Anderson/Hatgidakis/Nelson/Metcalf: Newsletter

Old news: April 2002

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Amanda
4/30/2002
I love the cat/dog thing! Good forward Lori! Also, what levels in the signing thing? I never went to levels, they just kept giving me more & more weird words til I quit! By the way, I went to UNO yesterday, a little overwhelming! A lot bigger campus than good ol BU... Wish me luck on that ordeal!


Karen
4/30/2002
Done celebrating Erika's birthday - four parties - are too many!! Her Harry Potter party was fun, had five girls come. Got lots of nice gifts. Went to Wausa on Sunday and celebrated there. Yesterday we all went out for lunch at her favorite restaurant and had her fourth cake. Today she asked if I could make her a "special" birthday dinner tonight, because she hadn't had one yet! I don't think so... Rainy day here today and much cooler, yesterday was warm. Emily, Erika and I all had the day off, no snow days this year so we got an extra day off.


Erika
4/29/2002
Donna,
I celebrated my Birthday 4 times my favorit by far was when we went to hotel Fort DESMOINES!!!!!!!!!


Erika
4/29/2002
Donna,
You wanted to know how I did well I did STINKY!!!!
Emily on the other hand got to the 5th level!!!!!
I guess thats ok.


John, Marsha, Sam, Zach, and Anna
4/29/2002
Happy Birthday Erika! You really know how to stretch out the parties!!! How was the Harry Potter Party? What did you do? Did anybody turn into a cat? Have a great new year!


Gary
4/29/2002
Sorry about the slow updates to this page today. I'm in meetings all day today, this evening, and tomorrow. Not really as bad as that sounds (they're kinda fun), but I'm not near the computer at all. But anyway, new stuff might not show up again until tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) - including some great new Teghan pics from Amanda! Stay tuned!


Donna
4/29/2002
The cool site today (I assume in honor of Erika's birthday) is hard. I tried to take the quiz. I couldn't figure out any of the words. So, Erika, Emily, Sam how did you do?


Donna
4/29/2002
Happy Birthday Erika! So how many times did you actually celebrate your birthday?


Ryan, Amanda, Tristen, Teghan, Sasha & Zoe
4/28/2002
Happy Birthday Erika!


Paul, Lori, Lindsey, Olivia, and Ceaser
4/28/2002
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIKA!
(RUFF RUFF BOW WOW)ceaser


Grandma
4/28/2002
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ERIKA. Hope your party was fun.


Lindsey
4/27/2002
I'll cross my fingers for him!
If any of you know about Lisa (left eye) Lopez from TLC, if you didn't already know, she just died in a car crash in Honduras on a vacation. Pretty sad. I used to listen to them but actually now that they weren't together I didn't really so on MTV and stuff they have been doing specials on her. Too bad especially after Aaliya recently passed away. Well talk to you guys l8ta bye!


Amanda
4/27/2002
Well, we finally got the rain. How is the weather everywhere else? Ryan is leaving today, packing as I type. Probably a 30 dayer... This should be his last trip for awhile, as he got a different type of job in the squadron, not as much with the aircraft, which means a normal persons schedule! We'll see, cross your fingers... Not a whole lot new here, same old same old. Just thought I'd say a little hello, since it had been a few days for anyone.


Marsha
4/24/2002
Hey Lindsey, you brought up Duluth and that reminded me to tell you about the causeway that leads out to the lighthouse in Duluth. Do you remember walking on the long pathway to the lighthouse in Duluth? There was a big storm this winter and it took out a great deal of the causeway and now barges are bringing in rocks to rebuild it. That lake can be wicked! Sam and Anna are going in to work with John for Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Everything is sure getting green here, but it's just a little cool. I raked up 6 bags of leaves from the front garden, I still need to plant Brent's canna bulbs and put out some grass seed.


Lindsey
4/24/2002
I like the Des Moines photos. Tristen is in all of them but one of course.


Amanda
4/23/2002
That pool photo looks just like the postcard, other than the stroller and the strange people in the pool.....:)


Gary
4/23/2002
Hey, I updated the "Complete Who Am I" page with the answers from our latest game. You can get there from either the Birthdays or Christmas pages.


Gary
4/23/2002
Don't miss Amanda and Ryan's new Des Moines pictures on the recent photos page.


Lindsey
4/23/2002
Well, if we do go somewhere next year, I am definitely going! I am so bummed that I missed it after seeing the tape Gary recorded. Well, if we do go somewhere next year (and this is a long way off) I think we should go to Duluth again but when the sun is shining I really liked going there. I thought it was a lot of fun!


Karen
4/23/2002
What a great week-end! We all enjoyed it! After we left the Botanical Garden we went to Borders and got some coffee and Erika spent part of her birthday money on a book. Picked up a few hamburgers and headed home. I drove everyone else slept, got home about 3:00. It was hard to go back to school and work yesterday. Need to be thinking about another trip next year.......


Donna
4/23/2002
I couldn't get the cat dance to come up either. But if you do a search for "cat dance" or "groovy cat" and select ecards, the card will come up. This is really funny, but funnier when you see Tristen imitating it.


Marsha
4/22/2002
What a fun weekend--it was great to see everybody, especially little Teghan, what a cutie! She sure was a good traveler. Sorry I missed seeing Tristen's Of Course I'm a Horse performance, Sam has been telling me how good it was. Hey, Mom, we didn't go back inside the botanical garden in Des Moines to buy a plant. Darn. Our car was full of sleepers most of the way home. We didn't hit any bad weather all the way home till we got to the outer suburbs of Mpls. and came home to 6.6 inches of snow. It all melted today though and they are saying we will possibly have more snow on Friday. I'm so glad we got to hang out with Emily and Erika too! Erika, keep on celebrating that birthday of yours, you can easily stretch it out to a couple of weeks. It was tough to go to school and work today, one more day of rest would have been nice. Can't wait to see the pictures Ryan and Gary and John were taking. Sunny was glad to see us, although I think he really liked staying with his dog buddies. We couldn't get the Hallmark Cat Dance.

The "Cat Dance" thing is an e-card on the Hallmark site that requires you to have the "Flash" plug-in to see it (which can be downloaded for free). Tristen sent me that card a while back, and she is an expert at imitating the dance. I did see the "I'm a Horse" dance, but unfortunately did not get it on tape... You had to be there.... :-) --Gary


Lindsey
4/22/2002
Sorry we weren't there, sounded like a lot of fun. Really wish I coulda came.


Gary
4/22/2002
Great weekend, everybody. Lots of fun! It looks like Minneapolis didn't get a huge amount of snow, so I hope the drive home wasn't too awful. Thanks to everyone for letting me try out the video camera on you; it worked fine, and I got some good stuff -- including Tristen doing the Hallmark Cat dance. :-)


Donna
4/22/2002
Hey Gary, I can't open the cool site of the day. What is it?

Dang, I made a typo on the front page. Sorry about that. Today's cool site is the Age Gauge -- type in your (or anybody's) birthdate and see some interesting facts. --Gary

I thought this weekend was a lot of fun. It went by too fast though. It was great seeing everybody. I can't wait to see all the pictures.


Grandma
4/22/2002
Home again, what a fast weekend this was. I really enjoyed the whole time, we missed you guys who weren't there, but it was nice to see everyone who was. We filled up 5 rooms to say nothing of restaurant tables. Good food and good company. I vote for Erika and Tristen for having the Best time!! I don't think they had a dull moment. Great swimming, Erika! Next time Tristen will join you in the pool. Too bad every one had to go back to work today.


Marsha
4/19/2002
We are so excited to be seeing everybody tomorrow! Our cell number is 612-419-4608. Sorry we won't see you Lindsey (or the rest of your family!) we will miss you!
Who is watching Penny or does she do alright on her own?

Happy Birthday Webpage....what a fun time we have had with it!


Lindsey
4/19/2002
Happy Birthday webpage!

I really hope you guys have fun on the Des Moines trip. I will miss seeing everybody and especially Tristen and Teghan. I will have to come see you guys soon at your house. Well, I g2g bye!
~Lindsey~


Amanda
4/19/2002
Our cell, which we will have is 402-305-4091. Can't wait! And SO glad we have the shortest!!!


Grandma
4/19/2002
Well, Happy Birthday to the web page, already 2 years??

Amanda, I believe there will be plenty of willing carriers for Teghan if you don't have room for the stroller, I plan to do mostly sitting and eating. See you all tomorrow!!


Gary
4/19/2002
Anybody curious about tomorrow's mileage? Just for fun I went to Mapblast and plotted in our routes, from everyone's front steps to the Hickory Park parking lot. From Grandma's house (our point of departure) the distance is 218 miles; from the Metcalf house, 176 miles; from the Nelson house, 234 miles; and from the Hatgidakis house, 214 miles. (The distance from Lincoln and Offut will be slightly longer as the route didn't figure in the 680 loop we take.) Anyway, this really is nearly equal distances for everybody. Just thought that was interesting.


Karen
4/19/2002
Happy Birthday webpage!

Getting ready to take off tomorrow -- Erika is very excited! Thought I would send my cell phone # and I'll keep it on tomorrow morning -- just in case -- (712) 259-5176 -- give us a call if need :)


Gary
4/19/2002
A quick heads-up if any of you are contemplating buying the "Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter" DVDs: If you go to Deep Discount DVD you can pre-order them (and lots of other titles too, of course) at prices which are the cheapest I've seen anywhere -- $17.89 each. And shipping is always free there. I have ordered several DVDs from this place, and they are very reliable and very fast. Just FYI!


Amanda
4/18/2002
We are getting excited as well (just wish it was longer!). Who knew Des Moines could make anyone excited? :) Ryan would like some bulbs, again, ONLY if you have room. We are a little worried about room ourselves in the car. The stinkin' stroller takes up pertennear the whole trunk. Think we will need it? Anywhere we will go that will require lots of walking?? Anyhoo, tomorrow is Friday, now that I work, Fridays mean something again! See you all soon!


Grandma
4/18/2002
All these plans are making me excited to see you all. Glad the Nelson's are joining us for lunch and hey Erika, you are throwing SOME party!! I hope the wind stops blowing and I am waiting for a cool front. I would like a few canna bulbs too, if you have space. See you in a couple days.


Erika
4/18/2002
Hi Donna, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT forget my present!! If you think you are going to forget it, put it in the car now or tie it around your neck and keep it there!!!!! See you on Saturday, bye


Marsha
4/18/2002
Hey, good decision to come for lunch, Nelsons! We are glad you will be there. I'd like some of Brent's canna bulbs.


Donna
4/18/2002
Karen, glad to hear you will be at Hickory Park for lunch. That will be fun. Have you ever been there before? And it will be fun to celebrate Erika's birthday too. I sure hope I don't forget to bring her present! See you Saturday!


Gary
4/18/2002
Excellent! See you at Hickory Park. It's easy to find: From Interstate 35, go west on the Highway 30 (Ames) exit; in about two miles go north on Highway 69 (or South Duffy Avenue); and Hickory Park is just a few blocks away on the right. Here's a map you can print out, with a red cross on Hickory Park.

Also, click here for directions from Hickory Park to the hotel in Des Moines. Click on the blue "Print" button for a nicely formatted sheet you can print out.


Karen
4/18/2002
After some consideration (and looking at the menu) we have decided to go to Hickory Park for lunch. We will try to be there at 1:00. I am off for the rest of the week - Lutheran teachers convention in Minneapolis, so no school. Probably a good thing Hatgidakis's are leaving town - it may get pretty wild with all of the Lutherans in town! Emily and Erika get out of school two hours early today for a teacher inservice. Brent has a ton of canna bulbs - if anyone is interested in some let me know and I will bring them with me this week-end.


Amanda
4/17/2002
Looks right to me! Can't wait!

We'll be there as close to 10:30 as possible. --Gary


Amanda
4/17/2002
OK, go all the way on 680 North til you are almost into Iowa. You will see the 30th street exit. Take that exit and when you come off of it take a right turn. You will see a restaraunt or something right off the exit to the left, go to that parking lot. We will try to get there a little early, since I can't think of the name of the place, that way we can watch out for you & we will begin the Nebraska caravan then (this will be right on your way, and not out of the way for us). Let me know what time you are thinking. It is about 2 hours from Omaha, so 10:30-11ish?? Let's try for a firm time, so neither of us has to wait on the others. Oh, and lock your doors, it's a nice neighborhood.

Right about here? --Gary


Lindsey
4/16/2002
Sorry we can't come! I really wish we could.
Bye!


Amanda
4/15/2002
1 sounds good to us on Saturday. Tristen probably will miss swimming though (1030). Gary~ What way do you guys normally go through Omaha to go that way? 80 to 680 into Iowa? IF so, we can figure something out for somewhere right off 680 and about the 30th street exit, which is almost to Iowa. Let me know if 680 is what you take and we can go from there.

Yup... 680 is how we go. --Gary


Marsha
4/15/2002
One o'clock at the Hickory Pitt Park sounds just fine to us. Look for the silver minivan in the parking lot - we were running out of lease time on the Intrepid and so we got a new Dodge Caravan Sport. I always resisted minivans but I LOVE this car!! The view all the way around is great and it is shorter than the Intrepid was. I'm hooked. Can't wait to see y'all and I'm really looking forward to Karen's cake. Tristen's birthday bash sounded like a blast...that one-eyed pinata was awesome looking. Are you still finding candy scattered around?


Gary
4/15/2002
OK, plans: Amanda/Ryan, do you have any thoughts on a convenient place to meet to form up the wagon train for Des Moines? Or should we just drive to your place and leave from there?

As for Hickory PARK, does 1 pm sound like a good time to shoot for? ...Doesn't really matter what we say, however, because half of us WILL have to wait in the parking lot for the other half. :-) Bring a book, everybody!


Amanda
4/15/2002
What are you going to Kearney for?? And I ain't makin 2 trips, I'll see you guys before the summer, just wish you could go. Had to turn on the AC today, just too hot and windy! Work went well today and Tristen & Teghan had a good day with their friend Peyton.... Let's get some plans moving around on here.


Lindsey
4/15/2002
We can't come to Des Moines because we are going to Kearny ~ sorry guys guess we will just have to have another visit soon. This summer? Maybe?


Karen
4/15/2002
Looks like Tristen had a fun party. Erika is planning her birthday party - going with a Harry Potter theme, inviting 7 girls. Also plan to celebrate her birthday with the family while we are in Des Moines. I'll bring a cake. Not sure what everyone else's plans are to do in Des Moines, but there is a very nice Botanical Garden close by. Tristen, there is a great pool in that hotel (Erika will be there too). It's on the top floor and a great view of the city from there. Hot here today, 86 degrees on my way home from preschool, had the kids outside most of the morning, easy day!


Grandma
4/15/2002
I had a whole weekend of birthday fun. Thanks for inviting me to your neat party, Tristen. The stop at Mahoney Park by the Platte was really fun, you know how we love the Lied Arbor Day Farm but this might give it some stiff competition. Had a great supper and the atmosphere couldn't be beat. Seeing the deer was a treat too. I need to recuperate before next weekend, am really looking forward to it. Seems like it crept up suddenly. Been planting this morning, that is a bigger job than I am used to so now I will need a break for the rest of the day. My peas and radishes are up nicely, I suppose the rabbits want them to be in the next stage before they nip 'em off. Had the oaks in front of the house trimmed up yesterday, I can notice the difference and when they leaf out, I hope to see more. Too warm for me, may hit 90 this p.m.


Amanda
4/14/2002
Thanks to everyone for coming to Tristen's party. She had a great time. We rented some movies that night & she crashed early. Beating Mike was hard work she said. Today we got up and went to IHOP, her choice, and as she told my mom later in the day, "my mom isnt a fan of IHOP," that statement rings very true since both Ryan & I got sick afterwards. Then this afternoon we went on a picnic at the Base Lake with our friends the Matusiks, and Sasha walked right into the lake (can you believe it dad??). Then we grilled out tonight and Tristen got to play outside the whole night. She had a GREAT birthday weekend. Sean & Grandma, Tristen bought something with her money from you guys, she got a swimsuit tonight. A Barbie one... SO, on to the next weekend. What is the plan? What time at Hickory PITT? (That way we can plan to meet up with Gary & them in Omaha to follow them, you take 680 North right?? Tell me what you take through/around Omaha, and we can figure out the best place to meet) And what will we do in Des Moines? Hanging in a hotel actually sounds nice to me, just visiting, and I want to take Tristen to the pool, get her used to it... DAD, LORI, LINZ, LIVY~ ARE YOU SURE YOU CANT COME????????????? Anywhooo, be talking to everyone soon! Thanks again everyone.


Paul and Lori
4/14/2002
Happy Birthday Tristen, Thanks for the party.


Olivia Nicole Anderson!
4/14/2002
Happy birthday Tristen!!!!!!!!!


Olivia Nicole Anderson!
4/14/2002
Happy birthday Grandma!!!!!!!!!!


Gary
4/14/2002
A great party at Tristen's house yesterday -- we all had a good time! (Check the recent photos page for some pictures.) On the way home, Grandma, Donna and I stopped at Mahoney State Park (about 20 miles outside of Lincoln) and had a fine meal at the lodge there. After we ate, we went out on the deck overlooking the Platte River. It was just before sunset, and a small herd of nine or ten deer slowly walked past us about thirty yards away, then into the trees. A very nice day!


The Hatgidakis'
4/13/2002
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRISTEN!!!!


The Nelsons
4/13/2002
Happy 5th Birthday Tristen!!


Ryan, Amanda, Teghan, Sasha & Zoe
4/13/2002
Happy Birthday Tristen!!!!!


Grandma
4/13/2002
Thanks to everyone for the birthday greetings!! I had a great day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRISTEN


Gary
4/12/2002
See the photo page for some pictures of Tristen's haircut. Thanks, Amanda!


Amanda
4/12/2002
Emily is on a roll! Grandma did slip a bit... But it's her birthday, she deserves a break, lighten up Dizzy...


Gary
4/12/2002
Way to go, Emily (and everyone else too) on the latest "Who Am I." Almost everybody said this one was harder than the others, yet the scores were higher than ever. Except that former-champion Grandma slipped a little.... She didn't know I was "Dizzy"??? She was right in the movie theater when they hauled me out of there on a gurney! :-) Happy birthday, by the way!


Amanda
4/12/2002
Bobanotes is actually vayamos (Tristen just can't get the pronunciation down), the spanish term for let's go. It is on Dora the Explorer, a fairly new Nick Jr. show that teaches a bit of Spanish. "Bobanotes" is in a song they sing, numerous times I might add, and we find ourselves singing throughout the house, "come on bobanotes...."


Amanda
4/12/2002
Oh, ROCK ISLAND!!!


Amanda
4/12/2002
We should be there....


Karen
4/11/2002
So, is Amanda coming to Des Moines now?


Amanda
4/11/2002
I guess we need directions to the Hickory Pitt? We dont know much about it...

Actually, it's Hickory Park, and on their website you can find maps and a menu! (And don't miss the dessert menu!) But the main thing to know about this place is: Arrive Hungry. :-) --Gary


John, Marsha, Zachary, Samantha, Anna, Sunny & Rainbow
4/11/2002
HAPPY BIRTHDAY :)


Lindsey
4/11/2002
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!!!


Karen
4/11/2002
Nice rainy day here, everything is getting green. Looking forward to the Des Moines trip - don't think we'll make it to the Hickory Pitt, but we'll be at the hotel by 3. Sorry to hear that not everyone is going to make it. Amanda - don't worry about Tristen needing to take her swimming lessons over - both Emily and Erika were in the same class for a few times. In fact, Erika is taking swimming lessons at her school now. I was a little concerned yesterday when she told me the teacher made her keep her head under the water for "10 minutes." Anxious to see how everyone did on the Who Am I? I thought it was much harder this time.


Brent, Karen, Emily and Erika
4/11/2002
HAPPY BIRTHDAY :)


Donna
4/11/2002
Happy Birthday, Mom!!!


Ryan, Amanda, Tristen, & Teghan
4/11/2002
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!!!


Gary
4/10/2002
If you haven't made your "Who Am I" picks yet, you've only got today and tomorrow left! The results will go up on the webpage on Friday. So far we have heard from: Amanda & Ryan, Donna, Emily, Erika, Grandma, John, Karen, Lindsey, Samantha, and Sean. If your name isn't there, you have only two more days to get in!


Gary
4/9/2002
It's that time of year again! No, not spring cleaning; I mean it's time to reserve this year's Husker football tickets. If anyone wants to buy my season tickets, let me know soon (within the next week); if not, I can sell them to someone where I work. The price this year for two season tickets -- which is 8 home games: Arizona State, Troy State, Utah State, McNeese State(??), Missouri, Texas, Kansas (Homecoming), and Colorado -- is $568. So if $568 sounds like a good deal for sitting out in the open on a wooden bench in a crowd of 50,000 screaming people for three too-hot and five too-cold afternoons, just let me know. I would have to have the money by May 3.


Donna
4/9/2002
Emily, keep your room clean so you will know what's going on. I'd like to know what Bobanotes are too. I'm submitting my answers today, but don't think I did so well.


Emily
4/8/2002
Hi Everybody! I thought the Who Am I was pretty hard, but I am now very confidient (I think I spelled that wrong, we need spell check on here) with my answers. But what is Bobanotes??? Anyway Gary, I had a suggestion for the next Who Am I. Maybe you could have one of the questions be a bonus question, and chose 1 or 2 of them and ask who said it kinda like the tie-breakers on Oscars.

Good idea! --Gary

Speaking of Oscars, I CAN'T BELIEVE I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have said something sooner but I couldn't get on the computer until I cleaned my room. Will I be getting my prize in Des Moines??? Well I gotta go. BYE 8)

So that's why we hadn't heard from you in so long! :-) Yes, the award ceremony will take place this year in the beautiful Hotel Fort Des Moines ("Cutting edge comfort, convenience, and service for over 80 years"), so everyone be sure to bring your tuxedos or evening gowns. --Gary


Donna
4/8/2002
I just wanted to tell everybody that I am eating a great lunch today. Homemade pita bread from Ideal, sliced roasted chicken (from Sams), slice of cheese, mixed greens and Italian dressing. It is so good. You may be wondering if I'm the one in the Who am I that said "I made my own sandwich."
Also, I'd like to know who here has ever lived on an island. Some were really hard on the Who Am I this time.

Whoever it was, don't tell yet! --Gary

Anna, I'll see you at The Hickory Pitt. You must have dessert this time! How is it possible that you have never tried any of the sundaes? Rookie mistake. I'll be sure to give you some pointers. I can see the back page of the placemat/menu now...


Gary
4/8/2002
For those of you who haven't made your "Who Am I" picks yet, please do so by Thursday night. I'll put the results up first thing Friday morning. So far Erika, Amanda & Ryan, John, Karen, Emily, Lindsey, and Samantha are on board. Good luck!


Amanda
4/8/2002
Ryan left this morning, I heard his jet take off at about 8. That's what is not so great about living so close to the flightline in spring, you can hear EVERYTHING when you have the windows open. I couldn't see it though, it is that foggy, but it feels GREAT outside! (Hey Gary, are we talking enough for you now??? :) :) )

That's more like it! :-) --Gary


Amanda
4/7/2002
The weather has been misty/rainy all day. Feels like spring! Sure will make the grass green up quick. And Wednesday is supposed to be nice! The day I start work of course. I will be working full time. 7:30-4:30 M-F. Now we are a little mad we had to cancel on the Des Moines trip, now it looks like Ryan will be home for Tristen's birthday & the next weekend. That is the military, hurry up and wait.... Can't make a plan to save our lives! Anyhow.. Look for pictures of Tristen's hair soon, we kind of forgot!!!!


Marsha
4/7/2002
The Minnesota Gophers are the National Hockey Champs after defeating Maine last night 4 to 3 in overtime in a very exciting game which happened to be in St. Paul this year. A Maine player named Metcalf gave the Gophers lots of trouble, but they finally won out - any relation Ryan? A Gopher also won the Hobey Baker award (the Heisman for Hockey) so this is a good day for all the Hockey lovers in Minn. The Who Am I game is hard and will take some time to work on. I think I should have 4 right. I thought maybe we could meet on Sat. the 20th at the Hickory Pitt in Ames at 11 or 12, since we can't be in the hotel in Des Moines till 3. Let me know what you think. Sorry that the Metcalfs can't make it. How did Tristen's hair come out? Congrats on your new job Amanda. Is it full or part time? We finally got some warm weather, about 60 today and Monday's snow is gone. We are so ready for spring. The girls go back to school tomorrow after spring break.


Amanda
4/7/2002
The Who Am I? game was a little difficult. A few people stuck out like sore thumbs, but that makes the game even more fun. I can't wait to see how good we did. Ryan leaves tomorrow morning, just here in the US & should be home by Tristen's birthday. I start a new job on Wednesday, at a bank here in Omaha, Great Western Bank as a Special Instruction clerk, dealing with stop pay items and such. I hope it works out. I'm doing it to get out & do something. Make a little extra spending money, and they do tuition reimbursment. But I am nervous, I didn't go back to work with Tristen until she was 10 months old, so Teghan is younger. They will be going to a friend of ours house that is about 3 houses down. Tristen is excited for that. She is also excited for her birthday, we got some stuff for her party & ordered a cake, Monsters Inc. On Tuesday we go to her school for kindergarted roundup, and she also has her physical for school that day. I can't believe she will be 5! She finished her first set of swimming lessons, BUT will have to take that class over again, since she never got her hair wet even after the first time. But she is in the water now, so that is an accomplishment. Teghan is doing well, talking lots and just starting to laugh. She won't lay on her stomach and try to roll over, she hates her stomach. She will be sitting up before she rolls over. The colic is gone, she couldn't be a better baby. Eating lots, and has some CHUBBY cheeks. That is about all we know, just wanted to say something, since no one has for like 4 days!


Lindsey
4/7/2002
Well, for me anyway I thought the "Who Am I" was challenging in a way. Some were easy and Tristen was one of the harder ones for a change. Lots of the nick names probably threw me off and then the smells didn't help at all. Hey Gary, if you do another one then maybe I can think of some questions for you. Bye!


Gary
4/5/2002
Man, this new "Who Am I" has really shut people up! Not a peep out of anybody for almost two days! :-)


Gary
4/5/2002
For you "Lord of the Rings" fans out there, here's the latest on the upcoming DVDs. On August 6th, a 2-DVD set will be released with the film itself on one disc and over two hours of additional stuff on the other -- including a 10-minute preview of "The Two Towers," some interviews, Enya's music video, and two programs that have already appeared on TV (the FOX special and the SCI-FI channel special). Then on November 12, the "special extended edition" comes out -- a 4-DVD set. Two of the DVDs will carry the extra stuff, which is everything mentioned above plus some other as-yet-unannounced stuff. The other two DVDs will carry the movie itself, with approximately 30 minutes of new footage. This footage includes: a new addition to the opening sequence in which Bilbo provides some background on Hobbits and their history; a new introduction to Sam, seen in his garden element; a scene in the Green Dragon Inn in the Shire, giving us more details about Hobbits; the Hobbits on their way to Bree witnessing some Elves heading west to the Grey Havens; a few scenes with Aragorn filling us in on his early life and history; a longer scene showing the Fellowship departing Rivendell; a scene in Moria in which we learn more about the Dwarves history and how they unleashed the Balrog; a longer departure scene in Lothlorien; and more footage of the battle with the orcs at Amon Hen -- slightly more violent that the original version, giving this DVD set an R-rating. And then "The Two Towers" will be in the theaters about a month later. Can't wait! :-)


Samantha
4/3/2002
Hey Gary, I see you have my floor for the wallpaper today!!

Yeah, thanks! You can have it back tomorrow. :-) --Gary


Donna
4/3/2002
Hey Tristen, how do you like your new haircut? Can't wait to see some pictures. I bet it looks beautiful!


Paul
4/2/2002
Oh I see, Tristen cut her OWN hair HERSELF. Now I see why you have to repair the damage.


Lindsey
4/2/2002
Yes I am going to a concert (must be spoiled) lol
Can't wait to see Tristen's hair
Bye!


Gary
4/2/2002
For this coming week, the Cool Sites are all garden-related, and were sent in by John. Thanks, John!


Amanda
4/1/2002
You get to go to a concert right after you got suspended??? Tristen cut her own hair tonight, for real... Sadly, no April Fools joke here... Check back soon for Tristen with short hair pix, as I am taking her tomorrow to repair the damage...


Lindsey
4/1/2002
Hey everybody, I'm going to a concert. Some people may not know him but his name is Nelly. Truly this is happening on April 12. My friend asked me to go and their buying the tickets tomorrow. He is touring and he is showing at Pershing Auditorium. Well, Happy April to All! Bye!


Lindsey
4/1/2002
I really did get suspended but only for a week. Coincidently, on April fool's day! I couldn't believe it myself but...you know how they say "it could happen?" Well, IT DID!

But believe me I'm a good student, honest I am! Really! Really! ;)


Paul
4/1/2002
Wow, what a freaky day. Can't wait to see Tristen with big red hair. Is Teghan going to walk to our house tomorrow? If she does, Linz will be home, she was suspended from school today! Reasons confidential.


Gary
4/1/2002
And I'm going to Rome!!


Donna
4/1/2002
I'm ready for the trip to Disneyworld because I just got a huge raise. Yahoo!


Tristen
4/1/2002
Well I was taking a shower, a long one, and washed my hair with cherry blast and it turned red! Really it did. And Teghan started walking today too! This is not a joke. And I signed my dad's cast already. And face on Nick Jr. had a mustache.


Grandma
4/1/2002
What a day for freak accidents!! Sorry about your arm, Ryan. Kind of messed up your typing or maybe a head injury too? I, myself, had a strange thing happen. I was snacking on pretzels earlier this a.m. when I choked and blacked out for a few minutes. Luckily Penny was inside and was somehow able to revive me. I am fine now and would be available for the Disneyland trip.


Karen
4/1/2002
Nice try Amanda (and Ryan), you had us for about 1 minute. Now that Ryan has a broken arm I think we should take him with us on our free trip to Disney World!


Amanda
4/1/2002
The website that was created for Teghan after she was born is only going to be active for 4 more days.If you want to check it out one last time do it by 4/4. Try to add a message because I am going to print it out for her & put it in her keepsake box!


Ryan
4/1/2002
NO I RALLY DID BRAKE MY ARM. ME RIGHT 1. SORRY MY TYPING IS WORDE NOW.. NO TRIPS FOR AWILE NOW THATS GOOD.


Gary
4/1/2002
Gee, sorry to hear about Ryan's arm. I'm sure he'll feel better tomorrow, though, on April 2nd.

The "Who Am I" answers are looking interesting, and this should be a fun guessing-game this time. I plan to put the profiles up on Friday, so if you remaining five want in (that's Brent, Donna, Lori, Olivia, and Zach), get your answers in by Thursday at the latest!


Amanda
4/1/2002
Did you hear? Ryan was moving some things around on the ledge in our living room (the one at the end of the room that is about 20 feet from the ground)and he fell off and ended up breaking his arm! We were at the hospital for about 4 hours!!! He is doing OK now though...


Amanda
4/1/2002
Hey, here is an idea for a twist to the NEXT Who Am I? game... Who WAS I? Things from the past maybe..... Just an idea...