Ups and Downs

Lots of stuff happening, but no time to post news.

In no particular order...

Anna's car was totaled, so we are down to 2 cars.  Anna was not driving, it was someone else.  We have settled with the insurance and got a piddly check.  We are enjoying the lower premiums while we shop for another car.

Anna is enjoying college and has come back once already--with laundry in tow.  She left refreshed and full of groceries.  She has joined an a cappella group on campus called Note Worthy.  She is making friends, going to classes, enjoying all the typical college stuff.

Gabriel turns 16 tomorrow and while he is not getting his driver's license, he is still excited.  He has been busy with rowing, internship (ORNL), classes and thinking about college.

Marian is busy with 6th grade, more homework, chorus instead of band, Math Club, heaving her heavy backpack to school and hanging out with friends. She is somewhat an oddity among her friends, as she doesn't like football nor does she want to hang out at the football games.  Remember that football is a religion in the fall in TN.

Bogdan has a bit of a respite at work, by a stroke of bad luck.  Some very technical piece of measuring machinery broke and it will be down for 5 weeks.  So, the neutrons are "down" and he is not on call for 5 weeks.  Karen says "yeah" for no late night calls!  He also had time to fix the broken dishwasher (well, since he broke it, it was only fair that he also fixed it.)

I am busy with Yes on 1, a pro-life campaign to pass a ballot amendment in TN.  Lots of phone calls and emails, and hopefully, we will pass it!

Marian made the following:

Anna off to College

We dropped off Anna to college on Thursday for the new student orientation.  It's an intensive 3 day experience, and she's having a great time.  We are all visiting her today and going to Mass and a welcome dinner at the Catholic Center on campus.

So far, she is loving ETSU (East TN State University) and she has a really nice roommate (Sunny).  We will all get to see her dorm and more of the campus today.

The other kids are busy with school already and Marian has taken over Anna's chores at home.  (We'll see how that goes?!)

Will try to post pictures of ETSU when we get back.

Camping Trip to Indiana

Bogdan and Gabriel had a weekend camping trip to Indiana and met up with Tony and Pedro Quintanilla. 

Here are some pictures from hiking with them.

What's happening here

In no particular order....

School has begun and kids are getting used to the schedule, not liking the early wake up call, but adjusting nonetheless.  Marian is happy to see her friends and likes her new teachers.  They have a new (and cute) French teacher at her school who is also teaching an Intro to Culture class and she likes that best. 

We are having our annual yard sale this weekend, we start sorting and pricing today.  There are about 10-12 families who donate to this sale every year.  All the proceeds help pay for childcare workers for the bible study at church.  We always make a good amount of $$.  Anna will help me as the others are headed for a short weekend camping trip.

Anna is getting ready for college, she leaves next week.  She is both excited and nervous.  Nervous about classes, about finding friends, about her new roommate.  Excited about all the same things.

The Neutrons start firing this weekend and Bogdan's work schedule will be getting busy again.  They take the instrument off-line during the summer (necessary) and then they start it up again in mid-August (oddly enough, about the same time school starts). 

Rest in Peace

School begins

That time of year when kids are both sad and happy.  Sad summer is over, but happy to see more of their friends.  Sad school work begins, happy recess is still in place.  Parents are happy and sad as well.  Happy that school begins and kids are more occupied (no more "I'm bored") and sad that the crazy schedules begin. 

Gabriel has a full schedule this year and is busily finishing his summer reading (nothing like waiting until the last day...).  Marian hasn't found out her schedule yet, but excited about seeing friends.

Pictures from Japanese Exchange

Lots of photos from this week, but here are some to enjoy.

 Eating S'mores at Camp Tanasi

 A Scout's Own Ceremony at Camp Tanasi

 Dolls for Daisy Service Project at the Oak Ridge Library

 Entering the Great Smoky Mountains

 Fun at lunch time in the water!

Official photo in Girl Scout uniforms, at the Welcome Ceremony.