tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62866250516154302752024-02-19T17:38:06.603-05:00Maschger MusingsThis is the Miles, Tamara, Madelynn, Emma, Eleanor and Elizabeth Maschger family blog.The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-42872274662459801082013-08-26T12:56:00.000-05:002013-08-26T12:57:19.933-05:00AND...we are back! <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">OH! It has been ever so very long since we have "blogged". Throwing our crazy little family life into witty entries for our wonderful families and friends to read. It is time to begin again...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I will NOT try to recapture the last THREE years...let me sum up, instead:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The family survived the 530+days that daddy was gone doing Navy "stuff"! Dad returned home on Father's Day, 2012.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In July of 2012, we arrived in Monterey, CA! YIPEE!!!! Miles has been assigned here for the next three years! Did I mention...YIPEE????? </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That is about it...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You may be wondering why we have revisited "blogdom"? Well, there are two reasons. One, my parents entered the MTC today to begin their two year mission to Mexico City South Mission. We are so very, very excited for them as they embark on this new adventure, and since Nana and Papa have started up a blog to keep us informed of all that they are doing...we are returning the favor! The second reason I have resurrected this blog has to do with my girls. While Miles was deployed, I took the time to take ALL of the entries I had made to the blog, and compile them in a book, and send the book to him. So that even if he were unable to access the internet, he could have a way to connect with his girls. A couple of months ago, Maddie found this book and read through it cover to cover...and then, she read it to Ellie, and the Emma read it, and then ALL of them sat together on the couch and laughed and laughed at all the silly pictures, and the sillier stories of the things that they "used" to do when they were "little". So, I write for my girls...so that they may have a way to always remember the things they "used" to do when they were " little"! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What kinds of things are the Maschger's doing? Well, we are still busy homeschooling...yep...still! That little experiment that we started just four years ago, has become a full time obsession. It is not only something I LOVE doing...but we are really seeing such tremendous benefits in each of our girls. We just completed our school year, and are happy to report that 100% of the students at The Maschger Academy had 100% attendance. AND 100% of the students made the honor roll! Really! We grade our girls, and they earned straight A's in all subjects. Additionally, I can report that all of our students are at or ABOVE grade level! Right now they are learning math, writing, grammar, handwriting, spelling, science, history, keyboarding, Spanish, and piano. We have also enjoyed completing several art projects, and have spent this year teaching Maddie and Emma to ride a two-wheeler...and just this last Saturday they completed a 6.3 mile bike ride---which I think is pretty good for those little legs! :-) We are looking forward to getting "our" aquarium back---we have let the tourists have it over the summer--but after Labor Day we will resume our weekly trips...because we LOVE the aquarium! :-) We will be taking a brief two week vacation, and then we begin our new school year on September 9th! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A quick note on each of the girls:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maddie (9) is doing so very, very well! To say that she is reading like CRAZY would be an understatement! I feel as though she has read every book in the library---she checks out 5-15 every week! AND, she reads them ALL! She LOVES to read! When she isn't buried in a book she is writing. She has several FANTASTIC story starters, and her poetry is pretty awesome for a 9 year old! Her favorite subjects continue to be history, art and science. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Emma (8) continues to be the beautiful soul she has always been---that remarkable mix of pure charity, and competitive drive makes for some very interesting parenting challenges---she LOVES to serve and help---as long as she gets to decide how she serves and help...and if she can be the FIRST one to help and finish! We are also moving into the 8/9 year old phase---don't know if anyone else has dealt with the phenomenon...but Maddie did the same thing---right around 8.5, there is this sudden decision that your parents are idiots, and it is your job to let them know that you--the child--know more than those parents do. It is like a preview of the teenage years... Maddie has moved out of this phase, and she is really so very, very pleasant and helpful and mature... Emma is not. Emma continues to be incredibly responsible, and is exceptionally bright---as long as she directs what she is learning and how she is helping. She doesn't take direction well AT ALL! Her favorite subjects are whatever Maddie doesn't like---sigh! She likes art, and piano, and handwriting, and math...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ellie (4) is Ellie! That will FOREVER be what will describe Ellie! She is Ellie. You have to meet her to understand---she is a MASSIVE personality squished into a little person...she lives in a world of opportunity...nothing can stop her---and I do mean NOTHING! She is REALLY bright, and she is still learning that she can use all that intelligence for good...She is a force to be reckoned with, and we LOVE that about her! About 4 months ago, she started begging us to let her start "school"...the rule has been when you turn 5, you start school with Mom...she was so very insistent, that we started her really slow and easy, and the more we gave her, the more she wanted. She now sits through an hour of instruction a day which includes handwriting, math, and reading. She has about 8 books that she can read on her own, and adds a new one every week. Often, while we are reading scriptures, she will announce that she wants to learn a new word...so she picks a word out, and from that point on, she reads that word whenever it crops up. She is pretty amazing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lizzie (2). Lizzie will turn 3 in November, so we are well into our terrible 2's and barreling towards those terrible 3's. She is plagued with lethal cuteness AND being the baby, and she wields those weapons with skill and precision! :-) She has also insisted on doing "School"...so we do Lizzie School...and the girls LOVE to help her. While she knows all the sounds the letters make, she still doesn't know her colors...which is fine...she is TWO! However, it is a bit amusing to have her constantly point out letters and the sounds they make---and then tell you the bus is purple! :-) Lizzie is by far the most social of all our children...EVERYONE is her friend! And I do mean EVERYONE! She says "Hi" to every single person we pass... I am pretty certain that is the Grandpa Lemmon blood in her! :-) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Miles has been EXTREMELY busy at his new post. He is over an entire division---which averages about 80 students. They keep him busy with all the various needs that are inherent in a military training/ school setting. However, as this assignment comes right after a lengthy separation, we have PERSPECTIVE! So, those REALLY long hours he is having to put in every day, are "OK" because he still comes home every night (except those nights when he is standing those 24 hour watches)! :-) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Other than work and school, we are doing our best to take advantage of this most beautiful part of the country. The girls favorite activities are hiking, and biking, and going to the beach---and when we "go to the beach", the intention is to "get our toes wet"...which NEVER happens---toes quickly become the entire body---soaking wet---so very fun! :-) As previously mentioned, we love the aquarium, and have made that an almost weekly habit! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Before I wrap this up, and head off to do all those "mommy" things, I wanted to leave you with a quick couple of Ellie "moments":</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mom: When you whisk, you stir fast, like this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ellie: OH! Like a monkey who has to eat bananas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mom: Ummmm...precisely...????</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ellie: This is SOOO GOOD it will make your heart fall down!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mom: Are you ready, Ellie?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ellie: Ready as a noodle steady!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mom: ...........</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Love you all!</span>The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-74582311238603772102011-01-29T16:21:00.001-05:002013-08-26T02:05:10.294-05:00We're still here...sort of...Well it has obviously been a long time since Tam and I have updated our blog. Things have been very hectic, chaotic, and stressful. Basically, everything is normal. However, a lot has happened since we last posted in June. Because nobody would want to sit through a recounting of everything that has gone on, including me, I will just give you the highlights. <br />
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On November 23, 2010, Tam gave birth to a beautiful Elizabeth Nan Maschger. She is a gem and seems to be not as demanding as our other babies were. She is growing very large very quickly. She is a joy to have in the house and her three older sisters have taken to her very well. Sometimes we have to protect Lizzie from them. Now that we are the parents of four daughters, I have officially put my man-card in a safety deposit box until such time as it is safe to pull it out, and I fear for the time when the girls start dating. After all they are already taking about marriage. <br />
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Madelynn is growing into a beautiful young woman. In fact she is convinced that she is a grown up because she is in size one women’s shoes. She LOVES to read, and will read anything she can get her hands on. She often would prefer to read over just about anything else including eating, playing, sleeping, etc. Sometimes Mom and Dad have to force her to put her books down. One book that she enjoyed a lot was a medical book that talked about the human body and sicknesses. It was created to help the reader understand various common diseases and injuries and help a patient “diagnose” common ailments. More than once Maddie would diagnosis someone with a broken bone or skull because they hit their head, or when Emma was sick with a cold Maddie would be the nurse and have Emma lay on the couch and so she could take care of Emma. (Emma ate all of this attention up.) She recently read a book about the Sun and our Galaxy and was so enthralled by it that she declared that she wanted to now become a space scientist. Of course, she also wants to become a nurse, teacher, and writer too. She is going to be busy.<br />
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Emma is also developing into a beautiful young woman. She has an incredible ability and desire to see what people need and then attempts to serve them. She also is very competitive so she will often race to help someone so she can beat her sister at it. This usually is not a problem until the tempers fly and someone gets hit or clotheslined. Emma has a special relationship with her sister Eleanor. Emma can get Ellie to stop and play (freeing up mom for other essential household activities). Emma is a very responsible girl who, even though she would rather play her own game, will help Mom by taking care of Ellie.<br />
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Eleanor is a force to be reckoned with. She never stops moving and getting into things. Tam and I are unable to leave her alone. She certainly keeps us on our toes. If we do not know where Ellie is something valuable is getting broken. There are two things that she cannot possibly leave alone, computers and bathrooms. Both present an irresistible pleasure for her, even though she gets in trouble every time. She is smart and very capable of figuring out ways to get into what she wants. It is exhausting trying to keep up with her. <br />
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Tamara is busy being the mother of four. She is homeschooling our daughters and is doing a phenomenal job. She runs a tight ship at home, and is doing an awesome job keeping it all together. (She of course would disagree) However, I as an unbiased husband, have claimed the right to say that she is rocking the family thing and making miracles happen everyday in the home. <br />
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I have finally finished my masters degree from the National Defense Intelligence College. It took a bit longer then expected but I finished my 88 page thesis and will finally get my wall art this summer. It was a long, exhausting, mentally strenuous experience but I am glad I did it. I really enjoyed the classes, most of the teachers, and the topics discussed. <br />
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Another major family event is that I got orders at the end of last year and on December 15, 2010 Tam and I moved the family to live with her parents in Blue Springs, MO. Because the Navy is sending me to the Middle East for an Unaccompanied tour. I have about six months worth of training state-side before I leave for the region and then I will be there for a year tour. Altogether, that is around 18 months away from the family. I left on January 2, 2011 for Pensacola, FL for aircrew training, because my orders will have me riding in airplanes. The schooling so far has been difficult and has caused me several times to question what I was doing, but with the faith and prayers of my wife and the blessings of the Lord, I will be graduating this Thursday, and moving on to three more schools. I do not relish being away from my family, but we are not the first military family being asked to make these sacrifices. I am to my core a family man, and miss them terribly. However, this tour will hit a lot milestones that are important for the career path that Tam and I have chosen.Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-41671808650384242452010-06-08T21:49:00.001-05:002010-06-08T21:51:12.788-05:00Maschger Family Photos 2010So, about 3-4 months ago, our family spent an afternoon down in Ellicott City, Maryland getting our pictures taken by our incredibly talented friend...here are the results...FINALLY!<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/play/4d5463794d4463344f444d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Maschger Family 2010" src="http://www.smilebox.com/snap/4d5463794d4463344f444d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center">Create a <a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows/" target="_blank">photo slideshow</a></td></tr></table>The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-70596877416559299642010-04-27T08:55:00.002-05:002010-04-27T09:14:56.208-05:00Last Post for the Day. I Promise, but You Are Not Going to Want to Miss ThisMany of you have probably already heard, but we figured we should probably put the word out officially.<br /><br />I will be getting orders soon to Bahrain for a year. Tam will go and live with her parents during that time. I am scheduled to begin training the end of November. <br /><br />Now for the really really exciting news!!!<br /><br />WE ARE PREGNANT!!!!! Well Tam is pregnant, my work is done. I now get to sit back and relax. <br /><br />We are excited for number four. Maddie is praying that it will be a boy and Emma is praying that it will be a girl. Originally they were praying for twins. I am glad that they switched what they were praying for. Because we know that Heavenly Father definitely answers prayers. (Is it bad that I prayed that my daughters twin prayer NOT be answered? Something to ponder.)<br /><br />The due date is December 5, 2010 and I am scheduled to leave the week before that. Thankfully, Tam's doctor does not want her to go past her 38th week because of Tam's health issues. So, basically this is how the delivery will go: "Breath honey. Now Push Honey! Oh look its so cute! Well I gotta go dear have fun and see you later!" In all seriousness I am grateful I will be her for the delivery, but I am saddened that I will leave so soon after. <br /><br />I am also using these blog posts as a way to procrastinate writing my 5 assignments that are due this week. (Only about a combined total of 30-40 written pages and two presentations.) No biggie? Right?<br /><br />I hope everyone of you is doing well. Take care. Love the MaschgersMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-22497563504941464872010-04-27T08:45:00.002-05:002010-04-27T08:55:39.911-05:00Run Run Run Around We Run AroundOn Earth Day April 22, 2010, Fort Meade held a 5K race and our whole family ran. Mom and Dad ran with the girls. We were so proud of them. Emma ran the 5k in 42:56 and Maddie ran it in 59:03. Emma ran over a mile and half before she needed to stop to walk for bit. I think it was her competitiveness that motivated her. She hates getting passed. I am so proud of both my girls for their efforts. Emma wants to run another race and Maddie, well afterward, she told us she hated running. <br /><br />Here is the link to the race results. So check it out: http://ftmeademwr.com/events/RunSeries/EarthDay5kResults.pdfMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-47709649939027327942010-04-27T08:30:00.003-05:002010-04-27T08:45:03.659-05:00Maddie's become a Canadian and her facebook friendMaddie has started to end just about every sentence with the word "eh" as in "I am going upstairs to put on my pajamas "eh'" and then Emma immediately follows by saying "b, c, d, e,..." Good Canadian times in the Maschger Household.<br /><br />Maddie has also decided because one of her friends has imaginary friends that she needed to have an imaginary friend as well. So she created one, named George. They met on facebook and during nap time she took a two hour flight to Texas to met him for the first time. We had to negotiate his age with Maddie. Originally George was 17 years old. We told Maddie that Mom and Dad would not allow her to have a 17 year old friend. She then countered with a 10 year old friend. We finally settled on 7 and half years old. So now Maddie has a 7 and half year old facebook friend that lives in Texas and she talks to him incessantly on her cellphone. <br /><br />Is that not a product our day? My daughter's imagery friend is on facebook. The imaginary friend is probably more active on facebook than Tam and I are. <br /><br />Love the MaschgersMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-22529831242291464902010-04-27T08:21:00.002-05:002010-04-27T08:30:47.595-05:00Gotta Love your Kids!!! No really you do!!!So here is a simple new recipe Emma and her friends created.<br /><br />Ingredients:<br /><br />1 Large Bowl<br />1 Full Roll of Toilet Paper<br />Enough water to fill said bowl<br />1 Bathroom sink.<br /><br />Steps:<br /><br />Fill the bowl with water<br />Begin to unroll the entire roll of toilet paper into the bowl full of water ensuring that all the paper becomes thoroughly soaked and mushy. <br /><br />Now taste your creation to ensure proper consistency. If it is to your liking you are done, if not add more toilet paper.<br /><br />For an extra flourish make sure to spread the water to the bedroom soaking one of the dressers in the room.<br /><br />After you are done then dump the entire bowl of water and toilet paper down the bathroom sink drain to clog it up. <br /><br />I hope that you all enjoy this family favorite as much as we do!!!<br /><br />Love the MaschgersMileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-86408271615369697232010-03-06T21:14:00.003-05:002010-03-07T06:39:23.771-05:00Socks in SoupToday, while the family was sitting down to lunch. We were feasting on a sumptuous fare of soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Tam and I looked up to see Maddie taking her sock out of her bowl of soup. Well, Tam's and my interest was peaked. We have heard of crackers in soup, but socks were new. I wonder if socks improve the flavor. Maybe they make the socks extra soft, or maybe footsweat is more pleasant when it smells like tomato soup. Tam asked her what the sock was doing in her soup, and Maddie's simple reply "I took off my sock." Well of course, it all makes sense. What were we mere mortals thinking. When you take off your socks, it is only logical that you would place them in soup. Needless, to say Maddie ate her sock flavored soup and now we one REALLY red sock. <br /><br />We are also the proud new "Pet-Parents" of two new small Koi from Wal-mart. Tam is teaching the girls about fish in Home-school. Tam and I also thought it might be an opportunity to teach a little responsibility to the girls too. It also helps that fish don't bark or chew up carpets or shoes. Our girls have been so excited by the new fish. Maddie named her fish, "Karen"... cause nothing says fish like the name Karen. Emma named her's, the same name she names everything, "Sarah Capia". It is difficult to keep them from harassing the fish. We almost had to get a restraining order against our girls.<br /><br />That is the latest from Maschger the front.Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-72886368626409856162010-02-11T17:09:00.000-05:002010-02-11T17:10:16.369-05:00The SECOND Blizzard...<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5451344e6a67314d54673d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Sharing the Joy!" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5451344e6a67314d54673d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow</a></td></tr></table>Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-66207884665532403962010-02-10T17:10:00.004-05:002010-02-10T18:07:25.127-05:00The FIRST Blizzard...On February 5th, it started to snow in what was predicted to be a record-breaking snowfall. I was VERY excited, and wanted to document the occasion. So, every hour, on the hour, I snapped a picture of our backyard and a picture of our front yard....here it is:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dynlxLFa1FLrL_6AvT7yaOY6rvEOIAiPWeputFMeN7PpWtKQinvdgcce4iFCd76_-oIRdqcwRrkxUojfKt6Hw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-34149043109997702162010-01-07T21:58:00.003-05:002010-01-07T22:00:13.830-05:00A Video/Photo Catch Up...Here are some pics and video of some goings on around our place lately...the details are in the post that follows...<br /><br />Love ya!<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5451794d6a41774f44553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox photobook: Catching up!" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5451794d6a41774f44553d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own photobook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/photobooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox photobook</a></td></tr></table>The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-14632850013441644272010-01-07T20:02:00.002-05:002010-01-07T20:45:03.927-05:00A New Year...SO much to say, and who has the time? Can we sum up? Probably...not...<br /><br />Suffice it to say, we are all here and alive...<br /><br />Miles started back to school on Monday after a brief holiday break, during which he had to write several papers and prepare a presentation. His first week back and he has written a 10 page paper, prepared a 15 min presentation, and written another 6 page paper. SIGH! The nights are getting later and later, and we are beginning to wonder what the heck we were thinking!!!!! He has had absolutely NO time to even think about a thesis...which is due the end of June. RIGHT! SIGH! Just thinking about it causes my stomach to start eating itself...so let's move on!<br /><br />Maddie and I had our first homeschool review at the beginning of December, and we did well...think I over prepared, but that is kind of my thing! :-) Because of the insanity that is the month of December, Maddie pretty much got the whole month off...while she was super excited at the time, now that Mom has her nose back to the grindstone, she and I are thinking that a month is tooo long to not do school. You just forget sooo much! Maddie is reading sooo incredibly well. The other day I checked out a couple of "third" grade chapter books that she and I could read together. She took one to "quiet time" and emerged two hours later having completed the book. I quizzed her, she read it. That night she asked to take the other book to bed, and a couple of hours later (when she should have been sleeping), she came out of her room to announce that the book was really scary, and she was going to have nightmares. We assumed that she'd read to a "scary" point (please keep in mind that my girls had to turn off Tigger and Pooh's Halloween movie because it was too scary...scary is relative around here!) and had stopped. In a coversation the following day, it became readily apparent that she had actually read the entire book. HELLO...SIX! Today we got a new science program, and during lunch Maddie read through the first five chapters, and then spent the rest of the day drawing cell "cities". I am frantically trying to keep up with her, and it is AWESOME! The ability to read is soooooooooooo important...and she not only knows how, she LOVES to read...she is unstoppable!<br /><br />Then there is Emma. Emma, who will be 5 next month, is quickly gaining some momentum. A couple of months ago she wanted nothing to do with reading, just loved singing her letters and playing sound BINGO! Now, she has several primary readers under her belt and loves to "read" them to whoever will sit still long enough, including her little sister Ellie. She loves to write, and since she plowed right through the kindergarten handwriting book, she has started in on a first grade book. We have told her that until she turned 5 she was only required to do "reading" in "school" (She liked to be a part of school, but working through all the subjects just was a BIT much) I think that she is definitely going to be ready to take on a full school day...and she will be awesome! Emma also continues to be my bestest helper. She amazes me with her innate ability to perceive what others need, and then to quickly respond to that need...without being told. I can't tell you the number of times that I have walked into a room to begin a clean-up to find that it has "magically" cleaned itself...care of Emma, or how often Emma has sat down with Ellie and played with her, or reads to her, keeping her busy so Mom can get stuff done. She is truly a blessing!<br /><br />That brings us to Ellie. Sweet little Ellie, who will be 1 on Saturday...impossible to believe. Ellie is everywhere and into everything...very age appropriate. Her favorite things in the whole world are her family...she loves to be in the middle of the family, no matter what! Whether we are cleaning, or watching a movie, or snuggling on Mommy and Daddy's bed, or singing...she is right in the middle doing her best to figure out a way to "help" out, or participate! She is also developing a love for books, and wanders around the house carrying one in each hand, looking for somone to read to her. <br /><br />I am left, in my rare free moments, to ponder the seasons of our lives. To contemplate how even the best laid plans are often revised, and revised, and revised, etc. Wondering what tomorrow will hold...and I'm not talking in the metaphorical sense...I mean, literally, TOMORROW! ;-)<br /><br />With that, I am off to do dishes, and maybe even get some yoga, or a spin in before Miles gets home from his night class...hmmmm...<br /><br />Stay tuned for next month! :-)The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-29285332334770068992009-12-17T23:07:00.002-05:002009-12-17T23:16:46.257-05:00An Emma Joke...Miles overhead the following conversation:<br /><br />EMMA: Why did the turkey cross the road?<br />MADDDIE: I don't know. Why?<br />EMMA: <span style="font-style: italic;">(laughing)</span> To have a baby on the other side!<br />MADDIE: <span style="font-style: italic;">(in complete disbelief)</span> It had a baby on the SIDEWALK!!!! <span style="font-style: italic;">(pause)</span> Was it a turkey vulture?<br /><br />An Emma moment: Thursdays at our house are "breakfast-for-dinner" nights. Miles has class at night, and as that is one of his least favorite meals, we girls indulge ourselves. Tonight I made whole-wheat chocolate chip pancakes (the whole-wheat makes me feel better). Emma polished off FOUR pancakes, covered in syrup. Upon completion of her meal of SUGAR, I asked her to clear her place and start her bedtime routine. Emma replied: "MOM!!! WHAT ABOUT DESSERT???" Seriously? Apparently I need to spend some time with basic nutrition! :-)<br /><br />This laugh has been brought to you by the ever entertaining Maschger girls! Merry Christmas!Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-12068892040840731012009-12-06T22:03:00.001-05:002009-12-06T22:05:22.249-05:00<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5449344d44637a4d546b3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to play this Smilebox collage: " src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5449344d44637a4d546b3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;" width="386" height="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img alt="Create your own collage - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;" width="386" height="46" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/Collage" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox collage</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-5424519409273667832009-11-20T09:13:00.002-05:002009-11-20T09:19:22.851-05:00Maschger Musical Moment...I have in my possession this arrangement for "Away in a Manger" that is written for an organ, a violin and a piano...all to accompany the congregation singing the hymn from the hymn book. Using our really cool digital piano, I recorded the actual hymn and saved it to disc. Then I can play the track on the piano and play the other parts along with the track...anyway, I am learning this piece, and so I am playing it VERY slowly! Maddie and Emma, being the performers they are, couldn't pass up an opportunity to improvise a concert for their Daddy (who happened to be home this morning!) Miles caught it on tape, and it is here for your viewing pleasure!<br /><br />Maddie does a fine job of projecting her voice, and performs her piece with her whole soul! Emma, in a rare Emma moment, plays the timid and shy role, but her words (the few you can hear) are incredibly sweet and poignant!<br /><br />Hope you enjoy!<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5449314d4441794f54513d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox collage: Maschger Musical Moment" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5449314d4441794f54513d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own collage - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/Collage" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox collage</a></td></tr></table>Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-36933266550034919272009-08-30T19:58:00.002-05:002009-08-30T20:31:54.388-05:00Week 1...So, just wanted to let you all know that the family has survived week 1 of Miles Master's program, and that we are ready to dive into week 2! :-) What have we learned through this first week of classes? We have learned that we have much to learn...<br /><br />Miles did an absolutely incredible job staying at school and focusing on studying! We are not naive enough to have thought that any real studying was going to be accomplished here at home, and a brief test run Tuesday morning, proved our point...so Miles is at school ALL day long! However, he also tore himself away from his studies early a couple of night to come home and let me get some grocery shopping done, AND I even got to attend a baby shower completely kid-free! What an awesome man! He and the other members of his "track" (the group of students he'll complete the program with) have formed a study group, have divided up the reading, and have scheduled routine review groups...everyday 40 mins before class! I think that is awesome to be sooo organized this early in the game...and I know all about the power of the study group, saved me through more than one course in my degree seeking days! :-) This week we will be adding in some gym time for both him AND I, and he is going to make an effort to be home for dinner a couple of nights a week... We are giving ourselves a good month to get a feel for what he will really need to put into this program, and what I will really need at home...and we are most confident that it will all fall into place...eventually! :-)<br /><br />As a humorous side story: Monday night, the first night Miles wasn't home to put the girls to bed, I had put the girls down, and was in the office working on lesson plans...when I hear mournful singing coming from our Maddie (Maddie loves to sing songs of woe...pitiful tunes that tell of the trials of her life! Many times Miles has had to "outlaw" sad songs in our little kingdom!) and as this is a common occurence, I wasn't really paying attention. However, I eventually realized that our little Maddie was singing "I'm so glad when Daddy comes home..." as she sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. Me and my breaking heart went in to comfort Maddie and let her know that Daddy would come home, and that he loved her and missed her, too. I asked her if she would like me to have Daddy come in and give her a hug and kiss...even if she was asleep. That was an acceptable solution, and Maddie quickly quieted down and drifted off to sleep. When I told Miles, he took his breaking heart over to our box of paper and crayons...quickly tore off a couple of sheets and wrote a quick note to both Maddie and Emma. Then he slipped into their room, gave them hugs and kisses, and left the notes under their pillows! OH! Much excitement the next morning...<br /><br />Well, as these stories often go...the note quickly became a hot item! They requested a note each night...in fact, Miles came home early on Wednesday, and Emma threw a fit because she wanted a note...and since Dad was home to put her in bed that meant no note! Seriously...sometimes you just can't win! :-)<br /><br />School with the girls is going great. We waaaay overplanned our week this week...we had lots of fun playing with friends, and had a couple of doctor's appointments and a couple of church activities...and the next thing I knew it was Saturday night, and we'd covered less than 1/2 what I had planned for the week. SOOOO...another lesson learned this week! School is the priority...just because we are home, doesn't mean we are available! Lesson learned! :-) Maddie started learning about Egypt this week in history, and has decided history is her favorite subject! :-) She also learned a bit about whales in science...her favorite things about whales...their songs (which she does an excellent imitation of!) AND killer whales! No joke! She watched several videos of YouTube of killer whales chomping on their prey, and she thought that was really cool! My Maddie has a violent streak? :-)<br /><br />Emma has really stepped up over the last week, and is an incredible Mommy's helper! She LOVES to be tasked with playing with Ellie, or picking up the toys, or even cleaning the guest bathroom! :-) She is also a BIG help in the kitchen...readily available to help stir, or put an ingredient in...it is really nice to have such a dependable 4 year old! :-) She is doing really well on her math, and has enjoyed sitting in on a couple of Maddie's history lessons. She struggled a bit with reading this week, but she made it through all of her lessons, and I am really proud of her for that!<br /><br />As for Ellie...she is Ellie! She is such a great baby, not fussy, unless you need her to NOT be eating paper, chewing on power cords, crawling down the stairs, etc. She must be in constant motion...even while "holding" her, she is moving...it's not so much holding Ellie, as juggling Ellie! :-) She did wake up Monday morning and decide that she was ready to eat that food out of the jar that Mom had been trying to push through her mouth for the last month or so! Now, she is plowing through at least 3 jars a day...yipee!!!! That means that Mom might be able to pass off the feeding of Ellie to someone else...OH...sweet freedom! :-) She is still cutting teeth...so she can get cranky when the teething tablets wear off, but keep them in her system and she is a gem! :-) I love this kid!<br /><br />Me? Well...I am tired but content! I am amazed at how well this week played out...and while it was difficult, it was doable! I am blessed with wonderful friends and family who have been incredibly supportive, and I am truly grateful to be able to be a part of this awesome opportunity in Miles' life! It is such a blessing to be able to see your husband truly get energized by what he is doing to earn the paycheck...so I am ready to take on week #2...<br /><br />Stay tuned! :-) We love and miss you all!Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-31420747922920407702009-08-23T18:18:00.002-05:002009-08-23T18:34:32.447-05:00No joke!This past week was a BIG one at the Maschger house. Miles started his Master's program, and the girls and I restarted school. I spent the weekend before prepping the "school room" and the girls had new school supplies, and I was ready to roll...until Sunday night/early Monday morning! Both Maddie and Ellie were up on and off ALL night...I didn't really think much of it because Ellie is 7 mos old and Sunday's always mess up the sleep schedule...and Maddie has had a hard time sleeping since birth. <br /><br />Monday morning, after less than 3 hours of sleep, I was in the school room doing last minute stuff before I got the girls up, when I hear Maddie start to whimper and cry. SIGH! In I go to see what is the DRAMA now...as I approach her, I can feel the heat radiating off of her body. Sure enough, Maddie was running a HIGH fever...what a great first day! Miles was gone at school orientation, so it was just me...at one point I had Maddie in the bathroom throwing up, and Emma in time-out and Ellie screaming in her walker in the kitchen. Welcome Back! :-)<br /><br />Emma was sick Wednesday and Ellie succumbed on Thursday, and hers coincided with the cutting of three more teeth!...it was a very long week for me! However, one of the perks of homeschooling, was that I could squeeze in lessons at every chance I got. By the end of the week, we had completed all of our work for the week...just behind one math lesson...I can take that! The greatest news...Emma read her first two readers this week!!! She did soooo great...when she came up to a word she didn't know, she took the time to sound it out! It was a great moment, and she is loving being a BIG girl!!!<br /><br />Miles has been wandering around the house in a state of shock. He spent his first week on campus from 7am until 7pm...it was a LONG week! However, as we poured over his syllabuses for his first quarter, we have realized that this last week was a BREEZE! By Wednesday, 9am, my husband has to read literally hundreds of pages and write a paper...by Thursday, hundreds more...the reading is insane! On top of this, there is the work on his thesis which has to begin almost immediately...<br /><br />Let me sum it up this way...Miles was told in one of his meetings this week that most Master's programs require 36 hours of course work and a thesis, and give the students 18-24 months to complete...Miles will have 44 credit hours, a thesis and has been given 9 months to complete the program!!!!<br /><br />We sat the girls down last night and explained that Daddy was going to be insanely busy, and that they weren't going to see him...pretty much Monday thru Saturday. Maddie innocently asked, "Can he eat Saturday breakfast with us?" Miles quickly agreed that he could head to the library a bit later on Saturdays so that he could have breakfast with the family...and then there is always Sundays...<br /><br />So, that's about it from here...the girls are back in school, Miles is back in school and I am trying to keep up with it all!<br /><br />We love and miss you all!Mileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465314406675376006noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-85426134273247715932009-08-16T08:17:00.002-05:002009-08-16T08:32:30.338-05:00Hello?Anyone still there?<br /><br />I have about 10 minutes before I need to move on to the next item on my to-do list for this crazy Sabbath morning...so here I am!<br /><br />Quickly bringing you up to speed...we are pretty much settled into our new home. All the boxes are unpacked, furniture in its place, etc. Still have pictures to hang on the walls, and a garage to organize...but I figure we'll get that all in place right about the time we move! We are LOVING our new place...LOVING it! Miles and I spent Friday night getting our "school" room set up since we are starting school on Monday, and it is sooooo awesome to have a school room! We have a corner for reading, and word charts hung on the walls, and a place to display art work, etc. It is just awesome! <br /><br />Ellie is growing insanely fast! She is cruising all over the place...climbing stairs...cruising along furniture, walls, etc.! She is a baby on the move! She is even starting to put her babbles together to get out "mamamamamama" and "dadadadadada" and she almost always says the right string of babbles to the right person! :-) Our frustration with her lack of interest in eating was alleviated when Nana (who visited with Papa last week) discovered that all Ellie wants is big people food! Go figure! She isn't interested in mashed up peas...she wants the real thing...and eats them just fine! :-) So, we have moved on to finger foods, completely skipping over everything else...sigh...<br /><br />Emma and Maddie are gearing up for school to start, and sad that Daddy isn't going to be home to snuggle with in the morning. Miles has had the last 6 weeks off, and the girls have LOVED having Daddy home...it's going to be an adjustment for us all!<br /><br />Miles starts his Master's program tomorrow. He is all excitement, stress, nervous, overwhelmed...just a ball of nerves. Deep breath...because ready or not here it comes! He ran a 10K yesterday...even though he hasn't done ANY working out for the last 6 weeks...he completed the run in 53 mins...makes me sick! :-)<br /><br />I am looking forward to starting up school with the girls, settling back into a routine...I am a little concerned with how I am going to keep up with the whole "cleaning" thing...one of the nice things about our much smaller house, was that it didn't take too long to clean. With this move I easily tripled my square footage...not that I am complaining! :-)<br /><br />Quick story:<br /><br />In the van, on the way to Wal-Mart to pick up some needed school supplies (we are going to be building a model of the Nile River...sounds awesome, huh?!) and Miles and I are discussing politics, or the degradation of society...or is that the same thing? Anyway, from the back seat Maddie asks,<br /><br />MADDIE: Mom, do aliens have brains?<br />MOM: Well, Maddie, as no one has ever "caught" an alien to check to see, then we really don't know whether they do or they don't. <br />MADDIE: Well, Gonzo doesn't have a brain, and he is an alien, so I think that aliens don't have brains.<br /><br />Once you bring Muppets into a conversation, there really is no comeback! :-)<br /><br />OK...I am off to pack up our church bagSSSSS, and marshall the troops for Sunday readiness!<br /><br />We love and miss you all!The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-9396462050487984292009-07-19T10:24:00.002-05:002009-07-19T10:25:59.040-05:00SERIOUSLY...So, I don't post for months at a time, and then in one day, I put up three...make that four...just wanted to let you know that there are several posts today...a couple of cute stories, and a "what's happening" post...<br /><br />So...read on...The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-18778961230282918682009-07-19T10:18:00.002-05:002009-07-19T10:24:32.003-05:00A bath...OK...so having shared a Maddie moment, Miles thinks that it is only fair to share a Emma moment...<br /><br />On the day of Miles surgery, we left our girls with their bestest friends EVER...the Sypherts. Jill, the Syphert mom :-), related the following incident when we returned to pick up our little angels...<br /><br />Apparently, Lily, the eldest of the Syphert-Maschger clan, had decided to play "survival", and had filled a large plastic bin in the backyard full of water. Jill, being the awesome parent she is, went out to conduct a "status" check into the play going on...to her horror she finds Emma completely naked. Conducting an IMMEDIATE investigation into WHY Emma had no clothes on, Jill learns that the plastic bin was a "tub"...because when you are playing "survival" you still need to take a bath...and Emma was getting ready for her bath!<br /><br />When I first found out I was pregnant with Maddie, Miles proclaimed that he wanted children with personality, because then you have GREAT stories to tell...mission accomplished! :-)The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-88602074030862681732009-07-19T10:12:00.002-05:002009-07-19T10:18:20.952-05:00A good mom...Totally forgot to share this little gem:<br /><br />Miles surgery was at Bethesda, about 45 mins from our house. He had to return to Bethesda for a couple of follow-up appointments. Since we weren't sure about how long this would take, or traffic there and from, we brought the girl's portable DVD players (this is investment we made when we traveled all over the country last year...each girl has one...no fighting and hours of quiet!) The first day went off without a hitch, and we were sooo glad we had them because we got stuck on the inner loop of the beltway due to stupid construction! :-} However, Monday, I forgot to place the actual movies in the bag...brought the players, but NO movie...the following conversation occured:<br /><br />MOM: I am sooo sorry girls, I forgot to pack the movies in the bag.<br />MADDIE (<span style="font-style: italic;">wailing, at the top of her lungs, for ALL to hear):</span> But I thought you were a GOOD mom!<br /><br /><br />Guess not!The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-62531295543561887742009-07-19T08:15:00.002-05:002009-07-19T08:38:40.236-05:00What a MONTH!!!!Honestly, not even sure where to begin...sooooooo much has been happening in the life of our little family...<br /><br />Let's take it one member at a time:<br /><br />Ellie - our little 6 MONTH OLD is now "crawling" - a combination of a couple of crawl "steps" followed by a few tummy scoots then a couple of crawl "steps" then scooting, etc. until she reaches her desired destination - which is usually some power cord, or piece of paper! :-) Yesterday, I put her down for her afternoon nap...after listening to her cry and cry and cry, I decided to go and check on her (we had to remove her bumper pad because she could pull it up and away from the sides of the crib and then she'd get trapped under it, or wrapped up in it - needless to say, often we have to go in and stick various limbs back into the crib!) believing that I'd be unsticking one of her limbs, I walked in to find her STANDING up!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!! I did NOT place an order for this! I wanted her to lay quietly on the floor for the first 6 months...take another 6 to figure out crawling, and maybe another 6 to figure out how to walk...I was giving myself a good 18 months! :-) We have caught her several times over the last 24 hours pulling herself into a standing position...needless to say we have dropped the crib mattress lower, and are trying to adjust to the idea that our days of crawling are numbered! :-) To make matters even more fun...Ellie cut her first tooth last week, and cut her second tooth this week...AND has another tooth poised to cut...probably next week! :-) JEEEEZ!!! Anyone have any suggestions on how to slow down a little one who is soooo intent on growing up?<br /><br />Miles had PRK last week (7/9)! It was a blessing...and a challenge...all rolled into one! The way this works, is that you submit a request for this surgery...the Navy completely pays for everything...then you are placed on a waiting list. Miles got a call around the first of July that it was his turn! The timing could not have been better. He is between commands, and so isn't even going into work...AND he isn't in school, where there would have been no way he would have been able to take the week off for recovery. By the time he starts school, all will be healed and well. HOWEVER, I must add a comment here...having known people who had LASIK, and witnessing the PRK surgery and recovery...if you have the option...go LASIK!!!!! The PRK recovery was BRUTAL! Miles was down and in pain for several days. We spent the first few days with all the lights off in the house, and the blinds closed. For the first three days, Miles seriously questioned whether it had been worth it...considering that if he had the choice to make over he would cheerfully wear glasses the rest of his life! :-) However, over a week has passed and all is well. He has made a complete recovery, and while his vision hasn't quite stabilized yet, he is seeing 20/40 and was told that given another week or two, that number will drop to 20/20 or even 20/15...not bad! I was really jealous, until I lived with him through the recovery...now when it's my turn...I am NOT doing PRK! :-)<br /><br />The girls are enjoying an extended summer vacation from classes, because.....<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >WE ARE MOVING!</span><br /><br />We got a call a couple of days before Miles surgery that we had FINALLY made it up the waiting list for larger quarters, and they had a nice, newer place ready for us! For those who don't already know, our new address will be: 8573 Barkley St. We are staying in Fort Meade, so everything else stays the same...<br /><br />So, in my free time, I am packing up our little house (in which we have packed a TON of stuff!) and getting us ready to move ourselves next Saturday! (We have to move ourselves, because we are electing this move! Thank goodness for good friends who are sooo willing to help us!) I have been sooo grateful that Miles has finally recovered and is back on the "clock" helping out...goes sooo much faster when there are two!<br /><br />That's it...let's sum up...standing, teething, surgery, move...Living the Dream! :-)<br /><br />We love and miss you all!The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-24149512173028564082009-07-05T20:37:00.005-05:002009-07-05T21:05:21.271-05:00These are the times...Greetings wonderful family and friends! Here we are once again to make an incredibly lame attempt to bring everyone the very best of life in the Maschger home...<br /><br />First of all, I must encourage all of you to PLEASE make sure you view the little video tidbits we have posted below! They are well worth your time...at least we think so...even if you want to skip all this boring dialogue...give the girls a chance to put a smile on your face! We have a wonderful clip of Ellie playing with her favorite new toy! A clip of our 4th of July cake...a patriotic butterfly (one of the many perks of having little girls!) AND, Madelynn showcases some original artwork with a patriotic theme...all well worth the viewing! As a side note, pay attention to Emma in the butterfly clip...that's my Emma! :-)<br /><br />How are the Maschgers doing? Well, we are doing the very best we possibly can!<br /><br />Miles checked out of his command this week, completing our second tour. The following day, he checked into his new command at NDIC (National Defense Intelligence College). I think that he has some mixed feelings about this new assignment...excitement to be pursuing a degree full-time in a field he is interested in...and apprehension as he contemplates the insanity of completing all that he'll need to do to receive this Master's degree in one year! However, since orientation won't start until Aug. 17th, we are just going to focus on having him home, and savoring every moment...as I am pretty sure we won't see much of him in the next year. Following my inspirational 5K run in May, Miles has registered for a half-marathon in October. Yesterday, he took off and ran 13.5 miles...just to see if he could do it...no training, nada...some people make me sick! :-) Obviously, he completed the run in 2:11...not bad for NO training! :-)<br /><br />Maddie and Emma are enjoying a break from school. We are taking a couple of weeks off this month, so that Mom can get ready for our next "term"! Our last week of school we did an art show with some friends who also home school, AND our girls did their very own archaeological dig! Maddie loved the digging part, and after she had found all the stuff we'd buried for her, she turned her attention to another corner of our yard, and has been digging up screws, bolts, nails, tees...Miles is a bit anxious that one day she'll dig up some unexploded ordinance! :-) (Althought that would be a good reason to have to move!) Here are a couple of great shots...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01OufNEFcNb0aHEuG8gK8riAtsy3K79jnjNtATC6knJqe9WbDK-r5iE1f2ZpWBqL2n3Z_8CMnzTKm5isToutoWbzJfIzMmSdPdKbCQARs8IV2M1K5_0lbfO-SNwzlXAXYU66lB12aYdY/s1600-h/Picture_07.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01OufNEFcNb0aHEuG8gK8riAtsy3K79jnjNtATC6knJqe9WbDK-r5iE1f2ZpWBqL2n3Z_8CMnzTKm5isToutoWbzJfIzMmSdPdKbCQARs8IV2M1K5_0lbfO-SNwzlXAXYU66lB12aYdY/s200/Picture_07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355160207718034322" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIA6kUWYtV_0q5c0_KxOM9vyjBjVKt2l0mo4tU0-Vj9U42BpVhp15yYGtRHISgb0394tA6_52n_PxI7NG4pED2z52KeOHK_axniYI1G0PaaT4n6NtyRbjWaKgj5QcVCYnUfAF3yQkzEs/s1600-h/Picture_08.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIA6kUWYtV_0q5c0_KxOM9vyjBjVKt2l0mo4tU0-Vj9U42BpVhp15yYGtRHISgb0394tA6_52n_PxI7NG4pED2z52KeOHK_axniYI1G0PaaT4n6NtyRbjWaKgj5QcVCYnUfAF3yQkzEs/s200/Picture_08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355160566143641474" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptWame207TGO9IUnQrfu_k6FSUNegmwQzEm3Ni1b1_e2BKD-OczEiabQId7oitGow9syJwPxgP8oeq0oIG0Ey2FGV5v6wg0y5qhb3ZCApvdy0G342rV62D8vlMgdnUN_nZ47rbI2fCI8/s1600-h/Picture_16.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptWame207TGO9IUnQrfu_k6FSUNegmwQzEm3Ni1b1_e2BKD-OczEiabQId7oitGow9syJwPxgP8oeq0oIG0Ey2FGV5v6wg0y5qhb3ZCApvdy0G342rV62D8vlMgdnUN_nZ47rbI2fCI8/s200/Picture_16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355160921658245858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Eva shows off her picture of a cat at the park</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Maddie and others enjoy the art show!</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Maddie and Emma being archaeologists!</span></span><br /><br />That's about all I can get to tonight....the hour is getting late, and I think I'll try to catch a few winks before Ellie requires a midnight snack!<br /><br />Love you all!The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-40942358183807598002009-07-05T20:30:00.000-05:002009-07-05T20:31:25.091-05:00ENJOY!!!!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5441794e4449314e54633d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox postcard: Some Videos" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5441794e4449314e54633d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=google&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own postcard - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/postcards" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox postcard</a></td></tr></table>The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6286625051615430275.post-84538155948330111062009-07-05T19:39:00.001-05:002009-07-05T19:40:37.399-05:00And the answer is...Here it is...<br /><br />Emma, Ellie, and Maddie!<br /><br />Good job those of you who guessed correctly, I'll be in contact with you to help me label some other pictures! :-)<br /><br />Stay tuned - I have some awesome video and pics...The Maschger Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01705991255458210619noreply@blogger.com1