Jameson Update II

Sorry for the delay in sending info on Jameson. I have been working a ton of hours and just have not had time to write. I've spoken with him each Sunday evening for 5 min (they are very strict on the time allotment). Each of his calls have been very positive, with a similar theme: it's REALLY hard, but I'm gonna do it!

He has been promoted to Supply Sergeant for his Platoon, which means he handles all the paperwork (ordering/records/requests) and supply needs for his platoon. He is very proud of being chosen for this job. He is also doing well in academics with all A's (100%) at this time. He is writing to us regularly, as well as responding to those who have written him. I will try to tell him he can send us mail for family in Europe, as he can not send mail there (only basic mail stamps), and we will scan it and email it to you.

2 weeks ago, he wrote a very expressive letter about how frustrated he was over a physical exam (the Army Physical Fitness test) He did 90 consecutive push-ups (way over the max), 72 sit-ups (1 over max), and had to run 2 miles in under 13 min (He came in 3rd). After all of that, someone had messed up the records or timing and they had to do it over!! He was sooo frustrated! "But, no biggy, I can do it again. I'll just do more, better. It's not enough to make me want to quit."

In his last letter he mentioned that his Platoon was awarded Honor Platoon, which means as of this Sunday, he will have 10 min on the phone!! Yeah! But he is actually disappointed cause he was hoping to have a personal promotion to Phase II which would give him 5 extra min (total 15 min) each week. He has been recommended for leadership roles and other merits, doing community service and working hard in school. He expressed how down he was that he did not receive the promotion and referred to having to brown nose to get promoted...I'm sure there is a story there that I will hear about on Sunday.

I want to thank everyone who has been writing him...THANKS!! He really appreciates it! They had us send 20 stamped envelopes (with his name in corner) for him to send mail home weekly (minimal requirement). Jamie requested more envelopes last week...he has already sent out his 20. Know how much he dislikes writing, I am very proud of his effort. I know I have not sent as many this last week or two and I think he hasn't received many. The tone of his last letter was very down, and in his letters to Auri he begged her to write him TONS. So, please keep up the mail!!

Jackson, WY trip

Just got back from a quick trip to Jackson Hole, Wy to meet up with Max and Jill for a few days. Nice trip. I enjoyed myself. 420 miles from home to jackson, and 420 miles back. One day hiking. 3 days total. On the motorcycle. I'm pretty tired. Pictures here.

Truck pictures

Here's the new tires and a better view of the truck. I like it a lot better.



Previously here.

It's hard to see the difference to the previous pictures, I suppose. The difference is that there used to be a black piece of rubber between the front bumper and the lights, which is now gone, and the space between the black step under the doors and the doors themselves was much bigger (which is hard to see based on the angle of the previous picture).

New tires

Jamie is going to love them, i think. We also took out the bodykit which lowered the truck 3 inches

Jameson Update

I received a call last Thurs that Jameson had gone AWOL at 1030pm (with another candidate) and the program had called police to look for him. He returned at 1215, on his own, at which point they notified the police who came and gave him a citation for being out after curfew. Of course, he also has consequences within the program including having to get up 1.5 hrs early and workout until after everyone else finishes breakfast. Then he can go in and get breakfast (which is cold and soggy at this point). Needless to say, it was a rough night for me :)

On Sunday night, I received the first call from Jameson. Though only 5 min long, it was great to hear his voice. He sounds very strong and determined. He is in the 3rd Platoon and will be calling weekly on Sundays. He has received our mail and requested news of the outside world.

He said he left because he was so angry!! "you just don't understand how hard it is" When I asked why he went back he said "because of you guys" (meaning Jan and I). I told him I was sooo proud of his choice and the hard work he is doing. And reminded him that he will be so far ahead of his peers when he returns; it is hard, but worth it!

They are currently working on team building exercises: when one person messes up, they all get the consequences. An important lesson, but hard to swallow. He is looking forward to starting classes this week as it will take up 8 hrs of the day and so be easier :) I guess that's one way to make a kid happy to study :)

He sends his love to everyone and I sent yours on to him. It was short and sweet, but he is doing well!

MYCP

Black cat fire chute

This was ALL black last year around this time. It's still black today, but things are starting to grow on the ground.

Bella

New girlfriend

Sypreme's anyway. Meet sara's new horse, though I don't know her name yet. Her name was Bell or Belle (not sure) and I think sara has decided to call her Bella instead. I'm sure sara will post more details soon.

Rescued hummingbird

We saw this hummingbird on our feeder yesterday and he had a HUGE ant on his beak. I started wondering if hummingbirds ate ants, and really didn't know, and after a while he really didn't look all that comfortable.

Sara caught him EASILY (he wasn't moving a whole lot. All puffed up and stressed-looking), and we thought we could just scrape the ant off of him. But scraping wasn't doing the job, so I just grabbed the ant and yanked it off of him. It was on there TIGHT. We had a little bit of blood on the rag, and the hummingbird didn't seem too happy (before or after). But he drank some more from the feeder, and eventually flew away.

Kind of a bizarre occurrence.

Bad tires

These are the tires on tyson's rental car! Thankfully he got new ones put on yesterday before heading back out today

Our neighbor's new horse

Cute baby horse

Done

I'm sure I won't be able to move tomorrow...

What is 1 hour?

That is.

Just walked by this tree and it smelled good!

Chickens by the coop

We spent the weekend working around the house and yard and one of the things we did was get a more spacious place for the ever-growing chickens. We fixed up the old shed (previously used as a coop, we think) and now the chicks have more room and even an attached garden. We still need to build a portable coop, so we can move them around, but this will do for now.

Auri gets serenaded

Chance's sister had a graduation party, and we went for a little while. Chance decided to sing a song, and friend put Auri on a chair in front of him, so she could get serenaded. Ain't they cute...

Interior decorating

First coat of primer covering up jamie's graffiti

Runt in a box

Turns out Runt is sick, but I didn't know that when I took this picture. He spent the night at the vet's, getting fluid and food, etc. He'd been throwing up for a few days now, and we finally decided something was seriously wrong when ... well... nevermind. Don't want to gross anyone out :)

He's doing better today, and I HOPE to get him from the vet's tonight or tomorrow.

Update: Runt was at the vet's from thursday night until Sunday. He's doing fine now. We don't know exactly what happened, but a bunch of IV fluids and food and antibiotics and he seemed to be fine again.

Lawn mowers

Bookcase

Bookcase i built over the weekend

Our new truck. I feel like i'm in high school again!

I'm not dead yet!

We're just too busy to blog, that's all.

News items:

- I traded my R6 for a truck. The R6 wasn't terribly useful in hauling dirt
- Sara sold the accord, and we're looking for a tractor or an ATV for the ranch
- Sara is doing a lot of massages, wheeling and dealing and bartering them for various items, like training for the horses, and house cleaning, etc...
- Sara got a job as a part-time-on-call nurse doing hospice in Missoula
- Jamie got accepted into the Montana National Guard Youth Challenge program
- Auri is goofy

jan

Family Update :)

Jan and I caught a wicked head/chest cold last month. Jan's progressed into pneumonia. It was pretty scary for a few days, but he is doing much better now. I broke a toe/foot last month and was on crutches for 2 weeks and was privileged to wear a stylish shoe for about 6 wks :) I am also doing much better and am hoping to resume giving massages this week, provided anyone can afford a massage in this economy!!

I completed our taxes and am so pleased to know that we will be getting money back instead of paying!! Which may be a good thing as Jan is not getting a bonus this year, so things have been real tight!

The barn and fence have been a godsend this winter. However, as spring thaws the snow/ice and brings the rain, our barn is flooding. It has become obvious that we will have to do some major flood control work this summer to prepare for next year. It also appears that the water line to our barn has busted somewhere between the pump and the frost free spigot.

Auriana

Auri played the Snow Queen in the Princess and the Pea last month. I was so impressed with her singing and acting! She has really improved since last year. She is currently practicing to be a school play of Lost in Yonkers. She has been practicing 3-5 days a week for many weeks.The play will be March 27th & 28th at 7pm. We'll make room if you want to come on out to see the play! She was nominated last year, and again this year, to attend the MCT theatre arts camp on Flathead Lake this summer. She has to audition, along with kids from all over the world, but she has been told that she has an excellent chance to be accepted! Unfortunately, she is trying to get a job and as such may not be able to attend.

Auri has a boyfriend. His name is Chance and he is a very nice young man..although he is very similar to her brother (minus the authority issues)!! She has already made it clear to him that she may get mad at him easier then others as he is so like her brother (and we know how he is able to irritate her :) She will also be going to Junior prom...but not with her boyfriend, as she already had committed to going with another friend of hers, Dallin (arguably the cutest boy in school). Prom is March 21.

Jameson

Jamie started martial arts training in January at the Sakura dojo in Missoula, run by Jim Harrison (World Famous, Hall of Fame, etc). This is not a belt of the month club; it takes about a year and a lot of hard work to progress to the next belt. They don't even give them the belt to close their gi (uniform), it has to be earned! He is doing amazing well and seems to have a natural talent. He has already earned his white belt and is learning quickly. We have been so pleased with the effect his training is having on his attitude. He is already being used to help demonstrate the basics to the new kids. He will be allowed to start sparring as soon as we can get him the required protective gear ($350).

As you know, Jamie struggles mightily with school and as such has decided to attend the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program this summer (if accepted). If he succeeds in this program, he will have a GED, discipline, perseverance, leadership and better hygiene! He has stated that he would like to go into the military after the program (though he will have to wait 5 months to be old enough to enlist).

skiing

The family (minus jamie) went skiing monday (some holiday I can never remember the name of) to Lookout Pass (Idaho/Montana Border, right on I-90). A fun day was had by all, including poor Sara, who spent the entire day in snow-plow-configuration, as that's what beginners do. She was absolutely tired at the end of the day.

Auri made some huge steps in skiing, as she started doing parallel turns, as I've been teaching her the last few times we went skiing. I bet she'll enjoy skiing even MORE from now on, as this makes skiing much easier on the muscles.

I rented some really nice skis (atomic metron 10) and enjoyed them so much I decided to get my own pair. Unfortunately they are very expensive, so I decided for a competing brand instead (rossignol bandit b78), that is said to be equally good and was on sale. It's on layaway until we get our tax refund or I find enough coins in the couch, whichever comes first.

The weather was cold and windy and very cloudy/foggy. I got some nice pictures of the clouds blowing over and the sun just behind some trees.

Back to school

Kids are back and it's time for them to go back to school! Having two weeks off from work has been great. It's back to work for me as well.