Minnesota is Heaven, But Virginia is Home

As usual, I have these backwards...tossing their caps post-ceremony! Josiah with his "diploma" Annie trying to hula-hoop (and the haircut per Mom's request) Riding trikes at school (of course, NO shoes!) Today was Josiah's big graduation from preschool. Hey--at least this year he participated in the ceremony and the diplomas were laminated. Last year at graduation, he refused to join in and Annika had to stand proxy for him! Anyway, things went smoothly and now he's officially all done with preschool...next stop kindergarten!

It's been almost a week now since I found out, but item number one on the list is to announce the arrival, in October, of a new baby BOY to our family! If you are among the surprised, consider me one of the party, because I was completely convinced that we were having another girl. This supposition was completely based on some sort of old wives tale stating that most women get sick with one sex or the other, and seeing as I was laid out for the first trimester with Josiah and perfectly peachy with Annika, I figured this was a girl too. Meaning, I haven't been sick at all. Take that, old wives! Wrong again! Anyway, we are having a boy! After my appointment, I went to pick up Josiah and Annika, who were anxiously awaiting word. When I said "It's a boy!" Josiah started cheering and Annika promptly started sobbing. Guess she really wanted a girl. This excitement/non-excitement may be based on the fact that I had told the kids that one of them could eventually...

Lorraine Peterson is just your pseudonym, right? Why didn't you tell me that you have written a book? Wherever are you hiding the royalties? I'm sure this has sold millions of copies, right? I really think you should have added the sub-sub title: The Hans De For story, but I understand, you were trying to stay modest... Damn, this makes me laugh every time I see it. Oh, maybe no royalties because as we all know: "There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness." I hope you get a laugh...see you very soon, love.

Here they come, from our newly minted 5-year-old: "Mommy, who was the first man?" "Well...Adam, I guess?" "Did the dinosaurs live before or after Adam?" "Ummm...before, I think?" (Seriously, though before or after Adam and how do you explain evolution vs. creation? And now I'm really wondering...did God create the dinosaurs and was Adam there with the dinosaurs because the Bible really makes no mention of large, carnivorous lizards chasing Abraham or even Judas). "Did God create the dinosaurs then?" "Uhhh (thinking: God created everything, right?) yes, definitely!" "Mommy, do elephant babies come out of their mommy's trunk?" "No, most definitely not" (this one I feel 100% sure of). "Well, Mommy how is our baby going to get out? Through your belly button?" "Ummm, let's save this conversation for a few years hence, OK?" "What's hence?" Josiah is really the friendl...

Blowing out the candles...had a little trouble (there may have been a "little" spit on the cake!) The Thomas "paint-your-own" cars after their paint jobs (loving the smiley faces) Happily painting Recycling Cars - just especially in honor of my eco-friendly husband! ;) Digging in Admiring Culdee Five fingers Well, as usual I'm a day late and a dollar short. Sorry about that. Things have been a little busy around here with mother-in-laws visiting, school, teeball, visits here and there, etc. Yesterday was Josiah's fifth birthday...think he had a pretty good one. We started celebrating on Monday, actually, because Josiah declared it his "Last Day to be Four" celebration. What a kid, I tell you! He leapt out of bed yesterday morning and brought his wrapped presents from my room out to the living room. I insisted that he eat a good breakfast before the arduous task of present-opening, so he consented to a waffle, which I delivered to him with a sing...

May I first note that my intent was not to prove my mother-in-law wrong. No, I simply wanted to know it is was possible that my husband had a story that good that he hadn't already told me 28 times. He called from Kandahar a bit ago (made it fine, bit of a bumpy ride in a C-130), and verified that he has not ever sailed on the USS CONSTITUTION. He told me, in true Hans style (AKA: TMI) that the last time that ship sailed under her own power was in 1997. Yes, it is true that they tow her out once a year to turn her around so that she weathers properly, but she hasn't actually sailed since 1997. Hans was there in 1997, he was on a destroyer that escorted the CONSTITUTION. So I think that may be where the confusion came into play. Sorry, Donna...I just had to know, and now we do. And so do all of you. Yawn, right?

I know most of your stories. I've heard some of them multiple times, such as the famous "Chris' Trip to the Source" story. Here's one I've not heard and so I'm checking with you to find out if it's fact or fantasy. Your mother told me last night that you have sailed on the USS CONSTITUTION on one of its annual turns around the harbor. I'm stumped...that's one that I cannot recall hearing in eight years, even when we were onboard said ship taking a tour... Fact or fantasy? BTW everyone, Hans is making a pleasure trip to Kandahar today. Wheeeee, Kandahar! I wonder if there's an amusement park and a water slide? Say an extra prayer.

Donna hasn't had a taco since 1987. Until today. That's right, being around us has made her desire to try wild and crazy things...like tacos! She liked the first one so much, she had another one. I think we have a new Taco Bell fan in Stuttgart, however, those of you at home try to get her to Taco John's as Hans and I much prefer them to Taco Bell. OK, enough about tacos. Those of you who read Donna's blog already know that she made it to Stuttgart just fine and that we enjoyed our weekend in Garmisch at Edelweiss. The weather was supposed to be rainy, gray and cold all weekend, but by some divine miracle (I think the sun just follows Donna around), it was bright, beautiful, sunny and warm. Absolute Alpine perfection. And we listened to "The Sound of Music" soundtrack the entire time, which is something I've always wanted to do while driving into the Alps, but never have asked of my husband. I'm just that thoughtful. I have yet to actually get ...

Have I mentioned lately that my husband is gone and that it really, really sucks? I was actually happier with his being gone, or at least more resigned to it, about four weeks ago up until the last few days, when we changed the calendar over and I realized that we're getting down there. Something like 31 days-ish to go. That should make me feel better, I know, but instead, I find it to be almost unbearable to have to go through these last few weeks...it gets harder to bear the closer it gets to him coming home. I know...weird, right? It's just that the excitement and anticipation of homecoming and the sweet relief of a shift of responsibility grows and grows until I think my head's going to explode. I wonder how long the glory days will last? Such is the problem with a returning sailor or soldier...we all tend to forget that this person is a human being with foibles and habits we don't really like, such as the tendency to watch TV in his underwear every weekend mo...