Losing my computer

I'm sad to say that my computer is getting packed away tomorrow. I won't get it for about a month. Boo hoo. I hope to be checking email daily somehow, but I won't be reading blogs or spending too much time on the computer (like I do now). We do have a stateside phone number that I can check my voicemail from. If you need to get a hold of me I'm sure I'll be checking messages from that too. My phone number is 716.805.3378 and my email is missykiser@gmail.com See you all on the other side of the world!

New Kids on the Block

Am I the only 30-something housewife out there that is thrilled the New Kids on the Block have reunited? They were the first concert that I ever went to up in Toronto in 8th grade. I wasn't as fanatical as some of my friends, but I was still in love with them. After 15 years the news of their reunion still made my heart skip a beat. Crazy, isn't it? I'm bummed that I'm moving to Japan before they come to all the cities I live near, but maybe they'll set a date in Okinawa or Tokyo. Anyone up for a concert trip if they do? Here is their new video. The only thing that bugs me is that 4 of the 5 guys have kids now (which I am assuming means they are married). Who are these girls in the video? Something tells me they aren't their wives. You can tell some of the guys seem uncomfortable posing with these girls.

I made it!!!!!!

Let's just say, I survived the Mud Run. Here are some pics that our babysitter took with the digital camera. We also carried a disposeable one with us in a plastic bag (along with Rob's pager b/c he was on duty at the hospital). When I get those developed I'll post more about the mud run. I survived! These pics are from the end of mile 4.

Kaplan reunion

I wanted to see my dear friend Shelly one more time before we leave for Okinawa. She lives about 2 hours north in Glendora so I loaded up the kids and we went up for a visit with her darling boys. We both had two boys 15 months apart (my boys are about 7 months older than her boys, I think). We almost made it the entire day without a fight or a meltdown with any of our kids. Amazing! Of course, Ben had to freak out about a 1/2 hour before we left but it wouldn't be a day with Ben without a meltdown of some sort. I had a really great time visiting with her and getting to just talk. Shelly is one of those friends that I feel like I can just totally be myself around and those are very rare in my life. She was my co-worker and then my boss when I worked for Kaplan back in '01 and '02 in Utah (and where I met Rob...she was there for all the dating details). I can't believe I didn't get a pic of the two of us together. Thanks for the great day, Shell!

Family water fun

We were outside doing a project the other night and went to get a drink of water. A simple sip turned into a water drinking war. We would hold water over someone's mouth and see if we could get it in without the person laughing. Since it was right before bedtime, we ended up getting soaked. It was pretty fun. Of course, we had to reach for the camera.

Children's Pool (Seal Beach)

There is a cool little beach in La Jolla called the Children's Pool Beach. It was dedicated in 1931 to be a cove for kids to swim in because it was pretty shallow and had a cute little beach. Seals decided that it would be fun for them too and took it over. Now humans can't swim there anymore because of fecal contamination from the seals. The kids had a good time chasing waves on an opposite beach and saying hi to all the crabs and seals we met. I just loved the pictures of the kids on the wall watching the seals.

Random Kid Stuff May 2008

My mom has been itching for some more grandkid video.  Like the cruise video, people who aren't in the video (plus my mom) may not find this video fascinating.  Highlights include:

1)Issy just being cute while eating

2)The boys talking jibberish while jumping on the couch

3)Visiting my sweet mission companion, Katrine, up in Santa Cruz, CA.  We went to the Boardwalk and to the Aquarium.

4)An awesome dancing clip of the boys showing their true selves.

5) Bathtub fun with straws.  They were supposed to be blowing bubbles, but they mostly just sucked up the water.  Yuck!

6)Karate fighting

7) Video of me right after I got my wisdom teeth out.  I'm still pretty loopey.

8) Singing Happy Birthday to Isabella at her party

9)The kids riding bikes/scooters around our cul de sac.  Noah thinks he's pretty cute in this one and laughs hysterically every time he sees himself.