Nick-roll-up

This is what happens when Nicholas asks Daddy for a fruit roll-up...

He has been doing SO MUCH better at school this week. Counting a short week last week (only 2 days) he has had 5 STRAIGHT days of GREEN CARDS!!! We are SO proud. Today he went on a field trip to Farting Auditorium to see "The 12 Days of Christmas". He really liked it.

Robin has been toilet trained for a few months now...life is GRAND. Over the summer we visited some good friends in Hendersonville, NC and at the pool she announced that she had to go potty. It's been all potty since!! She likes to go to Lowe's Hardware to look at all the neat stuff. On once visit the summer she announced with such delight..."POTTY!!...POTTY!!! POTTY!!!". At school they have been potty training so Robin loves to share her potty experiences with us now. The other day she announced "looks like a poop-snake!". Bet ya didn't think THAT last time YOU went to the bathroom!!

As for me...I am almost done with this semester. I have a small presentation to give Tuesday and a paper to turn in by the 12th and then I OFFICIALLY have ONE MORE SEMESTER!!! I have registered for my final semester and I have 6 hours. 3-hours of Thesis and 3-hours on "Technology and Culture". So I will only be in class ONE NIGHT A WEEK!!! That beats the pants off of this semester with 4 NIGHTS A WEEK!!

My Thesis is coming along pretty well. I feel like it is MUCH more like a Dissertation. (You can all call me Doctor when it's over) There is just SO much information. I can not possibly imagine how I am going to present it in ONLY 45 minutes!!!! Whew! Oh well. So next semester is job hunting and Thesis writing.

I hope I can continue working at the Energy Center. The NC Energy Star Conference is coming up next week...dad is the Keynote speaker!!! I look forward to seeing him and Pat when they visit.

We have successfully completed Christmas shopping for all of those in the family who are pre-teen. The rest will have to wait until I have some time to design for pleasure and not school or work. I can not wait to video the unveiling of Santa's treasures!!! Last year I went out to "check on things" and placed the camera where it would get the children coming out into the living room. This year is going to be that times 10 with them both being old enough to "know" Santa and still believe!!!!

Any good ideas for self-help typing skills???? I’d like to learn to type the right way over Christmas break. I make SO MANY spelling errors because I can not watch the monitor when I type. I could use an GREAT tutorial!!!! (Just ask my research class after Monday night’s Power Point presentation!!!)

Hickory nuts and Tee Pees

What a nice weekend. We had beautiful weather in the mountains of SC! We had mellow Thanksgiving with a seating of 5! (ya know it was actually even…5 people and 5 dogs). I regret to inform you that the consensus was to go without mashed potatoes this year. With rice and macaroni & cheese….no use for ANOTHER starch. And besides mashed potatoes are only useful in creating a bowl from which you spoon the gravy!

I spent Black Friday (which happened to be my 33^rd birthday) in the woods…FAR from any place to give money to another in exchange for goods. Actually that’s not true. That evening Rob took me out to dinner and a movie and with an hour between we went to K-Mart. Needless to say it was rather empty. (Mom says no one shops at K-Mart). Upon approaching the register with stuff Santa had us pick up for him…I realized that we would need to hide the items until we got home. I had a MARVELOUS idea. What if the stores put the merchandise in black (non-transparent) bags. I am a novice and genius…or so I thought. As she rang up the toys and without hesitation she placed them in large BLACK bags and they disappeared! I don’t know who WASN’T shopping at K-Mart…but I do know that Wal-Mart has those little bitty clear bags ALL THE TIME!!

So here’s a log of events...

Robin with Momma El's dolly and baby doll quilt that Granny Dee made for her when she was little...

We cracked Hickory nuts (they taste like banana bread to me)…

We had Sable with us….

We added onto Nicholas Tee Pee…

Robin borrowed Momma El’s shirt for a Nightee…

(She really WAS happy about the shirt...just not me)

Once at home Robin collected her books and went to school (like Mommy and Nicholas)…

We met Pastor Nathan and Erin at CiCi’s for dinner (imagine that) and we handed off Sable. It is becoming a routine that we find unusual animals in the CiCi’s parking lot. This evening Nicholas and Daddy holler….”Mommy…come here!!!…come here!!” I look over and they are scurrying back and forth along the curb. Turns out they found a bole in the parking lot. We borrowed a to-go cup from CiCi’s and took the little creature home to release in the wooded are near our apartment. Bet he’d like that MUCH better than the New Market Center!!! (the lady at CiCi’s was so excited that we were going to save the little critter. She said she’d be happy to give us a cup and she would have done the same thing). Rob picked it up and carried it a bit until we got the cup. Everyone pet or held it at some point. Robin let out the cutest little squeal when Rob put it in her hands!

One more thing….
We went to the movies (like I said) and I WISH I had a camera. The light board that has the movie title and show times has a small space to indicate “NO PASSES”. When appropriate, they place this next to the title. Well, apparently the sign shifted a bit and the note for those attending Harry Potter that evening was that there were to be “NO ASSES”.

giving thanks...

Went to Robin’s school for lunch today. The older children had Pilgrim hats and bonnets or Indian headdresses. I am amazed at how uneventful the lunch was but most children had both parents visit so I guess the little ones were outnumbered.

Robin had a good time taking a picture of her friend Lilly!

Off to Momma El’s for Thanksgiving. We will go get Sable in the morning and share the holiday with her. Yipee!!! Hopefully I will have lots of time to escape and do homework. I have a presentation to give Monday and another Wednesday! (School does not stop for Thanksgiving)

Artwork by Nicholas

Here’s an image of the Gateway to the West taken as we were leaving St Louis…

Speaking of the arch. I have to tell on myself. It appears that 2 or 32 you still have a tendency to say stupid stuff…of course it’s cute when you’re 2! In describing how to get to the top of the arch, I tell a friend “You have to go all the way to the bottom first and then go up from there.” Hmmmmm….?!?!?!?!

the gateway to the west

So, just got home form a long trip to and back from St Louis. You figure that a trip you begin at 3am will be rather long…and it was. The conference I attended was educational but rather uneventful. I know it will help me with my Thesis research and I made some wonderful connections. But it wasn’t the most experiential of conferences I have attended.

Got to see a pretty cool presentation on robotics. The Keynote speaker had some really fascinating video…somewhat scary what these robots can do…One that he highlighted was the Wakamaru. Pretty fascinating creation. He said he walked into this room of 40 Wakamaru and they all tracked him all over the room.

Saw the arch on 3 occasions….driving into the city, in the dark JUST after it closed, and then again leaving the city!!

Went to Budweiser for a tour. The Clydesdales were gorgeous and huge. Their stable was nicer than any house I could want. They were true stables though with a cat running around and a Dalmatian sleeping in the hay next to the horses! All of their leather regalia was hanging in a glass protected “closet” for all to view. (I was the photographer….maybe I can get some images form my traveling buddies……). The rest was large brick buildings and lots of hops (which I didn’t know looked like small, green pinecones). We ended at the “hospitality house” where guests we treated to 2 glasses of day old Budweiser.

We went out to dinner Friday night in the city at The Drunken Fish. It was very good!!! I ate real sushi for the first time (no California rolls here). It’s not very lady like however. After a lesson on Sushi form the waitress, I learned that you are supposed to eat the WHOLE thing in one big bite! Hmmm…..not too attractive! But I did use chop sticks if that accounts for anything!

The drive was unique to me as we were accompanied by Microsoft Mary. Tim has a Microsoft GPS system in his laptop so we cruised all over with the lap top and many other high tech devices. (Mary talks to you and gives directions). On the way home I worked on my presentation on Chris’ lap top and helped the guys study for their written comps (this Tuesday). Thankfully I don’t have to take them!!!

I’ll be pretty happy if I don’t eat at McDonalds again for a very long time!!!

So I am home now and missed my family terribly!!! The children seem to have gotten bigger in just one week! Rob survived well, as I knew he would. He’s a wonderful daddy. His coworkers couldn’t believe he didn’t call in reinforcements. (not sure who that would have been).

Just a few weeks ago I launched a new web page for ASU’s Building Science program. I’ve got lots of design under my belt…just got to get it into a portfolio format!!! EEEKK!

The Massey’s are coming for Christmas this year. It is definitely nice to be home for Christmas. I look forward to the time off of school. I hope to plow on with my Thesis however, and spend some time job searching.

Greg's musical opened Friday (The Woman in White). I saw on the news ahat it is getting GREAT reviews. Congratulations Greg....I am SO proud of you!!!

OH….that reminds me. I was offered a job this weekend as a Dean of Technology at Walters State Community College. I thought the man was joking…but apparently he was not. I can’t say I am ready for a DEAN position!!!! Holy cow. What an ego booster. Once more…the world is my oyster!

Fall Sledding

Who would have thought that sledding could be so much fun in the Fall! This morning Nicholas and Robin had a blast sliding down the hill on pine needles and playing in a pile of leaves…

lots of activity...

This week Nicholas and I made Pumpkin Pie! No canned pumpkin here. This was made from a REAL pumpkin (cooked in the Crock Pot , smashed, and strained!!!)….ok the pie crust was store bought….sometimes you just can’t do it all! We shared with Rob's co-workers and they were VERY impressed!!!!

More puzzle time for Robin…

After getting praise for using the bathroom this morning, Robin says, “I am supper PooPoo girl”

Rob made pigs-in-a-blanket to share with his office on Friday and shared a few with the children. That evening, Robin asked for more “Pigs-in-a-Robert”

puzzle mania

Robin has fallen in LOVE with puzzles. She will disappear and then return to us with all sorts of completed puzzles. This morning she paged me to come se the bridge she made…

just enjoying Fall

Saturday morning we went to the doctor’s office for the children to get the Flu vaccine. Nicholas got to take the Flu mist (since he was over 5) but Robin had to have a shot. She did not even flinch! The nurse was very impressed!!! I’m sure it helped other moms with their frightened children in the waiting room. So, when we got home Robin was looking at her band aid and Nicholas tells her “That’s’ where you got your shot” and Robin replies: “That’s where she shot me.”

This evening on the way home from the park, Robin was looking at the lights around Boone and exclaims “Look! That’s pitiful!” [beautiful]

A busy weekend with outdoor activities. We tried to get to the playground, hiking trails and bike paths as much as possible. Here are a few photos…

a pile of leaved on campusa lesson on surveying form a very nice man on campus...a hike to Linville Falls Saturday afternoon...bet'cha can't find them hiding behind that tree...

Silicone baking!!

Have you heard of these products? Silicone baking pans and accessories??? Here's one of MANY companies offering silicone bakeware http://www.dvo.com/silicone.html

This past weekend mom bought me a 9" square pan to try out. We both thought it was SO weird!!! But it is FABULOUS!!!!! I made some kind of chocolate cake, caramel brownie kind-a thing. See
but check this out...it is TOTALLY flexible (can turn it inside out) AND it's not TOO hot to the touch. Don't get me worng...it gets hot. BUT I don't think it would blister you before you realized that you have time to move your hand away (like a class or metal pan does). Yes, I had to touch it right out of the oven!!! Good for baking wiht children around!!

I'm sold!

We'll see hoe the brownies taste after class tonight...if there are any left!

Homecoming Hoopla!

I guess I’ll start with Trunk-or-Treat. In this are of the world, we don’t have many neighborhoods…actually I can’t recall any that even slightly resemble the Sardine grid I grew up in. (and not that that was bad either. Neighbor hood tag, LOTS of children, Football games that crossed two yards….much excitement). So with the lack of door-to-door availability, Trunk-or-Treat was created. Basically, parents line their cars up in a paring lot (away from where the Trunk-or-Treaters park) and they open their decorated trunks (or lower their tailgates…whatever suits) and give out candy as children move around from car to car. It was nice that we parked by the playground, that way instead of our children going around the circle multiple times over the course of the evening, they ran and ran on the playground! In an effort to support the festivities, I helped Nicholas create a large black widow. (I am a bit ashamed to say that I could not remember the pattern of the red spot on the Black Widow’s belly and Nicholas was quick to correct me several times!)

Black Widow in the house!Trunk-or-Treat!Black Widow on our van!

Well, Momma El came over that night as well. Unfortunately for the children she arrived JUST after bedtime…Nichols just couldn’t hold out. Boy was Robin surprised to have a guest in the morning!!!

Saturday morning, after orange pancakes “decorated/carved” with M&M’s…we set out the Homecoming Parade. Aloha Appalachia!! (The Alumni page promises to have photos here soon).

Hot cocoa for a cool Homecoming morning...Someone was yelling "Go Greek!"

We found a GREAT spot right in front of Mellow Mushroom. After lots of cheering, dancing, waving, and yelling (Momma El!)…we scurried off to the Mellow Mushroom for a fantastic lunch (that’s Jess’ word!). (Can't fing the pictures though :(

From there, Rob and I took our left over pizza, all of the Leis and candy and went home. I had…HAVE ….lots of research and writing still to do!!! Momma El took the children around campus to explore full blown Tailgating! Crowds in the parking lot of hide-away couches, tents, grills, coolers, silly boys in pig masks throwing the football, and bouncy toys!!! Yep, they found the air walk items near the duck pond! A maze, a slide and something else..??? Momma El carried Robin up the HUGE slide a few time (as I heard tale of this!). Nicholas ran and ran, climbed, jumped and had a blast. They met Dr Connor (Technology Department Chairperson) who gave them M&M’s.

Finally they stroll in early afternoon donning LARGE SHINY “I got Lied at Appalachian Homecoming” stickers! Robin was wound up so tight I thought she would bust. Nicholas was tired, but I think Momma El won the award for “pooped for the day”!

The evening allowed for a little Ring-Around-the-Rosies...and Apple Pie with vanilla ice cream!

Sunday was uneventful. We played outside and Nicholas did his counting, sorting, and comparing homework with nature. We were sad to see Momma El leave…especially after she left and we remembered that we gained an hour and she could have stayed longer. We wanted to cruise the parkway…beautiful leaves and not a cloud in the sky!!! Pooey!!!So, here I am, evidence of procrastinating on homework once more with the excuse of having to tell you about my life...