Couldn't be more proud :)
3/27/12
Big Man on Campus
Erik got a promotion/transfer within his company!!! He is now the Vice President of Treatment Standards. He will be doing some travel and working out of the main headquarters. We are moving to San Antonio when school gets out. We are working at finding a place to live now and are excited and nervous for this new adventure. Erik is really excited about this opportunity and the change on his resume for future use. He has worked so hard and has really impressed Airrosti.
3/22/12
Yay, Jared!
Just wanted to post for everyone that Jared just got a promotion. That's not really the big news although we are so happy to making a LOT more money. The big news is that Jared scored a 90 on his performance review. This is the top score you can achieve and only a handful of employees get it each year. Of course, Jared downplayed it as much as he can, but I could tell how excited and pleased he was.
He has been doing an amazing job at work with more responsibilities and projects and his employers really value him. But in doing all this at work, he is still getting A's in classes on at accelerated rate allowing him to graduate a whole semester early. When he comes home, he starts in on the family man role by helping get dinner on and playing with the kids and continues this role until they are tucked in. Often he does this alone since I am usually out for a run or trying to finish up my chores for the day. But once the kids are asleep, he is studying and doing homework coming to bed around 11 and leaving for work before I even notice it's the next day.
I am not bragging. I am tooting the horn that I know he won't. I am so proud of Jared and I know coming from a family like this that all of you have had similar experiences.
He has been doing an amazing job at work with more responsibilities and projects and his employers really value him. But in doing all this at work, he is still getting A's in classes on at accelerated rate allowing him to graduate a whole semester early. When he comes home, he starts in on the family man role by helping get dinner on and playing with the kids and continues this role until they are tucked in. Often he does this alone since I am usually out for a run or trying to finish up my chores for the day. But once the kids are asleep, he is studying and doing homework coming to bed around 11 and leaving for work before I even notice it's the next day.
I am not bragging. I am tooting the horn that I know he won't. I am so proud of Jared and I know coming from a family like this that all of you have had similar experiences.
3/20/12
My Flashy Family
Here's something I heard this morning from Emmett:
"Mom, Ella's flashing me!"
What's funny is that they were both in the bath at the time. And he actually was saying that she was "splashing" him. But his "sp" sounds always come out "f." So Spiderman is Fiderman. And a spoon is a foon.
What's even funnier, is he was standing up in the bath at the time he said that, so in actuality, he was flashing her, for real.
;) Karissa
3/14/12
Retaining Wall (Jared)
re-tain (verb)
1. Continue to have (something); keep possession of
2. Not abolish, discard, or alter
3. Absorb and continue to hold
Ahh, the retaining wall. At least it was properly named. It continued to have weeds, would not discard them, and it continued to hold onto them year after year.
Mom already brought you down memory lane in regards to this treasured side of our Antioch house, but I'm going to bring it up again...and again...and again. It's only appropriate that the retaining wall come up again just like the weeds did every summer. Honestly, I thought I was going to die up there. It would only be appropriate - I could just lie down right there next to the lot of our deceased animals. But, fortunately each summer I escaped, though only after much hardship clearing the weeds.
I remember that as summer approached every year I began to wonder when the mandate would be given: "This Saturday we're going to clear the weeds from the retaining wall!" I think the first few years of clearing weeds we actually gave it a good effort, and I remember we all discussed (and got somewhat excited about) what we would do with the space. But, after a couple of years, we each started to lose hope as we recognized that it was more of an annual workout than an attempt to do anything with the space once the weeds were cleared.
As the years went on, our efforts turned from "clearing" weeds to merely just turning them over. Step 1: insert shovel, and lift. Step 2: if there is a big clump of weeds that's easy to grab (and doesn't have anything prickly), pull it out and throw it in the bucket. Step 3: otherwise, turn the shovel and immediately dump. Step 4: kick and spread the dirt to hide the overturned weeds. Step 5: repeat.
Though I must say, the retaining wall actually wasn't half as bad as the space between the wall and the house. That stretch of space felt like our own little jungle and it even made the view outside my bedroom window feel a little more "exotic". I remember many tennis balls disappeared in there and we even almost lost the kayak back there. Even poor Molly wouldn't even go near that side of the house!
1. Continue to have (something); keep possession of
2. Not abolish, discard, or alter
3. Absorb and continue to hold
Ahh, the retaining wall. At least it was properly named. It continued to have weeds, would not discard them, and it continued to hold onto them year after year.
Mom already brought you down memory lane in regards to this treasured side of our Antioch house, but I'm going to bring it up again...and again...and again. It's only appropriate that the retaining wall come up again just like the weeds did every summer. Honestly, I thought I was going to die up there. It would only be appropriate - I could just lie down right there next to the lot of our deceased animals. But, fortunately each summer I escaped, though only after much hardship clearing the weeds.
I remember that as summer approached every year I began to wonder when the mandate would be given: "This Saturday we're going to clear the weeds from the retaining wall!" I think the first few years of clearing weeds we actually gave it a good effort, and I remember we all discussed (and got somewhat excited about) what we would do with the space. But, after a couple of years, we each started to lose hope as we recognized that it was more of an annual workout than an attempt to do anything with the space once the weeds were cleared.
As the years went on, our efforts turned from "clearing" weeds to merely just turning them over. Step 1: insert shovel, and lift. Step 2: if there is a big clump of weeds that's easy to grab (and doesn't have anything prickly), pull it out and throw it in the bucket. Step 3: otherwise, turn the shovel and immediately dump. Step 4: kick and spread the dirt to hide the overturned weeds. Step 5: repeat.
Though I must say, the retaining wall actually wasn't half as bad as the space between the wall and the house. That stretch of space felt like our own little jungle and it even made the view outside my bedroom window feel a little more "exotic". I remember many tennis balls disappeared in there and we even almost lost the kayak back there. Even poor Molly wouldn't even go near that side of the house!
3/10/12
The Burrup way
I have to be real quick so I can go do my chores...or really it's prepare my talk but still considered a chore.
Coming from a big family we were not given individual chores but all required to participate together. And my mom required her house to be clean and organized while my dad required a beautiful yard. And they had the man power so why not. I used to say that my mom had 7 kids so that she had people to clean her house. Not a very gracious thing to say. Childish, perhaps.
But I hated pulling weeds every Saturday morning while the neighbor kids started out on their bikes or to play ball. One way out of it was to complain about allergies only to be sent it to clean house with my mom. So our only real way out was to do a good job the first time. My dad came around and checked our work before dismissing us.
Now I despise doing the dishes. But like my mom I need a clean and organized home to function properly so I make sure that, like Nelleen, I clean as I go. That is probably the only reason Jared and I do not enjoy making beautiful culinary masterpieces together. But just like pulling weeds, I've learned that the only way out of chores is to do them and be done with it. Well, I do have one trick. If I'm really desperate, I ask Jared to do it and he is such a sweetheart that he does it.
Erin
Coming from a big family we were not given individual chores but all required to participate together. And my mom required her house to be clean and organized while my dad required a beautiful yard. And they had the man power so why not. I used to say that my mom had 7 kids so that she had people to clean her house. Not a very gracious thing to say. Childish, perhaps.
But I hated pulling weeds every Saturday morning while the neighbor kids started out on their bikes or to play ball. One way out of it was to complain about allergies only to be sent it to clean house with my mom. So our only real way out was to do a good job the first time. My dad came around and checked our work before dismissing us.
Now I despise doing the dishes. But like my mom I need a clean and organized home to function properly so I make sure that, like Nelleen, I clean as I go. That is probably the only reason Jared and I do not enjoy making beautiful culinary masterpieces together. But just like pulling weeds, I've learned that the only way out of chores is to do them and be done with it. Well, I do have one trick. If I'm really desperate, I ask Jared to do it and he is such a sweetheart that he does it.
Erin
Hm...chores.
Well, quite honestly, I don't remember HATING any chores. It wasn't my favorite thing to do but I knew it was expected. The boys went outside to do yard work and I cleaned the bathrooms and my room and often times the kitchen. I do remember complaining that I had more to do then them but that's a different story.
The one thing I disliked the most about chores has become a family joke. Kevin would disappear to the bathroom after dinner every night when it was time to clean up the kitchen and do the dishes. We'd tell my parents he was faking it but they never believed us and in order to avoid arguments, wouldn't make him come help. He did this for ten years! Now, it's a big joke and Kevin admits that it was completely on purpose. I hope his kids do that to him someday ;)
As an adult I have a hard time doing anything involving floors. I hate mopping, sweeping and vacuuming. Not really sure why, it's just not something I think about very often and hate the prep-work to mop. Erik knows I don't like to unload the dishwasher either so he can always tell when they're clean cause the dishes will start to pile up in the sink :) Don't worry, it still gets done every day!!!
Sorry I'm kinda boring huh. Wish I had some fun story but I've recognized that the Moll parents must really like straight lines....yes?! :)
-Lisa
My Love For Grass
Mother: "Erik, it is your turn to mow the lawn today."
Varoom! Varoom! ..putt...putt...putt...Varoom! Varoom! ....choke....choke...choke... Varoom! Finally!!!!!!!
Erik: "gggggrrrr."
The lawn mower finally started but now I need to go ice my shoulder down. After a quick ice break I am off to mow the lawn. This time it is different because I am not in the mood. Our lawn isn't really large and honestly it isn't all that difficult to mow. But today there are two things I don't want to do; mow the lawn and shovel the dog poop off the lawn before mowing it.
The grumpy gene is boiling within me and my stubbornness is becoming more visible. I quickly map my plan out in my head and begin my artwork. I gently position the lawn mower in position, but in order to do so the lawn mower can't be on. Fearing the lawn mower won't start again, I take the chance and shut it down. With the mower in position, it miraculously starts on the first pull. Slowly I walk the mower in a straight line and with care I lower the handle to the grass while lifting the mower away from the lawn turning on a 335 degree turn so that it doesn't cut the grass. I quickly eye my line and start in a straight line again. When I have reached my point, I once again lower the handle toward the grass lifting the mower away from the lawn and make the necessary turn on the proper angle without cutting the grass. The mower is then lowered and I continue in a straight line. I have reached my ending point and now have to turn off the mower again to reposition.
A few feet away from my previous cuts, I eyeball my position and start the mower. Today must be my day because it starts again with ease. This time I gently move the mower at a slow and steady rate as if I am walking around an oval track. I return to my starting point and with a grin on my face I shut the mower down. I am done! I empty the mower bag and return the mower to its resting place in the garage.
The shoes are left at the sliding glass door and I cheerfully inform my mother that the task has been completed. At the moment she responds with a sense of gratitude but what she doesn't know is that I just gracefully mowed the letters "N" and "O" in the lawn.
...total time to completion = I don't remember but I do know it took longer than it would have if I had just mowed the lawn like normal.
Thankfully mother has a wonderful sense of humor!
P.S. I didn't shovel the poop before mowing. I learned quickly that it either gets sucked up into the bag or chopped up like and onion and spit out the sides of the mower.
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