My husband is 41 today

Last year for his 40th I had a funeral for him. No kidding, a funeral, complete with black roses and a coffin full of ice and beer. Just like he would want when the time comes. He's a simple man what can I say. Anyway, he's in Texas and this is the first birthday since 1994 that I haven't been there for his birthday. He will be home Sunday so we are just postponing things a little. I texted everyone I could think of and told them to text him and call him today. He called me a turkey for that. Oh well, i try. Anyway, happy birthday Marty!!

Airman Simonson

Well, tech school is history. Tyson graduated November 4th. It wasn't without it's incidents. We spent the night before in the ER with him. He had strep, an upper respiratory infection and inflammation in his larynx. He got two shots in (as Forrest would put it) the butt----ocks. We were in the waiting room and I got this text ' two shots in the but,,,owwweeeeeee.' so much for the tough airman! However, he was miserable and could barely walk when we exited the ER at midnight but the next morning he felt 10X better and took his test, passed and attended graduation. Whew!! Thank God for Rhocephin!!


He and the boys (and mom) climbed all over those F-15s after graduation. We didn't get a lot of time with him but I think we helped with the homesickness that was again setting in. The very next morning he was off to Panama City Florida and we were on our way back to Kansas.

By Saturday Tyson was playing on the white sand beaches in the warm water in November and we were back here. Bummer!

It's amazing. Back in May the boys would have told you that Tyson was a pest who never finished his chores and now, because of the uniform and the planes, he's cool. Imagine that!!

Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX

Congratulations Airman Simonson on your graduation from Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. We are all very proud of you.



Tyson graduated from Basic Training this last weekend and the little ones and I drove the 12 hours to San Antonio on Wednesday to join him on Thursday for the first of many ceremonies, the last of which was the graduation parade on Friday. Tyson was up for honor grad and received his marksman ribbon. He is thrilled that he received the job he coveted so much. He will go to training in Wichita Falls, TX for crew chief on F-15 fighters. In two years the F-15 will be phased out and he will do some additional training to become a crew chief on the F-22 Raptor. He is so thrilled. When he leaves Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls he will do some training in Florida at Tindall AFB before being sent to his first assignment. One benefit of being a crew chief is getting your name on the plane just like the pilot AND with this training and a bachelor's degree he is eligible to become a pilot. Tyson seemed to really enjoy his new life and the confidence he has acquired is very noticeable. We love to see him that way.
San Antonio has a lot to offer in regards to entertainment but the road configurations and traffic signs leave a lot to be desired. By the time you see where you want to go, the exit is behind you. There are access roads everywhere and they are a pain. I've never seen such an idiotic set-up in my life. Anyway. The first night Tyson was allowed off base we went to the San Antonio River Walk and the Alamo, followed by a WNBA game at AT&T center. On Saturday we went to Sea World. Sunday we attended church service on base and had lunch with Tyson before, yet another, 12 hour drive home. We arrived home around 2 AM today. The USPS called at 7 AM and asked me to work for Dee since she had broken her wrist so I've had little rest. I will be working for the next 1-2 weeks. I'm tired.

The Summer So Far

TYSON GRADUATED!!!!!!!Tyson graduated from high school on May 17. It was a rough road though. That morning he and Brandon were in a car accident. Everyone is OK though. On the left you will see a large picture of Tyson, his grandma Fern and his two little brothers. The two smaller pictures are of Tyson and me and Tyson and Marty.


Tyson left on Memorial Day for USAF Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX and is graduating this weekend (The 10th-13th of July).
Speaking of July, this is the first July 4th daddy has been able to spend with us. He and the crew left on the 5th. As you can see from my prior post, on the 6th they were run from the field by one of those, all to common, tornadoes.

Marcus is finishing up his baseball season. We had a tournament in Hays last weekend but he will miss State while we are watching Tyson graduate.

I'm still visiting the chiropractor regularly after the accident of June 6, by the way, I am SOOOO glad June is over. It wasn't a good month. The repairs on my car were NOT done well and I am having to deal with the insurance to get things back in order before the trip Wednesday. The mechanical problems should be worked out tomorrow. The body problems will have to wait but I am VERY unhappy. I think I will be relieved to get out of here and on the road to San Antonio. I'm sorry for the delay in putting out all of this information but with cooking three meals a day for the crew, graduation, the accident and numerous baseball double headers and tournaments I feel like I just woke up from a daze. I'll have tons of pictures to share when I return from San Antonio. Wish us luck.

Tornado in Stratton, CO and the crew heads for shelter.

The harvest crew is in Stratton, CO. Last night they evacuated the fields and headed for the tornado shelter in Stratton. The crew member taking the video is from Michigan and a little clueless but here are the videos.
Tornado in CO


Us runnning from tornado

Kansas City

April 25, 2008 We took off for Kansas City, Friday Night we attended the ARCA race. The look on Marcus' face when he first saw Kansas Speedway was indescribable and the look on his face when we entered the Speedway was priceless. On Saturday night we attended the Craftsman Truck race, Ron Hornaday won. On Sunday Marty and Bob went to the IRL race (most likely to watch Danica Patrick).


On Saturday we dined at Rain Forest Cafe for Kristopher's Birthday. Our baby is 7. We all had a wonderful time. The food was good and the atmosphere was phenomenal. Kristopher topped off his birthday festivities by buying himself an Australian dumpy frog. He's ecstatic.

Kristopher and I went to Worlds of fun while the others went to the track again. That kid can ride rides. He rode some darned scary rides and held his own. We had a great time.

Senior

Tyson's Senior pictures are in. He graduates in 16 days. He takes off for USAF bootcamp on the 27th. Things are busy here. Grandma will fly in the 12th. Baseball season is in full swing. Graduation announcements are going out. The yard and house are getting some last minute love and care. It's busy.

Marty and I will celebrate our 12th Anniversary Saturday and Marcus has a double header that day. Monday Marty is back on harvest until October. John Deere is not wanting him to go so he is staying until the end of the week. He will return to John Deere in December.

We just returned from KC. We celebrated Kristopher's 7th Birthday at Rainforest Cafe, went to the Craftsman Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway and Kristopher and I spent an evening at Worlds of Fun. We had a ball. You can see the pictures on my myspace page. I'll try to add some to tomorrow's blog.


This is just a quick blog to catch you up. Hopefully tomorrow morning i will be able to add more. Off to baseball practice.

Sorry, Busy Busy Busy

It's April, the start of a very busy time for us. Easter was a little early this year and COLD! Heavy winter coats to hunt Easter eggs. In a week we will have my birthday. We have Kristopher's birthday 13 days later (that would be the little monkey in the tree there in that picture). He will be 7-years-old. We are heading to Kansas Speedway the weekend of Kristopher's birthday. We will all attend the race on Friday night. On Saturday we will have a birthday party at the Rainforest Cafe for our little frog lover. After the party Marty and Marcus will join Bob for the Craftsman Truck Series Race and Kristopher and I have a date at Worlds of Fun. We don't get many get-aways with Marty's traveling schedule but this ought to be fun. Marty and I will celebrate 12 year of marriage May 3rd.

May 17th grandma Fern will be here for Tyson's graduation from High School. You see that baby above? He's Airman Tyson Simonson of the USAF and will graduate next month from High School. Nine days later Tyson will leave Wichita headed to Kansas City and on the 27th Tyson will board a plane for San Antonio and start USAF boot camp. That means the little ones and I will get another trip this year. We will be traveling to San Antonio July 11th for Boot Camp graduation followed by a trip to Sea World San Antonio. I am very disappointed that they do not have the interactive dolphin experience but I am considering the beluga whales as a concession. There is a chance to feed and pet dolphins that I plan to look into. Someday, though, I will get to swim with the dolphins. Maybe that should be my reward when i get my masters. It's a thought. At the end of this month Marty will return to the harvesting so this time of year is a whirlwind.

Right now the family is gathered around the big screen watching the Jayhawks in the championship game. We're ahead. I will post plenty of pictures this next month I am sure. Be watching for them. Our Senior pictures should be available soon.

This year is moving fast. Baseball try-outs??

Marcus has had baseball try-outs the past two weekends. Last year he was on the traveling Purple Panthers team for eight and under known as the Paws. This year Marcus is on the traveling Purple Panthers team know as the Cubs for 10 and under. He's pumped. He's already asking when the uniforms will be here.




We just had our last basketball game last weekend so it seems it's going fast this year.

There are times I sometimes think that the summer is more hectic than the school year.

Ty's graduation is May 17. He leaves for basic training (USAF) in June so a trip to San Antonio will most likely be in order in July. I believe the boys and I will make a vacation out of it. Harvest is even sneaking up on us. Marty will be starting preparations at the end of April and meanwhile two birthdays in April, Easter in March and our Anniversary in May. Whew get tired just thinking about it.

Boys Will Be Boys

Even the big boys like a new toy gun. Uncle Louie (my friend Lewis) was here this weekend bearing gifts. Give Kritter an M60 and watch daddy have a good time. Of course, this happens with a lot of toys. I just happened to catch this one on film (digital actually). The 'boys' were entertained for hours.
This weekend had all sorts of activity. Marcus' basketball game. The septic system lost a motor and we were without overnight. Two sleepovers and mom decided that was that. Tracy and I went to date night (two tickets, two med. sodas and a med. popcorn for $12) at the theater and saw 27 Dresses. It was actually quite good in spite of it's chick flick status at our house. After a weekend like we had, mom needed it.

Kristopher and Saber's Sleepover

Kristopher and Saber had a sleepover last night. Seems Marcus had a birthday party sleepover with his friends at Brandon Bartz' Friday night and Kristopher was not to be outdone so Saber came last night and they've had a great time together. I have to point out, though, that their taste in pajamas is uncannily alike, don't you think? Looks like Kristopher slept on his hand last night. The stamp on his hand is now on his cheek also. It was an interesting night though. The septic pump died last night and we are waiting for the repairman to show up so we can get back to life as normal. Luckily, in a house full of boys, going potty outside is thought of as fun. I can't say I'm as enthusiastic.

Recreation Basketball 2008

We've been having basketball instruction and practices since the beginning of the year under the Larned Recreation Commission. We are now divided into teams and playing games on Saturday mornings during the month of February. We won our first game but lost today's game. The teams are made up of 2 4th graders and 4 3rd graders. It's amazing to me the improvement just in one year. Marcus is on a team with his friends Brandon Bartz, Kolby Keith and Steven Tran. What does it say when the only player shorter than your son is the Viatnamese boy? I'll tell you, though, that Steven makes up for his height in pure heart and effort. Marcus (#6) is loving basketball this year.

Boys And Their Toys

Daddy and the boys and Roy and Layton took the ATVs down to the sand pit and tore it up. They had so much fun. I wonder when they will stop talking about it. Really, I wonder when it will end. I'm glad they had a good time though. It's the first time we've loaded up the ATVs and taken them anywhere. I just hope that they don't start begging to do it all the time.
I have an interview at St. Francis Wednesday. I'm not really nervous though. More curious than anything. I also have a week of orientation in Wichita and then about three days in Topeka at the beginning of next month. I've never been away from daddy and the boys like that. It could be interesting how I do and how the family does.
Thursday Tyson has his first meeting as a delayed entry airman in the USAF. They have to meet down in Wichita for the day and bring a friend. I believe he is taking Brandon. We still have a lot to do for his HS graduation and it seems to be sneaking up on us. I'm ready for him to be done but not sure I'm ready for all the hassle.

FINALLY

Tracy and I got phone calls at 5:30 tonight offering us 8:00 tickets to Jeff Dunham in Hutchinson, KS at the Fox Theater (80 miles away). We took the tickets and the boys and went. IT was awesome. Achmed performed Jingle Bombs and everything! He even did an encore with Bubba J. We had a ball. The only bad thing was that Jeff doesn't sign autographs or do meet and greets, bummer. Anyway, if you have a chance, go see Jeff Dunham. WE had a blast!! I'll try to add some pics later of the boys at the theater. We weren't allowed cameras inside but I did get some camera phone pics of the stage and the puppets afterward. Thanks for a great night Jeff. We still have tickets to his performance in Fort Collins at the Lincoln Center in March if we decide we need a second dose of Jeff and the gang. I highly recommend this wonderful act to you all and it looks like he's gonna win the favorite comedian on Comedy Central. GO Jeff!!

It is Done

The laundry room is clean. What a relief. I hate cleaning that room. It has become a dumping ground in our house and cleaning it is a long arduous task. The problem is, it seems, when that room is in chaos so is every other room. It's like a hub. If it's in shambles then the rest of the house will easily fall apart. Fortunately it's done and now I can move one to my computer desk. The other dumping ground. They walk in the house and they dump everything on my desk. My next big job is to find a way to stop them once I get it clean again. So, the garage is done, as is the house. Unfortunately, my family will not let it stay so for long and I will be doing this all over in a week. I believe they say the definition of insanity is doing things the same way over and over and expecting a different outcome. So, what i have to decide is how to get the rest of the family to do things differently so that mom doesn't have to spend another day in the laundry room slaving away. I can dream, can't I? Meanwhile, insanity it is.

Life: Hectic and Precious

Well, my spring cleaning (in January, I KNOW) is just about complete. The laundry room is all I really have left but that room is storage and laundry and pantry etc. so, as you can imagine, it's a major job. I'm not looking forward to it but I am looking forward to being able to say 'I'm done'. I always feel better when that room is in order even though no one else ever sees it. I think it is because when that room is clean, being it is also where all the storage shelves are, then everything has a place again. This room tends to become a catch all if I don't stay on top of the troops.

My sister in law called last night. For some time we've known our 25 year old niece, Cassie, has MS. Up until lately she's lived fairly normally. She has 3 daughters and a fiancee.
Cassie went into the doctor's office yesterday because she was going downhill. She now has aggressive MS. She has more than 100 lesions on her brain and liver/kidney damage. They are performing tests on her liver and kidneys today. I can't tell you how much I wish we were in Washington to help out. She has her mom and two aunts but I just wish we were there. Update 2/13/2008, things aren't looking good, Cassie is using a walker.

Think Again

Well, the boys are off to school. They seem to be adjusting to the fact that our trip to see Jeff Dunham is postponed until March. I'm re-adjusting to the fact that we aren't going to be in Colorado. The road trip was much needed and now it is postponed until March. There's plenty to do here, as always, though.
It has been bitterly cold here but I am hoping to get back to doing some walking outside instead of being cooped up here with the elliptical. Sometimes you just need to mix it up or risk getting bored and quiting. It would help if the scenery here in Kansas was a little more pleasant though. It's brown, it's cold and it's flat. In spite of that fact, I'm hoping the mercury will rise just a little so I can enjoy a brisk outdoor walk.

I have a lot of paperwork to do to return to college and I'm throwing around different options for earning some extra money while I attend school. The eBay store idea keeps coming up. There was an eBay drop-off store in town but I've been told the person running it decided it was too much. The fact that he had too much business makes me more optimistic that this might be a good way to make extra money while attending classes. There is a lot to consider before just jumping in though. Also, convincing the hubby that this is feasible will be of utmost importance.

I think Marty was glad to see us come home last night even though he felt sorry for the boys. He seemed truly relieved to have us home. He said it was too quiet. The boys had so looked forward to the performance. Marcus was just crushed. He's adjusting to the fact that we will still be going only later. We may have to do something special this weekend. He has movie money and that might be a good distraction. The Sunday Matinee would be a good idea since Saturday he has basketball practice.

The tooth fairy visited Kristopher last night and the boys switched back into school mode with just a little push. Barring anymore unforeseen incidents, life in the Nolde household looks like business as usual.

UPDATE

The Jeff Dunham performance in Ft. Collins has been rescheduled for the week of the 22nd of March. We have been informed the performance will be on a Friday meaning the kids will actually get to go see the clydesdales at Budweiser like we originally had hoped. This was not going to happen due to Budweiser being closed Monday through Wednesday so there is some silver lining. Now we just have to pray for good weather. We are all very disappointed about the cancellation of our trip though. Luckily, we had only made it 60 miles out of town when we were informed that Jeff was ill with laryngitis. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope things go better in March. Meanwhile, I have a few very disappointed boys.




The tragic loss of Heath Ledger was announced this afternoon just before we left on our ill fated trip. I enjoyed his work very much. Most notably I loved A Knight's Tale and 10 Things I Hate About You. I think we have lost a rare talent. I am mostly saddened for his little girl Matilda. It is very sad that she will not have her daddy around as she grows up.