New Years at Grandmommy and Pop-Pop's house with Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Meredith.
Dan and Tango fly back from NY to start Term II of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Tango kicks back on the couch and enjoys the kid free house for a week. Dan begins his grueling Term II schedule of classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Encroaches in Tango's space on his four classless days.
Christine, Lauren, Patrick, and Anthony return back from NY after spending an additional week in NY to ensure no presents were left unwrapped at Grandma's house. Bring back with them two surprises - Aunt Gertrude and Aunt Florence. The Aunts test the theory that the Army quarters can hold visitors. Theory holds true with a lot of creative sleeping arrangements. After a great visit, the Aunts check off Leavenworth, KS from their list of places to visit.
Family waits for the extremely cold winter and snow while enjoying spring-like weather.
Lauren and Patrick visit the friendly neighborhood dentist. Lauren (who brushes her teeth religiously and moderates her sugar intake) scores another cavity. Patrick (who insists he is allergic to toothpaste and has yet to learn the meaning of moderation of candy intake) registers no cavities. Go figure.
Family waits for the extremely cold winter and snow while enjoying spring-like weather.
Family is shocked to have a half day of snow. Children manage to build Frosty just in time to watch later in the afternoon the affect Mr. Sun has on friendly neighborhood snowmen. By evening time, Dad picks up the scarf, buttons, and carrot out of the grass.
Ash Wednesday - Fast and Abstinence - Lent begins.
Family waits for the extremely cold winter and snow while trying not to enjoy spring-like weather too much.
Lent continues.
Dan finishes his grueling Term II schedule and takes a week off to fly (temporary duty) to Chicago, IL to attend the '99 Congress of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Has a great time with ol' Baylor buddies while at the same time pursuing advancement in the his professional endeavors. Week flies by. Dan returns to KS for Term III.
Dan begins an even more demanding Term III schedule. Classes Monday and Tuesday with five day weekends. Life is tough. Dan begins to worry about the payback for all of this.
Spring-like weather begins to sour as Spring draws near. No chance of snow. Sorry kids...
Grandmommy and Pop-Pop fly in for a visit. They reminisce back on the days when they did the same thing we are doing now over 25 years ago (when Dan was in the fourth grade). Knowing better, they decide not to test the Army Quarters visitor theory and sign into VIP lodging that makes the Ritz look a little bit shabby - all for a mere $25 a night. The antique find of the month: Pop-Pop (Ol' Eagle Eyes) finds a civil war staff officer's button in the dirt while exploring Jesse James' Canyon with the Dan and the kids. Estimated worth - approximately $15 dollars. Dan begins his inquiry into the purchase of a metal detector. Great visit.
Lauren and Patrick begin spring soccer. Lauren is on the Black Tigers with their black uniforms and Patrick is on the Green Machine with their green uniforms. Along with Gymnastics, piano lessons, boy's tumbling, and dancing lessons, the five day weekends seem a bit more busier than expected.
Lent ends. Holy Week....Easter! Christine starts to drink coffee again (???). Dan begins to gain weight (???). Dan and Christine now want to enjoy the spring-like weather but can only find cold, overcast, rainy days. Is this some kind of joke?
First Easter Egg delivered to our front door on 3 April - the day before Easter - by a House Finch. Seems this tiny little bird (Mama Bird) and her husband (Daddy Bird) decided to build a nest in Christine's slightly expensive, homemade, wreath. The family (ours) received wonderful instruction on the construction of a nest, the laying of eggs (one a day for six days...yes, that's right, SIX eggs! Don't ask us how they all fit inside that tiny little bird or how she got them out...OUCH!), and the best instruction on how to constantly scare Mama Bird out of her nest. Three weeks later, the eggs hatched and we were treated to tiny little naked baby birds - Mama and Daddy Bird were mighty proud! One baby decides to mouth off to Mama Bird and gets kicked out of nest. Our neighbor Suzanne witnesses the act. Mama Bird investigated by Family Advocacy Council. Case is still pending...
Road trip! The long awaited and often delayed trip to Michigan to visit cousin's Ryan, Joshua, and Megan finally became a reality during the weeklong spring break (another CGSC benefit to add to the stress of payback). Last year's planned trip for Megan's Baptism was impolitely cancelled by the Northwest Pilot's Strike, and this trip was delayed and almost cancelled due to Anthony and his 104 degree fever which lasted for four days. But he recovered and we made the 14 hour trek through Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan (not the most scenic route in the world) and made in time to see Ryan score a goal in his soccer game - what a treat! The kids bonded instantly and had an absolutely wonderful time. We celebrated Ryan's 6th birthday in a real 25' boat IN a restaurant (Patrick still asks each night to eat in a restraurant with a boat). Uncle Frank and Dan were able to see Ryan sing in his school's spring concert. Aunt Maggie and Christine were unable to attend due Joshua's accidental head bonk causing enough blood to make one wince...no stitches though, just a cool cut on the top of the head! The next day, it was back on the road and we absolutely confirmed the fact that the route is not scenic at all.
Surprise! Grandma Maggio flies into town for a two week stay to surprise Lauren for her Birthday. Army Quarters visitor's theory is tested once again...
3 May 1999 - Lauren turns the big zero-six, and it becomes clear that she is beginning to crack the code on birthday parties. One on her actual birthday with the family, then another one the following Saturday with all her friends. Humm, I don't remember ever celebrating my birthday twice in one year...However, Mommy and Daddy show some restraint by only renting out an entire roller skating rink for a really fun party...under whom's thumb did you say?
Almost five weeks to the day, our little Finch family get's orders and moves out. Lauren, Grandma, and Patrick are fortunate enough to actually witness two baby bird fly out of the nest for the first time with Mama and Daddy Bird cheering them on. We were all amazed at how well they could solo without any flight hours with an instructor...