Friday, July 29, 2005

Does anyone ever read this?

Just curious. If you do read this then leave a comment so I know you are there.

All is well here. Haven't heard from Ellen in several days. I assume everything is fine. They are probably just busy and haven't had time to make it to the internet cafe to check email. They are scheduled to come home tomorrow evening. The boys and I are ready for them to get home.

Actuallly, things have been running very smoothly this week. The boys have been behaving and we have had some fun. I don't know exactly what we did each evening but it was fun...one night I had a church meeting, we played outside a lot (kickball, 4-square, H-O-R-S-E, etc...) Last night I mowed while they played. At bedtime we have a campout in my room and read books.

I rode the Harley to work today because Fridays during the summer is "jeans day." Also, there are a bunch of bikers coming thru town today on a cross-country trip. It is the Kyle Petty (NASCAR driver) / Chik-fil-a Charity Ride. See :

Petty Charity Ride Website

They are stopping in Greenwood right by our house around 3pm today. I imagine there will be tons of people there since there will be several big name NASCAR drivers on their motorcycles making their way to NC.

Tonight I pretty much promised the boys we'd go to the driving range. I would have liked to have gone camping this weekend but with the Tulum trip rescheduled it didn't work out. Starting next week things start to gear up for school and the lazy days of summer will fade away. Nate has soccer camp M-F and Alex starts Marching Band again. Then school begins Aug 15th. Yikes!!! I wish the summer was longer for the kids! We will still go camping once or twice this summer/fall though. Ellen and I also hope to get away with 2 other couples on the motorcycle to go to Madison, IN on the Ohio River to spend the night. The terrain gets nice and rolling down there and it will be nice. However, our weekends tend to get booked quickly. Also, Alex has a big marching band committment! They perform at all Home Games and then also have these weekend competitions all over the place. I don't think we know yet what we are in for! Then Nate has his travel soccer games and practices. I am glad that Chase is still playing recreational soccer...he really enjoys that. Some of his buddies have moved up to "travel" but I think he is better suited in rec for a while. At least they aren't in dumb sports like hockey where the Dad has to go to 7am games and stand outside in the cold! Jeesh....who would ever let their kid do that !?!?!?

Speaking if High School....can you even imagine that by April Alex will be getting her "learner's permit" to drive. Y I K E S !!!!

Alright...my ramblings must end. I hope someone is reading this.!

Ciao.

Monday, July 25 2005

Well, I assume that Ellen and Alex made it to Tulum in good order. Haven't heard anything and may not for several days. There was a little internet-cafe in Tulum that she has used in the past. Hard to know if it is still there though.

The boys and I are getting along fine. Yesterday was VERY hot so we played in the sprinkler, spent some time inside and waited for the sun to set. We had dinner and then played four-square with the neighbors. We were all pretty tired by bedtime.

It is VERY hot here again today. I hope to take the boys to the Greenwood City Pool tonight at 6pm if at all possible. We haven't been there in a LONG time...maybe several years. They have a nice diving well which the boys will enjoy I'm sure.

I hope you are all doing well. Keep in touch!

Thursday, July 21

Well....we just got word that Ellen and Alex ARE going to leave for Mexico this Sunday at 10am. They have to be at the airport at 8am. There has been a lot of communication flying back and forth about whether this trip would go or not. It is a little bit oif an unusual circumstance because the Presbytery is calling the shots since they have organized this trip. Usually our individual church handles all these details and calls the shots.

I think they are going to get Malaria meds and Typhoid shots just to be safe. There is some concern about standing water and increased mosquito activity. Apparently Tulum was spared from the major damage that took place starting just a few miles north. The forecast is for rain though.....so they better take their galoshes and ponchos!

We are planning on going to the Indianapolis Symphony on the Prairie tomorrow night. A vocal group from Millikin is singing with the symphony. There will be other alums there and representatives from Decatur.I hope it is fun.

Tonight, Chase and I are scheduled to go to an Indianapolis Indians baseball game with people from my work. Thunderstorms are called for so we'll see. Nate has travel soccer practice tonight and Alex has some more Freshman Orientation at the High School. She spent 5 hours there this morning getting oriented. It is a HUGE school that can be confusing!

Nate is really irritated right now because I won't let him ride the neighbors new "pocket bike." These are motorized, miniature versions of a Japanese speed bike. He just called me at work and is really irritated because I won't let him ride. I am such an EVIL Dad!!!!!!!!!

Well....that's it for now. Keep in touch.

July 19, 2005

Well, the latest news about Tulum is that Ellen and Alex may get to leave this coming Saturday or Sunday if everything works out okay. The group leaders are still trying to figure out if the Mexdican infrastructure can handle this group coming down. INitial thoughts are that they might be able to make the trip since it is a week later! Needless to say, Alex is excited about the possibility.

Monday, July 18

Well...Ellen and Alex remain in Greenwood! As you ready reports about Hurricane Emily, you will see that the eye of the hurricance came ashore in Tulum which is exactly where they were to be staying. We have a sister church in Tulum and they were headed there to put on Vacation Bible School. Please keep all these people in your prayers!! (For some pics, check out: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/ts/080304tropicalweathe/im:/050718/480/gfx18807182057;_ylt=AuaVrIUHG1ZK1jav.Vrna9gTO7gF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5bGcyMWMzBHNlYwNzc25hdg--?sp=-1&lsp=8000

Also http://stormcarib.com/

I think that the group (of 20) will try to do some local mission (in Indpls) work instead.

UPDATE: Now the group "may" go to Tulum starting this Sat 7/23) ??

This weekend was fairly uneventful. We have had quite a bit of rain lately. Alex is trying to get her HeartWalk letters out the door!! Just the usual stuff!!!

Wednesday July 13

Well, yesterday was certainly interesting. Nate and Alex were home alone during the day and I got a call from Nate telling me he didn't feel good. So I went home and he subsequently threw up ... alot! Then he said he felt better so I went back to work. Then at 4 he called again and was throwing up....so back I went again. Then he got a really bad migraine. He sometimes gets headaches (he takes a daily migraine med) but this was one of those where he has to be in a dark room with no noise, etc. He was writhing in pain so we gave him some more meds (nasal spray) which helped him after an hour or so. But, the side effects are dizziness and sleeplessness.....so it was a lONG night. I just called home and he is still not awake (10am).

Chase returns today from church camp (www.camppyoca.org). It will be great to have him back again!

Alex is starting to send out her Heartwalk letters. Her goal is $15,000!!!!!!! You can track her progress online here.

Alex and Ellen leave for Mexico (mission trip) on Sunday for a week. We will certainly miss them !!!

Tuesday July 12

Well, I am home for a little while right now because Nate's stomach is pretty upset. This little "bug" has been going around recently.

We are getting the effects of Hurrican Dennis. 100% chance of rain today!!!

Chase returns from church camp tomorrow. Ellen and Alex leave Sunday for Mexico. Lots going on here it seems like.

July 10, 2005

We had a very nice time camping at Shades this weekend. We arrived around 5pm, set up camp and enjoyed some burgers over the camp fire. Saturday we got up and left for canoeing around 9am. By 10 we were in our canoes and heading down the Sugar Creek. The water was a little low (due to lack of rain) but it was still fun. We took a sack lunch and at on the banks of the creek. We ended up around 2:30 and caught the bus back to our car. We were all pretty tired, so hung out by the campsite and eventually prepared dinner. That night we took a walk and sat by the fire playing games. Sunday we had breakfast and broke camp because Chase had to get to his Summer Camp and Alex had a meeting as well.

It was a fund weekend....now back to the grind!

Thursday July 7

Hey there! Played golf this morning with a potential client and 2 other folks. I shot a 93...which is very good for me! I was hitting them well. Perhaps I will play more than 4 times like I did last year!

Ellen and the kids come home today and then tomorrow we leave for camping. Will be hectic getting ready but will be fun. Supposed to be really nice weather!

Wednesday July 6

Well....here we go trying a BLOG. I hope you (family) will have time to visit from time to time to learn how we are. I also hope I will keep it up-to-date!

Ellen and the kids are in Wisconsin until tomorrow. I stayed behind to work. We had our neighborhood party on July 2nd and it was fun. I still have some cleaning up to do before Ellen and the kids get home.

Last night I had a church meeting...I am now on the Personnel committee. I am transitioning off of Missions and am trying to slow down my involvement in other things as well. I can see myself being involved in Alex's marching band .... many parents are volunteers.

Tonight is another church meeting (annual Nominating Committee). I will also be picking up the house and getting the camping stuff ready. We are going camping this weekend at Shades Park. This is near Turkey Run and the kids really like it (we all do!) We may try to go canoeing if the water is running okay. We also tend to go on several hikes on some really nice trails where you might have to walk thru a stream, up some ladders, in crevasses, etc. Really neat!

Anyway, that's all for now. Keep in touch and I will try to add pics as we go along here.

Charles

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