Merry Christmas!

Lori loves to make me cry, so you'll notice who's topping MY tree this year? I think he looks pretty happy there.


We had an open house today so that my friends could come visit with Arnold. I made lots of cookies! Arnold made the fudge. Yum.


We didn't get a family photo on graduation day, so Joan took one for us today. Aw. He looks so good in that uniform!

Private First Class

So very proud of Arnold! So happy that Lori and Gary and Heidi were able to join us for his graduation! What an amazing, emotional few days.


We had fun together in San Diego and Legoland before flying home. And we have the great pleasure of having him home for a few weeks before he heads back to Camp Pendelton.

almost there!

graduation is less than two weeks away!

http://www.devildogs.info/Kilo%20Company.htm

scroll down to Platoon 3225, download the video and tell me if you can find Arnold.

and for those of you that missed the t-shirt post, here's that link again...

http://www.bootcampgrads.com/index.php/kilo-sd-proud-ega-short-sleeve-t-shirt-4846.html
cassie and i have ours. so do Lori and Marlon!

so excited!

whale, wouldn't you know...

if you happen to have a small child handy, could you ask them if this snack would pass for a beluga whale?



next weekend is whalefest in sitka, and today i found the CUTEST whale cupcakes in a book i bought at the scholastic book fair. unfortunately the body of the whale is made with a twinkie covered in frosting. adorable, but really not a healthy choice for preschoolers. so cassie and i went to the store and bought bananas and nilla wafers. the whale is resting on a sea of marshmallow fluff (marshmallow cream mixed with cream cheese and blue food coloring).

room to work

With Cassie finally moved into her new, bigger bedroom, I now have a workroom! Have I done any work in it? Hmm. No. Not yet. Though I did sit in there this morning to write a letter to Arnold. The table is next to the window and the sun is shining in.


The first project to be: a t-shirt quilt made from Arnold's old shirts. See? All the supplies are ready!

Any bets on how long this project is gonna take?

happy alaska day!

we've had it ALL today -- rain, wind, hail, lightning and thunder -- and a parade! an hour before the parade when i picked cassie up from school it was raining and hailing so hard it made driving difficult. we waited it out at Subway, though, and the rain stopped long enough for our 25 minute parade. lots of candy was thrown, bands played, and a whale made it's way through the streets of Sitka.


good thing the dooney & bourke picnic tote is waterproof. :-)

photos by cassie.

makeover

Doesn't seem like Arnold's been gone over a month, but Cassie is finally getting settled taking over his room. She's also gone a bit crazy with the masking tape.





I got to do bra art on the wall behind her door. She had a lot of cute bras that she's outgrown!



Save the ta-tas!

planning ahead

This is the shirt Cassie and I will be wearing to Arnold's graduation. Just putting it out there in case anyone else wants to play along!

http://www.bootcampgrads.com/index.php/san-diego/san-diego-kilo/kilo-sd-proud-ega-short-sleeve-t-shirt.html

Platoon 3225. You know the rest! :-D

Graduation --- December 10! Can't wait!

the hour of power

sitka had a really bad windstorm on tuesday that took out a major power line. while the repairs are being made over the next few days, our power is being rationed because the city is using diesel fuel, and because they don't have the capacity to power the whole city without the hydroelectric plants. so the downtown area has power most of the time, and the north and south ends of town have power every other hour, alternately.

it's been kind of fun.

yesterday at the grocery store all the moms were watching the clock (the grocery store has a generator). we were all calculating how much time we had before we needed to be home and ready to cook dinner when our power came on at 6:00.

i know that the city utility department has had a lot of angry customers this week, but i'm really happy that i have a warm house and cold beer, and when my power goes off, i'm fairly confident that it's going to come back on in another 67 minutes.

things we chose to do when the power was off:

• write letters to Arnold
• move Cassie's curtain rod and mirror to her new room (with a human-powered screwdriver)
• have light saber duels with emergency flashlights
• watch DVDs on the laptop
• sit in the dark and enjoy how quiet it is without the humming of appliances
• play with Arnold's night vision goggles
• shower by candlelight
• make a masking-tape mural on the wall (I didn't do this -- Cassie did)

the city expects us to be back on full power by tomorrow afternoon, but if they don't, it will be a great excuse for putting off laundry and vacuuming yet again. just doing our part to conserve electricity during this power emergency.

First Day, Last Day

A belated "First Day of High School" post! Cassie started school way back on August 24th, I just didn't get this posted. So far she is liking high school. With some prompting from Arnold and me, she has joined the yearbook staff, and plans to join the Drama and Debate team.


Yesterday was Arnold's last day in Sitka, so I skipped the usual Saturday housecleaning and we enjoyed some family time. Here are the kids in Cassie's favorite tree at Old Sitka. There were LOTS of goofy pictures, too.

Arnold didn't want a going-away party, but last night several of his friends came over and they watched the "GI Joe" movie.

He and Cassie said their goodbyes early this morning, and Arnold and I arrived at the airport just as they were announcing the final boarding call. Fortunately Sitka's airport is very small, and all he had with him was his ID and his cell phone (which will be mailed back to the house tomorrow -- he can't have it at boot camp). Another bonus of arriving late -- no time for teary good-byes at the airport!

bringing home the bacon

Cassie got her first paycheck this month! Woot! The sad part is she starts high school on the 24th and won't be a paid employee at the child care center after that (until next summer!).

HooRah!

Arnold did it! He had his fourth and final audition for the Marine Corps Band yesterday and he's IN!

He will be heading off to boot camp in San Diego on September 13. Anticipated graduation date is December 10, and you're all invited! We'll probably be going to Legoland and/or Disneyland before flying back to Sitka.

The recruiters were here for dinner last night (I forgot to take pictures!). Gave us lots of good information.

After boot camp, he'll have a minimum of 10 days leave. There's a very good chance he'll be home for Christmas. Then he'll go back to Camp Pendleton for about three weeks before heading to the Marine Corps music school in Virginia Beach.

We won't have a mailing address for him until the second week of boot camp, but then I will be hounding ALL of you to write him letters!

So very proud of this boy.

She's driving me...

Cassie turned 14 on Saturday and got her learner's permit today! She drove around the campground (speed limit 10 mph) and practiced pulling in and out of spaces, then around the mostly empty ferry terminal parking lot. About an hour of practice today, and she only scared me twice!

"Slow down... SLOW DOWN... SLOW DOWN!!!"

Yesterday she started her first job. She's now OFFICIALLY employed at the child care center where she's been volunteering for the past two years. Woot!

And for those of you NOT reading my status on facebook -- Arnold is currently on his way home from Anchorage where he had his second audition for the Marine band, took the ASVAB test (and scored a whopping 94), and had his physical.

So proud of my babies!

She's a Rock Star!

Yes, my sister can do ANYTHING! She's beautiful. She's talented. She's clever and witty. And she's a Rock Star.

Happy 22nd Anniversary, Lori!

a boy and his dog

Happy Father's Day, Daddy.

Wish you were here.

Tote-ally Awesome

I got this tote bag for free, but I don't need it.

It's from Del Sol, and changes color in sunlight.

It looks like this indoors:

And like this outdoors:

Anyway, I'll mail it to the first Gillespie to post here that you want it.

the start of something

Lots of endings this past weekend.

End-of-year tie-dye celebration at my work on Friday. The annual bike-a-thon was held in the afternoon in HOT, sunny weather. (Pledges still being accepted.)

Blatchley Middle School holds a "Rites of Passage" for 8th graders at the end of the school year. This was also on Friday.Here's Cassie in line wearing her cute new dress!

Sitka High School's graduation ceremony was held Sunday evening.


Arnold, diploma in hand.

The 2010 graduating class -- 70 students.

During the recessional -- happy to have that stupid hat off!

Arnold and his very proud mom. Aw.

Run, Arnold, Run!

The Sitka High Track team travelled to Juneau this weekend for the Regional meet, and came home as winners, once again! When Arnold got off the ferry, he handed me his FOUR medals (two gold, one silver, one bronze). I cried, of course. I'm so proud of my boy!

There's lasagna in the oven and it always reminds me of this conversation with my 4-year-old Arnold:

Mom: We're having lasagna for dinner.
Arnold: Oh! Like that song at church!
Mom: What song at church?
Arnold: Lasagna? In the highest?

I just love him.

A happy Mother's Day

Woke up to a lovely message on the white board from Cassie, and an even lovelier note. Aw. I've raised such a wonderful daughter!



Kent mowed down the weeds and grass in the yard today so I could take pictures of our little garden.

Arnold got home from a track meet in Haines this afternoon. It was such a nice day that we all just went for a drive (Arnold drove first -- it's nice to be able to just look around sometimes!). I drove on the way home but nearly had to pull over because the kids had me laughing so hard I was crying.

Thank you, Lori!

Lori is BRILLANT, you know. She will go down in history as the founder of the Income Tax Refund Commemoritive Handbag tradition.



Here's what I've ordered for the occassion. Can't wait for it to arrive!

Not sure yet what to do about matching shoes and underwear.

:-)

Cassie and I had dinner at the Channel Club on Friday. We ordered appetizers - chicken skewers, beef skewers, and beer-battered halibut nuggets. All delicious, and we had some leftovers to bring home.

Last night Kent took me out to VanWinkle & Sons. I had a half order of the "twisted mac and cheese" and still could only eat a third of it. Kent had the seafood fetuccini and ordered a side of the gorgonzola and bacon smashed potatoes. After one bite, he decided that he does NOT like gorgonzola cheese, so guess what I had for breakfast today?

Just had to take a picture of my birthday loot. Thought it was cool that my flowers look like Lori's! Come on over for margaritas, okay?

faith and patience

tax return, energy rebate, unpaid child support. i know it's all coming (about ten thousand dollars in total), but today the universe is testing me. hm. what to do to pass the time.

i think i may have found the perfect tax refund commemorative purse, and it will look good with the new car, too!

oh, and speaking of purses, Lori, i've been meaning to ask, is it okay to accessorize a coach purse?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pvGJnL5APg

Happy Easter

Are you tired of whale pictures yet? I never get tired of watching them. Every sighting is breathtaking. This whale was by Heather's house this afternoon. I watched it for about 45 minutes. Cassie sat in the car listening to her ipod.

More of the same whale. The white foam is herring spawn.

The bunny rolls did not make it until dinner time.

Sea gulls...

Cassie driving the Kia. She'll be eligible for a learner's permit in just a few months! This was just in the parking lot at the ferry terminal. She got to drive in circles for a bit.

A sign on the fence at the ferry terminal. Sitka dogs, apparently, know how to read! Cassie took this picture.

Arnold. Is he grumpy? Or is the sunshine just giving him a headache, too? It's seriously too bright out today. Had to close the drapes.

Cassie's feet. That's the ferry dock in the background. There was an eagle sitting at the end of the dock.

Bunnies on the rise. Yes the photos are out of order. Not sure why blogger does that.

So this is how our Easter was --- Kent went to Mass with us Saturday night and the church didn't fall down. Mass ended at 10:30 and Arnold was due in on a flight from Ketchikan (track meet) at 11:00, so we went to get a refreshing beverage and then waited for him at the airport.

Slept in on Sunday and then started the dough for the bunny rolls, and decided today would be a good day to clean the oven. Why? I have no idea. It certainly needed to be done.

While the rolls raised, Cassie and Arnold and I went for a drive. Got lunch at McDonald's then drove out the road looking for whales. Sat in the parking lot at the ferry terminal enjoying the sunshine and watching birds.

Came home and baked the rolls, took a little nap, then went for another drive. Found the whales! I took about 400 pictures. Really. When the driving around was done for the day, I made myself a pomegranate martini. Mmmmm.

Dinner was Aunt Joyce's ham balls, spanakopita, and fruit with dip. The bunny rolls were all gone way before dinner was ready.

No egg hunting, no feast. It was a nice, relaxing day. How was yours?

well...

i was totally expecting a post from Lori that would make everybody cry.

happy birthday, daddy.

cute, right?

Cassie and I are loving the new car! Arnold likes it, too. He managed to put about 90 miles on it while I was in Juneau for a couple of days.
It also makes for great Girl Scout Cookie transportation.

Rachael's not the only one!

Today, I got my new wheels, too! It is a 2008 Kia Sportage. A lovely shade of green, 6 cylinder, 4 wheel drive (all that mattered to me was that it was green). I haven't been able to take pictures yet (rain on top of snow/slush all day) but will take some soon.

And, also today, I got the energy audit exit rating and I went up TWO steps to a 4-star-plus rating! That's exciting because that means I am eligible to get $5,500 back (instead of the $4,000 I was going to be totally happy with if I only went up one step). Just gotta fill out a form and mail in the receipts and, voila! Money back in the bank!

think pink

wednesday night was "pack the gym" night at sitka high school, with proceeds going to breast cancer and heart health awareness. attendees were encouraged to wear pink or red to the games. arnold, wearing his sister's hot pink clothes, directed the pep band.

this is one confidant young man. we meet with the army recruiter on monday. do you think he should wear the pink pants?

i'm starting to think that the little bar that pops up to tell me a pop-up has been blocked is more annoying than having the pop-ups.

all that jazz

february is a busy month for Arnold.


this weekend is the Sitka Jazz Festival so Arnold has been busy. there are rehearsals and workshops and concerts. at last night's concert (featuring about eight different performing groups), Arnold performed with the Sitka High Jazz Band. tonight he'll perform with the All Alaska Jazz Band. i love watching him and of course he was absolutely the best bass player that hit that stage last night.

Arnold will be meeting with an Army recruiter on the 16th. if he auditions and is selected for the Army band, he might enlist for a couple of years so he can pay for college. Arnold has also applied to NAU where he would major in music education. big decisions ahead.

and then, Arnold will be traveling to Idaho for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

time for a brief update...

Arnold directing the Sitka High Pep Band at a basketball game.

Cassie ready for the masquerade dance at school. She painted and decorated the mask herself. I think it's pretty! (Mikie -- note the framed drawings on the wall behind Cassie from the Animation Academy! -- SO FUN!)

We had a fun Valentine-making* party today! Lots of food (scones, asian chicken salad and croissants, red velvet cupcakes and lots of valentine candy). Several friends came by to help me on my quest to use up my paper-crafting supplies. We made a very small dent in that area, and there are still lots of cupcakes and scones left which my co-workers will be happy to help me with tomorrow.

We had so much fun making cards that we're thinking of having another card-making party in a few weeks with a birthday card theme (and pizza and birthday cake!).

In preparation for the party, I cleaned the whole house yesterday and killed my vacuum cleaner! Fortunately it's not too cold outside (in the 40s) because we had to air the house out when the vacuum burned up. What a stench! Will be contacting Costco in Juneau tomorrow about getting a Dyson.

This weekend Arnold will be performing with the Sitka High Jazz Band and the All Alaska Jazz Band during the Sitka Jazz Festival.

Not much else to report! Our weather has been unseasonably warm and my tulips think it's Spring. I should have put more dirt on top of them last weekend, but Cassie and I were sick so it didn't get done. Oh, well. Maybe they'll survive.

* This does not mean I will be sending Valentines. The Valentine's are for patients in the long-term care area of the hospital, and residents of the Pioneer Home.

Having an Epiphany

Yesterday I finally got our Christmas letter in the mail. And on the Feast of the Epiphany -- the official end of the Christmas season. So think what you will, they really aren't late. :-)

Tidbits inadvertently omitted from the Christmas letter: Arnold was selected for the All Alaska Jazz Band (I told him I did that on purpose because the band doesn't perform until February, but he said "I was SELECTED in 2009"), and Cassie earned her Girl Scout Silver Award in October. They just do too many wonderful things. I can't keep track of them all.

Odd that the southern part of the country is so cold when we are having rain here and temps in the 40s. I'm not complaining ( I love the rain!), but we are a bit fearful that we'll be paying for this later when winter really decides to visit.

Coming soon: Iron Chef Sitka, Season 2. The secret ingredient has not yet been decided. Suggestions welcome. Can't wait!