What About Bob and Melissa?

So once again I have fallen behind. The goal I have set for this blog has never been acheived, so it's time to set a new one. I think I will try to post new entries once a month. We shall see how that goes!

As promised in the last entry...no kid talk this time. Bob finished his 11 month school in June and has had an easy time transitioning to staff work. Although he liked hanging with the Army guys, he was ready to be back with his own kind. He has made a few friends at work and has made a good decision to avoid all communting traffic by carpooling and leaving earlier to work out at the gym. He coached Erica's soccer team again this Fall and loved it. He is much better with other people's five year old monsters than I am. Now that soccer is over he is finding more time to be involved in our church. The indoor helicopter he received for Christmas last year has broken and he is hoping for a new one! I guess it helps fill the gap left by the absence of real flying. I just don't appreciate him trying to land the thing on my head (could you imagine it stuck in my hair?), the ceiling fan, the cutting board (while in use), or the middle of the table right before dinner. At least it makes him smile.

As for me...Bob gave me the best birthday present ever this year. On 29 Sep(not my actual birthday) he surprised me with tickets to the U2 concert in Maryland. I couldn't believe it. U2 was forced onto me when I was in the sixth grade by my older brother (thanks Kevin!). It is hard to believe they have stuck it out for 3 decades now. The concert was awesome and I highly recommend it to everyone. What a classy group of men and they put on an exceptional show! Probably the highlight of the year for me! I am busy as usual with the caring and feeding of children but have managed to help coach Rachel's softball team and Rebecca's soccer team. I Also started going to yoga (should have started this exercise long ago) and I help with kindergarten PE a few times a month. Now that is a hoot! The school asked me to help with Art, computer and library too but I had to decline. I never liked school except for PE so I would be a terrible assistant in those classes. If memory serves me correctly, I never received any academic awards but I did received the best PE student for my grade every single year I was in school.

Other things I have been up to include painting our house in VA. Flat paint in the kitchen is never a good idea so that had to be replaced as well as the rest of the downstairs. I spent many hours on the yard this Summer. Kinda goes with the PE theme and that I love to be outside (when its not cold.) I took on a new task this Fall at the kids school and its not one I am sure I will repeat. I was the assistant director of Erica and Rachel's Christmas play. Dealing with my own four kids can be a challenge, but 22 other monsters can be miserable. In the end they put on a fabulous show so I guess I might do it again next year. The last big thing Bob and I have been working on since arriving in VA was hiring a contractor to finish our basement. That was an OK process. I will have to evaluate again once construction starts in Jan 2010 and ends six (yeah, right)weeks later. It will be nice to have the new space.

2010 brings more sports and coaching opportunities. A trip to Hawaii for me in February! Another trip to the Hemmingsen's in NC and more caring and feeding of children!
So as you can see we are busy as usual. I think I am addicted to pain. Bob seems to think so. I just tell him you can't be the best PE student just sitting around!!!