Japan

If you had 3-4 weeks notice of a business trip to Japan and China - would you pack early? Would you be prepared? Would you be ready? or... would you wait until the night before and cram everything into a few short hours. I had great plans of being ready - instead here was my Thursday/Friday/Saturday:
Thursday -
6:00 AM: Get up, get ready, get kids off to school
7:45 AM: Get to work, go to meetings, get folks lined up to cover my meetings next week
3:00 PM: Leave work, stop by bank, gas station, and Papa Murphy's
3:30 PM: Head home - call Steve to get oven ready
3:45 PM: Get Home - throw pizza in oven, hug kids, enjoy the chaos of everyone talking about there day at the same time, smile because Jake is already dressed and ready to go
4:05 PM: pizza is ready; tell Jake to hurry - we need to leave soon, explain to Kyler and MaKenna why they can't go, promise I will see them before they go to bed.
4:25 PM: Leave with Jake, stop and pick up Jack (Jake's friend who is also in Choir)
4:45 PM: Get to the Eagles game (on time/early)... wait and wait and wait
5:05 PM: Choir teacher gets there (late), practice and sound check gets started, I go to the car and wait some more - start making my packing list and playing games on the Kindle.
6:30 PM: Go into the game
6:50 PM: Eagles Pregame starts (announce players, cheerleaders dance...)
7:00 PM: Color Guard and kids go out on the ice
7:15 PM: Song is done and Jake is up in the stands and asking to stay and for money
7:40 PM: I give in and let him stay - he'll come home with Mel, Tim, Chad, and Mike (Dee, Anya, Shane, Leanna, Hunter, Mike and Sandy were also there to watch him sing)
8:00 PM: I get home and visit with the other kids, get them to bed, sit down with my list - then remember i need to get Jake and MaKenna signed up for 4H... TONIGHT!
10:00 PM: 4H paperwork taken care of and delivered
10:15 PM: Start packing...
Friday
12:30 AM: Finish packing, decide to take a shower because I know I won't get up in the morning
1AM: Get to bed
2:30 AM: MaKenna comes in (afraid she won't see me before I leave so she crawls in bed)
4:00 AM: Alarm goes off (gives me a heart attack), get up & get ready
4:25 AM: Ride shows up and I'm out the door
4:27 AM: Back in the house for a coat (wasn't on my list)
5:30 AM: Return the rental car and wait for the shuttle
6:00 AM: Checked in and headed to security
7:40 AM: Board plane - taxi to runway, return to gate to drop of sick passenger (passed out I think I heard), back to runway
9AM: Take off (1 hour late)
11:45 AM MST / 12:25 PM PST: Land in San Francisco; make way to International Terminal
12:00 PM MST / 1PM PST: Board plane for Narita Japan
12:20 PM MST / 1:20 PM PST: Plane takes off... watch a couple movies, try to sleep, watch a couple more movies...
11:25 PM MST / Saturday 3:25 PM Japan Time: Arrive in Japan, go through immigration, pick up luggage, go through customs
Saturday
12:30 AM MST / 4:30 PM Japan Time: Get bus ticket and wait for bus
1:05 AM MST / 5:05 PM Japan Time: Get on bus and head for hotel
3:15 AM MST 7:15 PM Japan Time: Get to hotel - Check in
3:30 AM MST / 7:30 PM Japan Time: Get to room, put stuff away, meet team in lobby for "dinner"
4:45 AM MST / 8:45 PM Japan Time: Back to room - finally I can put my PJs on.

Traveling to Japan/Asia is about 24 hours from when I get up at home and then get to the hotel. Its a very long trip.

Now... if you suffered through all that long boring details, here are some pics from Japan.

Ginza Shopping District

Tokyo - Out the hotel window

Tokyo - Out the hotel window

Range View Choir

Generally "Choir" isn't a word that is used in sentence with our family. We are NOT a family of singers.  However, the kids' school has a 4th and 5th grade choir group. Jake wanted to join the group last year, but it conflicted with wrestling the 1st time and then scouts the 2nd time. Finally, he got his chance to join the Winter/Spring group. The highlight of the Winter/Spring group is singing the national anthem at an Eagles Hockey game.

Jake got his chance Thursday night. Here is a video (if i can get it to work) and some photos.

Happy Birthday Grandpa

When we would go visit grandpa we would make him oatmeal cookies, so last night the kids made oatmeal cookies night for Great Grandpa's birthday. Today he would have been 96 years old. I love and miss Grandpa (and Grandma) and have such wonderful memories of times with them.

Here are some old photos....

Socks

If I had all the money in the world I would have a new pair of socks every day. There is nothing like the feeling of putting on a pair of new soft and fluffy socks. That being said - I absolutely HATE folding socks. Socks (whites) are the last load of laundry I do; that way they can sit in the dryer and the kids and Steve can just dig in and get their own.

Now, as the mother of a teenage girl (yes she is only 8, but I don't think she knows that) I have to say that the current fashion trend of wearing 2 different socks is by far my favorite. I don't have to match MaKenna's socks! I just throw them all in the basket and let her put them in her dresser - how ever she wants. She just grabs 2 socks and off she goes.

Happy Valentines Day

Quote of the day...
Jake: "Why are MaKenna and Kyler wearing RED?"
Me: "Because it's Valentines day."
Jake: "Don't they know that Valentine's Day isn't about Red and Hearts and stuff like that?"
Me thinking to myself - how sweet, Jake understands that its about showing others you care.
Jake: "It's about CANDY!"


My early birds got up at 6AM - right on schedule. I had put a small scavenger hunt together last night. They had a blast trying to solve the clues and find their treats. Here are the clues and prizes.

Location: Living Room wall
Clue #1: My Loves:

Our Morning has just begun,

Now its time for some fun. 

So go to the place that reflects your face.

Location: Bathroom mirror
Prize: Bag with hat and gloves
Clue #2: Work together and don't get apart...
I've given you a little head start.
You may be cute - but you must find your loot.
Take this bag and locate a boot.

Location: Entry Way
Prize: M&M Hearts
Clue #3: Sometimes its fun to just relax and play...
in some tiny bubbles all the day.

Location: Jacuzzi tub
Prize:  Bubble bath and toy
Clue #4: If you search high and low,
you never know how things will flow.
Find something of value where the discs go.

Location: Front room - DVD player 

Prize:  Free Red Box rental
Clue #5: Now its time to turn up the heat...
Your search is not yet complete.
Go claim your prize -
where the temperatures rise.

Location: Oven
Prize: Cinnamon Rolls
Clue #6: I know you've gotten thirsty from this hunt...
If you find your way to me I will help you out of that rut.

Location: Fridge
Prize: Choc milk
Clue# 7: Wet or Dry, Hot or Cold
We get used so you can fold.
Go find me for a little something cozy.

Location: Laundry Room
Prize: Fuzzy blankets
Clue #8: Stiff is my Spine and my body is pale...
but I'm always up for telling a tale.

Location: Boy's Room - Book Shelf
Prize: Notebook and pen
Clue #9: The fun is over and its time to eat...
Go find those cinnamon treats.
Happy Valentine's Day!

My baby is 6!

Kyler turned 6 on January 29th. Yes - this is a very late tribute to my "baby". I suppose it's OK to be late since he is the 3rd kid and we all know that the last one gets neglected because all time and energy is focused on the other two...

Here are some pics of him over the "years".

Kyler Warren Cormack
January 29, 2006

1 Year Old

2 Years Old

3 Years Old

5 Years Old

6 Years Old

Just realized I skipped 4 Years old - well, like I said he is the 3rd kid. I do have pictures of him during his 4th year, I just didn't post any here.

What do you know about Belted Galloway Cows?

Jake is in 5th grade and has had to do several presentations last year and this year. They do an excellent job getting the kids over any fear of public speaking. They have done debates, presented ideas of inventions, plays about history, and several other types of presentations. He has done 3 reading projects. (1st was a mystery book, 2nd was about immigration and he made a movie, 3rd was any topic)

Here is Jake's presentation on Belted Galloway Cows.