HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY AUSTIN!!!

16 years ago today, I gave birth to a big footed baby boy that has now grown into a 6'1" big footed young man!!! I had him convinced that I had a singing telegram bringing him Elmo balloons to school today. He even threatened skipping school today...but I let him stay home yesterday after his doctors appointment. We also took him to good old Wells Fargo and set him up with a checking/savings. He is always wanting money and this way he will learn something also. Adam and I want him to be able to balance a checkbook and all that before he gets out into the "real world". I also got him a job where I work as a waver. He will be one of the people who stand out on the corner in costume and wave a sign around. I think that is a pretty good job for a sixteen year old. He gets to listen to his music and act goofy! I will post pictures when I can of this!!!
On other news, we are waiting for a volcano to erupt! We have had a few earthquakes (5.7) and seem to be sitting and waiting. They are advising us to get respirator masks. The volcano is 100 miles from Anchorage, butt when it comes to volcano's....100 miles isn't that far. We will let you know when things happen!!!

Friday News

Yesterday was a happening day at the Koehler household. It was Autumns turn to be awarded a "Soaring Eagle Award". She brought the announcement home on Wednesday and became very bummed when I told her I couldn't make it. Friday was my first day at work at Liberty tax. Adam had the "day" off on Friday so he was able to make the ceremony and see her get her award. I went from sad about not being able to see it, to really bummed by her reaction to having Daddy be there. Somehow it didn't matter at all if I wasn't there or not. She did demand that Dad bring his camera and take pictures so I can see.
Adam had the "day" off like I said because he had the 10pm-4am shift in the dorms. He had what I call babysitting duty. This always throws his schedule off, so he is planning to sleep until noon today...
Yesterday was my first day working as a licensed tax preparer. I took my test this week, which covers the basics we did in class. The questions throw on additional information, or tricks you if you don't read carefully. You have 4 hours to take the test and you can use your books. I was finished in twenty minutes and passed with a 87%. I was so mad at the questions I did miss because it was the reading errors and missing trick words like "only". You have four attemts to pass so I tried again, but sadly did worse because I started to second guess myself..... so I stuck with the 87!
When I got to work yesterday,which was 15 minutes early, there were people outside waiting already! Lee ,my boss and the store owner, told me to go ahead and turn the "open" sign on and start making coffee. Before I could get the coffee done our waiting room was full. I was so nervous I just wanted to throw up!!! I did kind of stumbled through the first one and Jamie our assist manager came in to help, and she did it finessly to make it look like I knew what I was doing...and after that things went well. I did ten returns in eight hours, which was the most out of everyone there. One was mine so Lee was teasing that it doesn't count....but it was one of the hardest because of all the state returns. Mine was Idaho and Adam is still California....for now! Then because we bought the Ford, I chose to itemize and get the sales tax on it and write off the mortgage interest we paid on the house.

The Low Down

So the weather around here has been absolutely crazy. We have had a change in degrees by about 60!! We were at -26 and above 40 today...and the change is only in a few days. So, because of this, we have had some if the worst weather I have been in. It started out as freezing rain and create a havoc on the driving conditions Wednesday. It was a total shut down everywhere. The Glenn highway was so bad they had people landing on top of each other when they slid into the ditch! They closed all the schools in the valley, had to stop city bus transportation because the buses were sliding of the roads.Some of the roads here remind me of San Fran becaus eof the hills and twist. They closed both Elmendorf and Ft. Rich...completely shut down! By the time I got hime from class...yes, I still trecked out to class...I guess they were starting to give tickets to those who were out driving around on base. Absolutely CRAZY! And just when you think it can't get any worse, the winds kick up. The wind gust were up to 105 mph!!!! They closed the schools again today because now all the water on top of the ice is horrible and the winds knocked out power all over the place...there were 90 accidents and 178 slide offs on Wednesday. I need to watch the news tonight and see what the damage was today!! They are saying that the temps are dropping and will be below freezing again by Saturday, so all the wet will be frozen and no amound of sand/gravel is going to help. I need to buy some of the things that you out on the bottom of your shoes that are for walking on ice.....they seem to be a staple right now. Those and some of the rubber boots yousee kids were with their raincoat....everyone else int he family already has theirs, I just want some cute one!;o)
And for those of you who don't know what class I am talking about. I signed up through Liberty Tax to take a "tax class" to become a tax preparer. It is quite an eye opener..I dream tax laws now! he he! I am the only one in my class that was offered a job after only two days! I seem to be his favorite..or as he calls me.."his star". So I fininsh this class tomorrow and start work Saturday...I have a few weeks to get into the groove before I start my college class in Feb. Hopefully I am smart enough to do them both!!
The kids and Adam are all doing well...they are enjoying the time at home, and wanting tomorrow off to. I just laugh..they have Monday off also for MLK. Nothing like a six day weekend if it happens!! ;o)

Here's to the start of 2009

I have been so busy that I haven't had much time to blog lately. I wanted to get you all up-to-date on the goings on at the Koehler House. The New Year has been a very cold one so far, in fact it hasn't even reached 0 degrees yet. Today has been the coldest by starting out at -26...how do you say "BRRRR"? Adam has had a bit of trouble with the Suzuki and it not wanting to start, we ended up having to get a new battery and now he plays musical cars in the morning. He parks the Suzi in the garage and mine gets plugged in and sits in the driveway. Before we go through this again next year, we will invest in a really nice autostart!!!
We also had a bit of sad news, Austins friend Katy lost her mom suddenly over the weekend. She is saying she is fine...but I know she isn't. I can't imagine losing my mom at 14...Her mom has been sick for a while but we thought it was a flu or something along those lines. She apparently passed out and they called the paramedics, she just never came through. They are waiting for autopsy results to know what happened....it just makes me so sad!! And it makes me appreciate life....
Here is some good news....I know you needs some after that!! I am feeling a lot better lately and got some "good news" from my neurologist. After all the testing and poking he is ruling that I do NOT have Multiple Sclerosis! I am migrainal...which means I have migraines and they are probably progressing and changing, but I am glad that I don't have to continue treatment for a disease I don't have!! He still has another test for me to take...something about water being squirted into my ears...doesn't that just sound like so much fun?!! Not!
We hope this finds you all in good health and happiness, and hope to hear how you are doing!!