Just When You Thought The Suck Couldn't Get Worse!!!!!

It gets worse...ugh!

On Saturday we will celebrate the 3rd anniversary of becoming a family of 3 with Kelsey. What should be a bright and shining moment in our lives (and deserves to be CELEBRATED BIG TIME) is tainted by the ill-effects of the most miserable economy since the Great Depresssion.

Thanks miserable politicians and greedy businesses and you too folks that had to "keep up with the Joneses" and then defaulted....YOU (wait for it...wait for it...) SUCK!

I think I am going back to all Kelsey all the time...it's the bright spot in my world of SUCKY right now...

Suck-Sucky-Suckituge!

Ugh, this year is AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me just put 5 things out there that make me smile....

1. The smell of my daughter's hair after her bath...intoxicating!
2. Kurtfee (for those in the know)
3. Spring is here! We can hang out on our porch again!
4. Got an eye exam, my eyesight actually got better!
5. Earrings

Let me add a bonus 6th thing, we have a new Pastor after 18 months. And she's a woman! I love that!

Brushing Away The Cobwebs from the Ole' Blog

People, I've been busy...if there is anyone left to notice.

Some comments in bullets:

• Work - I am doing some of the best, most important work of my life. I am making a difference in the life of children and teachers. What I am doing moves the human race forward. Does this matter in the long run? Perhaps not. All that may matter is that raising money is almost impossible in this economy. Sad...
• Kelsey - was very very sick two weeks ago with the flu. I picked her up from daycare and her temp was over 102. I had to do everything in my power not to lose my mind and break down, but she was sick and scared. We got her to the emergency Ped, who said it was a virus - but it turned out to be the flu...Kurt took a few days, I got sick myself and took a day and my MIL also came over and spent a few days with us taking care of our girl. She's back to perfect health - except she's a bit anemic, so we're upping her iron intake.
• We passed 3 year anniversary of our referral for the Angel Face...I really need to update this for her again. 1/25/06 was our amazing day!
• I filled all the vacancies for CHATS this year, I had to bust a move to get this done. Wasn't really fun this time...
• Kelsey's ballet class is incredibly enjoyable for her and for me.
• I'm keeping the down-low on spending right now...I need to save more of what I make and figure out how to make more.
• Kelsey is now completely potty trained. It's liberating and fun for us
• She is a pretty great conversationalist. I cannot believe this child can hold a complete chat and have opinions. it's so fun!
• I got lost in Irvington (not a good place to be lost in!) on Tuesday. I thought I was making a legal lefthand turn,but it turns out the sun was in my eyes and I was wrong. A cop pulled me over...I was lost for a while and upset about it and the cop surprised me and started blaring his shrill horn and freaked me out...while I was pulling over I bumped another car parked on the street. My first accident since I was 25...a very very long time ago! After the cop gave me the ticket he asked me what I planned to do about the bump. Seriously it was a small dent and a scratch. A man came out of a store claiming to own the car and I said let's go through insurance and the cop didn't want to write this up! So, no one gave me any info, but I said I would pay for the repair if it wasn't the cost of the deductable. I was very very rattled and should have insisted on more information and taken photos of the car/liscense plate (stupid girl) so his "cousin" called me and said the cost was $650!!!!! I said NO WAY and then he said he'd get another quote...the original guy called me a few minutes later and said he would go to the police again...and I said go ahead, cause I'm going to call them myself and report this through insurance....I can't believe I was so stupid and trusting. ARGH!!!!!!
• Today my org had a special event for the top achievers of our Drive Service Event. Our partner was an org called Soaring Words. Soaring Words created quilts and pillows and has students draw on them and post inspirational words. The quilts and pillows are then delivered to chronically ill children. We did this today with 40 students and went to the hospital and met some of the children. It was an amazing powerful event, and made me feel so very blessed to have a healthy happy child. Also, it reminded me of the 100 good wishes quilt that we made Kelsey while waiting for her.
• A powerful quote from Robert Zend was used in our event today. Simple, but important.

There are too many people, and too few human beings.

How many human beings do you know? I had a great time today with about 40 of them!

A long post with mostly photos since it's been a long time coming!

Merry Christmas a Few Weeks late!
We're back to business as usual, but I'm still recovering from my sinus infection gone awry.

This is Kelsey and her cousins on Christmas Eve at their house (my Sister's) Everyone always has a great time!












Christmas morning @ Casa de Hoppe - just look who is all smiles and being extra good before carefully tearing into her presents ---she's a careful ripper - no haphazard craziness for our girl! (yes, most of those gifts are hers...I started early and "forgot" how much Santa stashed away!)
























Kelsey was delighted to learn that Santa ate bites out of the cookies and milk we left for him on Christmas Eve. Plus Rudolph came and ate the carrots as well. She was especially impressed with that. I just really loved our tree this year, Kelsey had a great time putting up the tree this year.





















"It's just what I wanted! Thank you Santa!" Kelsey cried each time she opened up something wrapped in special Princess wrapping paper. It's so much fun figuring out how to keep the Santa alive for Kelsey. We've never done this before, so it's been really fun, creative and nerve-wracking! I don't want to spoil the myth for her for a long time! After we unwrapped our presents (yes Santa was good to Kurt and me too!) we had our puffed apple pancake breakfast and got ready for our Christmas celebration at the manse :)


This is Peter and Jocelyne's huge tree. See how small our girl is in comparison?



Kelsey was stylin' in a pretty silver sweater and black velveteen jeans (a Christmas present from my sister and her family) Mommy got Kelsey the Tinkerbell silver "K" for Christmas!

Kelsey and her Lola



The Hoppe family wishes everyone a very happy holiday season!


Kelsey went nose to nose with a reindeer ---I think she won!









Kelsey's favorite gifts this year were her 7 Disney Princess dolls, Barbie Guitar, My Little Pony Ponyville House and her Puppy Knows Your Name...but she really does play with almost everything she got...Candyland, a neat computer game, coloring books...she's into everything this year!

Happy New Year!

Hi!
Merry Christmas A Week Later, but I have been SICK! I am still not fully recovered, but at least today I've been up, did a little organizing and have been thinking about everything I wanted to do this week and haven't been able to get done. I started downloading photos from the camera - but the battery died and its recharging.

Oh well. I wanted to end this year with a post about positiveness.

This year is going to be one of challenges. I am going to challenge myself to take more time to focus on the joy in the little things. Cherish what I have and what I love and work very hard to keep our life on track here @ Casa Hoppe.

I am also going to challenge myself to be a little healthier and more patient. 2009 will be a great one for Kelsey and its going to be exciting to see her continue to grow and learn and take life on..

We have a warm and lovely home, great family and friends and each other. We have the love of our family and I think that's the most important thing you can ever have.

I hope each of you is similarly blessed this year.

A Well Lived Life?

I saw this list over at The Written Word and thought it would be fun to play along!

The things I have done are in BOLD!

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (hope to one day)
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant.

I'd better get crackin' on the rest - I don't have have half done!
Take a try and let me know how you do!

May Your Days be Merry and Bright!

My wishes for each of you is that your greatest holiday wish comes true and that our nation can unite and come back stronger from this challenging time. I think we are moving in the right direction...

We are happy, healthy and employed. Our greatest wish came true 2 and a half years ago and is the most joyous part of our lives.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year!

JoAnn, Kurt and Kelsey

Random Thoughts

Some bullets to tide me over

• Thursday was my Mom's 75th birthday. My sister Janet and I took her to an early dinner and then to the NJ State Theater to see Kenny Rogers. We joked about going, but really, it was a great show. Kenny is a great entertainer and was very funny. Plus he did several sets of his hits and then several sets of Christmas songs/carols. All in all a good time.



• One of the songs Kenny sang (as a duet with Wynnonah Judd on video) is "Mary Did You Know" which is a song about the Virgin Mother. This was a new song for me and one of the lines moved me incredibly "Mary, did you know when you kissed your sweet baby that you were kissing the face of God?" Wow. It made me tear up for 2 reasons. First of all, perspective. Think of a new young Mother in an ancient scary time. Giving birth in incredibly humble beginnings. In an unbelieveable way. And then, that sweet baby face - the face of the Christ. Could she have known or even imagined?



• The 2nd reason that line in the song made me tear up is I immediately imagined kissing my baby's cheeks. While I realize my beloved Angel Face is not a "real angel" I was thinking about how miraculous her birth and adoption is to our family. She is a living breathing act of faith to me. And a miracle in many ways. She brings our family such joy and happiness. Everytime I kiss her face I say of prayer of thanks.



• However, Kelsey's sleep difficulties continue to challenge us. She needs to sleep at least 10-12 hours at a stretch in order to be her usual sunny self. However Kelsey doesn't like to go to sleep until after 9 and sometimes she'll push past 11pm. Yesterday (Saturday) was a really bad day and all of us cried, got angry or were very frustrated.



• Amazon.com is my hero this holiday season - so many great gifts at fairly inexpensive prices. Hallelujah!



• Kelsey talks in her sleep - sometimes she sings in her sleep. I find this much more amusing than when she kicks me in her sleep.



• I have baby lust. I think this is normal as Kelsey is almost 3.5 years old and while a little girl - she isn't a baby anymore. While I love my girl - I miss her babyhood. I didn't think this would hit me because I am an older Mom and we didn't go through the normal biological process - wrongo! Hopefully it will fade soon.



• Work is going well - in a few days we will come to the first anniversary of my Christmas miracle.



• I made incredible cookies on Saturday for the Church's annual cookie walk - oatmeal with raisins, craisins and white chocolate chips - they are soft chewy bites of heaven. i never thought this kind of cookie would ring my chimes - I'm such a chocolate girl...but I've been craving oatmeal raisin - but only if they're soft and chewy.



• For the first time in many years I am not hosting Christmas day. I'm okay with someone else taking their turn.



• The house is mostly decorated. I was going to do much more (and I have MUCH MUCH more) but I decided to keep it on the down low this year.



• We did the tree Saturday evening and Kelsey had a great time looking at the ornaments. She hung many of them and keeps going back to the tree to touch and play with them. We didn't have anything breakable (as in glass) but I don't want her to think of the Christmas tree ornaments as toys.



• Hopefully your holiday season is going swimmingly and your shopping is done and you're thinking of having a wrap party.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

Obviously this is the good...
Kelsey saw Santa and had a wonderful time sitting on his lap and telling him what she wants for Christmas. She was so excited to meet Santa. She was as good as gold and had a great morning!

Even better than this photo are the ones we took this afternoon at Target. We'll get those next week, but God, they are BEAUTIFUL! She looks like an angel with an impish grin and her dress is perfection! She loved it and felt like a Princess!



the Bad...oy....an innocent visit from our new heating company to clean our old furnace/boiler resulted in an emergency shutdown of the whole system. We need a new boiler installed this week (hopefully Tuesday) because tomorrow the old asbestos is being removed from the basement.

The Ugly...the freezing cold weather plus the furnace --and the $$$$ involved. Luckily my MIL is an angel and is helping us out. I'm going to add one more ugly - the economy ---please don't get worse, Kurt and I need our jobs!

I'm going to focus on the positive - new furnace/boiler is more efficient plus more economical. And we can probably take this off the taxes. Plus our girl is gorgeous and is looking forward to Christmas. I got our miracle last year so as long we are employed - it's all good.

p.s. Merry Christmas Honey, hope you like your new furnace/boiler!

A very short, but beautiful post!

this is Kelsey's very first school photo. it blew me away how beautifully she smiled and posed from the camera. what a lovely child she is!

Next in line should be ballet photos.

We Gather Together...

Happy Thanksgiving One and All!
Hopefully you ate wonderful food, surrounded by friends and family and those you love. You may be thankful for the opportunity to make plans to do "Black Friday." Please enjoy and spend some $$$.

I have to say I had a lovely day planned, full of great food, family and friends. But I was hit by the trifecta of hormones (you ladies know what that means) sickness (crabby 3 year old and me) and lack of sleep for a few days. Wow....that made me a crabby, ungrateful, overwhelmed biatch.

Here's what I am grateful for...
My Trophy Husband - he puts up with my crabby moods and still wants to be married to me
My Beautiful Daughter - she fell asleep @ 7pm tonight (too bad I caught a second wind @ 8 or I would be joining her.
My Family - for pitching in when I was completely stressed out, tired and overwhelmed by the idea of clearing that massive table...yikes!

I have a job, some money in the bank and am looking forward to a more stress free holiday season. This gal needs her sleep...nuff said!

Swiped From Beverly's Blog!

SCATTERGORIES. ..it's harder than it looks! Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things…nothing made up! You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.
WHAT IS YOUR NAME: JoAnn
BOY NAME: James
4 LETTER WORD: jack
GIRL NAME: Jennifer
OCCUPATION: journalist
A COLOR: Jade
SOMETHING YOU WEAR: jacket
BEVERAGE: jack daniels
FOOD: jelly
SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: john
A PLACE : Jamaica
INREASON FOR BEING LATE: jalopy broke down
SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: JERK!

go ahead, try this!

fyi...I gave up on Nablopomo a while ago...oh well, I gave it a shot!

Random Shots of a Pretty "Big" Girl

Every day still feels like it's Christmas in our house thanks to Kelsey. I can't get over this little bundle of love and happiness we are raising. Yesterday Kelsey was watching TV and the characters were saying "I'm thankful for...." well, Kelsey turned to me, I am thankful for YOU Mommy, you're my Mom!" WOW....that's Mother's Day, my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one...I adore my lovely little girl.

Kelsey got a Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

I must have been REALLY tired this morning. After ballet class, Kelsey and I went to TRU to get a few computer games (girl loves her some 'puter!)

I always have a side joke and say everytime I'm in an electronics store "got any Wii's?" and every single time the sales person shakes her/his head and says no sorry.

Not today! The TRU guy says "yes we just got 5 delivered today! Want one?" Before I know it I am handing over my credit card and one of those elusive little suckers is paid for and in my shopping cart! Then of course, we had to buy a few games. I let her choose a Disney Princess game and an Alvin and the Chipmunk game. She loved them!

Daddy of course, wasn't too happy with me, but I wasn't really proud either (bad economy + non profit job = not spending frivolously anymore) but Kelsey had played the game at my sister's and loved it...and I rationalized that we could have family gaming nights/friends over for Wii...

I'll have to take some photos of Kelsey playing Wii and post them. Oddly enough Kelsey and Kurt loved the boxing game that came with the game.

So Folks that have Wii's...love them? Can you make any suggestion on games?

Conference is DONE!

Hey Internets!
I missed you all, I didn't have my personal laptop with me so I had to rely on other's links.

The conference went really well. Maria was wonderful and we had fun getting to know each other (plus a lesson from me on composting!)

We have some great leads and on the way home I called into Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer and name dropped our org. It was fun :)

I got home a little after 7pm, traffic wasn't too bad. I called my Mom on the way home and she told me her friend and neighbor Pat had passed away. RIP Pat... you were lovely to me and my girl.

My family really missed me. Kelsey and Kurt were delighted to have me home!

Post election thoughts

Congratulations President-Elect Obama!
You have a long hard road ahead.

I hope every American gives you the support and respect you deserve.

Please don't let us down, we need you.

p.s. Corzine...worst at the state level or federal level? Hard choice to make.

I am in AC....

The Trump Plaza may be a 5 star hotel, but HOLY CRAP does the service suck!
It's raining like mad in NJ and the traffic was hideous! I am here for a teaching conference!

I miss Kurt and Kelsey like crazy! I got some noodles from a small bar, but there's a karoke bar next door, and LOL the singing was hideous! Now, I am not a great singer but I don't force my voice on strangers!

I hope this conference is successful!

Short and Sweet

A historic night...
I am cautiously optimistic and hopeful...
God Bless America!

BRAVO, Bravo!

Well Bravo,
I have to hand it to you, showing a marathon of West Wing right before election gave me pause to think about a lot of things.

When I watched that show, I felt a deep sadness that our President wasn't Jebbidiah Bartlett...a smart, scholarly man who surrounded himself with smart scholarly people who passionately CARED about their jobs. (Does that sound like anyone you know running for president?)

And clever of you to showcase the ones where the President is being called names (socialist!).

It has me thinking and re-thinking my position...and makes me very happy to be in my present position where I am working for social change (in schools) and in the legislature.

When I told my father I didn't want to go to Law School, he asked me what I could do with a political science degree...I said Teach, work for a political institute, work in government or be a lobbyist.

Well I don't teach (but I do train) I work for a non profit and do political/community organizing, work WITH the elected officials and am in the process of creating legislation. Plus I do this with some of the adoption work I do as well.

So, political science degree, not too shabby! :)

Kelsey and I will be voting tomorrow (I make the selections - she pushes the big red button that officially captures my vote) and I have some thinking to do...

So thanks to Bravo for some soul searching on my part.

On the 2nd day of NaBloPoMo, my true love gave to me....

Two sick family members!
The TH and the Angel Face both have colds.
I have to be in AC for a few days for a conference, so everyone has to feel better pronto!

We spent our last day in DST at ballet school and then we came home and did some garden clean up, raked leaves and cleaned up/used our pine needles in the garden beds...I love reusing something people would just throw out :) It was pretty warm (low 60's) and it felt great to be outside...the whole backyard looks great and ready for sleep now.

the bad news is that I re-injured my knee and it hurts more/differently than last time. I've tried to rest it since yesterday...(see aforementioned AC trip coming up) I really have to get to the Dr...I think I"ll do a PTO once the AC trip is done...I have a few things I can combine in one day.

2 days down, 28 to go :)