The Clarke Family News

-- 22 December 2006 [Friday] I'm heading home for my 11 days off! They let us go early! Going to stop at Radio Shack on the way home to try to pick up some LED lights for the train station I got for Keegan last night for Christmas. Afterall, he did ask Santa that it be lit! :) I picked up 4 freight cars (Amanda and I assembled them last night - was actually fun, and they are 1/2 the cost of the pre-assembled ones). I also got him four more pieces of curved track and four pieces of straight, so he should be good to go. I stopped at Borders and got my Dad a $25 gift card as he likes to go there and have coffee and thumb through magazines. I'll try to update this once during the holidays, but it may be hard! Take care everyone and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

-- 21 December 2006 [Thursday] Getting ready to leave work now. Been a pretty easy day as things are winding down and the RMS 4.6.0 release I have been working on comes to a close tomorrow hopefully. Going to try to go to Tom's Train store on the way home to exchange the railroad track I bought for Keegan for a little lesss track, but then add a car and a lighted house (which he asked Santa for). I still have to buy my dad something, but I have no idea what. I'll probably get him a Borders gift certificate as he stops there a lot for coffee and to read magazines if I remember correctly. Today is Keegan's last day of school before Christmas break. He is very excited of course. After his recess they are watching a Polar Express short video and having snacks and a book read to them, so I'm sure he'll of had fun. -- 20 December 2006 [Wednesday] Worked from home today. Amanda ended up working all day which is good money wise as she does not work the next t...

-- 18 December 2006 [Monday] I'm only working 1/2 day today as we have Carson's school birthday party at 2pm at Pump-It-Up. We couldn't get the Saturday reservation as they were booked months in advance. ugh. Now we know better for next time if we want to have it there again. I'll leave at Noon, and then go pick Keegan up from school. -- 17 December 2006 [Sunday] Grandma Starr had to go home tonight. She works tomorrow and unfortunately can't take a lot of time off as she does not have paid vacation. I feel very bad for the kids because of this, but not much we can do unless we move back..which I have thought of but Amanda does not want to. Kids still had a great time today with her. Beautiful weather - 72F! They played outside all day and we had a nice lunch on the deck and then some more playing. Carson was so worn out from the last two days that he fell asleep at 4pm, and woke just in time to say bye to Grandma as Amanda, Keegan and Ian were taki...

-- 12 December 2006 [Tuesday] Another super busy day at work. This release is just getting crazier the closer it gets to the deadline. I'm counting the days until we are done. -- 11 December 2006 [Monday] Crazy day at work. I came in early as I had to be home in time to meet Keegan at the bus stop since Amanda took Ian and Carson to a birthday party for Anastasia (Carson's Class) at Pump-It-Up. They had a great time and were home around 6pm. As Amanda pulled in the driveway, Ian threw up in the truck. Yuck. But luckily the car seat and floor mats caught it all. We really thought he was over his sickness. He seemed fine afterwards. I think it was too much for his stomach after having not really eaten for a day or so. Keegan and I had a nice QUIET time at home from 4-6pm. We talked, he watched a movie while I finished work, and then we worked on his homework. It was really nice. As soon as Carson and Ian were home though, it was like a spark in Keegan and he got wild again. I gue...

-- 08 December 2006 [Friday] I can't wait for the weekend! We have two weeks left before this big RMS 4.6.0 project is to be completed at work, and believe me, I'm counting the days! This is the last weekend before Grandma Starr comes out to visit for Carson's 4th birthday. That will be a fun time for all and the weekend will sure go fast because of it. -- 07 December 2006 [Thursday] Very busy day at work in the morning. Got a lot done, but it was stressful. Keegan stayed home from school today as yesterday after he got home he came down with a stomach bug and was throwing up until about 11pm. Turns out five people were out of school from his class that day all with the same thing, and luckily it only lasted for about 12 hours. So someone transmitted that around. Yuck! Amanda said by lunchtime he was bouncing around and back to his normal self, so she would say "we can still bring you to school you know" - and he would then settle down a bit. :) We all had a nice ...

-- 1 December 2006 [Friday] Boy the time is going fast. I can't believe that it has already been over a week since Thanksgiving! I called my parents today as we heard they get hit with their first big storm of the winter. Sure enough they said they had 12+ inches on the ground and it was still snowing. Luckily my dad was able to get the snowblower started as he told me he was having trouble with it when we was out. My mom even decided to stay home from work today which I'm thankful for. I hope to head up to Harbor Freight store after work to finally use some of the coupons they keep emailing me. I keep trying to go on lunch but something always comes up, so tonight I'm determined to stop by there. I really want to get an IR Thermometer so I can see how hot the Ural cylinders are running. -- 30 December 2006 [Thursday] Nothing exciting as far as me. Worked as usual. At night I finally started the process of taking the first of the Ural's carbs apart to try ...