Mom's Christmas Tag

I called Mom today and did this tag with her. Now she gets an updated blog and the rest of us get to reap the benefits!

1)Wrapping Paper or Gift Bags? Gift bags are easier when it comes to wrapping wine.
2) Real Tree or Artificial? I prefer what I got…so I can keep it up longer.
3) When Do You Put Up the Tree? Just after Thanksgiving.
4) When Do You Take the Tree Down? Right after the 1st of the year.
5)Do You Like Eggnog? Only with rum
6) Favorite Gift Received as a Child? My bike and my roller skates
7) Do You Have a Nativity Scene? I have 4: a handmade one from a close friend, a Mexican one, a European one, and a stuffed one missing pieces
8) Hardest Person to Buy For? Daddy
9) Easiest Person to Buy For? Grandkids
10) Mail or E-mail Christmas Cards? mail
11) Worst Christmas Gift You Ever Received? All gifts are given from the heart, none are bad
12) Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on the 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas… need I go on?
13) When Do You Start Christmas Shopping? I shop all year.
14) Have You Ever Recycled a Christmas Present? Yes
15) Favorite Treat at Christmastime? Homemade chocolates: like turtles and bing bars
16) Clear or Colored Lights? White lights
17) Favorite Christmas Song? The First Noel
18) Travel or Stay Home for Christmas? Prefer to stay home, but because my kids and parents don’t agree with that, I have to travel
19) Can You Name all of Santa's Reindeer? Yes
20) Angel or Star Tree Topper? Angel
21) Open Presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? One on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas morning…a blending of traditions between Fred & me
22) Most Annoying Thing About this Time of Year? Having to work long hours for budgets
23) Favorite Ornament, Theme, or Color? The ones my kids made for me throughout the year and the ones from my grandparents
24) Favorite Thing for Christmas Dinner? turkey
25) What do You Want for Christmas this Year? snowmachine
26) My Favorite Holiday Tradition: The Christmas Pageant (with my children)
27) Least Favorite Tradition: Having everyone want you at their place and not being able to make everyone happy
28) Favorite Decoration: My fire screen
29) A Memorable Christmas: The one where we were moving into our home in Belgium. Our household goods weren’t slated to arrive until the new year (so we had temporary Army furniture), it was Jessica’s birthday, the heat went out and we used a little reindeer for a Christmas tree
30) Most Missed Tradition: Large family gatherings

This Grandma is joining the 21st Century very slowly – just in back of Opa! I admired all the pictures (and text) that magically appeared even though I did not remember writing anything! The pictures on all three blogs are wonderful and I love them all. (Well – the mooning was a bit over the top.)

I did not realize that I had left my telephone on vibrate so I missed calls from all three daughters. But it all worked out. When I returned calls, both Dad and I got to talk to the girls! Of course we all talked about Christmas and it seems like everyone has their “giving” all thought out and under control. We are still thinking up ideas! Gift cards are sounding better all the time; it is just they seem impersonal at times. Then there are the birthdays, too. I delivered Lorelei’s gift when I was there in October. I told Jennifer that I would get something for Aaron when I got to Utah. Still leaves Jessica! Gee, I have some ideas, but nothing in the mail.

This past week has been incredibly busy. We have so many customers that none of the staff can keep up files or log notes. Of course our goal is house as many as possible before the holidays so that they can bring their families back with them after the holidays. That makes for big smiles and a glorious holiday. We are also feeling the brunt of martial discord. We get a list every few days of the people who have restraining orders against them and the group of customers who come in saying that they are getting a divorce and want out of housing or want help breaking their private rental leases.

I sent three evenings making gifts for my staff (18 people). I wanted to share the tradition of St. Nicholas Day as my Dutch friends have shared with us. I told them that since they had not left their shoes out for goodies, St. Nick improvised with gift bags. I made each person a jar of soup and a jar of cookie mix. I decorated the top of the quart jar with fabric and ribbon. (Recipe was tied on with the ribbon, too.) I decorated the top of the plain colored gift bag, actually it was a craft bag, with another piece of ribbon and a small European ornament that I had gotten at the Kris Kringle Marts over the years. For the Hoochies, I made similar bags, but added a bottle of wine and a small German liqueur. We are planning a
luncheon on the 16th, but I am not sure that I can make that. I really like the mixes in a jar and they seem real personal when I give them out.

I am still working on the gift arrangements for Grandpa and Grandma. We are setting up dates in our Time Share in Seattle and Oregon. They will have one night and hopefully a great day on the Seattle waterfront with Kassy and Jeremy. Then they will have 3 nights on the Oregon Coast with Tom and Lynette. Bruce and Dennis are pitching for meals and such. It should be a great time. Although they could stay in the apartment with Jeremy and Kassy, this gives them a bit more room and some entertainment that the kids would not normally enjoy. Hopefully Lynette is up to driving for a couple of hours. I know they will have to take breaks. Maybe the Coast will cheer her.

I am still working on my job objectives – only a month late getting them to my boss and he is on my case. So back to the toil. Of course as I do that I am watching a movie with Dad – Guarding Tess with Nicholas Cage.

The Ghost of Christmas Past

I'm getting so excited to see my cute mommy and handsome daddy for Christmas! I decided to look for past Christmas pictures. Oh I wish all my past pictures were on my computer!! It would be fun to find the ones from Turkey and scan them in, but that is a task for another day...

Anyway, enjoy the show!

Christmas 2002... Mom came in February that year for the Olympics. She came back at Christmas when I was HUGE and then came again after Anya was born!



Christmas 2004... Mom and Dad were incredibly generous and flew us all over to Germany for the holidays. Their house was so beautiful, I loved the space. We had a great time touring around and seeing everything.








Christmas 2005... Jeremy's graduation was in Laramie. We met Grandma and Grandpa Schultz there. Jeremy was living with us. And Grandpa Lehman was in town. We were missing Jessica's cute little family!!






Christmas 2006... Mom came when Aaron was born and helped decorate but left before the big day. (but I don't have any good pictures of that!!)

So Pretty!!

Finally - I am catching up!

Good Afternoon – Remember me? I am the one that said I would update my blog once a week. So here I am, only four weeks late! But that’s OK; I having loving children, fabulous grandchildren and they all forgive me. It’s Thanksgiving – and that is what I am thankful for. A very loving family!

Gee – Where to start. We just returned from our first Christmas party of the season. We have known Floyd and Angie for many years. She works for the Corps of Engineer Real Estate Division (lots of interaction over the years for housing) and after Floyd retired from the Air Force he started what is now the Elmendorf Air Show. So we went there for the afternoon. Dad’s luggage was on a different plane than he was, so that got delivered just past noon. As soon as it was delivered, I went to work for about 1 ½ while Dad worked out at the gym. This morning we just slept in – and at was wonderful. I had taken Kurt Norby (Dad’s new boss) to the airport because he was flying out about an hour after Dad got in. So they had a chance to talk for just a few minutes. Gee – that was around midnight.

Our troops are coming home – and it’s wonderful. About 2/3 (2200) were here by Thanksgiving Day. It’s bittersweet for the unit – 53 deaths and 229 with massive injuries. We are expecting several hundred more with injuries that will require up to one year in re-hab. I am one of many that meet the planes upon arrival. No family members are at the airfield. We have a goal – from the time the wheels hit the ground, we have 1 hour to in-process and get them on the buses headed to meet their families. I don’t play a big part – just there to make sure there is barracks space, housing or a hotel for everyone. Business in the office has really picked up with the return, but there will be a lull in the action. Block leave for everyone in the unit is 20 Dec to 25 Jan. I think there will be a lot of soldiers going “back home” to bring their families to Alaska. Meanwhile, I have plenty to keep my staff and I very busy. We have five construction projects in some phase of completion. One project is already returned and occupied, but under construction warranty and my last one has only begun the ground breaking work. When all is finished in 2 years, we will have 1254 units on the installation. We are taking over the management of the barracks – similar to running dormitories at the University. There are two major construction projects there. Over the next couple years between old, new and temp, we will manage a couple thousand bed spaces. We also have the referral for people renting downtown and home buying seminars. Fort Richardson is slated to privatize family housing by 2010 and that is the same year we are suppose to merge as Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. That is not the name, merely the project name.

I am supposed to have a staff of 14 plus a couple of contractors. One is Tom Petersen and he is awesome. I am not sure what I would do without him, his writing skills and his advice. I came on with only 7 staff; have hired 5 (in two areas) with delayed entry so that I can schedule two weeks of training for each. It’s not perfect, but seems to be working. My boss gave me the go ahead to hire at least 4 and maybe 6 based on the new requirements for barracks and referrals. Of course he is looking at the OT in the office. I average 40 and my deputy about 25. Others in the office contribute 10 -15 depending on the daily mission. With the planes coming in, Commander revoked all leave in my office until December. Just means the “Use or Lose” we have will have to be re-instated after January 1. It will all work out – I am just glad to get a couple of weeks in Utah!

Dad starts his new job tomorrow. He will leave for Fairbanks in the afternoon and stay until Friday. Forgive me if I am repeating stuff, but can’t remember if we told you about his job. He will be a project manager for APTISS. There survey buildings for installation of state of the art commo wiring; everything from commuters, phones, classified lines to alarms, etc. The company has several projects on Eielson AFB and Elmendorf AFB; smaller projects on Forts Rich and Wainwright. Eventually, there will be projects for other Federal agencies and law enforcement. Kurt is taking on projects in Hawaii and becoming the regional manager. Dad just wants to find a happy medium between working, flying and spending time with family and friends.

As Jessica can attest, seems like my two weeks in Arkansas was spent in the van. Dad and I were sure glad that both of us could be there and make things easier for the family. I sure had fun with the grandkids and Great-grandma, too.

Dad got to spend about 8 hours with Jeremy on his way back. Kassy was at work most of the time, but they had lunch together at the Mall where she works and then Jeremy fixed dinner. Kassy had just gotten off work and just before they had to take Dad to the airport. Dad said it was really fun.

It’s getting late and I need to write a performance appraisal before bed. Love you all – Mom.

Buff Daddy

I was clearing out my email and came across this picture and thought everyone might like to see!

Me Too!

This is the four generation picture I have. I desperately need another one. I had 5 to choose from and this was the best one!