Because it Has been So long II

So I got sick of looking at Edward's Whaaaaa?!?!? blog title and I figured that it was time for a Team Hawkins post. Let's take a minute to look back on the week of Team Hawkins.

MLK weekend was spent in St. George, Utah with part of Richard's family. Carol Lee was there for a few days and Abby, Danny and their two boys Samuel and Matthew came up from Las Vegas for a few days. We ate a lot of yummy food (which came back to haunt Richard...more on that later) including Cafe Rio, Smore's, delicious pork roast from Carol Lee, and spinach artichoke, parmesean dip. Yummy yummy. After the weekend, I bought two workout videos to compensate for the weekend and many MANY months of overeating.

We drove to Las Vegas on Monday evening and ate more food there, including Cafe Rio (A staple in Utah that has recently expanded to Nevada). We decided to leave in the morning when Nora woke up for her morning feeding, to avoid morning traffic. Richard had class on Tuesday morning at 10:50 a.m. We took off at 3:30 a.m. Of course Richard drove because I fall asleep while driving AND being raised a Gimbel, the husband always drives. I don't know if this is the case with the rest of you, but because Dad always drove, I feel like Richard should always drive. Anyone else have this issue?

When we left, Richard complained a little bit of feeling sick to his stomach. Compassionate Betsey that I am, I figured he was faking it :) Just teasing :) He is never sick and NEVER complains, so you think that I would be more concerned with this indication that he might be sick. But no...I had no idea. Well, by the time we had pulled off of the freeway TWICE for my poor dear Richard to puke his guts out. I realized that Richard was really sick. I started driving and thankfully hit LA, right at 9:00 a.m. to enjoy a nice long drive back home with a cranky baby, a pukey husband, and a smelly car (Richard puked a in a bag in the car as well). Okay, it wasn't that bad, but Richard has said it was the worst car trip of his life and he is never going to eat Cafe Rio again (I think he will take this back as soon as we get to Utah again).

Richard decided that he shouldn't go to school, since he couldn't seem to move without throwing up. He slept most of Tuesday and is thankfully back to our normal cheerful Richard. I again realized how thankful I am for Richard and how much he helps me with Baby Nora.

Baby Nora and I spent the rest of the week finishing and delivering thank you notes from my baby shower. Yes, 3 months AFTER the shower. I'm pathetic like that. We also cleaned out my closet. I wanted to clean out Richard's side of the closet, because he has a million stripped polo shirts from Old Navy that have got to go. I felt that it would be a violation of some sort, so I decided against it. Thankfully, he is cleaning it out as I type. Cross your fingers that he has edited the polo shirts (I'm only teasing Richard, I love you in a polo).

Tonight, we are going to Costco. An average Friday night for Team Hawkins. We are going to meet our friends the Crall's there. They just announced they are having their first baby! Yeah Cralls!!!

How about you all? How was your week? What was fun? What stunk?

Whaaa?

So.

I've joined the US Army. Big shocker I know, but there are reasons. Honest.

I was worried about telling you guys because I was worried about what you all would think about my decision. There are a lot of benefits (and naturally a number of unpleasant realities) and I did think a long hard time about the decision. I figured that if I presented it as a fait accompli you guys couldn't get too mad. Am I being too defensive?

Anyway, we can have a dialogue about the whole thing in the comments section. I'll try to keep abreast of any questions you may have and check in on a regular basis.

-Rusty

Because it's been so long...

...and there's nothing to post when nothing interesting is happening. Here are some photos that we ought to have shared.


This was taken in Solvang, CA. It was a boring tourist town settled by Danish educators just less than a century ago. It has a quant charm, but nothing to do but eat Aebelskivers and buy hats, both of which we did.

And here's the hat.

We visited Baby Nora...

(pictured here)

...and her parents...

...which was nice.

And we went for a day hike on the coast. The Torrey Pine grows only here and on an island just off of Santa Barbera. Nice day for a walk.

Happy Birthday Karl-olina Joe!

Dude! I was surprised not one else has posted a birthday wish for you yet. Benefits of being on the East Coast -- I guess I get to be first. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE BROTHER! Hope it's a marvelous day! We are thinking about you; We love you and we're very proud of you!

Best!

-M & B

(Oh and I don't have a picture of you on this computer -- so this is us, wishing you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY)

Visit to Utah

Richard and I bought our tickets for our trip to Utah. We are arriving in SLC on the evening of Thursday, February 28 and departing to return home on Tuesday, March 4th. I can't wait to see my favorite Ogden Gimbel's!!! Claudia is also coming out then as well...and I think Margie and Brandon are going to be coming as well!!! It should be a great time!

Honda Baptism

Today was my first day at work. Pretty typical stuff for a first day. Nothing exciting really except I got my uniform, which had a slight mistake...

Dateline...Ryan's 'stache

0-Town Gimbels represent!!!!!

It has been a while since i've posted, and i just wanted to throw a little pictorial out there for you guys. lets start from the top. my wife is VERY attractive.



i've got a couple pictures of Chloe with her ginger bread man. i don't have Marjorie's picture to post up and mom and dad have already posted theirs i believe. Here is Chloe with the "Ed and Claudia" ginger bread man, and Meridth with her cute little ginger bread family.






The next batch of pictures need a little explanation. we have a little "event" coming on Monday at work, and i ............ i ...... . ... ....... .....






....... ....... ....... ............ . . . .... .... . .
well i don't want to spoil it. here are the before pictures:








UH

and here are the "after" shots. A brain child of me and a few friends, the contest goes by the name "Mustache Madness Monday". It is our inaugural event.














and one last one. Casey calls it "us in the bean". here we are.



alright. i think thats all i want to post right now. i miss you all and hope to see you soon.

-ryan

One month older...and wiser too!

Today, Nora is one month old. I will have Richard post some pictures of her today as well. He has all the pictures on his computer, and I don't like using his Mac. I like my old trusty Dell. I plan on adjusting to the Mac at some point, but not today. Nora is starting to stir and I have minutes before the crazy beast wakes up ravenous for food. I swear, she acts like she hasn't eaten in her entire life. Crazy little one.

I thought I would post on some of the things I learned during the first month of Nora's life. It is amazing how much has changed for our family since Nora was born. We naturally feel very blessed, but wow...life is very different now and I know it will only continue to change as Nora grows. Here are five things I have learned...in no particular order.

1. Sleep is necessary, but I can function on 4 hours of sleep or less. Now, when I say function, I mean sit on my couch, feed the baby and watch America's Next Top Model Marathon. I've learned that I feel very good about the day when those are my goals and I reach them. Set the bar low for daily tasks.

2. I've learned that baby poop does not smell good. Additionally, I've learned that when you sit in your house all day for a number of days in a row, you start not to notice the smell of funk that develops. Richard left the house and when he returned he immedialty emptied all the trash and began Febreezing everything. I guess that is one reason it is good to leave the house at least once during the day. Is this to much information? Maybe....

3. I've learned that I don't have to check my email and blogs at least 5 times a day. I used to not be able to function without checking email and blogs...I was proud of myself for not checking in for a few weeks, but I feel good returning to my diligent checking in on the lives of friends and strangers through their blogs.

4. I've learned that baby gear is expensive, but if there is a possibility that something will entertain baby, help her fall asleep or just make life with baby a little easier...it is worth the price.

5. I've learned that it is wonderful to be a mommy to Nora and that she is the most amazing little person in the whole world. I love her and love being her mom.

Karl Commencement

I received an email today from IU with pictures of the winter commencement. Since none of us were there, I thought I'd post (Link below). The first shot is of an Kelley School professor shaking a graduate's hand... I was hoping it was Karl! Anyway. Congratulations again little brother.

xo!
-M

3rd Annual Christmas Bulls trip

So every year around Christmas Emily and I go to Chicago to see the Bulls play. Usually we stay with Marjorie and Brandon, but they moved in case you didn't know... those punks. So this year we stayed at the Hilton Conrad right off of Michigan Ave.(emily got us a good deal) We had some great deep dish pizza at Giordano's before the game and then got to see the bulls win. They even scored 100 points so we all got free big macs (emily cashed hers in and gave mine to a bum) We got to see the progress on the new trump tower and I got to take my picture with a lego santa. It was a lot of fun... I'm sure we'll continue the tradition next year. WOOHOO

First Post of 2008

For this first blog, I had to show you this great photo of Richard and baby Eleanor. She is so very sweet. Wait until you meet her. You will fall in love!

Happy New Year everyone. I love you all. =Claudia-