My answer, Emily...

In Memory of MJ

I think it is incredibly sad that Michael Jackson passed away today.

So I thought I'd dedicate a post to him..

This is my absolute favorite Michael Jackson song:

PYT

It has a special place in my heart because Karl burnt it onto a CD for me my freshman year, how cheesy right?


Whats YOUR favorite MJ song?

Yeah...gotta post this.

Click here.

Click there.

BREAKING NEWS: Bath time for RADAR II: The Stinkening

RADAR got skunked tonight.

We got him in the bath in about 90 seconds and before the two-minute mark were dumping V8 all over the poor pup. We had no pure tomato juice on hand so we made due. Lets just say that RADAR wasn't a fan and I wasn't too thrilled about scraping the thick bits out of his fur, but...most importantly, it seems to have worked moderately well. I'm a little skunky, the living room has a certain degree of skunkiness and if you get up in RADAR's grill, you'll detect some skunk, but all in all a vast improvement.

We'll keep you posted.

What are you Listening to?

I'm listening to this and LOVING it.  Thanks NPR.  Another reason to love public radio.  

What are you listening to right NOW?

Happy Birthday, Edward!

Today is Edward's birthday (AKA Rusty)!  Happy Birthday Edward!  

10 Reasons why we love Edward

1.  He stood on a street corner in England wearing a sign to promote a Chinese restaurant

2.  He met and fell in love with Meridth at 5:00 a.m. while cleaning toilets.

3.  He survived boot camp 

4.  He can speak a lot of languages

5.  He has big feet

6.  He can do a mean high kick

7.  He likes to read lots of different kinds of books from books on the history of war and genocide in Rwanda to science fiction novels

8.  He can quote the Rocketeer word for word (or at least he could when he was 10)

9.  He is going to be Dad in September...a very fun, loving and gentle dad.  

10.  He is a great brother, friend, husband, and son!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDWARD!!!!

It's June 16th; Do You Know Where Rusty Is?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDWARD RUSSELL!

We hope your day is glorious and filled with all kinds of fun things (more than just Arabic!).  Do you and Meridth have anything interesting and fun planned?  Of course we'll have to celebrate all over again in another two and a half weeks, but you have to do something great on your birthday!

Can you believe you are twenty-eight years old today?  To me it seems like only yesterday that you were born.  I remember that Dad bought me the John D. MacDonald book, The Green Ripper to read while I was waiting for the surgery.  Because of the C-sections, I always had to go in to the hospital the night before, so the staff could do all the bloodwork and preparations for the surgery.  Knowing what was going to take place always made it impossible for me to sleep, so I would always bring a book to read.  (Betsey's book was The Empty Copper Sea, and Karl's book was The Lonely Silver Rain--same author)

I remember that you were ten pounds when you were born!  The incision wasn't big enough to get you out, so they had to cut a little extra on both sides so that you could be born.  Sorry to be so graphic in this blog, which should be all about you, and I'm making it all about me.  Anyway, we had already picked out your name, so we knew you right away!  You were always a happy baby and almost never cried--I think you must have been greatly entertained by your older siblings.

Edward, your father and I were both so grateful that you came to our family.  We love you so very much, and have always been so amazed by you.  We are proud of how hard you work, and pray that all goes well with your little family.  Happy, happy birthday

A Birthday Twin!

Rick and Betty (Wayne and Janet's daughter and her husband) had a little baby girl on my birthday!  I have a birthday twin.

Rats!  I forgot to write down all the pertinent information.  Her name is Kyiah Elizabeth (I think), and she was 7 pounds, 2 ounces.  She was born in the afternoon, and her 2 older brothers, London and Brandt are very excited to have a new little sister.

Rick and Betty are moving to Washington DC, where he will be doing his medical residency in about two more weeks.  Can you imagine?  Crazy kids!  I'm hoping they stop and spend the night on the way out, but more than likely they'll be traveling across Interstate 70 and won't want to go so far out of there way.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the new baby!  

Claudia

It Just Shows to Go You...

...how tough Stephen Colbert truly is.

And the kicker is that Stephen's Drill Sergeant is DS Chantz, one of several Drill Sergearts I had the pleasure of getting to know at lovely Fort Jackson, S.C. (And he wasn't nearly this cuddly in real life. Yeek!)

Word. Glad that's over.

Happy Birthday, Mum!

Did you get the racy birthday card I sent you?

Whew! Is it warm in here?

Anyway, happy X-tieth birthday Ma. You don't look a day over (Y-10 years) where Y=your current age in years. (That's as close to maths humor as I like to get.)

We totally love you and love that you love us enough to visit!


Oh, and here's the obligatory Birthday pic.

Kobe, Lebron, Lebron, Kobe, Lebron, Kobe, Kobe, Lebron

I think these commercials are pretty funny.

Video link from Team Hawkins

I saw this on my friend's blog and thought it was hilarious.  Who doesn't love Zach Morris?  

Hawkins Update #2

I know you are all on the edge of your seats waiting for my blog post today. Yesterday's post was so exciting! I bet you couldn't even sleep!

On Monday, we went to the allergist for Nora.  Nora got some tests done to figure out what other nuts she is allergic to.  You may remember that she is allergic to nuts.  You can read all about it here.  

Nora was clearly not very happy to be at the doctors office.  Poor girl.  She got pricked on her back 3 different times.  We then had to make sure she didn't scratch her back for 20 minutes while the test results showed up on her back.  

We walked the halls and read some stories.  She was just great.  We found out that Nora is allergic to peanuts and cashews.  We are going to do a "food challenge" to test for almonds.  I liked that the allergist called it a food challenge.  It makes it sound like an olympic event or reality television show.  For the challenge, we take Nora into the allergists office and give her almonds there, just in case she has a reaction.  That happens in July.  We'll keep you posted!

Sad Gimbel Blogging

Okay, mom was complaining this weekend that no one blogs here anymore.  Well, I thought that I would respond to her complaint by blogging more.  I don't have much to report, but I'll post something everyday for you all to read and maybe enjoy.

Five semi-interesting points from our day in the Cleve'.

1.  Nora slept in until 8:00 a.m.  She isn't fully adjusted to the time in Cleveland yet.  She misses L.A.  

2.  Richard and I are starting Body for Life tomorrow.  We need to get into better shape.  Richard wants to take some before pictures.  No thank you.  Yikes!  Wish us luck!  

3.  We got these black bean burgers at Costco and are loving them!  We made quesadillas with them tonight.  Delicious!  

4.  I finished listening to this book on C.D. today.  I like to listen to books while I drive.  I don't like the NPR station here during the day.  I didn't like the readers voice, but the book was good.  I also read Three Junes by Julia Glass and liked it too.

5.  Richard rode his bike into work today.  He said the Cleveland drivers were very polite and courteous to him.  

Alright, Team Hawkins out.  

How cool would this be?

Ryan, I'm looking at you.