Somehow....

Wednesday has rolled around again. I was just saying to Kevin that the days and weeks are going by fast enough, but I don't seem to be getting any closer to the end of the school year...... how is that possible?

I wanted to quickly add in this picture of Madison at the last swim meet, not because it is a great picture but so that the swimmers in my life can look at her cap. It is so very different from the ones we usually have seen. It is Japanese style- it's mesh, and they come with all different fun prints on the sides and varied colors. You can't seem to get them anywhere but Japan. Maddie and Ellie each got one as a gift from Coco's swim team. At first glance they look a little like something a lunch lady would wear.... Maddie is all into wearing hers since she is in the "big girl" lane now and they all seem to wear them.

I wanted to take the time to throw in a few recent pictures.

This is a tree that is next to our house. Its called a "flame tree" (Kevin seems to think it is a native of Madagascar- Mr Info-man all of a sudden). Most of the year it looks like it is about to die. Recently its been looking like this:

Not bad for a tree coming back from a near-death experience.....

Another photo......

Ellie and Jonathan.

Its nice having him next door. Anytime that she is not at school, doing homework, swimming or sleeping- Ellie is climbing up on our dryer to look at Jonathan's driveway to see if his car is there. She really looks forward to her time with him, and I am pretty sure he is liking playing with Ellie too- when our doorbell rings its guaranteed to be Jonathan. Madison is usually out there with them running around.....I am glad she doesn't feel too old to play with them. Its unfortunate but Jonathan and his family are moving in May .

Good thing June will be just around the corner from his leaving- I know we will be looking forward to going home to Canada by then and maybe she won't miss him so much.......maybe.

No blog today!

I am taking a little time off.....

Happy Super Bowl Monday!

Yes that is correct- the super bowl pre-game show started at 5am this morning. We are right now headed toward half time. Saints 3, Colts 10.......... and it is 10:44 am on Monday. Weird right? Even more weird..... I am not at work. I teach right through every national holiday but super bowl Monday- I get off. So OOG. Not a complaint because frankly any day off is a good one- just an observation of a Guam quirk.

Maddie and Ellie have school today (as they are not at a Guam public school) so I took them in for 8am and have the day to myself......well Kevin is home too until 2pm (that is a military morale thing) but besides that, the day to myself......well I have to do laundry, rearrange the girls drawers (miss you Barb for that!), finish getting my lessons planned for school this week, clean the bathrooms, oh and supper needs to be made.......but besides that- it is ALL "me" time :)

Hope you enjoy the super bowl- and "The Who" at half time?........who knew they were still around?

Guest Blog - Kevin

For all of you faithful followers, I'm going to pull back the curtains, just a little bit, and reveal something you may not know about this blog. There are many, many evenings that Sam asks (no, begs) me to "guest blog" for her. She tries to convince me by saying the "Fourteen Hours Forward followers" actually want to hear from me, but I know the truth, she's either too lazy, tired, or more likely, just has nothing much to say that night. But to her credit, she's done really well keeping up with the updates on a fairly routine basis.

In any event, I told her tonight would be the night I post another blog (partly because she didn't make me go to swim practice with her and the girls, and partly because my day was way more fun than hers).

The morning started out uneventful. Played some Wii with Maddie and Ellie (we love the New Super Mario Brothers Game - I always have to be Mario, and they get to pick some other, non-mustachioed male plumber character). Then the GTA maintenance man came by and fixed our telephone, internet, and TV signal. It went out yesterday around lunch so I was happy he was able to make it out on a Saturday morning to fix it. All three signals come in on the same wire, so when one goes, they all go. This usually happens at least once a month, more during the rainy season (July-Dec for those keeping track).

After that, Maddie and I hooked up with our buddy Mike Thornton and he took us sailing for a couple hours on his boat. I was lucky to get a few decent photos. One of our (my) Christmas presents was a waterproof case that fits over Sam's little Canon digital camera. It works really well (meaning - it hasn't had any leaks yet)!

Below are some of the photos. I was lucky to get really close to a couple of the fish and Maddie was almost able to touch a few of them. It's funny how some just don't seem to mind people too much.

Sailing was great. Maddie got a good lesson in steering, and we all managed to avoid getting hit by the boom. I don't mind telling you that despite the fact I am a "sailor" in the Navy, I got a little nervous as the wind was pretty strong and at times it felt like the boat might capsize. In reality I don't think the boat was ever in any danger of tipping over, it just felt like it to me. In the interest of full disclosure - no, I did not get seasick, although I got a wee bit queasy when I went into the tiny cabin to get my mask and fins - blech.

Everyone's home now from swimming, so I'll close this out. I rented The Hurt Locker tonight, it's about EOD guys doing what they do in Iraq. I've heard it's a very good movie, filmed documentary style. The jury's out on whether I can convince Sam to watch it with me.

Take care,

Kevin

Report Cards!

Well there it is, Madison was worried for a reason- her math had indeed dropped to a B+. No biggy overall, but to Maddie- some definite unhappiness. It didn't help that her sister pulled straight A's. All teacher comments were positive, and both their reading levels are great. Maddie is still off the charts (the chart stops at grade 11 advanced reading) and Ellie is above grade four reading level.....very happy with both our girls- and after seeing Madison's disappointment in her B+, I have the feeling she will pull it up to an A. Its actually nice to see her having to care a little.....

We traditionally go out for Chinese food on report card day- but to be honest I have no idea where and even if there is a chinese food restaurant on Guam.....so we settled for Pizza Hut. You can tell by the book in front of her face that she wasn't in the best mood...... The only true smile from Maddie tonight was when she found out that our Amazon book order arrived! She also smiled at swim practice- she is liking that more and more now that she is being pulled into the upper team lane.

I want to wish a very Happy Birthday to Esther. I am especially happy that I get to say it first to her- as among all the brothers and sisters we are always trying to be the first to call and wish her happy birthday/mother's day- and this time I WIN due to time zone default! In your face David!

I love you Esther and am so really grateful for you- hope you have a great birthday with some good golfing with Dad and your friends and a nice meal to follow- I am thinking of you :) and can't wait for my first hug this summer.

My question is this....

I know we aren't suppose to promote gambling in our youth. But I am wondering if it is ok if we are using it for "good"?

As everyone knows (anyone who knows Maddie that is...) our Madison tends toward the negative side on things. She is always the first to react in a strong negative way against just about anything. Always in a thoughtful manner, but negative nonetheless. Well tonight I mentioned that a swim meet was coming up that you needed a BB time for- and told Maddie that should be her next goal. She immediately says "I don't really want to go to that meet" to which Ellie follows up with "Ya mom, I usually like to try new things but that meet doesn't sound good". So now I am angry- because yes, that is the usual Madison reaction and I accept her as she is- but now she is taking Ellie down with her. Madison can sense I am not happy, tries to sidle up to me and I say "No Madison, I am not happy with this, you get so negative- fine, but now you are being a bad role model for your sister". She suddenly says " I will stop being negative". I am doubtful at her conviction...... so I bet her $50 that she can't go three weeks staying positive...... not really thinking she will take me up on it- she loves her money and would never risk $50! But she took it, and spent the rest of the night positive. I am a little scared now, what I have done..... is this something to call child protective services over? And what lesson am I teaching her? If you care about something enough then put some money down on it? I think I lost mother of the year yet again.......

I am sorry the story was so long, but I wanted to be sure my side was told in case it goes to litigation.

Report cards did not come out today- I was a bit bummed because I am dying to know what has Madison worried about on hers. Of course she was fine with the one day reprieve......

Another waiting....the girls are waiting on an Amazon book order to come. As I was telling Barb earlier this week- you would think we were all so deprived. When a package comes in the mail here its like you won the lottery. We really have become a sad bunch on our isolated island......... So everyday now the girls are dying to get home after school to see if it has arrived- not today....

Tomorrow I should be able to tell about the report cards (hopefully!) and be able to state that the books have arrived- same bat-time, same bat-channel :)

Good News, Bad News.

Good news is I am done the integumentary system-aka skin. I have all the power point slides ready for it....got some really gross pictures, Micki would be proud. Oh, and Micki- I used one of your cartoons today- some of the kids actually laughed!.... The funny thing is, you never think of point of reference for jokes. We are so far out here, and the culture is so different that a lot of the jokes/comics aren't funny to them (eg, Micki sent me a comic to use with a daylight savings time joke in it- they don't have that here). Well they won't be laughing in tomorrow's class..... maybe some gagging though with the nasty skin pictures I found.

Anyway, the bad news is- its so late I won't be posting much tonight!

Oh, a PS- Ellie got 10 out of 10 on her penguin project! She was quite proud, apparently all the kids loved it. Also, a pre-note for tomorrow's blog......it will be report card day, and this is the first time in history that Maddie has said she is not looking forward to it- I think she may know something about one of her grades that isn't great....I am curious to see.

So I guess I did blog a fair bit......