They're Back

Well, my family made it back safely from India. I picked them up from the airport on Wednesday night. Their flight was a little delayed so it didn't arrive until after 10:00. Steve was originally going to be the one to pick them up but I was anxious to see all of them so I went instead.

They were all very tired and a little disheveled after 30+ hours of non-stop traveling. And, that was just the travel from Singapore. They spent about 24 hours in Singapore so that they could rest a little before the long trip home. The journey actually began a few days before that in Siliguri. They were supposed to fly from Siliguri to Calcutta but there was too much fog so they had to take an 11 1/2 hour train ride to Calcutta. From the details that I have heard about the ride, disgusting is probably an understatement of that part of the trip. Now they all feel like "experienced" travellers. My mom said it reminded her of an episode of "Amazing Race". I don't know how my 9 year old sister handled 3 weeks in India because I don't know if I could have done it.

I have been anxious to see my family and hear more about the trip but we have not been able to go to their house since they got back because some of them are now battling some kind of stomach bug. I don't know if it is contagious or not but I really don't want to take the chance. The kids and I might go over there tomorrow because Steve will be busy helping his parents out. Maybe then I will be able to get more details about the trip. We'll have to wait and see how everyone is feeling though.

Go Seahawks!!!

Whoo-hoo! They made it! The Seahawks are going to the Superbowl for the first time in their 30 year history! I have never been a huge football fan but I have always been a Seahawks fan. Every year up to this year has always been disappointing but now they are going all the way. It should be a very exciting game to watch.

We watched most of Sunday's game against Carolina at my grandma's house. With just a few minutes left in the game I heard my cell phone ring. I ran to answer it because I thought it might be my parents as they had already started the journey back home from India. Sure enough, my phone said "Dad Cell". I answered it and it was my dad calling from Calcutta. He was calling just to see how the Seahawks had done. I told him they were going to the Superbowl and he was very happy to hear that. After I got off the phone we laughed about the fact that my dad didn't really call to talk to me, he just called to find out how the Seahawks did. Right after that, my mom called. The reason she called was because my dad forgot to ask who the Seahawks were going to be playing. Calling from the other side of the world just to find out how their football team did. I guess those are loyal fans. I'll have to give them a hard time when they get home tomorrow night. :)

Newborn vs. Infant

This is my question. When is a baby no longer considered a newborn? When are they considered an infant? I know this is not an important question but my sister-in-law and I were wondering this a couple of weeks ago and I just thought I would throw this question out there for my legions of readers. Okay, all 3 of you. :) Our son will be 3 months old tomorrow and I was wondering if that is when they are no longer considered newborns. Or is there even a specific time? Just a thought.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad! I know your birthday isn't until the 15th but it is the 15th in India and I wanted you to be able to read this on your birthday if you are able to get online. I hope that you have a great day and that you guys are all doing well. Say hi to everyone for me. See you in about a week and a half.

"24" Marathon

Last night marked the beginning of our "24-Season 4" marathon. You see, we just started getting into "24" last summer. We borrowed the first 3 seasons from friends and became totally addicted to the show. Season 4 was just released on DVD last month. We didn't buy it because it was kind of pricey for something that we would probably only watch all the way through only once. Luckily, someone that Steve works with bought it and we have finally made it to the top of the list to borrow it. We have to finish the entire season, all 24 hour long episodes, by Sunday night because that is when season 5 starts and season 5 supposedly starts where season 4 left off. We don't want to have to wait another year to watch season 5. Technically, with commercials left out, each episode is only about 42 minutes but that is still a lot of "24" to watch in just a few days. We got through 4 episodes last night and we were up later than we should have been. Then I couldn't get to sleep because of the wind. I hope we can make it. We're crazy, aren't we?

And the Wind Blows On

Oh my goodness! I can't believe how much the wind has been blowing at our house. It started early yesterday morning and has hardly stopped since then. We got a little bit of a reprieve late yesterday in the afternoon and early evening but then it started pouring rain and by the time we got home from Awana last night the wind had started up again.

I didn't fall asleep until after 1:30 a.m. because the wind was so loud. That makes for a very tired Erin today. When the wind hits the side of our house it sounds like our house is going to come tumbling down. Our bedroom is on the side that receives most of the wind and there are all kinds of vents on the outside wall so it gets really loud. Steve went outside this morning to inspect if any damage occurred. Last June when we had a big windstorm part of our fence broke so he wanted to make sure that didn't happen again. So far I think the only damage that we received is that our satellite dish has been knocked off the satellites. That happened yesterday morning though.

A couple of springs ago we planted six hybrid poplar trees along our back fence to create a wind break. Now I think that we should have planted them along the side fence because that's where most of the wind comes from. It creates a wind tunnel through our yard. You would think after 3 1/2 years in our house I would be used to all of the wind we get out here but I think I hate it even more now than I did when we moved in. Maybe once the area gets more developed there will be a little less wind.

On to other news. My parents called from Calcutta, India this morning. They are all doing well. They took my 2 little brothers and my little sister on a 3-week trip to India with them. They spent a few days in Manipur and tomorrow they leave for Siliguri. They will be there for 10 days. On the way home they will stay in Singapore for a day, and then begin the long journey home. I have never been to India but I know from Steve's and my parents' stories that it is a hard trip to make and you get very sick of airplanes. I am praying that the rest of their trip goes well and that they return home safely.