Hey everybody,
Dee's wedding is fast approaching (June 2nd for those who haven't marked their calendars yet). That means there may be a time that the Brown/McKay/Butler/Hendershot family can all get together. I just talked to Traci and she's planning on being in PDX on May 31 and staying in the area until June 8. Between those dates, the only days I'm working are the 4th and 5th from 7am-3pm.
I was looking for a calendar that would allow us to fill-in our schedules so we could have a centralized reference but it turns out, the answer is, I'm not that smart. So, I will be sending out an email with my summer calendar.
My love to everybody,
Shelly
Friday, April 13, 2012
Monday, October 3, 2011
Hey guys, it's me. I have a lot of pictures on Facebook, Dave has even more, but here is an update for the things that we have been doing.
- I'm learning how to play tennis, which is great, especially because as a kid I never felt like I was very athletic, it has been the joy of my adult life to realize that I actually really do love being outside and playing sports. I remember going to Snohomish High at night with Cliff and Jen, I think Eloria might have played on the field(?) while we ran around the track, that was maybe one of my first tastes of a really satisfying part of my life and a really happy memory.
The other benefit of learning to play tennis is that I'm also multitasking, my tennis teacher speaks only Spanish, so I have learned; brazos, manos, fuerte, arriba (which is up, not fast, as I was lead to believe by a certain cartoon mouse), atras, mas cerca, y exelente! I am also teaching kids yoga at my house with a friend of mine that is a certified yoga instructor. Outside of an unfortunate face plant a little girl took while trying to do crow, it's gone pretty well. Dad, thanks for the background in self hypnosis, it's really helping me with guided meditation during avasana, since I just learned that was a word, I'll tell you it's the time at the end of class where you lay down and I always fall asleep, which it turns out is not as good to do when you are the teacher.
The kids are doing really well, Maggie is starting speach therapy next week - I don't like it. They are trying to fix what I find super amusing. Abe is having fun in cub scouts and getting really into watching football- his Dad is very proud. Vivian is starting a mosaic class that is offered through her school, which will be a wonderful diversion from her almost constant state of reading. Simon just said Mamamamamamamamamamamamamama - I assume he means me. I'm telling myself it's taking him so long to speak because after his first year we switched languages on him. He looks at all of us with a healthy dose of skeptisism. I think once I put him to bed he does the same thing every night (Pinky) - tries to take over the WORLD!!!!
Dave was on a women's talk show, Mujer a Mujer (Woman to Woman), the video won't load onto this blog, but Dave looks about how you would expect Dave to look on a woman's talk show- super uncomfortable. NIV (non-immagrant visas) has been a great opportunity for Dave to learn a lot about our countries immigration practices, it's really interesting stuff. For instance, did you know that roughly fifty percent of illegal immigrants did not cross the border illegally? They are approved for a travel visa (non immigrant visa) and then they overstay - indefinitely. It makes people like Dave have to guess based on a two minute converstaion whether or not someone is likely to overstay (or jump) their visa. It's a stressful job, Dave sees a lot of people in a day, but it is interesting to see the other side of so many ongoing arguments in an election year. Looking at immigration up close (I have heard from my staunchly liberal friends) will turn anyone into a republican - on the flip side, getting an up close and personal look at Foriegn Aid (it does work, really, if for no other reason than we need alternative kinds of pressure to persuade others toward our goals besides our fists) will turn anyone into a democrat.
One more little political blip, I cannot tell you all the deep loathing I have for Rick Perry and the eventual satisfaction that was mine when he plainly became a bare ass. Not only has he barely even tried to hide the fact that he was a candidate for people who don't like mormons - he came out a couple of weeks ago to say that he did not believe Foreign Service Officers were working in America's best interest. This was right before his "debating is as easy as one, two.....I'll get back to you" debacle. That moment, my children's laughter, sunshine on my shoulders... it's the little things, you know?
El Salvador is also the Central American hub for USAID, so we live and mingle with quite a few bleeding heart, former peace corps types. It's interesting because when I lived in the States Foreign Aid seemed like a stupid waste of money. Now I think sometimes it's a stupid waste of money, but most of the time it is an imperative bargaining tool for our national security. I may have gotten way more liberal about foriegn Aid ( and I also now think Hillary Clinton is kind of the bomb), but I have also gotten WAY more republican about illegal immigration. Lax immigration laws now seem horribly inhumane, paving the way for people to break the law and then making life hell for them once they have, it's a mixed message that ultimately hurts families by ripping them apart long before they get deported, since many if not most illegal immigrants leave parents when they themselves are children, or leave their children and/or spouse to get to America.
Anywho, life here is really great when we don't miss everyone horribly, and it's always interesting. I hope everyone is doing wonderfully in the Pacific Northwest!
- I'm learning how to play tennis, which is great, especially because as a kid I never felt like I was very athletic, it has been the joy of my adult life to realize that I actually really do love being outside and playing sports. I remember going to Snohomish High at night with Cliff and Jen, I think Eloria might have played on the field(?) while we ran around the track, that was maybe one of my first tastes of a really satisfying part of my life and a really happy memory.
The other benefit of learning to play tennis is that I'm also multitasking, my tennis teacher speaks only Spanish, so I have learned; brazos, manos, fuerte, arriba (which is up, not fast, as I was lead to believe by a certain cartoon mouse), atras, mas cerca, y exelente! I am also teaching kids yoga at my house with a friend of mine that is a certified yoga instructor. Outside of an unfortunate face plant a little girl took while trying to do crow, it's gone pretty well. Dad, thanks for the background in self hypnosis, it's really helping me with guided meditation during avasana, since I just learned that was a word, I'll tell you it's the time at the end of class where you lay down and I always fall asleep, which it turns out is not as good to do when you are the teacher.
The kids are doing really well, Maggie is starting speach therapy next week - I don't like it. They are trying to fix what I find super amusing. Abe is having fun in cub scouts and getting really into watching football- his Dad is very proud. Vivian is starting a mosaic class that is offered through her school, which will be a wonderful diversion from her almost constant state of reading. Simon just said Mamamamamamamamamamamamamama - I assume he means me. I'm telling myself it's taking him so long to speak because after his first year we switched languages on him. He looks at all of us with a healthy dose of skeptisism. I think once I put him to bed he does the same thing every night (Pinky) - tries to take over the WORLD!!!!
Dave was on a women's talk show, Mujer a Mujer (Woman to Woman), the video won't load onto this blog, but Dave looks about how you would expect Dave to look on a woman's talk show- super uncomfortable. NIV (non-immagrant visas) has been a great opportunity for Dave to learn a lot about our countries immigration practices, it's really interesting stuff. For instance, did you know that roughly fifty percent of illegal immigrants did not cross the border illegally? They are approved for a travel visa (non immigrant visa) and then they overstay - indefinitely. It makes people like Dave have to guess based on a two minute converstaion whether or not someone is likely to overstay (or jump) their visa. It's a stressful job, Dave sees a lot of people in a day, but it is interesting to see the other side of so many ongoing arguments in an election year. Looking at immigration up close (I have heard from my staunchly liberal friends) will turn anyone into a republican - on the flip side, getting an up close and personal look at Foriegn Aid (it does work, really, if for no other reason than we need alternative kinds of pressure to persuade others toward our goals besides our fists) will turn anyone into a democrat.
One more little political blip, I cannot tell you all the deep loathing I have for Rick Perry and the eventual satisfaction that was mine when he plainly became a bare ass. Not only has he barely even tried to hide the fact that he was a candidate for people who don't like mormons - he came out a couple of weeks ago to say that he did not believe Foreign Service Officers were working in America's best interest. This was right before his "debating is as easy as one, two.....I'll get back to you" debacle. That moment, my children's laughter, sunshine on my shoulders... it's the little things, you know?
El Salvador is also the Central American hub for USAID, so we live and mingle with quite a few bleeding heart, former peace corps types. It's interesting because when I lived in the States Foreign Aid seemed like a stupid waste of money. Now I think sometimes it's a stupid waste of money, but most of the time it is an imperative bargaining tool for our national security. I may have gotten way more liberal about foriegn Aid ( and I also now think Hillary Clinton is kind of the bomb), but I have also gotten WAY more republican about illegal immigration. Lax immigration laws now seem horribly inhumane, paving the way for people to break the law and then making life hell for them once they have, it's a mixed message that ultimately hurts families by ripping them apart long before they get deported, since many if not most illegal immigrants leave parents when they themselves are children, or leave their children and/or spouse to get to America.
Anywho, life here is really great when we don't miss everyone horribly, and it's always interesting. I hope everyone is doing wonderfully in the Pacific Northwest!
Hey guys, Dave here now. I share a blog with my siblings where we all post to, kind of what Traci is hoping will happen with this blog. Anyway I have posted a bunch of photos over the past few months on that one. Please feel free to head over to it and look at pictures that we've posted over the months going back to March. Some of the posts were posted by my siblings which may or may not be of interest to you, but please check it out if you'd like: http://mckay1957.blogspot.com/
Sunday, May 1, 2011
What time is it?
Spring is here,
Spring is here,
It's the best time of year!
Spring...Is...Here!
And with it...Softball season! Some how I've gone from parent to helper to coach!...how the...how'd that happen? I just wanna work in my garden!
Getting the kids home from school, trying to clean the house, school two at home, have a 3 year old clinging, getting dinner before practice, lets just say it gets pretty hectic in the late afternoon.
"Elaine, do you have your socks on yet?"
"Gotta go, hurry up!"
"Emma! Where's your mitt?!"
"Anyone know where a hair tie is?"
"Hurry up, we have to go!"
"MOM! Where are my cleats?"
"Come on girls we gotta go!"
"What time is it?", I said.
"It's eleven, fifteen, thirty o'clock. Holdy crap mom," shouts Elissa, "you're gonna be late!"
*pause*...time stands still with that answer... LOL!
"Wow, your right, thanks 'Lissie!"
*WHEW* I needed that!
Spring is here,
It's the best time of year!
Spring...Is...Here!
And with it...Softball season! Some how I've gone from parent to helper to coach!...how the...how'd that happen? I just wanna work in my garden!
Getting the kids home from school, trying to clean the house, school two at home, have a 3 year old clinging, getting dinner before practice, lets just say it gets pretty hectic in the late afternoon.
"Elaine, do you have your socks on yet?"
"Gotta go, hurry up!"
"Emma! Where's your mitt?!"
"Anyone know where a hair tie is?"
"Hurry up, we have to go!"
"MOM! Where are my cleats?"
"Come on girls we gotta go!"
"What time is it?", I said.
"It's eleven, fifteen, thirty o'clock. Holdy crap mom," shouts Elissa, "you're gonna be late!"
*pause*...time stands still with that answer... LOL!
"Wow, your right, thanks 'Lissie!"
*WHEW* I needed that!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
I'm Game
News from the Hendershot/Reynolds family:
I think we found a nursing school for Michael. ITT tech in Portland just started an RN program. No prereqs are required but he has them, and they told us that they will all transfer. So, instead of going for another 2+ years at 16 credit hours/quarter, he'll go for 2+ years at about 8 credit hours/quarter. It's more expensive but covered by the GI bill.
My job should start in about 1 month and until then I'm enjoying being a woman of leisure. I'm catering the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon again this year so I'm working on a menu for that. I've got two quilts underway. And, if everyone is being honest with me, I think I've finally mastered bread baking. Phew! That was a hard one. Only took about 18 years.
I watched "McLintock" for the first time today. I think that's the new "Quiet Man" for me. Golly, John Wayne really likes to beat Maureen O'Hara. Cute.
Holly's working at "The Uncommon Gift", which is the cutest little store a few blocks from our house in downtown Camas. She loves it. She is also "so over" high school. She'll be in running start full-time next year. I think she's gonna do great in College. She and Michael will graduate at roughly the same time.
Sarah's doing great. 14 means dances and co-ed activities (with parental supervision). For Sarah, it also means that she can finally find high heels in her size. Thrilling. She still isn't growing much but she looks so grown up all of the sudden. When she left tonight for the dance she was gorgeous.
Seth just got back from building snow caves and snow-shoeing with Michael and his scout troop. They had a blast but I hate it when my boys are gone. The girls had a party in my room. We ate ice-cream and watched the Dick Van Dyke Show.
Hannah danced the cutest hula ever danced at the River Homelink Talent Show last night. She did the whole thing by herself, application form, music download, costume, choreography, everything. Check her action on the attached video if you haven't seen it already on facebook.
We love you all.
I think we found a nursing school for Michael. ITT tech in Portland just started an RN program. No prereqs are required but he has them, and they told us that they will all transfer. So, instead of going for another 2+ years at 16 credit hours/quarter, he'll go for 2+ years at about 8 credit hours/quarter. It's more expensive but covered by the GI bill.
My job should start in about 1 month and until then I'm enjoying being a woman of leisure. I'm catering the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon again this year so I'm working on a menu for that. I've got two quilts underway. And, if everyone is being honest with me, I think I've finally mastered bread baking. Phew! That was a hard one. Only took about 18 years.
I watched "McLintock" for the first time today. I think that's the new "Quiet Man" for me. Golly, John Wayne really likes to beat Maureen O'Hara. Cute.
Holly's working at "The Uncommon Gift", which is the cutest little store a few blocks from our house in downtown Camas. She loves it. She is also "so over" high school. She'll be in running start full-time next year. I think she's gonna do great in College. She and Michael will graduate at roughly the same time.
Sarah's doing great. 14 means dances and co-ed activities (with parental supervision). For Sarah, it also means that she can finally find high heels in her size. Thrilling. She still isn't growing much but she looks so grown up all of the sudden. When she left tonight for the dance she was gorgeous.
Seth just got back from building snow caves and snow-shoeing with Michael and his scout troop. They had a blast but I hate it when my boys are gone. The girls had a party in my room. We ate ice-cream and watched the Dick Van Dyke Show.
Hannah danced the cutest hula ever danced at the River Homelink Talent Show last night. She did the whole thing by herself, application form, music download, costume, choreography, everything. Check her action on the attached video if you haven't seen it already on facebook.
We love you all.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Welcome Dang Browns!
I realized the other day that I have a problem. I went shopping for shoes and not one member of my extended family got to see this -
Which is kind of a tragedy.
I miss you, and here is my proposal. I want a family blog. I want someplace to tell my family about the tool kit suppository that we saw at the Spy Museum and how when Dave asked Abe "Jeez, what do you put in a suppository tool kit?" Abe didn't skip a beat befor saying "Hand sanitizer.".
I want Dad and Bren to post their retirement adventures
and woodland creatures they kill.I want to see Prom and sports pictures from my nieces and nephews.
I want to have a sidebar that links to all of your other blogs, maybe a chart that tracks Cliff's decent (or ascent, or level progress - it's all perspective) from Alex P. Keaton to a damn Commie Liberal.
So what do you say!?!
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