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Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Camping with the other Gerdeses (7.26.09)
So, I’ve been extra terrible about blogging lately. My legions of fans have made their voices heard (meaning Larry called). So, in his honor I’m efforting up again and starting with a camping post I’ve been meaning to write.
In July the four of us went camping with the other Gerdeses (hence, the catchy title). We decided to go up to Stoneman Lake, which was nice for me. We went earlier in the summer with the Kapitans and it was the first time we’d taken the kids camping. Being time number two, it was nice to know what to expect. The only complaint I’d had about time number one was my sleeping arrangements. I fixed that this time and everything went beautifully!
The kids had a WONDERFUL time with their cousins.
From the time that we got there Kennadi balanced her time between M & B.
(Probably because Payson and B were excluding her from time to time – she’s right at that garbage time in between the kids’ ages.) Anyway, Mick had a little playmate. Since he wasn’t walking at all at that point, all they could really do was eat together and crawl around on the tarp
– but they seemed to have fun. P and B were a little more adventurous. P’s been out in the woods much more often than Brook, and he felt right at home showing her all around the campsite.
He was especially excited to share with her the elk legs he found. Some lovely hunter was nice enough to leave behind what was left of his kill so that we might have a lesson in the circle of life and whether or not Bullwinkle goes to heaven. Thanks. (I guess I should just be thankful that Eric didn’t decide to put on a show with props or something…)
Anyway, camping: it’s so nice to be able to start doing things that seem like they’re entirely for the kids, but that we would choose for ourselves anyway. Ryan and I have always loved camping, and it’s awesome being able to share that love with our kids. It’s especially fun that we have more family to bring along. The boys took all four kids for a bit of a hike,
and I got to stock up on some of my Marissa time. (It’s never enough.)
At some point during day one, Brooklynn was tragically wounded. Aunt Riss was to the rescue, sharing her equally devastating gash.
Did that make her feel better?
A little.
Anyway, the next morning we drove down the dirt road (in the back of Eric’s truck – SOOO much fun for M and B) to a waterhole to hike around,
skip rocks,
and see what we could see. Payson showed B how to take on the rock climbing,
and K was often in toe:
(Mick’s not quite there yet.)
Highlight of the mini adventure was when a snake slithered by our trail. What do the boys do? Hunt it, of course.
(It was NOT the first thought ‘Riss and I had.)
Eventually even the kids got bored when the snake was nowhere to be seen – but the boys didn’t give up for quite a while.
All in all, it was an awesome time. I can't wait to go again!
In July the four of us went camping with the other Gerdeses (hence, the catchy title). We decided to go up to Stoneman Lake, which was nice for me. We went earlier in the summer with the Kapitans and it was the first time we’d taken the kids camping. Being time number two, it was nice to know what to expect. The only complaint I’d had about time number one was my sleeping arrangements. I fixed that this time and everything went beautifully!
The kids had a WONDERFUL time with their cousins.
From the time that we got there Kennadi balanced her time between M & B.
(Probably because Payson and B were excluding her from time to time – she’s right at that garbage time in between the kids’ ages.) Anyway, Mick had a little playmate. Since he wasn’t walking at all at that point, all they could really do was eat together and crawl around on the tarp
– but they seemed to have fun. P and B were a little more adventurous. P’s been out in the woods much more often than Brook, and he felt right at home showing her all around the campsite.
He was especially excited to share with her the elk legs he found. Some lovely hunter was nice enough to leave behind what was left of his kill so that we might have a lesson in the circle of life and whether or not Bullwinkle goes to heaven. Thanks. (I guess I should just be thankful that Eric didn’t decide to put on a show with props or something…)
Anyway, camping: it’s so nice to be able to start doing things that seem like they’re entirely for the kids, but that we would choose for ourselves anyway. Ryan and I have always loved camping, and it’s awesome being able to share that love with our kids. It’s especially fun that we have more family to bring along. The boys took all four kids for a bit of a hike,
and I got to stock up on some of my Marissa time. (It’s never enough.)
At some point during day one, Brooklynn was tragically wounded. Aunt Riss was to the rescue, sharing her equally devastating gash.
Did that make her feel better?
A little.
Anyway, the next morning we drove down the dirt road (in the back of Eric’s truck – SOOO much fun for M and B) to a waterhole to hike around,
skip rocks,
and see what we could see. Payson showed B how to take on the rock climbing,
and K was often in toe:
(Mick’s not quite there yet.)
Highlight of the mini adventure was when a snake slithered by our trail. What do the boys do? Hunt it, of course.
(It was NOT the first thought ‘Riss and I had.)
Eventually even the kids got bored when the snake was nowhere to be seen – but the boys didn’t give up for quite a while.
All in all, it was an awesome time. I can't wait to go again!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Tutu cute!
So, last month a childhood friend was looking for friends' little girls for a photo shoot of the tutus she hand makes. (You can find the link to all of her adorable selections here.)
I thought Brooklynn might really like this. After all, she loves dress-up and little kids, and Lord knows she's used to having her picture taken. Turns out I was right. There was a good deal going on, so she did a lot of quiet watching, but she said she had a great time and seemed to be enjoying herself. (She'll let you know, when she's not. ;)
The funny part was watching her in comparison to some of the other little girls. The youngest ones were too little to really know what was going on, so the photographer was just shooting them kind of playing. And the older ones had done some practice posing. They took direction in "put you hand on your hip and cock your head to one side" so easily, like in their heads they were thinking, "Oh! Pose six!" Brooklynn was in between though. She was old enough that the photographer was trying to give her instruction in how and where to stand, but young enough that it was all very new. So sweet. I'll have to look back on this time and smile when she's in high school and ridiculously-overposing up a storm.
This picture's a little blurry because I took it with my phone. It's the only camera I had. I know you think I'm lying, but I felt funny showing up to a photo shoot with a photographer, with my own camera - taking pictures over her shoulder.
I thought Brooklynn might really like this. After all, she loves dress-up and little kids, and Lord knows she's used to having her picture taken. Turns out I was right. There was a good deal going on, so she did a lot of quiet watching, but she said she had a great time and seemed to be enjoying herself. (She'll let you know, when she's not. ;)
The funny part was watching her in comparison to some of the other little girls. The youngest ones were too little to really know what was going on, so the photographer was just shooting them kind of playing. And the older ones had done some practice posing. They took direction in "put you hand on your hip and cock your head to one side" so easily, like in their heads they were thinking, "Oh! Pose six!" Brooklynn was in between though. She was old enough that the photographer was trying to give her instruction in how and where to stand, but young enough that it was all very new. So sweet. I'll have to look back on this time and smile when she's in high school and ridiculously-overposing up a storm.
This picture's a little blurry because I took it with my phone. It's the only camera I had. I know you think I'm lying, but I felt funny showing up to a photo shoot with a photographer, with my own camera - taking pictures over her shoulder.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Hi ho! Hi ho!
It's off to work I go!
Looks like I'm thrilled about it, based on the exclamation points, but really that was more because my "catchy" title seemed to be incomplete without them. Actually, I'm a little on the fence about my feelings, and to be completely honest, leaning toward fear and loathing. I was hired as an Academic Counselor for Grand Canyon University's education department. Ryan's job, now, is to sell the University's online programs (not a hard sell, considering their reputation, but people will give any excuse to put off school), and he then gets them started and monitors their progress for their first eleven weeks. My job is to assist with anything they need in terms of setting up a schedule, problems with classes, etc. through to graduation. The job description is not the reason for my fear and loathing. Although I've only had a week of training, I feel confident enough in my ability to speak to people and to organize and work hard that I cannot see this job challenging me beyond my capabilities. I have that anxious twitter for the unexpected, but I'm not scared. The fear and loathing come in because my going back to work means I will no longer be able to spend every day with my beautiful children. Just writing these words, letting them out, is bringing tears to my eyes.
I really don't deserve to cry over such a thing. I have been so blessed. I haven't worked a full-time job since just before I delivered Brooklynn. When I worked part-time as a Reading Interventionist it wasn't until Brooklynn was a year and a half and even then it was only four hours a day. This is a full eight hours, plus lunch and a RIDICULOUS drive:
[Mapquest says it's 31 miles. According to them the drive is like 37 minutes. Apparently they don't account for rush hour congestion in huge metropolitan cities.]
I'm going to be gone for close to eleven hours from my children, every day! I can't imagine how that is going to feel. Ugh.
Okay, let me regroup.
Believe it or not, through all my ranting, there is much good in my going back to work. I'm sharing these things more for myself to reread if I need it than for any of you, so feel free to find another post with fun pictures. I won't be offended.
1. The reason I need to go to work and Ryan stay home is that real estate is picking up enough that he needs to devote more time to his clients (but not enough that we can be fully supported on his varying income). It's much easier to do this from home, especially with the occasional help from my mom. Anyway, my point is two-fold good: real estate is picking up, and RYAN will be home with the kids. They get time with their dad that most kids don't, and that's pretty cool - especially considering all the wonderful things Ryan has to offer as a daddy.
2. When Ry was employed with GCU, he could get a free education and my Masters was 50% off - a great deal, except that the other 50% was still too much for us to afford. With me as the employee, his Bachelors is still free, but now finishing my Masters is free as well.
3. Working for GCU allows me the opportunity to make connections within a prestigious University so that, God willing, they might help in acquiring an online teaching job in a few years. Such a position would allow me to work from home while giving me enough time (since the kids will then be in school), to go to PA school. There are a lot of ifs in here, but it's a long-term goal. Those'll be worked out as they come up.
There's probably more reasons that leaving home to work will be a good thing, but it's taken all of my effort to come up with these, so they'll have to suffice.
Looks like I'm thrilled about it, based on the exclamation points, but really that was more because my "catchy" title seemed to be incomplete without them. Actually, I'm a little on the fence about my feelings, and to be completely honest, leaning toward fear and loathing. I was hired as an Academic Counselor for Grand Canyon University's education department. Ryan's job, now, is to sell the University's online programs (not a hard sell, considering their reputation, but people will give any excuse to put off school), and he then gets them started and monitors their progress for their first eleven weeks. My job is to assist with anything they need in terms of setting up a schedule, problems with classes, etc. through to graduation. The job description is not the reason for my fear and loathing. Although I've only had a week of training, I feel confident enough in my ability to speak to people and to organize and work hard that I cannot see this job challenging me beyond my capabilities. I have that anxious twitter for the unexpected, but I'm not scared. The fear and loathing come in because my going back to work means I will no longer be able to spend every day with my beautiful children. Just writing these words, letting them out, is bringing tears to my eyes.
I really don't deserve to cry over such a thing. I have been so blessed. I haven't worked a full-time job since just before I delivered Brooklynn. When I worked part-time as a Reading Interventionist it wasn't until Brooklynn was a year and a half and even then it was only four hours a day. This is a full eight hours, plus lunch and a RIDICULOUS drive:
[Mapquest says it's 31 miles. According to them the drive is like 37 minutes. Apparently they don't account for rush hour congestion in huge metropolitan cities.]
I'm going to be gone for close to eleven hours from my children, every day! I can't imagine how that is going to feel. Ugh.
Okay, let me regroup.
Believe it or not, through all my ranting, there is much good in my going back to work. I'm sharing these things more for myself to reread if I need it than for any of you, so feel free to find another post with fun pictures. I won't be offended.
1. The reason I need to go to work and Ryan stay home is that real estate is picking up enough that he needs to devote more time to his clients (but not enough that we can be fully supported on his varying income). It's much easier to do this from home, especially with the occasional help from my mom. Anyway, my point is two-fold good: real estate is picking up, and RYAN will be home with the kids. They get time with their dad that most kids don't, and that's pretty cool - especially considering all the wonderful things Ryan has to offer as a daddy.
2. When Ry was employed with GCU, he could get a free education and my Masters was 50% off - a great deal, except that the other 50% was still too much for us to afford. With me as the employee, his Bachelors is still free, but now finishing my Masters is free as well.
3. Working for GCU allows me the opportunity to make connections within a prestigious University so that, God willing, they might help in acquiring an online teaching job in a few years. Such a position would allow me to work from home while giving me enough time (since the kids will then be in school), to go to PA school. There are a lot of ifs in here, but it's a long-term goal. Those'll be worked out as they come up.
There's probably more reasons that leaving home to work will be a good thing, but it's taken all of my effort to come up with these, so they'll have to suffice.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
We are faaaaa muh lee!
I realize I haven't blogged in a year. My house is chaos, currently. Still, I'm going to get back to trying, here and there. Be aware- there's no order here. My blog, like my life, is all over the place.
This particular entry is from July 11th.
Erin Lomeli is one of those family friends that's been there so long, and fits in so well, you forget she's not blood related. We're a very lucky group to have her as an honorary member of our family. She's one of the sweetest, most wonderful, giving, loving people that I know. Truly. I look up to her in many ways.
This entry is about her great idea. As a member of our family, she's at all family events - from holidays, to reunions, to random celebrations that just seem to pop up in a big family. She noticed, though, that the cousins never just get together and hang out. It's kinda strange just because we all get along so well, and we're all pretty close in age. Anyway, it was her idea to plan a cousins' night of wine, bbq, and poker. If you know my family, these things make a beautiful blend. We all had so much fun! It was neat to kind of switch things up in this way. I mean, I adore my aunts, but it was just a different dynamic having a family gathering without that generation. Kinda cool.
Here are just several of bookoo pictures from the night:
Erin, Teresa and Michelle
The Groseta boys - Stephen, Patrick and Tony
Katie and Eric Peters
Eric and his brother, Tim
Justin (lovin' picture-time) and Teresa
Poker!!
"the girls" of my family
Michelle and Ryan (I love how well Ryan fits in with Michelle and Daniel.)
Me and my love
Okay, for this one I said, "Give me a good laughing picture." Katie - Great! Teresa - not so much (as evaluated by Michelle's expression).
And here, Michelle got Teresa laughing for real when she did her "Teresa pretending to laugh" impression
Katie, Michelle and Teresa
Katie and Justin (I get the impression his expression was somehow making fun of me and my camera - rude!)
Teresa and Mickey - Kids just flock to this girl. She's so good with them.
The Peters Girls - Emma and Mary. A picture of innocence.
One of my favorites from the evening, Ryan with Mary.
I'll tell you. I know with my whole heart and soul that I do not have it in me to mother the six girls it took to bring about this family. My grandma, God rest her soul, had seven girls in ten years. Her third, Kathy, died at the age of two. Between the other six, Lucy, Terri, Francie, MaryBeth, Barbara and Anne (my mom) there were 16 grandkids. Between the 16 of us, there have been added: 8 spouses (and one more soon - hooray for Teresa and Billy!) and 15 great grandchildren. And, my cousin's daughter, Melissa (one of the greats) will be the first to start the next generation, with a little girl. Her baby shower is this Saturday.
I think, sometimes, about Grandma looking down and smiling at all of us. I don't know how she had the strength within her to be all that it takes to be even the mother of one - to seven, but I am glad God gave her the grace. It has been such a wonderful gift in my life to be blessed with such a big family.
This particular entry is from July 11th.
Erin Lomeli is one of those family friends that's been there so long, and fits in so well, you forget she's not blood related. We're a very lucky group to have her as an honorary member of our family. She's one of the sweetest, most wonderful, giving, loving people that I know. Truly. I look up to her in many ways.
This entry is about her great idea. As a member of our family, she's at all family events - from holidays, to reunions, to random celebrations that just seem to pop up in a big family. She noticed, though, that the cousins never just get together and hang out. It's kinda strange just because we all get along so well, and we're all pretty close in age. Anyway, it was her idea to plan a cousins' night of wine, bbq, and poker. If you know my family, these things make a beautiful blend. We all had so much fun! It was neat to kind of switch things up in this way. I mean, I adore my aunts, but it was just a different dynamic having a family gathering without that generation. Kinda cool.
Here are just several of bookoo pictures from the night:
Erin, Teresa and Michelle
The Groseta boys - Stephen, Patrick and Tony
Katie and Eric Peters
Eric and his brother, Tim
Justin (lovin' picture-time) and Teresa
Poker!!
"the girls" of my family
Michelle and Ryan (I love how well Ryan fits in with Michelle and Daniel.)
Me and my love
Okay, for this one I said, "Give me a good laughing picture." Katie - Great! Teresa - not so much (as evaluated by Michelle's expression).
And here, Michelle got Teresa laughing for real when she did her "Teresa pretending to laugh" impression
Katie, Michelle and Teresa
Katie and Justin (I get the impression his expression was somehow making fun of me and my camera - rude!)
Teresa and Mickey - Kids just flock to this girl. She's so good with them.
The Peters Girls - Emma and Mary. A picture of innocence. 
One of my favorites from the evening, Ryan with Mary. I'll tell you. I know with my whole heart and soul that I do not have it in me to mother the six girls it took to bring about this family. My grandma, God rest her soul, had seven girls in ten years. Her third, Kathy, died at the age of two. Between the other six, Lucy, Terri, Francie, MaryBeth, Barbara and Anne (my mom) there were 16 grandkids. Between the 16 of us, there have been added: 8 spouses (and one more soon - hooray for Teresa and Billy!) and 15 great grandchildren. And, my cousin's daughter, Melissa (one of the greats) will be the first to start the next generation, with a little girl. Her baby shower is this Saturday.
I think, sometimes, about Grandma looking down and smiling at all of us. I don't know how she had the strength within her to be all that it takes to be even the mother of one - to seven, but I am glad God gave her the grace. It has been such a wonderful gift in my life to be blessed with such a big family.
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