from inception to launch -- Nikkidaughter

iPhone 5.0

(contribution of sacred personhood)

Liam priceless.0

(contribution of sacred motherhood)

2011 Christmas Trans-Siberian Satellite

With all our kids, including Haejee, coming home last Christmas,

we prepared for a full house, adding a futon. It came in a large

cardboard box. Sierra's vision was to turn the box into her very

own crayoned "Toy Story" playhouse.

The first arrivals were Mike and Nikki!

This conversation followed:

Mike: "Hey, Si, with a box this size we could build a spaceship.

Or, satellite. But, Si. Consider your choice carefully.

Because, a satelllite? We launch it, you cannot return to earth."

Decision was made for the satellite.

Next: shopping trip to Target--

silver & black materials were required

Engineer and his assistant stop at Starbuck's.

Engineer consumes one large, high-octane coffee

measuring, cutting, checking straight lines



an hour and a half into the project

there is not much room to stock supplies for trip into orbit.

5 hours later...

We begin to notice the

host galaxy has finite proportions.

We cannot enter the kitchen.

Engineer informs us the solar panels would not need
safety pins or corded support in outer space. (Zero gravity)

Nor would panels sizzle with bacon on the stovetop.

The lesson here: 

1) scale models can be built for all sorts of things,

2) when mommies and daddies are clothes-lined

by their children's works of art, they smile.

Time together and memories are everything.

A Star To Follow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY8QFkOYJ_w

Stay tuned...
A very Daisy Christmas



daily Digs pic - friends

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.” 
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

hmm...

What is, is. And nothing changes 

until it becomes what it is.  

-- Fritz Perls

the Tahoe

An update.

Referring to this adventure as "The Tahoe" is fun. 

Its source is Haejee, who referred to a set a twins in high school, 

as a singular unit, "The Kalaen".  Several of us meeting for Thanksgiving, one goal.

Sept. 17th:  We meet at the Erhart RoadPeter's house. Lois prepared a delicious supper of garden-grown stuffed jalapeños, chicken, eggplant parmesan. Most delicious meal!  Then we buckled down to price flights and discovered that Lois has poor broadband internet connection. I dare to say, it is non-existent. We decide to gather the next night at our house.

Sept. 18th: After hours of research, Lois and I purchase airline tickets. We are relieved to find great prices because the week of Thanksgiving blocks-out specials. We'll fly different airlines into Vegas, rent a car, and drive 6 hours to Tahoe.

Sept. 19th: I confirm prices on car rentals. We are in for a surprise. The information is different from the sheet of daily rates--unlimited mileage for weekly rates versus mileage with daily usage. Couple days later we discover we have one less mathematician in the family and there was a slight miscalculation on the distance from airport to cabin. The drive is over 8 hours. Giggling begins.

An aside: Evan and I had flight vouchers from a canceled flight on our return from visiting the CaliforniaPeters. After logging onto Delta, printing out 4 "live chat" conversations to verify the use of the vouchers, receiving approval to use one of Evan's vouchers for my flight, hour and a half later, my flight confirmation came through e-mail. I forwarded to our kids. Said bright, young-family members, with an eye for detail, let me know I was not the one booked for the flight. I contacted Delta to correct this. (Not without drama, accusations of fraudulence, and threat of persecution/jail time.) Anywho, the situation has been cleared up and Dad is not booked for the flight. He is, once again, riding the scooter with Reed, Diego and Emry (packing a tent and tire chains:  vrrrroom).

**Note** When correcting the passenger information, the Delta manager stated they were not responsible for errors of policy violation when their employees misinform customers. Some employees are new and do not know all the policies.

Meanwhile, Emry (doing homework) and Landon sat in the living room watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles. (Lady in the airport on the movie is saying, "Gobble, gobble.") Lois discovers that her flight confirmation has not come through, but Landon's and Emry's has. Are Lois' children flying without her?

A few days later, her flight confirmation is verified. We roll up our sleeves, start looking for best car rental options--she, researching websites; me, talking with Hertz.

We've had a lot of laughs, which included watching Jamie and Matt's owl video:

http://theperezes.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-tragic-tale-of-mr-owl.html

We are looking forward to this adventure that began with a great idea to get together for the holiday.

Thank you, Mike and Nikki, for providing us this opportunity to bond--before, during and after Thanksgiving. We've all needed it.

Love,

Mom

Dad's birthday month contribution

from Evan's wedding speech to Jamie:

On this wonderful day in your life

I take this time with my wife

to present to you this bio

on our little girl from Chatham  Ohio.

Your 1981 birth was a very special day.

Newly christened parents, we trusted  God to show the way.

There are memories that will always be with us

Like the first time you stepped on the school bus.

Growing up watching Wizard of Oz and Little House on the Prairie

Finding Easter baskets and money from the Tooth Fairy.

You really were quite graceful you know

Dancing to Raffi’s Eight Piggies in a row.

Playing softball and soccer in the yard

I know trying to beat me was very hard.

Your play was really not that bad

And eventually you were just too quick for Dad.

Being Captain of your high school soccer team

You made Mom and Dad really beam.

The vacations and camping and outdoors you so liked

Especially the trails that we hiked and hiked

Trying on homecoming, prom and  wedding dresses

Your beauty always really impresses.

You are a wonderful sister to Sierra, Nikki and Mike

And you and Matt will be wonderful parents when you have your own little Tike.

Graduating from high school and college- what an accomplishment!

Then home to settle in for the great job hunt.

Week after week the want ads you kept your eyes on

And you were worried when nothing seemed on the horizon.

Then, a lucky break through a connection at O U:

There was a small company in Georgia, and a phone interview.

A connection was made with some guy named Hilley

Yet without knowing anyone, it seemed kind of silly

To accept a job so far away,

To take a leap of faith to Atlanta, G-A

But you took the leap, and we loaded up the trailer

And headed to Dixie with no thought of failure.

Of course, the truck broke a hose and overheated on the freeway

But thanks to your help and Walmart’s, we fixed it and drove straight to LEJ.

You made many friends and fit right in with Pitch, Hit and Run

And then you met a man named Matt, who has become our second son.

With his unwavering support, you became an attorney

And now together begin this new journey.

We’re grateful for  roommates whose households they shared.

Laura and Marin, it eased our minds knowing Jamie was with people who cared.

And we’re grateful for new friends: Paula, Stephen, Allison, Sandy, and Dan

Who, with this display of poetry, are probably saying “MAN OH MAN.”

So we will wrap up this sonnet, with 2 final lines on it:

We wish you great joy on this your wedding day; now let’s get down and partaayy!!!

*Another memory that Dad loves from a Toronto ball game:  "I never sat through the whole 8 innings before."

        "Keep it classy, San Diego."

(or San Jose or San Francisco or Los Gatos)

Happy Birthday Month Jametember!

birthday addendums to follow--

Cousin Erin:  

 "My favorite childhood memory of Jamie were the multiple 

occasions where she would organize "plays" based on short 

stories or whatever she was reading at the time. She would 

enlist Michael and I to help perform them and we were 

absolutely no help and would always mess something up.

Then when we would act them out for you and Evan or 

whoever else was around, either Mike or I would forget to say

something or just quit in the middle and she would get so 

mad and cry. Hahaha it was great!"

(there will be photos--not of the plays, but of Erin and kids. I have to go dig through the mounds of picture boxes in the back-back room, peel off cat afterbirth, burrow through mice nests, and sanitize. Shouldn't take long.)