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posted by Gretchen 11:33 PM

posted by Gretchen 10:39 PM

2006 Ends with a Few Bangs!

2006, on the whole, was a good year for our family.

Bas is still doing well with Hubbell Power Systems except for a minor incident on December 8 (the night of Chapman Elementary's Christmas Party @ Joe Uher's home). Bas and his colleague, Al were supposed to travel into the back country high voltage line area in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania vicinity on December 7. The trip was cancelled due to an excess of snow; however, they rescheduled the trip for the next day. In the afternoon of December 8, the voltage "sightseeing" trip halted near a cliff. The Ford pickup truck (that was driven by someone from First Energy Electric Company) landed in a precarious position while trying to get through the narrow passageway of "High Voltage Line Countryside." Actually it was ready to fall down a cliff and the driver had to keep his foot on the break petal until a rescue crew from First Energy could winch it out. Bas and Al and the rest of the crew were cold and heard a few gun shots from distant hunters but made a safe return back to Ohio. Needless to say, Bas missed the Christmas party but had the pleasure of eating where the locals from the backhills of Pennsylvania eat.....YUM!!! Yesterday, Bas took Sean ice skating for the first time at Ice Land. Sean was really getting the hang of it after awhile and decided to sit down and rest. Dad decided to skate and show us his moves.....he ended up in the emergency room after falling backwards on his head (slight concussion). When we took Bas to the emergency room, the nurse remembered Sean and how smart he was from another time we was in the emergency room! We later bought Sean a helmet that same day! Bas, you're not a spring cock anymore!

Alison had two successful internships in Nashville, Tennessee this past summer. She had the opportunity to see first-hand the workings of both a radio station (Citadel - WKDF....country and sports) and a Sony/BMG company called Provident Label Group. Alison really enjoyed the experience and will be completing her last semester at York College of Pennsylvania in May, 2007. She plans on setting up shop in Nashville in the music field!

Sean played T-ball this past summer and joined the Ledgepark Swim Team. He also played fall soccer and recently started taking jazz and tap dance lessons. He even likes "My Little Pony" much to his dad's chagrin! Sean started kindergarten at Sts. Joseph & John School in the all day program. He is doing quite well and has brought home several "smarties" candy for using his brain and answering some hard questions in school. Sean has become friends with Matthew, Kevin Lenihan, and Jackson. During daycare, he has a second grade girl friend named Lizzie. Sean still enjoys playing with and learning all about airplanes. He has even amazed the tour guide from NASA with his knowledge of planes! Sean, will you always remember playing people's bongo's? Don't forget learning all those kindergarten "popcorn" words. Remember those words families....how about the time you explained to us that words like class, lass, pass, mass, and bass all belong to the "ass" family! How about the time you got up at 6 am in the morning and stopped to wake up Hunter only to discover that his nose was dry and warm. You immediately fixed a potion of ice water and poured it over his nose to get Hunter back into his cold and wet nose! I could not stop laughing about that one! Don't ever forget waking up at 2:30 am on Christmas morning in 2006. You have always been an early riser but this was taking early a little too far!

Gretchen has been busy teaching science and reading to the 5th graders at Chapman Elementary in Strongsville. She comments that teaching this year is so much fun that it isn't even like working. Every teacher should have the opportunity to teach in Cleveland for awhile and their tolerances and attitudes to things would certainly change for the positive.

Hunter is doing well too. He enjoys chasing Sean through the house and just took a test indicating he was practically a genius (it was an internet test)! He did bite the groomer when she trimmed his beard though.

We took a short summer vacation to Denver and had a really nice time. We also found out that dust mites, that Sean is allergic to, cannot survive at such altitudes. Driving in the mountains was awesome!

Let's have a great 2007......

posted by Gretchen 9:21 PM

It's spring already, where has the year gone? Here's some family updates:

1. Alison is doing well at York College of Pennsylvania. She is majoring in Communication and minoring in Music Industry. She secured (all by herself) a double internship in Nashville, Tennessee. She will intern at Provident Records, owned by Sony/BMG and WKDF Radio, which broadcasts both country music and sports as the official station as the Tennessee Titans NFL football team. Alison will be living at Fisk College in Nashville during the internships. Way to go Alison!

2. Sean began the remainder of his preschool year at a new school: The Goddard School, right down the street from us. His teachers are Miss Julie and Miss Jenny and Sean is doing great. Because of the change of schools, Sean has mysteriously become a model student. He has great behavior and loves learning new things. He especially likes the science experiments and the study of continents and countries.

3. Since April, 2006, Sean has wanted us to give him math problems such as 8 + 7 = ____ and on May 5, 2006 told us he can "READ." It's true. During naptime at school, the kids that do not want to take a nap can read books. He told us he's been practicing his letter sounds and now he know 3 letter words with short vowels such as c-a-t, n-a-p, g-e-t, p-i-g. Way to go Sean!

4. Some funny things Sean has said or done lately:
a. He and Jack play a game called, "Cook Your Butt." They heard someone say, "Kick Your
Butt" but interpreted it as, "Cook Your Butt!"
b. Sean has a new loft bed and within the first week, fell out of it. He was supposed to be
taking a nap but decided to see how far he could lean over until he fell! When Dad
rescued him, Sean said that the fall was great but the landing hurt, next time he'll have
to have his parachute! That's our Sean!
c. One day at the early hour of 5:00 a.m., I heard Bas talking on the phone in Dutch (he had
to talk to the IRS in the Netherlands about a tax issue) and then I heard him talking to
Sean. When Bas came back to bed, he told me that Sean was sitting up in bed when he
went past his room with his mouth WIDE open. Bas asked him what he was doing and
Sean said he heard footsteps so he was getting ready to bite the bad guy (he's been
pretending he's either a killer whale or a crocodile lately).
d. We went to a gas station and I stopped in to buy a pepsi and when I came out I told Sean
and Bas that the place was a "hole in the wall." As we pulled away Sean screamed that he
wanted to go in to see the hole in the wall!!

We are planning a possible move to the Denver, Colorado area. Will we really move......stay tuned!

posted by Gretchen 10:21 PM

It has been over a year since I last posted a blog. Hmmm, what's been happening around here.

In December, 2004, we flew to St. Petersburg, Florida on USA 3000 and stayed at a rental apartment called The Twins in Treasure Island. It was rather cold so we couldn't go in the gulf to swim. Sean met a friend from Michigan named Stephen and Stephen's Dad and Bas hit it off well together. Sean and Alison had fun looking for shells. Sean was just potty trained on October 1, 2004 (it happened at the Federal Building while Bas was getting his U.S. citizenship granted). Sean wanted to poop in a pull-up but I didn't have any with me so I told him he'd have to go in the potty because they wouldn't like the smell if he pooped in his pants or on the bathroom floor. He did it and has been pooping like a big guy ever since! A funny thing happened in the rental car in Florida. Sean told me he had to go to the bathroom and I said, "Okay, we'll find a bathroom soon." Alison was in the back seat with Sean and was getting a little worried that Sean would pee or poop in his pants so Sean started teasing her by telling her, "I'm pushing Al!" Sean even knows how to push his big sister's buttons!

A day after our Florida trip, we boarded a plane for the Netherlands. Alison decided to stay home and keep on eye on Hunter. It was a very nice trip except I had bad jet lag upon arriving and missed New Year's Eve. Sean also developed a bad case of eczema on the trip.

From January until March, 2005, I did my student teaching at Zeller's School in Strongsville. I completed my Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction in Special Education (Mild/Moderate Disabilities) in May, 2005. Now it was time for the job hunt. I had a couple offers from Charter Schools but chose a job at Chapman School in Strongsville as a Teacher Assistant. I would help out the teacher's with copying, laminating, etc. and substitute on Fridays and sometimes Mondays.

Alison decided to change colleges and chose York College of Pennsylvania in York, PA. We took a trip there on Memorial Day weekend in May, 2005. We stopped in Lancaster, PA too. It was a very nice area. Alison is majoring in Communication and minoring in Music Industry.

Sean is still going to Garden Preschool at Tri-C and also attends the daycare to have lunch and take a nap. Since, I've gone back to work I was concerned that Sean would have a hard time adjusting but at Thanksgiving dinner, we went around the table to say what we were thankful for and Sean said he was thankful for Daycare! He really loves the play area in the gym.

Bas has been working at Hubbell Power Systems and has been traveling quite a bit this year. Since I've been working, Sean and I haven't been able to go with him to his longer trips to Aiken, SC. Bas also received his third patent, first with Hubbell. Good inventing Bas!

Hunter has been doing well. He loves gives Bas cuddles and running around crazily with Bas after dinner. He is an 87 lb. beast! Sean is also his friend and gives Hunter bits of cereal and apples to take gently from his hand.

posted by Gretchen 2:37 PM

Alison going off to Northern Kentucky University.....you're not ready for college yet Sean! 

posted by Gretchen 1:38 AM

Hmmm, it's been a busy September!

Alison is settled into her dorm at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) but misses her friends and family. She has applied to Kent State University so we'll see what school she attends Spring semester! Alison has been a lifeguard at the NKU pool and told me that it sure is different working there than at the Ledgewood Pool (thanks for all your good boss skills Kris Justice)!

Sean just loves his Garden Preschool. He has been working on pictures and the teacher writes his description about the pictures each day. He even writes letters at the Writing Center, complete with student mailboxes! One of Sean's favorite places is the Construction Area....lots of wooden trucks and blocks. He also likes the Science Area where they've found worms, slugs and lots of outdoor things. They can use magnifying glasses, binoculars, and telescopes to see the things from a different view. Sean reads books in the little Van Gogh room in his classroom (what a nice reading cubby). Another favorite part of Sean's school day is playing outside when he first arrives - the giant sandbox is great for digging and exploring. Everyday Seans brings about 1/4 cup of sand home from his shoes!

Sean is really liking going to the library every week or two. His new favorite type of books are the non-fiction ones about airplanes, dams, waterfalls, and bridges. He's quite the expert about airplanes! The Strongsville Library also has an awesome children's play area complete with a barn, puppets, a magnetic table, puzzles, play blocks, and vehicles. It even has mirrors where you really look silly!

We found inexpensive airline tickets for the Netherlands so we'll be off to Assen from 28 December 2004 until 6 January 2005.

Gretchen's been busy with school and selling items (mostly Sean's clothes) on E-Bay.

Bas now has 2 patents from Vita-Mix and 1 on the way from Hubbell.......what an inventor Bassie! What a great influence on Sean too......he adores his dad and can't wait to hide from him everyday when Bas comes home from work! They're also having a lot of time together when Gretchen goes to school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.....you'll usually find them swimming on the pirate ship at the Strongsville Rec Center.

Bas and Gretchen are also exercising.......you'll see the results soon!

Hunter is doing well. He likes the Brunswick Dog Park and is very friendly with the other dogs. At home, you'll usually find that he's a couch potato, literally!

posted by Gretchen 8:14 PM

Announcing October 1, 2004.......SEAN finally POOPS on the potty. Bas was at his swearing in ceremony for his U.S. Citizenship at the Justice Building in downtown, Cleveland and Sean smelled up the whole bathroom, boy was it the talk of the town!!

posted by Gretchen 11:15 PM

Congratulations BAS on your U.S. Citizenship!

posted by Gretchen 2:00 PM

Hi,

After some time on the waiting list and prayer, Sean has been accepted to The Garden Preschool at Cuyahoga Community College! This is a model classroom using the Reggio Emilia approach to learning. The children are the guide to the curriculum and it is project-based! The philosophy is that children have many languages:

The Hundred Languages Children

The child
is made of one hundred.
The child has a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking
A hundred always a hundred
ways of listening
of marveling of loving
a hundred joys
for singing and understanding
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.
The child has a hundred languages
(and a hundred hundred hundred more)
but they steal ninety-nine.
The school and the culture
separate the head from the body.
They tell the child:
to think without hands
to do without head
to listen and not to speak
to understand without joy
to love and to marvel
only at Easter and Christmas.
They tell the child:
to discover the world already there
and of the hundred they steal ninety-nine.
They tell the child:
that work and play
reality and fantasy
science and imagination
sky and earth
reason and dream
are things
that do not belong together.

And thus they tell the child
that the hundred is not there.
The child says:
No way. The hundred is there.

Loris Malaguzzi(translated by Lella Gandini)


Sean visited the classroom for a little while today while I dropped off paperwork and was especially interested in the sand table and the airplanes and helicopters! The teachers will make a home visit on Friday....more later!

posted by Gretchen 2:02 PM

On Friday, August 20, 2004 we all drove Alison to NKU. She is in a dorm with 3 other girls and will be a lifeguard at the college pool. More updates later.

posted by Gretchen 9:38 PM

It's been winter since I've told you what's been happening to our family. Hmmmm, let's see.

Alison went to her Senior Prom in May! Ask her to show you the pictures! She turned the big 18 on May 26, 2004. Alison went on her first road trip with the 1994 Nissan Sentra with her friend Hailey to Lexington, KY on Memorial Day Weekend. Alison also graduated from Strongsville High School and had her party at the Ledgewood Club House....in attendance were Wout & Riet van Besouw direct from Assen, the Netherlands! She has gone to lots of graduation parties and has been staying out late with all her friends. On August 20, 2004 we will be driving Alison to college at Northern Kentucky University. She will begin with 25 semester credits she earned at Tri-C while a senior in high school....way to go Alison (she got all A & B's while at Tri-C).
She got a lifeguarding job at the college too.

Sean has been a growing boy turning 3 this year. He is big into pretend play and has names for everyone in the family. Dad is Jumbo, Mom is A-320, Alison is the airport, Hunter is the control tower, Ojoe is Tug, and Sean is DC! He's been to both Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island and Kelley's Island on the ferry boat and now he is pretending to be a ferry boat. He also pretends to be a train, an airplane, a sailboat, and various other "things." Sean loves his new Middle Bass Island glow-in-the-dark T-shirt with a sailboat on it. He also loves swimming, going to Kiddie Park, riding in the kid seat on Dad's bike, and getting a kid's cup with sprinkles or eyes at Dairy Queen! Sean was in a family day care for the whole month of July and got peeing potty trained in one day! He also learned some good manners. He's also been going to Dalcroze Eurythmics at Baldwin Wallace College and has Mrs. Hunger as his teacher (she also taught Alison when she was Sean's age). Sean really like playing with Hunter and sometimes bugs Hunter a little too much. Sean loves the Noggin TV channel and likes shows such as Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street, Franklin the Turtle, and Maisy.

Bas has been working away at Hubbell Power Systems and will be there 2 years this October. He designs insulators for electrical power lines and teaches Sean all about them too. We probably don't have to move to Aiken for about 3 years.

Gretchen is still working on her Master's degree in Special Education (Mild/Moderate disabilities) from Cleveland State University. She has been doing very well in school (Cumulative GPA: 3.94)! Gretchen also decided on short hair this summer, first time in about 10 years.

posted by Gretchen 9:17 PM

Wow, usually winter is a time for me to relax a little, have longER talks with Alison, have fun playing with Sean, go sled riding, enjoy my Bassie, and just hang out but NOT this winter. I've been busy, busy, busy! Actually, we've all been busy. Alison is deciding on college choices and dresses for prom. She also has a full schedule at Tri-C and Strongsville High. Sean is busy visiting preschools for next school year. He just has to get busy with his potty....namely his poop training! Bas is busy with all of his Hubbell work goals and traveling to Aiken, Pittsburgh, and Columbus. Bas has a neat new PDA to keep track of all of his busy-ness! I'm busy working on my Special Education license so I can begin teaching again in August, 2005. Bas & I have also been working lots of hours doing our RGIS inventory job.....thank you Alison for helping out with Sean. I guess the only one relaxing around here is Hunter, the dog! A DOG'S LIFE......only a dream to us humans!!

Let's see what's been going on here amidst of our busy-ness......Alison got a 3.5 point average first semester and is attending award ceremonies galore at Tri-C as well as Strongsville High School. She has also been invited to join the Phi Theta Kappa society at Tri-C based on her educational achievement last semester. Way to go Al!

Bas has a patent for a blender container he designed while working at Vita-Mix Corporation!! Ask to see his new plaque honoring the patent! We also found out we will not be moving to Aiken before Spring, 2005.

Sean has become a smart little dude and is asking questions about the Earth and why it is round like a ball and why don't we fall off of it and, "Mom, can I see that ball of the Earth?" He is quite a singer, dancer, and jumper. He says so many things that make us laugh and just enjoy his inquisitiveness that it is simply awesome. He wakes up talking and ready to run and jump and goes to bed talking, running, and jumping! In about a week, Sean will be 3 years old already. He wants a choo choo train cake and to go to Chuck E. Cheese for a little birthday party. Sean is so ready for school.....just one minor detail has to be accomplished - potty training. Go Seany, go Seany!!

I've been going to school @ CSU and taking a grad class via Endicott College in Boston via the internet to become certified in the Wilson Reading Program to help students with reading disabilities. I have to tutor a student for 60 lessons as a part of this certification. As a part of another one of my classes, I've been observing special education students in urban, suburban, and rural settings. I've been doing inventory @ RGIS at such stores as Marcs, Sears, J.C. Penney, and mall clothing stores. Calling people's homes to ask for household donations has also kept me busy. The good thing is I can do this job from my home office.....MY comfy bed! And of course, I've been busy with potty training....cleaning up peeps and poops accidents and giving our smelly dog a bath regularly.

Bas, we need to take a mini vacation together and relax and enjoy the quiet of the moment.

Hope Spring brings us warmer weather, beautiful buds on the trees and flowers all around.

posted by Gretchen 2:36 PM

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