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Now that I am 4, I sure
am learning all about the world. I graduated from the “baby” preschool and have
moved on to Foothill Montessori preschool. It was a tough transition and I
missed my friends at first. But, WOW! I’ve made some giant progress. I am able
to count to 100 (as of this writing!) and I know about thousands and millions
already. I can even write my name. I have been making books about birds,
turtles and trees. On the cover I write the name of the object, and then on
each page I color and write the name of a part of the object. I even had to
tell Daddy some of the parts of the turtle that he didn’t know!
I’ve gotten really
interested in dinosaurs and can’t get enough of them. I also really like bats. Then
other thing I like to do is put together puzzles. I am very good at it. Daddy
was impressed when he took a 24 piece puzzle that was getting to easy for me,
flipped it onto the back side (all white!) and I was able to put it together
quite quickly! I also like computer learning games, and Papa (grandfather) gave
me a computer desk for my room. I am such a big boy now!
Jackie’s Life
Inside Stories (told by Mommy)
I’m 3 and beginning to
have my own identity, that’s what my mother says. I have always been fascinated with construction stuff like my
brother, but recently fell in love with Hello Kitty. My mom and papa brought me to the Huntington Beach Board fest
where I met Hello Kitty and had a picture taken with her. Recently we went to Disneyland and met some
of the princesses and that was exciting too.
Max and I go to the same
school. I can easily count to 30, I
love to cut at school, pin out shapes, and I’m beginning to write my name and
numbers. I’ll catch up to my brother in
no time!
I belong to Wildfire
gymnastic school and just began my Embers class with coach Jason. I hop like a bunny, walk backward and
forward on the balance beam, we jump in the foam pits, tumble on the tracks and
swing on the bars. I look forward to
each class and don’t want to leave.
Peggy’s Life
Inside Stories
August was quite a
month; Ed and my Mother were hospitalized at the same time. So, I became a single parent without
babysitting as well as concerned for them both. I found out that you can get a lot done when your unable to
sleep and wake up early in the morning.
The most important thing was that the kids did not mind staying in
preschool a longer day. So, this fall
they started 5 days a week. The best
thing is how much they are learning and growing into very independent beings.
Our vacationing this
year was camping. We certainly have
some stories. The kid’s love it and the
adults are a bit out of shape for the set up.
But for now I’ll say we are still trying to figure this one out. Gives us some ideas for New Years
Resolutions…
I think the highlight of
this year was throwing Ed a surprise 50th party. Yes, how I did that I wonder, my shopping
was limited to Costco and Walmart. As
well as using my Mothers credit card for reservations. It was very fun. Ed’s college friend John, had his band play which made the
party.
It’s been quite a year
for me. Selling the boat was hard at first, but “upon further review” it was
the right call. Chartering from now on!
My surprise 50th
was really something. Though I monitor the bank accounts almost daily, Peg was
able to pull it off, God Bless her! Not to mention she only had a few hours
while my buddy John and I went out for a couple of beers. I had no idea until
we pulled up to the house and saw all the cars and heard the band. Kudus to
Peggy – she’s the best!
I had a minor knee
surgery in June that went very well. But somehow I ended up getting a staph
infection in my left knee. It was very nasty and I ended up hospitalized for a
week just before Labor Day. Hospitals are no fun. I was at Peg’s hospital, so
at least I was treated pretty well. It was a painful experience. I am just now
riding my bike to strengthen my knee up. No pain riding – so the surgery
overall was a good thing. Otherwise, I am mostly healthy except for my back. I
was to undergo a surgery over the holidays, but that infection nixed that. Next
year…
Business is more of the
same – Kodak may sell the health services unit of which I am part. No one knows
what effect that will have. I have been kept extremely busy keeping up with FDA
documentation requirements. Our software program now directly controls the
Kodak dental X-ray units. The FDA is very fussy about software that is
connected directly to an X-ray machine (as they should be). Job security,
definitely!
Chmiel’s
Boatless!
Yes, it’s true. The
Chmiel’s are (almost) boatless at the moment. Knot Kidding was sold in June to
a kindly older couple as a live-aboard. May she serve them well. We kept a small
Sabot sailboat for Daddy and Max to work on.
It was the right move
since it was near impossible to use her, much less maintain her properly with
the two kids. After some looking about, it really will be better to charter a
boat where and when ever we like. Ultimately it is less expensive, and
certainly far less hassle. Ed hopes to be taking sailing certification lessons
to enable us to take out charter sailboats. They’re all over the world, and
plenty of them in SoCal too, so this seems like a good plan for the few times
we actually get to Catalina Island. Plus, we do can do really fun boating in
places like the Caribbean or the Puget Sound for a vacation, which was
something we could not do before. We can’t wait!