Lobster Dinner aka Doing Our Part to Support Public Education

Marshall and I hosted our good friends for a lobster dinner on Saturday night. Drake's school held a fund raiser and we thought it would be a great opportunity to have some friends over in support of public education (ok, and have some good conversation, food, and wine).

The boys were great and now that bedtime is so early, we were able to put them to bed and enjoy a kid free dinner. What a great night!



The lobsters waiting for their fate.


Yummy dinner.



Doing our part to support public education.



Ready for dinner.



Enjoying a good night with friends.

Puddles 2009

I'll Never See You Again........(maybe)

This week I traveled to San Francisco for a business trip. How lucky that my business trips for the last 6 years take me to such a beautiful city. These meetings were actually held in the city - an extra bonus! Since I missed the last meeting due to vacation, I was very happy to be able to attend this one and see my Sun Microsystems co-workers one more time (which may indeed be the last as Sun Micro employees).

I don't know what the future holds, but I am very thankful for the people I have worked with for the past several years. It isn't often you work with folks that are talented, creative, and down right nice people. Being a remote worker might also give me a deeper appreciation for my co-workers. Since I only see them a few times a year, I am even more thankful to have meetings where we can hash things out face-to-face --- and just catch up on everything going on in their lives. I can't begin to list the benefits of working from home, but not seeing the great people you work with every day is definitely a draw back.

And who knows, I might never see these people again (this joke is becoming more and more of a reality), but I'm grateful for the opportunity to have worked with them all and hope it continues. And if not, I know I'll still be in touch in the online world - thank goodness for Facebook!

Oh, and no kids running around, a couple nights on the town in San Francisco with co-workers and friends, and a walk along the water trying to catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate bridge isn't too shabby either. Thanks to my wonderful husband for all he does to make these trips a reality for me.

The Cool Uncle

Backyard football with Uncle Matt


Matt hanging with under-the-weather Tanner



Hanging with Bro

Drake actually has four pretty cool uncles, but man, does he love Uncle Matt. You really can't get a word in edgewise when Drake is around Uncle Matt. Matt was able to read some Harry Potter to Drake, play some backyard football, and take a walk while Drake showed off his biking skills.

Matt stayed with us Friday night and hung out on Saturday before he flight back to Brussels on Saturday night. We enjoyed a couple of BBQ's and Marshall and Matt got in some quality "bro time" and the chiminea got quite a work out.

When the boys get older, I do hope that Drake and Tanner will be able to enjoy spending time together like Marshall and cool Uncle Matt do.

Something about Family

Well, tonight I am missing my sister and my sweet, sweet nephew Grant (who never cried and slept very well during his visit - Marshall will say that he never actually saw Grant awake).



Jaima and I just enjoyed catching up and spending time together. We went for coffee, downtown for a sushi lunch, and got a little walk in with the kiddos (Drake got to show off his biking skills for Aunt Jaima). Jaima also got to sleep in a bit both days and was able to just relax (hopefully).

The boys were SO sweet with little Grant. Drake especially wanted to help feed Grant, make his bottle, and ensure that he was doing ok. Drake was tickled when Grant and Jaima were able to pick him up from school both days - simple pleasures.

Visits like these make me even more thankful for the wonderful relationship I have with my sisters. What wonderful women they both are and I am so happy to be able to call them my best friends. It is true that there is no relationship quite like that you have with your sisters. I miss ya already sis.........

Broncomania

ok - maybe the word "Broncomania" may be a bit strong....... but, we kicked off the Bronco's 2009 season over at the Torling-Johnson residence. They were nice enough to share their leftover Mexican birthday party food and the boys enjoyed attending the "party" and having cake (Drake has been complaining that Marshall and I are always going places and he and Tanner don't get to go). So, he was very excited to be invited over to Nadja and Ryan's for the football game.

We enjoyed watching the game (although not very exciting until the end), watching Drake and Marshall play football during halftime and just catching up with good friends. Drake was VERY excited when the Broncos won and I actually got him to wear his Cutler jersey (whew). Guess we'll be on the lookout for a some Bronco apparel this season. And in the meantime, we'll bask in the glory of a 12-7 victory.....

Oh and Tanner had fun playing in the dog kennel, playing with the dog toys, and playing with the actual dog sometimes too.

Weekend with the Boys

Labor Day weekend was spent hanging with a couple of my favorite guys. Marshall took off to spend a weekend with his brother in Laramie taking in some college football and floating down the North Platte - so I got the boys all to myself.

We enjoyed a trip to the Children's Museum on Saturday morning. There was a construction play area that both boys really enjoyed. Drake also the building station - which he hadn't done before. He loved using the tools - especially the saw. A really fun trip for us.

On Sunday, we hung out at home, did a bunch of puzzles, and went to the $1 theater (although the $1 theater is now $2.50) to see "Up". A cute movie, popcorn, and a fun time for all of us.

Monday brought a trip to the grocery store (with a bribe of doughnuts for breakfast). Yup, I'm not above a bribe to get some things checked off my "to do" list. The boys enjoyed their doughnuts and I enjoyed a coffee - a good way to break up the grocery shopping.

I'm a lucky lady to have a great couple of boys and enjoy some great time with them.

Time with Dad

Marshall and the boys spent had a "guys' weekend" while I was in Pender meeting my nephew and helping the Geiserts for a few days. Looks like they got along pretty well - biking, hiking, and hanging out.

Range of Emotions

What a roller coaster of emotions it seems to have been the past couple of weeks.

1. Oh - this newborn baby is so cute and wonderful- I could do that again....to...... thinking that I am slightly crazy to consider a third child. (What a wonderful time I had in Pender last week helping Jaima and Cam with their kids and having some precious time with my nephew Grant. And hanging with mom and dad wasn't too bad either.)
   
2. Life as I know it at Sun will be over shortly after Sept 3rd......to....... "business as usual" for the foreseeable future.......I have been so fortunate to work at Sun these past 8 years. What a wonderful company for working moms - and I work with some pretty great people too. And I can't say enough about how lucky I am to be have been able to work from home the past 5 years. The balance it has brought to ours lives is priceless. Although I'm ready for the next chapter of my working life - whether at Oracle or elsewhere - working a few more months at Sun is truly a gift.
   
3. I'm ok with this whole kindergarten thing......to......endless worrying about Drake being bored all year....and back again......

At least college football started this week and there's one thing that is for certain:

GO BIG RED!

And we wait......

It looks like I'll be working for Sun for a bit longer......

The Facts of Life

Now that we are getting into a regular routine at our house, we're getting to bed earlier - and getting up earlier. For the first time ever, Drake actually asked to go to bed! School must be wearing him out. One night last week, both kids were in bed by 8:15 - I think that is a record. It reminded me of my own bedtime as a kid. I had to be in bed at 8:30 and I was devastated that I couldn't stay up to watch "The Facts of Life" which was on at 8:30. I'm sure those days of the boys begging to stay up to watch a show are not that far away.......



We're still trying to figure out what he does all day - he keeps it pretty much to himself. We do get a daily update on PE, recess, and lunch. And every now and then, we'll find out which kids had to take cards (not a good thing) and Drake is quick to tell us that he does not have any cards taken.

Today he told us that he likes school - we were both very happy to hear it. He's also established a couple of routines - he rotates his shirt color (blue, yellow, white) and does the same with his milk choices for the day (strawberry, chocolate, regular). Anything to spice up the day I guess :)

The New Reality

The Peavy's have survived their first week of Drake's kindergarten. We're working to figure out the schedule for our new reality and adjust to it accordingly.

Of course, most of my thoughts have been around the loss of our flexibility. We now need to be to school on time, in uniform, with no peanut products. We also now need to plan our vacations around school vacations - for the next 21 years! Obviously, I'm still adjusting......

The first week of kindergarten also brought about Tanner trying out underwear at school (unsuccessfully) for the first time. Let's just say - I washed a lot of clothes this week - both from Tanner and Drake. We've ordered some more clothes for his school uniform to help alleviate the laundry problem.

We've been getting Drake to bed earlier this week and he did wake up on his own every day. However, he got more tired as the week wore on - not a huge surprise - but he also started complaining of a sore throat. When I picked him up on Friday, he was laying down and I knew that wasn't good news. He did indeed had a fever and we took him to the doctor on Saturday morning - strep throat. Poor guy - fighting an illness while starting a new school. Talk about draining! Fortunately, he was a great trooper and in good spirits all weekend - and ready to tackle week 2 of his new school. Watch out - Drake Peavy is firing on all cylinders now!

Where's Drake?

Thought this picture was interesting as Drake just seemed to stand out. Of course, he's the only one I'm looking for :)

First Day of Kindergarten (aka the Pursuit of Educational Happiness)

Our Proud Kindergartener







We survived the first day of kindergarten. It might have been easier than I thought it was going to be - the day was only 2.5 hours and I was there the entire time. We got to put out the school supplies, fill out some forms, and have an informational time with the teacher. It was great to get to know the teacher a bit more as well as some other parents in the class. Tomorrow might actually be harder than today - having to leave him there alone........

Drake was his usual observing self - taking it all in. Later in the day, he told me that he had a fun day at school which, of course, made me very happy. I can definitely see the shy side of me in him at times like these.

I really do hope that he does well at this school. We feel fortunate to have Drake at Highline Academy, but of course, a parent always worries if they are making the right decision. Will he have fun? Will he thrive? Will he be bored? Will he make friends? I keep having to remind myself that many of my friends and colleagues came from very diverse educational experiences and we work side by side. Life (and school) is what you make of it. And as the flier we got from the school
said, research shows that when parents are involved, students have:

• Higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates
• Better school attendance
• Increased motivation and better self-esteem
• Lower rates of suspension
• Decreased use of alcohol and other drugs
• Fewer instances of violent behavior
• Greater enrollment rates in postsecondary education
  

I'm pretty sure that we will be involved parents whether Drake likes it or not.......

Last Day at the Swimming Pool

Snacks at the pool



Diving with Dad


Swimming with the boys


Tanner enjoying the big pool


Such fun at the pool

We enjoyed the last day at Denver Public Pools. What a wonderful way to wrap up before school starts. Both Marshall and I are a little in shock about summer being "over" in the middle of August. As an adult, summer "ends" around Labor Day, but now that we have a Kindergarten - summer is over in August. I think this will be an adjustment for us.

On Saturday, we attended the Kindergarten popsicle social at a local park. We met some of the other parents and Drake met some of his classmates. There will be 23 kids in his class and apparently the class is "girl heavy" - which Drake actually noticed right when we got there. He's already searching for his buddies. Drake also had his "testing" on Friday and the teacher said he did well. Drake later told me that it wasn't weird, but it was fun - a good sign! I'm sure we as parents are more nervous than Drake.

The Ahhh...... of Vacation

A wonderful trip


The entire Peavy family together


Enjoying time with Granddad and Gramma


Enjoying the Kayaks


Fishing at dusk

The first week of August brought our annual trip to the Peavy cabin in northern Idaho. We always look forward to a week of relaxing, good eating, time with family, and enjoying the water. Ever year just gets better as the boys get older and are able to enjoy the water more and more.

Drake was very comfortable in the water after his swimming lessons this summer. He enjoyed jumping off the dock (with his life jacket) and hanging out with his uncles (these guys were a big hit with Drake) in the "deep water". He also went in the tube behind the boat by himself for the first time. He also just loved playing in the water - on the tube, swimming, diving, snorkeling. You name it, he was doing it. Drake was also quite the little "skipper" this year - he was all about helping untying/typing the boat, helping with the buoys, etc. And on top of all this, Granddad taught him to ride his bike without training wheels - what a week!

Tanner wasn't as enamored with the water, but loved shooting the water with the cool "shooters" Gramma found at the Dollar Store. He also enjoyed playing with whatever ball he could get his hands on - beach, base, or croquet. Of course, he loved his aunt and uncle's dog as well.

And of course, Marshall and I had a wonderful trip as well. Reading, relaxing, floating in the water, kayaking, boating, skiing, time with family, and no internet or phone. Definitely a way to recharge for our new reality this fall - Drake starting kindergarten (which means two drop offs for school). But as with everything, we'll adjust just fine.

This trip was made extra special by the arrival of Marshall's sister and brother (and their significant others) for the end of our trip. Good meals, good conversation (which was enhanced by the cold, rainy weather that moved in), and just catching up as a family. What a beautiful location to have a family reunion.

Surviving the Spouse's 20 Year Reunion

The beginning of August took us to Pullman (the home of the Washington State Cougars) for Marshall's 20 year reunion. One never knows how these things are going to go - especially when you know hardly anyone. And every time I go to Pullman, I am reminded what a great town it is - a 10,000 resident town that is home to a Pac-10 University. Everything I think is cool - a small town with a major college. Always fun to visit.

The one great thing about the event is that we had TWO nights out in a row without kids. That in and of itself is a treat. We had the social gathering at the downtown bar on Friday night and survived the heat by kicking back a few beers. Of course, I kicked backed fewer than I might have given I was taking steroids for some random rash that started to overtake my body when we arrived in Pullman. What a way to kick off the vacation. We were also able to enjoy dinner at Sella's with Bob and Claudia and the kids before we went to the event.

On Saturday, we went to Sunnyside park for a nice family BBQ. Drake enjoyed playing on the merry-go-round with the other kids and Tanner "dug" digging in the sand. It was quite hot, but we enjoyed ourselves. That evening, we had dinner at the "Hilltop Restaurant" overlooking Pullman and WSU. It was a very nice evening and a very well prepared event. Marshall and I enjoyed our "date" and Marshall enjoyed catching up with old friends.



Washington State University

Grant Mitchell Geisert

Too precious.....
Feel free to send Jaima and Cam good wishes here.

Aunt X3

What wonderful news I received this morning when my sister called to tell me she had given birth to her 3rd child, a son. Grant Mitchell Geisert arrived early -just like his sister- only 37.5 weeks. But, everyone is doing well it sounds from my sister's voice.

I am of course over joyed to hear the wonderful news. But of course, am a bit sad that I can not be there to celebrate in person with her, meet my first nephew, and help out. I've booked tickets to go to Nebraska at the end of the month - I can hardly wait.

I'll post pictures soon!

Weekend Get-a-Way

This weekend took us to Colorado Springs to see some friends for a quick overnight visit. We took the kiddos to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - what an amazing place! There aren't very many animals, but the view and the landscapes for the animals were amazing! They also had play scapes throughout the zoo that the kids enjoyed.

When we returned from the zoo, the kids enjoyed some time in the sprinkler and finding acorns. This gave us an amazing amount of adult time chilling on the patio. Who knew collecting acorns could be so much fun?

We wrapped up the night with sushi prepared by our guests (yum!) and learning a new card game - "nerds". Then it was back to Denver on Sunday morning to make it back in time for Drake's golf lesson. A quick trip, but a really nice, relaxing time. Thanks Will and Sabrina!

Hakuna Matata!

Last night I was treated to a "show" by Drake at 7:00 in the basement. The feature song was "Hakuna Matata" - which of course means, "no worries". Ha! As I was watching the "show", it occurred to me that I really should take that phrase to heart a bit more. With job uncertainty, thoughts of moving and all the things in "regular life", it is sometimes hard to remember not to worry. Something to keep in mind.

I was also happy to see a bit of Drake's creative side - even if most of it included using the big screen TV as a mirror so he could watch himself dance and sing - and I use those terms loosely - more like jumping and screaming. However, he had a script and followed it and it was fun to hang in the basement and watch him (and enjoy a cocktail) - what's a concert without a beverage?

Sunshine, Water, and Family

A last minute trip was planned to Lake McConaughy to celebrate the 4th of July weekend. I had a "staycation" over Memorial Day weekend and was not going to have another over the 4th of July.

It actually worked out perfectly as the boys and I only had to drive to Ogallala from Pender (6 hours vs. 9 hours ) and Marshall was able to come join us after work on Thursday. And what a GREAT time we had. Time in the water was definitely the theme for the weekend. From the hotel pool and hot tub to the sandy beaches of Lake McConaughy. We packed sand toys, water toys, picnic lunch, and were able to hang out at the same beach spot both days.

We also got some fireworks and enjoyed a mini fireworks show of our own in the country.

What a great family vacation for us. The boys had a great time - and couldn't have loved the Best Western hotel more. When Marshall came, Drake was showing him that we had our own fridge and the shower had a cool soap dispenser. If only life could always be so simple.

Pender Alumni Weekend

Sisters!


Drake hanging out with his cousin Alyssa


Tanner and Anastin giving hugs

We were able to take some much needed time away from work. We spent some time in Pender and enjoyed the Alumni weekend - street dance, games in the park, and the parade were highlights. We also celebrated mom and dad's 40th wedding anniversary. How lucky we Karlen women have been to have such wonderful and loving parents. And obviously, it was extra special this year after the way the year started out.

The boys and I enjoyed some extra time in Pender swimming, going to coffee with "Pop", Drake camping in the motor home with "Nana", and experiencing fireworks first hand. What is the 4th of July without fireworks?

Drums, Hail and Skates

This weekend was a pretty casual weekend. It started off with impromptu happy hour for with Marshall - what a nice surprise! Always a special treat when we get some adult time out and about.

Saturday morning took us to the library to kick off their summer of reading with the World Drum Celebration presentation. Unlike many of the presentations we have attended in the past, this one had hardly any attendees and we were able to actively participate - we each got our own drum during the session. Drake really enjoyed it (and was one of the few kids there that knew the continents). Tanner thought it was a bit loud and wouldn't let me play my drum. I hope that Drake and I can continue to play the fun rhythms at home as Mom was just talking last weekend about the link between rhythm and reading. Music was always such a big part of my life - I hope I can keep it in the boys' too.

Sunday brought some yard work followed by a crazy hail storm.

We moved as many plants as we could, but the hail was just too big - I had welts on my back and legs - to get them all moved under cover. Hopefully, those that had to ensure storm will be able to recover. Tanner looked out and yelled "snow". And we were finding golf ball sized hail still in the yard almost 2 hours after the storm had passed. Marshall had never seen anything like it.




Drake and I wrapped up our weekend with a trip to Skate City for a few spins around the roller rink. Drake was definitely a novice, but I was proud of his perseverance and ability to keep at it. He even skipped cake so we could get in a few more laps before the rink closed. I could tell he was improving - even in just the two short hours we were there. Of course, right before we were about to leave, I figured out that they could "lock" the back wheels and he would have been much more stable. But, I think he felt proud with his accomplishments and even wanted to head out without me towards the end (both a proud a sad moment for me).

Sweet Boy Happy Birthday

Just melted my heart all weekend.

Birthday Fun

May wrapped up with a very fun weekend for the Peavy family. We hosted mom and dad and threw a happy hour birthday party. It was a busy weekend - but tons of fun. And talk about motivation - just have a party! The backyard looks great, the porch is stained, the carpets cleaned, and new couch ordered. I took Friday off to get ready for the afternoon bash and Mom and I had a really fun time "prepping" for the party. It would have not been fun at all if Mom wasn't here. I was so thankful to just spend time with her (without the boys) and grateful for hr all her help.

The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing, playing outside, going to the park, and just spending time together. We were even able to go out for brunch on Sunday morning and had a really nice time. I don't think I've ever seen the boys behave so well during a meal. What a treat for all of us.

And of course, it was just special to have Dad here to celebrate my birthday with me. The improvements he has made between Easter and now are great. It was so hard to believe the doctor's when they told us to expect a full recovery those first days in the ICU - and here we are. And this month Dad will attend is 50 year high school reunion and 40 years of marriage. What a change from January.

Insights from a walk to the Post Office

I enjoyed a beautiful walk to the post office this afternoon. The sun is out and the everything is green and in bloom. And I had time to think.

• I saw 3 smaller birds harassing a big hawk in the park. Makes you realize the big guy doesn't always win and there are strength in numbers.
  
• Goats are really good at getting rid of weeds, but they stink.
  
• Old, white men stretching in the park should wear shirts.
  
• Life is good and I have much to be thankful for.
  

What is Up with Us

How did May get here so quickly? A quick recap of some things we've been up to recently - and remembering how lucky we really are.....

1. Enjoying a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Peavy
2. Drake starting to ride his bike without training wheels
3. Celebrating Grandma Peavy's birthday here in Denver
4. Sending congrats out to my sister and her husband on their graduation from the University of Michigan with their Masters
5. Happy my parents could make it to Jacki and Sean's graduation - how special for all of them.
   
6. Enjoying Tanner's budding vocabulary - such a big boy!
   
7. My trip to the Bay area to see several dear friends and co-workers
8. A weekend at home with family - watching movies, doing yard work, and being together
   

Thank you Jean

Another post from Dad.

I have been remiss in not thanking the person most responsible for me being here, and that individual is Jean. It is the "first respondent" who has the greatest say in who survives. In a seminar given to physicians, it was determined that your spouse should be the one trained in survival techniques, as he/she was the one most responsible for your survival.

Jerry

Easter in Pender

Here are a few pictures of our trip to Pender over Easter. We had a great time dying Easter eggs, going to breakfast at Popo's, Fish Fry at Schreib's, and just hanging out with family. It was great to see Dad up and round - what a difference a month makes! The boys enjoyed time with their cousins and Nana and Pop. What a special trip to make - so many things to be thankful for.

A Post from Dad

Here's a comment Dad posted to the blog and I thought I would make a post out of it. It's obviously great to have Dad "back".

BE ON THE ALERT!!!! I am now catching up - having read julia's whole 48 page blog on my transformation from a piece of warm meat to whatever I have become today. My read on it is that I have recovered about 95% of my mental and about 75% of my physical capacities. Not that those percentages mean much (compared with what I started with) but a lot better than the chance the surgeon gave Jean after he tapped my head to release the pressure. "He told her that my chances of surviving that night were less than 5%. When I saw him last week (first time I remember meeting him) he told me that he had never had a case as bad as mine that made it as far back as I did - go figure!"

Anyway, THANKS for all the support, thoughts, and prayers. Something had to work for me to be able to still be here!!!

Jerry Karlen

Neurosurgeon Follow Up

Dad had a follow up with the neurosurgeon yesterday and everything went well. He had a cat scan and the ventricles are the right size, everything looks normal, etc. Great news!

While meeting with the Physician's Assistant, Dad asked if Dr. Durwood was available as he really wanted to meet the man that saved his life. The PA said sure and Dr. Durwood spent about 20 minutes with Mom and Dad. One question they had was around the "consistency" of Dad's blood during the surgery (basically, the heart doctors were interested to know if Dad was on the right dose of blood thinners). Apparently, normal is b/t 2 and 3 and Dad's blood was 2.5 - so he was right where he was supposed to be. Dad was able to stand up, shake hands, and thank the man that saved his life and I know this was very important to him.

During the conversation, Dad said that Dr. Durwood mentioned how in all of the procedures he has done like this, Dad is definitely the best case he has seen. Obviously, many don't make it and if they do, they have severe limitations. It truly is unbelievable.

With the Natasha Richardson tragedy, I have thought even more and more about how lucky we truly are. Although Natasha's injury was from a fall, it was nevertheless a brain bleed like Dad suffered. And she was a healthy 45 year old woman. What a testament to my Dad's inner strength.

Mom and Dad also dropped off gifts for the staff in the therapy wing and Dad said that everyone was complimenting him on how he looked, how he was walking, etc. An aide from the stroke ward came up and gave him a hug, asked how Jacki was doing, and told him how good he looked. Another testament to how well Dad has been handling all the trauma he has been through and how people remember him (and his family).

We are headed to Nebraska tomorrow and I can hardly wait for the boys to see their Nana and Pop. I don't think I have ever been so thankful to be going home with my boys - it is truly special that they will be able to see their Pop. What a blessing.