, we packed up our belongings and moved out of our house. We had some friends who had seriously looked at our home when it was on the market last summer, before we bought it, and they wanted to purchase it from us. We were delighted, since with 700 folks losing their jobs at O'Sullivan, we worried that the market may be a bit sluggish. So that was a great blessing--both to sell our house without putting it on the market, and also to turn it over to good friends.
This is how we ended up moving out of our home before we had a new job or a new house! Again, we are blessed that Doug's parents were very willing to take us in for a few weeks . . . or months . . . as needed. Doug remained working in Lamar, staying with generous friends from the ward, while the kids and I headed north to make his folks' home in Topeka our home base for the summer. At least.
Now we have big news. As of yesterday, Doug has accepted a new position at a new company! He has been actively engaged in a job search for nearly six months and has considered many interesting and varied positions throughout the land. But the one that captured his heart is at . . . Payless Shoe Source! Many of our readers know that this is in Topeka, Kansas, and therefore we will be moving right back to the place from which we exited last summer: Lawrence, Kansas. Originally, when Doug first started talking to a recruiter about the opportunity and decided it sounded quite promising, he didn't know what company had posted the job nor where they were located. He was floored when it was disclosed that it was Payless! We have had so many friends who worked there through the years! Is that not wild?
Doug is very pleased with his new position. He feels it is the best opportunity of all those that he was offered during his long search. He will be starting up the IT group for an international expansion. This is a high-profile position that will give him more exposure to international work and will be great experience.
We are all relieved, and as you might imagine the kids are just thrilled to be moving back "home." We are sorry to leave our friends in Lamar. We really liked it there and had hoped to stay much longer. We are pleased, however, that it is only a short drive to visit.
Now I must reveal that with Doug's company closing and all the accompanying uncertainty, we have been through a rough time in our family. We have been cognizant of all our blessings and grateful for tons of family support, but nevertheless, the last few months have been difficult and stressful in many ways. We have leaned on friends and family and have been bolstered by prayers offered on our behalf. Thank you to everyone.
I just need to thank two people in particular for their help in Lamar. The first is Carla S. Oh. My. Goodness. While we were packing, she watched kids day and night, made sure they were fed, got us through two hospitalizations, and even showed up to deep clean my kitchen once all the goods had been socked away in storage. All the while providing a listening and sympathetic ear. You have no idea. This saintly woman got us through the last two weeks.
Also, my friend Michelle B. took mercy on me when I was stymied by the massive job of packing our belongings (for the second time in a year). She kindly provided the impetus to get me going, wrapped up most of my dishes and glassware in newsprint, and perhaps more importantly, offered many wise words of counsel. This is more amazing if you know that her family is the one moving into our house! So she was packing up my kitchen only to turn around and unpack hers into the very same cupboards a couple of weeks later. Imagine.
That kind of sounds like the academy awards, but there is nothing so touching when you are in need as to have friends set aside their own deadlines and concerns just to take on yours. It is just hard to adequately express how grateful we are.
Now we have one big decision left to make: we must find a new house. Doug is working in Lamar for a few days more, and meanwhile I have made my way to Virginia with the younger kids (Jacob is staying at Grandma's so he can attend summer basketball and soccer activities) to visit my sister. We're all a bit shell-shocked. But after a couple of weeks of R&R, we'll get on with becoming the Lawrence Von Feldts once again.
Family on the Move
We have been a family on the move, and we have much to catch you up on.
First, school's out! With a very sudden decision by the powers that be, the requirement for snow days was waived, and the kids got out three days early! Their last day was May 11.
It was a misty morning--here are Sophia and Meredith in the park across the street:
Buddy--still in his pj's--walked to the bus stop with them.
The last wait at the Wheeler Farm bus stop . . . forever:
Lucy takes off after the bus, as usual:
First, school's out! With a very sudden decision by the powers that be, the requirement for snow days was waived, and the kids got out three days early! Their last day was May 11.
It was a misty morning--here are Sophia and Meredith in the park across the street:
Buddy--still in his pj's--walked to the bus stop with them.
The last wait at the Wheeler Farm bus stop . . . forever:
Lucy takes off after the bus, as usual:
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Lamar Recital
Sophia and Meredith performed in the Chase Dance Academy recital last weekend, which they have been preparing for for months. We have a beautiful, big auditorium here in Lamar--Thiebaud Auditorium--which made a nice venue.
They did splendidly! We are grateful to Carla Scott and the Solums for coming to catch the performance! We are also grateful to Kelly Kellenberger, Rhonda, and Rebecca for being such great teachers all year long!
Here's Meredith, a girl in a white dress with a blue (not satin) sash:
Here's Sophia:
Both girls wore full stage makeup with false eyelashes! I must say that part of the fun was the afternoon getting we spent getting ready. We got out all my makeup from my ballroom dance days, and I enjoyed slicking back their hair, applying their lashes, and finding just the right color of lipstick.
Click here for more pics:
They did splendidly! We are grateful to Carla Scott and the Solums for coming to catch the performance! We are also grateful to Kelly Kellenberger, Rhonda, and Rebecca for being such great teachers all year long!
Here's Meredith, a girl in a white dress with a blue (not satin) sash:
Here's Sophia:
Both girls wore full stage makeup with false eyelashes! I must say that part of the fun was the afternoon getting we spent getting ready. We got out all my makeup from my ballroom dance days, and I enjoyed slicking back their hair, applying their lashes, and finding just the right color of lipstick.
Click here for more pics:
 |
| 2007-04 Recital |
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Jacob's Team Wins Top Points!
Jacob recently competed in a state-wide challenge for gifted classrooms called Extempore. I got to go up to Kansas City on the school bus with him for the competition.
Teams are given requirements in advance around which to build a skit, then at the last minute must incorporate a handful of additions extemporaneously. The competition also involves brainy problem-solving challenges. Jacob's team competed against 38 other teams from across the state and earned the most points!
Here is the winning team with their teacher, Barb Nichols:
Here is Jacob in action. I believe he was a "nerd" having a bad audition because he needed to relieve himself. The second shot depicts him as an extreme character--a gangster. The last shot shows other team members acting out their parts.
Teams are given requirements in advance around which to build a skit, then at the last minute must incorporate a handful of additions extemporaneously. The competition also involves brainy problem-solving challenges. Jacob's team competed against 38 other teams from across the state and earned the most points!
Here is the winning team with their teacher, Barb Nichols:
Here is Jacob in action. I believe he was a "nerd" having a bad audition because he needed to relieve himself. The second shot depicts him as an extreme character--a gangster. The last shot shows other team members acting out their parts.
Aidan Ails
The next weekend was a bit of a downer. Aidan got a case of pneumonia that landed him (and me) in the hospital for a couple of days. (He pulled out of it just fine, though).
Here's Aidan ailing:
But here he is starting to feel better, sitting up and playing with some stretchy bugs that our friend Carla gave him:
He was visited by all his Lamar friends--Carla, Sophia, Trainer, Meredith, and Haley:
Aidan kept saying, "Can I go home now?" Especially when he had to take oral meds, which as it turns out he is adamantly against. But Meredith wished she could have been a patient! She stayed for an extended snuggle and some tv-watching:
** For those interested, please note that I have added one piece of artwork to the post below!
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