Christmas Story

It was a warm time at my Mom's last night. We started by enjoying a meal of ham and roast beef. Of course my sister in law brought her famous raisin cream pie. (My favorite) Then we went to my brother's church. Small church of about 30 people. Janine, my sister in law is great on the flute and did a special. The lights were turned off and we enjoyed the candle light service. The Pastor had an unforgettable sermon. He spoke about a King wanting to win the hand of a maiden. He took off his Kingly robes and became a simple servant in a small village. Over time the maiden fell in love with him, then he revealed his true title. Jesus laid down His titles to draw us in love with Himself.


Then back to my Mom's to open gifts. There were close to 20 of us. It was a wonderful time.



I'd love to hear your Christmas Story.

Santa Claus

We went to a Christmas party yesterday. Kalli, my kindergartener, had to investage this person - Santa Claus. First he said that Rudolf was on the roof. So guess where Kalli went? She came in and informed us that in fact Rudolf was not on the roof. To which Mrs Claus told her that he was on the other side of the roof. No, said Kalli because she checked the entire roof. More investation would have to be conducted and the perfect time would be when Santa left. Although I tried to interest Kalli in the movie that was playing, she was on a mission. She informed me that Rudolf definetly was not on the roof and she also showed me the vehicle that Santa got in. Later that night, with Santa still on her mind she asked: "Daddy, is Santa real?" She could of asked me where babies came from and I may have been more comfortable. I told her that Santa was fun, just like Whoville was fun and Llama Llama was fun. I told her not to tell her classmates, but I suspect that will be a converstion she will have to have with her teacher today.



Word of the Day

tautology tau·tol·o·gi Noun

Unnecessary repetition of an idea, especially in different words, 2. In logic, a compound statement that is always true, irrespective of the value of its components.



In the OJ trial a statement was made: "The weapon is in Chicago or somewhere else." Using tautology you can really mess with someones head - which on certain occasions I like to do. -lol It appears this is a tactic of lawyers.



What is your tautology?

Christmas Letter

Tramp Christmas Letter 2010

Take the Tramp Test See how much you know about us.



1. At work this year, Kristina did which of the following?

a. Took apart a cell phone and put it back together blind folded

b. Sat on top a bill board for 24 straight hours

c. Won a Kindle for selling the most Cell phones

Answer: If you answered c you are right - Congratulations Kristina



2. In a surprise move, Alicia:

a. Announced she was moving to China

b. Colored her hair purple

c. Spent her birthday in California with her best friend

Answer: No purple hair and no moving to China -yet



3. Kalli spends most of her time doing?

a. Being a good little Llama, Llama

b. Learning to Read

c. With the older girls a lot

Answer: Llama, Llama is impatient, so that is a correct answer. Kalli loves to read and she's with the older girls a lot.



4. Our best vacation time this year was:

a. Hiking in the Rocky Mountains

b. Disney Land

c. Sky Diving

Answer: Hiking & Sky Diving - Yea Right Disney Land was so much fun



5. Baby 1 and Baby 2 are:

a. Kim had twins

b. Friends of Austin

c. Bailey & Bentley

Answer: No miracle happened, so c is correct. Bailey and Bentley - puppies of Danielle & Alicia Although we'd love to see Baby 1 and Baby 2 (my nickname) Cody is allergic to dogs



6. In vowing not to put us through any more torture Noah:

a. Stopped shooting us with his nerf gun

b. Did his chores with a smile on his face

c. Wants to do more chores at home

Actually Noah is growing up and all three are correct. Noah can't wait until he can vacuum. The smile on his face while doing the chores happens when he's finished.



7. Danielle does the following in her non-spare time:

a. Watched a brain surgery operation

b. In college for nursing

c. Has the world's record of hanging up on people

I don't doubt she may have watched a TV show that showed brain surgery because she's been interested in the medical field since she's been young. So all three are correct



8. Without doubt Austin is at his best when he's:

a. fishing

b. casting

c. spinning

Since all three have to do with fishing, you picked the right one. (Continued other side)



9. Alisha Dawn spends a lot of time:

a. In the past

b. The day before today

c. The day after two days ago

Yes, you are correct again. She works at Yesterday's as a waitress.



10. What is our foster baby, Aaron best at?

a. Keeping up with his brother Tristan

b. Really keeping up with his brother Tristan

c. Really, Really keeping up with his brother Tristan

We've enjoyed both Aaron & Tristan, both our Foster children. They are great little boys.

Aaron is 11 months old and Tristan is 19 months old. Aaron just started walking - I mean running.



11. In keeping in touch with Brooke we have to?

a. Email

b. Text

c. Facebook

All the above, but texting is the best. She's twenty now, lives in Huron and is doing well.



12. What is Cody (2 years old) going to be when he grows up?

a. A Teacher

b. A Musician

c. A Carpenter

We don't know since he won't tell us, but he sure loves music, hitting things (and sometimes people) with his plastic hammer and getting after you if you need it or not.



13. What is the favorite past time of Kim & Randy

a. Getting away together

b. Going somewhere together

c. Dates on Sunday night

We sure did enjoy our anniversary and Kim's birthday by getting away together.



14. The future Tramp plans?

a. Pick out great vacation spots

b. Fostering

c. Watching our children graduate

As a family we love vacation. We will continue to foster parent children. We had several this past year and we miss them. Alisha Dawn will be a senior next year so all three answers are correct.


Word of the Day
Chagrin [cha·grin] n. A keen feeling of mental unease, as of annoyance or embarrassment, caused by failure, disappointment, or a disconcerting event.

 My Dad died when I was 10 and not too many days go by that I don't think of him. I suspect if he was alive today, he'd be working in a gas station as a mechanic. I remember the 1st Christmas we spent without him. (He died in Oct). Surprisingly I have very warm feelings of that Christmas season because my Mom was determined to make it a great time. May this Christmas season be a season of family warmth.



What do you do to make the Christmas season special to those around you?

Austin

Kim & I took Austin out last night for his birthday meal.  We went to Texas Roadhouse.  It was great.  He really enjoyed it. 

Thanksgiving 1980

The weather was a perfect nice 70 degrees.  But I wasn't outside, I was inside the YMCA.  The weather was cold and the ones I loved was at my Mom's house.  We were separated. I knew no one at the "Y" in person but knew them all because we were in the same situation.  Navy guys unable to go home for Thanksgiving.   I had my ten dollar roll of quarters and waited in anticipation to make my call.  I and Kim talked for one hour. That is the only hour I remember that day.   But it was an hour that even now brings tears to my eyes.  I don't know what we talked about but I remember that phone call like it was yesterday.  Even the silence at the end was so precious, not wanting to end our conversation.  Not wanting to be separated on a day when family's are together. I would not trade that memory, for today is more special because of that day so many years ago.

Kids do the craziest things

I spoke to a Foster Parent group last night. (I loved it!) It brought back some memories of past experiences with foster kids. One of our foster/adopted kids was traveling with me in the van. We were coming back from visiting extended family. She was about 14 or 15 at the time and was sitting in the passenger seat of the van. (Whenever we go we have to take 2 vans and my wife was driving the van behind us with the rest of the kids.) I wasn't paying attention to what she was doing, until it occurred to me, holding a piece of paper on the window for a long time wasn't normal. I said, "let me see what you've written on that paper." She turned it around and it said, "HELP ME." Talk about going into panic. I can laugh now but I didn't then.




What's the goofiest thing your kids did, or you did.

Kim & I were able to celebrate Kim's birthday in Sioux Falls.  -great get away time

Spy

Here's a conversation between Kim & I


I call Kim: "AD is on the move, headed to PayLess shoes"

After a few minutes Kim calls me: "She's not in Location"

I text AD asking for location and get a message back, "Dad, I found a T-shirt that says, "If you knew my mother you would understand"

I text AD again and ask where she's at.

After a few minutes I get the reply from AD, "JC Penny's"

I call Kim and tell her JC Penny's

I get a call back from Kim, "Little bird has been spotted."



A successful spy operation accomplished. We really need GPS systems.

1880 Adventure

I carry my camera like a a western gun fighter carried his gun.  I out camera many and get the right picture - of course that's after several pictures are shot.  There's a story behind this picture.  The boys are smiling because it's an unexpected adventure.  We broke down in our van and had to stop at the 1880's diner.  (It's a old train made into a diner.)  We did managed to send all the kids on another bus headed to camp and all was well.

Kalli

Kalli is very ornery. She loves to hide the remote, take my chair or anything she can do to keep me off guard. -(But I love the attention.) Every night she has to have books read to her. Right now she’s studying the word, “the” and we have to stop and look for that word in all her stories

Cody

Kim & Kristina are taking Cody to Omaho for more tests.

We went to the Sioux Falls zoo and had a great time.

Zoo

We went to the zoo today in Sioux Falls.  Ricky came with us.  It was a great time.

Soccer season has started.

LifeLight

Austin, Noah and I went to Life Light.  It was great.  I enjoyed Family Force 5 and Willet.

Kalli

I'm going to have lunch with Kalli today.

School Started

Foster Kids

Aaron & Tristin has been with us for a month now.