Pictures, anyone?

Okay, so I finally loaded all of the pictures from our many memory cards to this computer. It took hours!!! And so, in no particular order, I am going to share some of my favorites. Not alot new here...I just caught 2 students cheating today, and am quite distressed. Apparently it is my fault, and they are going to talk to the appropriate people about my unfair treatment of students. Great...they cheat...and I get blamed. Great.

Okay...I'll stop sulking...and start loading photos. Enjoy!

Here is a picture of Mommy and Berit at christmas. Do you think we look alike?

Here is a picture of Daddy and Gussie...do you think they look alike?

Now, I know they look alike!

Everybody loves Bacca!

I don't know if anybody's family is like this...but my parents constantly try to get 4 squirming children to sit still for the "family photo". And this is the best one out of several!!!

Berit loves to skate!

Berit and Gus enjoying some cake batter and later on some cake on Gussie's birthday!

Berit and Ben sharing a holiday smooch!

My pretty princesses!

I love my sissy!

Treadmills and Tenure

So, of course, once again it has been awhile since my last blog. Even longer since I posted any sort of pictures. I'll fill you in quickly about the 2 major events that are occurring in our lives (or at least my life). And then later...hopefully this weekend yet...I will post some pictures of the kids.

The first: treadmills. I will be logging some serious miles on the treadmill this spring as I just received word that I got into Grandma's half marathon! After 26 years of standing by the side lines handing out water to mostly grateful runners, and 2 years of watching my sister and brother-in-law train and run the halfer, and after 8 months of dedicated work-outs, I have decided to fulfill a long time goal of mine: to run a marathon. Okay...so it is only the half marathon, but to me, it might as well be 1000 miles...as I have never run so much as 3 miles in my life let along the 13.1 I will be trying to conquer in June! My sister and my cousin will be running right along with me...and because they both inherited the long, thin Sheasby legs (whereas I have been "blessed" with the short stout Dault legs), I have been working doubly (is that a word?) hard to train at a pace fast enough just to keep up! Right now the training is going well, not too difficult yet; but I know it will get hard fast.

Of course, in typical Rachel fashion, I have to make this conquest of mine represent more than it actually is. And so, while I am definitely challenging myself to achieve a long time goal, I also want this to serve a larger purpose. Still inspired by our President, I want to give something back. And so, I am going to donate $1 for every minute it takes me to run the half-marathon. For example, if it takes me 2.5 hours (which is what I anticipate it to take), then that will be 150 minutes, and so I will donate $150 dollars. I have decided to split my donations between Minnesota Public Radio (because education is empowering) and the YMCA (for the use of their equipment, the daycare they have provided to my children as mom worked out, and to help young children get the opportunity to take swimming classes and go to camp). My mother is also going to donate, but she will give her money to Project Read of the Falls. Hopefully more family members will do the same...

Onto "tenure". Today, I was offically tenured and am now a full professor. While probably not as big of a deal than say at a 4-year institution, this event represents 3 years of hard work, course preparation, new course creation, and 2 Faculty Excellence Awards that I have been lucky enough to receive. I was a little worried given our current economy and the major budget cuts MNSCU is facing. But, enrollment as increased at our school, in particular for those going into health careers...so Biology remains strong. In addition to that, Jay received a promotion at work. So things have been pretty good! We are congratulating ourselves by taking a ski-vacation to Park City (sans children!).

The kids are doing great. Berit is fantastic artist, and when I finally do load pictures, I will be sure to include a picture of the family she drew. I love the stage she is in, where people do not quite have necks yet. Gus is talking up a storm, peeing on the potty, and coloring all over our cream colored furniture with red chapstick. Thank god his dimples still melt my heart, or I may have shipped him off to military school!

That's it for now! More to come later.

Inauguration Day

Today is actually the day after his inauguration as our 44th pressident, but I am feeling retrospective and thinking alot about what transpired yesterday. I hope many of you were able to take in at least some of it, but I sat in front of the television all day and watched. I actually got pretty choked up when he was introduced. I made Berit and Gus stand up with me, and I taught them how to put their right hand over their heart. Berit chanted "Barack Obama...Barack Obama" with the crowd, while Gussie said "Rock my mama".

Later, Berit and I had a discussion about the color of his skin. She asked me why they called him "black", when he looks brown. I said that is what we call people with brown skin. I told her that we are called white, even though our skin is pink (to which she said, "actually mom, sometimes it looks yellow). I then told her that even though his skin is brown he is the same as you and I. To which she replied...that no he is not the same, he has brown skin, and so he does not "look" the same. I told her she was right (again), but that he is still the same inside. That he loves us, and wants what is best for us. That he can hug, and kiss, and cry, and laugh the same that we can. And that he is our president, and he wants little kids to be nice to their parents (I had to add that for effect). I think she understood, because when she went to bed, she told me she was almost going to cry. I asked her why, and she said because "she loves Barack Obama so much". That made me want to cry, for about the 100th time that day.

Man...we have come a long way. Maybe my three year old daughter will never judge a person as being "worthy" by the color of their skin, but as the great MLK, Jr. said, by the "content of their character". And maybe, as the poet Elizabeth Alexander stated in her poem read yesterday, "love" is the strongest of all words.

And to take one quote of many from a historical speech given yesterday: "The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness".

What an awesome day yesterday was. Our parents had JFK and MLK, Jr. We have this.

FINALLY! An update on what the Hudson's have been doing all Fall. We have had a very busy Fall, with house projects, work, and of course our trip to Disney. Disney was a blast! The kids had so much fun, and for Jay and I, it was just great seeing their reactions to everything. Berit loved meeting the princesses, and Gus has an infatuation with Donald Duck. The parades and the fireworks were probably my favorite part. Our resort was awesome, and we did manage to fit in a little time lounging around the pool. I am sure we will be taking a trip back soon with Grammie and Papa and Annabel and Ben. Here are some pictures and videos!

Today is the day!

Okay...so I have been a major slacker. I promise a huge update on Disney, including video of Berit meeting the princesses...Auroroa (Slipping Beauty as she calls her), Ariel, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Cinderella, and Belle. Huge event in her life.

My life has been preoccupied with this election. It is no secret that I am an all-out Democrat. I just believe so much in their values...pro-choice (aka...let a women CHOOSE what to do with her body), anti-war (Iraq war anyway), pro-education, anti-drilling, and no more tax breaks for the rich. True, I cacaused for Hilary. I heart Hilary, even to this day. I mourned when she conceded to Obama. I was offended when John McCain thought any woman (aka Sarah Palin) was what we wanted...when in fact it was Hilary we wanted! I was not sure of Obama, only for the reason that I was so sure of Hilary. And then I researched. And then I listened. And then, of course, I was moved. Obama inspires. He inspires my students, who have lived on welfare all their lives and whose parents are drug addicts, to believe they can achieve. He inspires the old ladies at the YMCA to go out and knock on doors. He inspires people to volunteer, to give more, and believe that they can make a difference. This man can, and will, make a change that we need. So...of course I voted for him. He is elegant, calm, collected, intelligent, moving, and yes...a bit verbose (as am I). And now, I am sick to my stomach waiting for the results. I cannot imagine any alternative outcome. He just has to win!

Sorry if this offends. These are my thoughts, and I am sure many of you disagree. I guess that it what we Americans are so lucky to have...the freedom to disagree and the right to cast a vote. So...if you read this and haven't voted...go do it now!!! What an amazing and exciting moment. I really truly believe that some in the future, people will ask the question: Where were you when Barack Obama became president? And I bet we'll all remember! Knock on wood.

Here is a sneak peak of the pictures we had taken. We are meeting next week to select the ones we want to keep, blow up, etc. Check out Jay's bald spot!

So it has been awhile since I last posted. Not surprised. Once a new semester starts, I get so busy and focused on classes, that all this fun stuff gets ignored. I don't know where the summer went, but boy did it fly by!

Things are moving along at a snail's pace with the house. It is painted (red), and I'll try to post pictures soon. Jay just finished up painting the trim in the bathroom, and is moving down to the living room now. The gutters go in next week (woo hoo...like I really care about gutters, but apparently they are important). Hopefully our new railing along the stairway will get done soon. The pieces came in yesterday, so we need to paint it before Jeremiah, our hottie contractor, comes in to install it. I am sure it will be another dusty mess, but it should look great!

Classes are going really well. I love my schedule this semester (2 Environmental Scicences, 1 Microbiology, and 1 Human Body Systems). I do not start until 2 on Mondays and 12 on Thursdays, and I have Tuesdays and Fridays off! That means plenty of time to work out! I have really been good about getting to a gym and am starting to feel the results. I am discouraged that I haven't lost any weight, but I can tell I am firming up a bit. I was hoping to run in the Turkey Trot in Loman over Thanksgiving, but Jay is trying to get me to go to the Missouri/Kansas game in Kansas City. We'll see.

The kids are great. Berit is in dance, gymnastics, and swimming. She loves dance! I'll make sure I get some pictures of her in her unicorn leotard. Gussie and I take parent/child tumbling, and while he could care less about most things...he did a great job on the balance beam! He is learning to talk more and more, and, unfortunately, is even more destructive than ever! A few weeks ago, I went into the bathroom to find Berit and Gus smearing toothpaste all over each other and all over the walls. It took me a few days to get all of the gel washed out of their hair.

We are gearing up for our big trip to Disney World. Berit is so excited to see princesses, although I am not sure what she is going to think of the gigantic characters. We are determined to take them to the ocean one day as well...I think it is important that see it...even though they likely will not remember it. Apparently Annabel is very upset that Berit gets to go to Disney World before her. IT is not fair that she is 3 and Annabel is 5 and her parents still haven't taken her there. When my dad asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she told him that her parents were taking her to Disney. Not sure what Becky and Jason are going to do about that (although I will place all of my money that a trip will soon be planned!).

My parents took off for London and Paris yesterday. I am so proud of them to being so adventurous. Although I laugh at the thought of them trying to pronounce some the French words!

That's it from my end. Not a whole lot of exciting news. I'll post some updated pictures soon, but for now, enjoy a picture of these 2 yahoos!