Random happenings

I'm trying to keep this blog updated (I do count it as my family history/journal attempt) but I'm not doing a very good job.  Here are a few things I indented to blog about over the past month or so but just haven't gotten around to it.

Ashlyn FINALLY got her drivers license.  We did everything as fast as possible but it's a 6+ month process here.  License test day didn't come without a funny story.  We bought a second car a few months back that Craig has been using when he is home and that we intended to be the 'kid' car when Ashlyn got her license.  It's an older Honda Accord and has been a great little car.  However, over Christmas it would randomly not start sometimes, particularly when it had been stopped and restarted multiple times.  This problem was random and lasted for a few weeks but then seemed to have gone away.  The day we go take the test, we are parked in the test start area - she is so nervous - the guy comes out and asks her to start the car - it won't start.  She keeps turning the key and the engine screeches but it won't hold.  I ask the guy if I can get it going, would he still let her take the test.  I knew from experience that if I gave it some gas right after starting it and then hurry and throw it into drive it would go.  I drive it around the block a few times and then come back - leaving it running.  The DNV test administrator reluctantly lets her take the test.  Her test was super fast - I think he was so scared the car was going to break down somewhere along the route that he just wanted to get it done with quickly.  A very stressful situation that luckily ended with a driver's license in hand.  And, of course, it hasn't had any problems since!  It's so nice having another driver - a bit scary sometimes - but so helpful.

We've had a few Monday holidays over the past month.  A few weeks ago we decided to spend one of these in San Francisco.  I hadn't taken the kids into the city since we've moved back.  It was a beautiful day and it reminded me how much I love San Francisco.  We played at the beach with friends and then just cruised around China Town and Embarcadero.

A few years ago I decided I was getting close to ready to return to school for graduate degree.  I began working with a few charitable organisations in Singapore so that I would have some experience to help me with admission.  I did quite a bit of research and chose New England University in Maine - they offered a top online program that fit my needs, particularly with flexibility (they will let me do my fieldwork internationally if we move oversea's again).  I was accepted into Masters of Social Work program and began in January.  I LOVE it!  It will take me four years to complete (and then an additional two years to license in CA).  I look forward to doing my 'school work' each day - I love the readings and the analysis of subject matter and the group discussions.  It's hard getting used to all the writing - but I did get an A on my first paper (thanks partly to Ashlyn's proof reading - now there's a role reversal)!

Right after we moved into our house, a friend of mine was visiting and suggested I stain my stair banister dark.  I thought it was a great idea and decided once I was settled I would take on the project.  It was quite a bit of work but dang does it look good.  It's fun having a house again that we can improve and change (it's been over 6 years since we lived in a house we owned).  Still trying to decorate (no curtains yet) but it's been fun to watch in transform and become 'home'.