Becoming One

Pete is becoming a Catholic on Easter Day. He has been going through classes and I am so proud and excited for him. Raising our family with the same religious values is going to happen. I've always told Pete that it didn't matter to me if he converted because it just mattered that we went to church together and raised our children together.
Now that Pete has made this decision on his own, it did end up meaning a lot to me. I am so happy for Pete and my family!

Splicer of the world - WATCH OUT!

Here I come! I will first splice my house with surround sound and then I shall rule the world with my top notch splicing techniques! I can bound from telephone pole to telephone pole with a single leap, give you free cable, and do it all without killing myself. RIGHT!
Here is a pic of me training. I will have more pics from my next training where we climb long extension ladders dangling only from the cable wire between poles.
It was a lot of fun, though. Blisters on my fingers after one day of splicing. And I couldn't have picked a better spot for training, San Diego. It was gorgeous and warm.
My mom flew over to spend some bonding time with me so we toured the USS Midway which was the Naval carrier that my dad was stationed on. Very cool! I miss him.

San Diego

I will be travelling to San Diego from 1/19 - 1/24. This is due to the unions within AT&T that could possibly go on strike in April. This is the copper splicer union. Anyway, if they go on strike, I will be one of the many managers going out and doing their jobs while they are on strike. Can you see me up a telephone pole splicing wires? HELL NO! I really don't know how a bunch of training on the web and then a week in person will put me in a position to not kill myself. Seriously, I will be an expert in filling out paperwork, driving the truck, and getting coffee for the actual splicer managers that will be doing the jobs (I'm praying!). I'll be in Waukesha, Wisconsin possibly in April and who knows until when.
Now, in my mind these union people would be STUPID to strike when they should be happy to even have a job! I am not a fan of unions at all so it frustrates me that they want the world when hundreds of thousands of people would give a limb to have a great job with benefits.
If I do have to stay in Wisconsin for a long time - I only get to fly back every 3 weeks for 2 days. So poor Pete - he will be a single dad for who knows how long. My summer vacation to Iowa might be postponed if I'm still out splicing. My trip to Colorado might be put on hold. This pretty much screws up a ton of vacation for me! How dare they not consider my plans before striking! he he he

Facebook

If you haven't already given in and snagged yourself a facebook site - do it. It is pretty cool to track down people from high school, college, previous work, etc. And if you want to try the best MAC AND CHEESE EVER - the link on this blog will take you to my facebook page.
Check it out!

New pics

Pete posted a couple of videos and new pictures out on the Sysum website so check them out.

Did I move back to Iowa?

Well, it is 12 degrees here right now. It has not hit over freezing this entire week. We are supposed to get another storm Saturday night with high winds and 6-8 more inches of snow.
I'm pretty sure that I live in Washington but it sure is giving me cold memories of Iowa and even Colorado!
Nicholas and Rachel, however, do not care about the cold. Pete took them to a small hill today to go sledding on the tubes we used in Mexico. Good use for a $5 tube!
We are so excited for Christmas to get here.
We wish we could be near our families but since it will be so cold here - we will think of them even more.
Happy Holidays to everyone!
Molly

New Low

Well, I have officially sunk to an almost all time low with what I will do for my children. Nicholas and Rachel and I were buying Pete some presents at Game Stop and of course, Rachel had to go potty (pee - which is important to note here). We had already planned to go next door to Magic Dragon to take some noodles home for dinner. So we rush out of Game Stop (while in the middle of a sale) and hit the bathroom next door.
Now Grandma White had just been here and of course bought Rachel some beautiful rings (which don't quite fit yet). Rachel had one of them on.
She sits down to go pee, and I hear a strange noise as if something fell in the toilet. Of course, it is her ring from Grandma.
I try to blow it off like nothing happened, completely starting to think of what I am going to have to do.
Rachel immediately starts screaming and crying that "it is her favorite ring" and "Grandma got those for me".
Trying to reason in the bathroom of a fast food Chinese place is very difficult.
SO ------------------- I stick my hand down into the pee water and fish out the ring. Then proceed to tell Rachel that she owes me big for doing this and that it is the grossest thing ever to put your hand in a toilet with pee in it.

All I am thankful for is that she didn't have to POOP!

Shout Out!

Just want to throw a shout out to my husband. He is amazing! We were both up at 3am to stand in line on Black Friday. He lets me work crazy hours when work is hectic. He is a phenominal dad - always putting his kids first and I think Pete is going to help coach YMCA basketball for Nicholas. Rachel has him around her little finger (me too!). She is so darn cute.
Pete Sysum is AWESOME! And pretty damn sexy too if I might add!
The picture is of Pete and Rachel and Pete's brother, Jon.

Mexico

So everyone that works a full-time job should get to spend 2 weeks at a resort in Mexico with their nanny (or at least a babysitter for the kids). It was so relaxing and amazing! We should have the pics up soon on the Sysum pics link.
I didn't turn on my Blackberry or even bring my laptop.
Pete and I got to go on a zip line and rappelling adventure, we spent quality time together since Becky (nanny) was there to watch the kids, we went snokeling in the ocean with Uncle Jon (and Uncle Mike and Chewy - long story), AND the resort was a ton better then last time because they had added 2 wave pools and a crazy long and fast slide.
Puerta Vallarta is incredible. The weather was sunny and 90 almost every day. Nobody burned and nobody got sick. Solid trip!
We even saw an eel - and I freaked out just a little since it was right next to Rachel on her boogie board. You can actually see it all on one of the videos on our site.
I read some books for work (Managing Change, Fixing Communication, etc) for some training classes that I will be taking. I'll have to write up another blog about my Meyer's Briggs outcome - hit me right on the head on my skill set.
Gotta run but I needed to post something since it had been so long.

Nick's Tooth

So Nick has had a loose tooth for about 3 weeks now. I get home from work on Monday and Becky and Nick and Rachel are all searching our driveway for a tooth. He had been playing with it and it popped out! sidenote - He thought the blood was very cool.
More good news. I get home from volleyball last night and Pete was home! He came home a day early and both the kids and I were happily surprised! His trip sounded awesome and you guys can check out the pictures on our Sysum Pictures link. We are so glad to have him back - it was a long 9 days.
40 more days until Mexico.

Pete's Trip

Pete is now on his "work" trip. He went to Bulgaria first, now he is in Romania and then ends in Ireland. I am so jealous of his trips abroad. Romania and Ireland both have days that Pete gets to site see in.
Grandma White gets here tonight for a 5 day trip to see the kids. I told them there would be a surprise in the computer room for them in the morning. They are going to freak when the present is Grandma.
Nick is loving school and we have a meeting with his teacher in a couple of weeks. I also joined the PTA. Gotta stay involved!
Mexico trip is less than 2 months away - man I can't wait!
**Don't litter

Pete ROCKS!

So my husband rocks! He sent me flowers to work on Nick's first day of school, bought me a 120 GB (that is a lot of memory for translation, Sandy)Zune that is very cool, and left me a great note and more roses the other morning.
Sometimes I think we take our significant other for granted. Whoever your "other" is, give them a big hug and kiss and tell them how much you love them.
And mom, think of dad and know that he thinks and has always thought that you were the BOMB wife and an AWESOME mom!
Love to everyone!

Nick's first day of school

Yes, I cried.
The bus was late, so Nicholas was nervous that he wouldn't get to ride the bus to school. After he was on the bus and on his way - I started to tear up and couldn't believe that he is in kindergarten. I have never been so proud of him getting on the bus and going to school by himself.
We met his teacher on Tuesday this week and his first day was Wednesday. I have already had homework - what the heck! He will get homework staring next week which is such a great way to start kids on the right track. He loves it so far. Came home the first day and said that he has 32 new friends. Today, he sat with a buddy from his class on the school bus. I can only imagine the conversation they had on the way home.
Rachel is doing ok. She is having a friend over on Friday to spend the day with her. She will be doing yoga at the Y on her own now and I'm going to try to get her in something else in the afternoon while Nick is in school.
The picture is Nick getting off the bus his first day of school.

Rachel caught a fish!

Rachel, with her Dora fishing pole, caught a rainbow trout over Labor Day weekend while camping. It was very exciting. I was trying to catch up on a nap while Pete took the kids fishing. All of a sudden on the walkie talkie Nick was telling me that he caught a dead minnow (funny joke to make sure mom doesn't sleep). However, while he was talking, Rachel felt something pulling her fishing pole around and then the chaos began. Rachel dropped her pole and so Nick picked it up screaming that they caught a fish. He gets it reeled in and wants to know when he can bang it on it's head. Rachel is talking baby talk to the fish. Pete is just laughing at his crazy children!
We had it for dinner that night - and everyone tried it! Finally, a fish was caught in Washington. We can retire our poles until the Spring.
Oh, and in October, the boys are going squid fishing. Hmmmm, we'll see about those. I like mine breaded as appetizers.

Work-Out

So Pete and I are back working out again. He found this 4 month weight training regiment that we started - gotta get ready for Mexico! It is nice hanging out with him doing something that he loves to do. I'm learning so much. Protein shakes, amino acids, blah, blah, blah.
The kids are also getting into it. Nick wants to lift weights at home and does his ab workout and push-ups almost every night. It is cute because of course right next to him is Rachel doing her very best.
We are also getting ready for our camping trip. Our good friends Patrick and Wendy kindly let us borrow their 3 room tent with air mattresses. Thank goodness because it is supposed to rain (I know - we live in Seattle) 2 out of the 3 days we are camping! We will become experts at Kings in the Corner and Go Fish card games.
I hope everyone has a great and safe Labor Day Weekend!
***The picture is of Nick and Rachel and their cousins from Michigan - Arianna, Bronson and the youngest, Adelene.

Mexico

All I can think about is going on vacation in November. Only 75 more days! Not that I'm counting or anything. We are going to Puerta Vallarta with the kids and Becky (our nanny) from the 9th through the 22nd.
In between then, Charles (I put his latest softball picture from Iowa here) is coming out over Halloween to visit. Pete's parents are going to try to come out in October too. Nicholas starts school - he is very excited to just get away from his sister - that's all he wants right now. My mom might come out. Pete is going to Hungary, Romania, and Ireland the end of September (I am so jealous that I don't have more vacation to go with him!). Before you know it, November will be here.
I think Pete and I are also going to make a trip in February down to Cabo the same week that my friend Kim and her husband go every year.
We are also heading back to Colorado this summer to see friends and family.

Long time - no Write

Wow, almost an entire month without putting anything up. The biggest problem is that I can't do this from work anymore. I would blog or at least start blogging during my lunch - now I just have to check out People.com for all of the celebrity news.
We went to Iowa for 10 days and stayed at Okaboji. We got to see Grandma White,
Uncle Kyle and Aunt Jacki (they are pregnant and due the end of January), Uncle Charles (Rachel only calls him Charles), and Uncle Tommy from my side of the family.
Pete's brother Dave and his family came over from Michigan for 5 days which was awesome. Arianna will be in 2nd grade, Bronson in 3rd grade, and Adelene in pre-school. We haven't see them in 3 years.
My sister-in-law Shelley is a psychologist so I partook in some free therapy before she left!
I also got to see my friends' Paige and Diane. I'm hoping next year to maybe stay longer - work from Iowa so the kids can hang out longer (and I can see more of my friends!).
It was a great vacation. There was skiing (trying to ski - after 4 times of getting my nasal cavity cleaned out, I stopped), fishing, swimming, boating, and lots of playing the Wii.
We posted the pictures on the family website so you can check them out there.
More to come!

Nick-isms

As my good friend, Julie, calls these comments, Emma-isms - I will now call these Nick-isms.
These 2 items just make you really wonder what in the heck goes through our children's minds.
1. Nick now calls his bottom - G
2. Nick call his manhood - L
Where, how and who did he consult in order to start this new title? Why does he call his bottom "G" and why "L" for his manhood? We haven't decided to ask him quite yet so it doesn't seem like he is getting into trouble. We have bought into this change and now also use these terms.
Another cute slip-up from Nick came today, after receiving an airbrush tatoo at the Microsoft picnic. He asked Pete if the tatoo was pregnant. Pete looked at him knowing that it wasn't the right word and waiting for Nick to explain to him what he meant. Nick then said, "You know, when things don't wash away - they stay around". Obviously, we now know he meant permanent but come on - that was pretty funny!

We had a very busy day today. Microsoft picnic from 9:30 until 5. Then Rachel and I went and got our pedicures from 5 - 6:15. Then we were all off with our friends Rick, Shelly, and Sara to the Aquasox minor league baseball game from 7 until 9:30. Tomorrow we are going to take it easy and lay around all day! Thank goodness.

Microsoft Picnic

There are so many benefits to being a Microsoft employee. Crazy discounts at all tourist attractions in the Seattle area. No co-pays for medical (doctor visits, hospital visits, etc). If you have a child, the employee gets an entire month off paid in full. Stock options - I can go on and on.
Another great benefit is the picnic in the summer. We are going this Saturday and it is fabulous. They provide a massive amount of activities for everyone and free food and drinks for the entire day. They also have shuttles up to the "farm" so you don't have to drive and can enjoy the scenery.
Rachel and I are also going to get our pedicures for Iowa on Saturday night and then we are all going to try to hit a AA baseball game nearby. We are busy busy people!

We are alive after our first camping trip!!!

So I slept in a tent this past Saturday night. I'm not sure what crazy person told my husband that this was a 4 person tent - but they lied! There is no way in hell that 4 adults could sleep in there, much less 2 adults and 2 small children. Needless to say, if it would have been more than 1 night - we would have a new tent now.
We went to Wenberg State Park up by Marysville, WA. It was absolutely beautiful and very clean. It was also nice that all of the other campers there were normal, however I did catch a whiff of marijuana in the bathroom that night. Don't ask how I know that smell :)
Here is a picture of Nicholas and Rachel by the campfire. They had a blast and I think Pete had fond memories of his younger days! We will definitely be going camping again (in a bigger tent!) after our trip to Iowa.
We are in Iowa from August 1st through August 10th. I can't wait to see everyone! Pete's brother Dave and his family are driving down from Michigan to spend a couple of nights with us. We haven't seen them in 4 years - and Shelley (Nicholas and Rachel's aunt) is a HOOT!
If people don't know, I received a promotion to Manager of my testing team and lucky me - overtime started tonight through August 15th. Sure am glad I'm on vacation for one of the weeks!