Patrick has a blond moment.

I am not a sports fan...okay, so I'll watch the occasional Ohio State Football game and attend local high school sporting events. But, that's about it...except when it comes to the Olympics. I love to watch the Olympics and I spend as many hours in front of the t.v. as I can to see as much as possible.

So tonight has been no different...spending my time watching the Olympics with my German son Patrick. We were watching the speed skating events. The women's speed skate was in the semifinal qualifers and Patrick says..."Why is there a sponser on the German uniform?"

I say., "That says GER for Germany."...Patrick had a blond moment.

It's December Already!

I can't believe another few months has passed since I last blogged. I feel guilty for not getting my thoughts written down. I feel guilty for not reading my friends blogs too! I'm so sorry everyone...

But, it is the end of the year and that means it's time for me to reflect on what has come and gone....

Hunter is in the 4th grade this year. He has a love/hate relationship with school. He hates to go to school and loves to stay home! Hunter is now a blue belt in Kenpo Karate. He loves the class because now he gets to use weapons. I wish we were aloud to video tape Hunter during class. His expressions are priceless. The grin from ear to ear is so Hunter...I know what he's thinking when he's making karate moves..."It's so Jedi!"

Megan, my darling girl is a 3rd grader this year. She loves going to school because she gets to see all of her friends. Megan loves her teacher Miss Burkholder...and especially her art teacher. Megan was approached by her art teacher to take a special art class in an after school program. Unfortuneately we had to pass on the chance as it conflicted with Megan's gymnastics class. Megan loves gymnastics...she loves learning how to tumble and flip and looks forward to the day when she can take the back handspring class. She says the hardest part of gymnastics is the uneven bars.

Patrick...yep...he's our German son....as Hunter would say..."what's up brother from another mother"...Patrick is still our exchange student and we absolutely love him! We can't believe how lucky we are to have such a great kid in our house. He has been so good with Hunter and Megan...he teases the kids just like a real big brother would!

I was reluctant in the beginning to host another exchange student...we have had 3 students before Hunter and Megan came along...it was very difficult for us...actually...for me to share my home with strangers. My expectations must have been too high. I truly believe that having my own children has softened my attitude and my expectations more realistic. It also helps that Patrick is such a good kid. I don't think we'll host after him. It wouldn't be fair to the other student...we would always be saying "Patrick did this and Patrick did that".

This year I started running...thanks to Lyndsie (who is totally awesome!). I ran my first 5k with Nancy on October 31st...and ran another 5k on Thanksgiving morning. I'm slower than molasses frozen in January...but I still have fun. I would like to better my time and actually purchased a couple of running books to give me some hints. I have a goal to run the annual Delta Chicken Festival 5K in July...I hope to win my age division!

Kim is loving his work as an insurance agent for Banker's Life. He loves helping his clients and he has earned many rewards for his hard work. We recently took a trip to Jamaica because of his work. I loved it! The people are so friendly and we did some much needed R&R. Kim is in the running to win a new 42 inch flat screen tv...as if we need another one!

It's time to say HI!

Well...It has been awhile since I made a blog entry. I have sooo many things to tell everyone but don't know where to begin....so I thought I would do bullet points to get everyone all caught up.

• Kids are in school. Hooray! My house stays a little cleaner all day long.
• I have become an exercise fiend. I run...I bike...I walk...you would think I would lose a little more weight faster....but perhaps my chocolate addiction has something to do with that.
• I now have 5 callings at church. I'm a counselor in young women's. I teach primary. I play the organ. I am the website administrator and I am the stake assistant camp director....so if anyone complains to me about church being busy...they can just talk to the hand...my point of view is this...if your busy with church....you're not busy getting into trouble.
• We still have our exchange student, Patrick. We like him....so we keep him...check out my facebook page to view some photos.

I think that's it for now...I have nothing else to say.

Pacifist...

Kids can really say the coolest things sometimes. We were driving home one night and discussing with Hunter his need to "toughen up" a little. In a nutshell he said..."I don't like fighting...I'm a pacifist."

Now, as a mother hearing her child use a big word like pacifist and understand what it means is a proud moment....but then I said..."Wow Hunter you really now what pacifist means....where did you learn that?"

Hunter said..."From tv....see Mom, you can learn anything by watching tv!"

What I'm doing...

School officially started yesterday. I now have three kids. We have an exchange student from Germany for the school year.

Last night I spent 2 hours with Patrick helping him with his English homework. The language barrier was difficult at times...but thankfully the boy is bright and catches on quickly.

The advantage I can see from this situation...I'm brushing up on my English Lit...skills. It is so true...you never really forget! Ask me what metephor, hyperbole, simile and alliteration mean.

I have enjoyed two days of hot humid walking weather with L...and going through and cleaning up those dark hidden places in my house.

Today...scrapbook room. I might be brave and take a before picture...

It's a Boy!

We thought it would be a great opportunity to host an exchange student. Here's a picture of Patrick and below a pic of him with his older brother, 13 year old sister and I think his little niece.

Multi - Tasking

Life for me always seems to be full of activities. And like every other woman...I multi-task...and have a hundred other thoughts running through my head as to what to do next.

So, this morning in the shower I thought to myself...I shampooed yesterday...just condition my hair today...and proceeded to let the water wet my hair. I began to think of my list of to do's for the day as I reached for my facial cleanser...nothing unusual...just routine. Half way through I realized I had applied my facial cleanser to my hair like it was shampoo! Arrgghh.

Note to self...don't think of too many things at the same time.

I hope my hair appreciates the facial.