Happy Birthday Mom!

Glendale ice cream social

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More Rock Hill Entertainment

It's Thursday, which means it's time for the Area Crime Report, live from the home office in Rock Hill Missouri:

• A fight with a head injury was reported Aug. 15 on the lot of Steger Sixth Grade Center, 701 N. Rock Hill Road. Officers arrived to find several of the city's notorious crackheads standing around one of their own, who was holding his bleeding cranium and provided officers with a bombastic explanation. Officers deduced that the injured subject threw a brick up in the air and caught it, but in a drug-induced haze later forgot the game and let the brick strike him on the noggin. The drug-fortified athlete was transported to the hospital to be sewn up.

• Officers on patrol arrested a local, up-and-coming marijuana dealer Aug. 16 for "ridin' dirty" or possessing marijuana in the 200 block of Eldridge Avenue.

Stop, Thief!

I got up to run yesterday at the typically idiotic time of 6AM. After getting geared up, I went outside to stretch for a few minutes before hitting the pavement. As I'm stretching, I notice a minivan 2 doors down on the opposite side of the street. I figure it's no big deal, because the people who live there are teachers, and are usually up and out early.

Here's where we get off track. The van goes into reverse and backs up the street, stopping at our driveway. The lady opens her door, gets out, and takes my daily copy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch! All the while, I'm standing there in my bright red running shirt. I know I'm a lot smaller than I used to be, but I'm still hard to miss.

This lady gets back in her van and drives away - leaving me a bit stunned. At this point, I chalk it up to her being the delivery person, and we just had to renew the subscription, so maybe we just aren't back on the schedule yet.

After logging the first few miles of my run, I come to Emily's school, where I notice this van sitting in the parking lot, and this lady reading my newspaper in the front seat. At this point I thought about going to talk to her to see why she stole my newspaper, but ever the aspiring runner, I didn't want to break stride half way through my route.

I thought about the great newspaper caper during the rest of my run and while getting ready for work. Then, as I'm about to leave, I looked out the window as I see this lady driving down the street again, and as she gets to our house, my now previously-read paper flies out and lands on the driveway like nothing ever happened.

So now I'm not sure if I should be angry that she stole my paper, or happy that she found it so important to stay current on politics, business, etc., that she would resort to "borrowing" my newspaper.

Needless to say, I grabbed today's paper and put it inside as soon as I went out to stretch.

Our home, 1 year later

Our realtor had an interesting idea to take a picture in front of your house every year to see how the house changes and how you change. Since our house is new, nothing has really changed since last year. Here's how we have changed.

I thought this was a good idea, and we'll try to make it a tradition.

August, 2007

August, 2008

DCEO, One Year Removed

It has been just over a year since I left my job at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. From what I read in the paper and hear from friends in Springfield, Governor Blago and the legislative leaders have the state even more screwed up than when I left.

One of the big differences in my current position is that there is not a constant need for information at all hours of the night. In Springfield, my Blackberry would be buzzing and ringing at all hours of the day and night - typically for information that had been provided several times previously.

So for those of you still toiling in the trenches of Springfield, I wanted to send you a picture of me working on the St. Louis version of the Blackberry...

Bad Boys

Rock Hill is a small town to the northeast of us. We've heard rumors that one of the police officers there dates and signs 2 full ticket books before beginning his shift, and frequently stops people for driving 31 mph in a 30 mph zone. This has been confirmed by some other police officers I've talked to, and some firemen we know. I wish I had a picture of this guy - riding his police motorcycle with full riding boots, channeling officer Frank Poncherello. You know it's bad when the lady working the window of Starbucks even talks about him.

But police work in Rock Hill isn't all bad. The weekly crime report, written by the police department and published in the local paper, is hilarious.

Here are some excerpts from this week's paper:

ROCK HILL

• Officers responded to the 300 block of Lithia Avenue Aug. 7 for a spat between a boyfriend and girlfriend involving five youths. Officers observed the individuals in a truculent posture towards each other and intervened before any fisticuffs could take place. Two of the individuals continued to perform and were taken into custody for failure to comply and for possession of marijuana. Their next act was held at the Rock Hill Hilton (jail) awaiting bond.
  
  
• Officers responded to the parking lot of Stein Mart, 9610 Manchester Road, Aug. 11 for an employee's vehicle making a loud noise. The driver told the officer she worked all day, and when she started her vehicle to go home it sounded like a racecar. The officers found the catalytic converter had been cut off the vehicle. The incredulous employee asked who would do such a thing. The officer explained that a certain element of our society, who would rather waste more energy stealing than working, cut it off for its scrap metal value.
  
  
• Officers on patrol discovered a horde of local crackheads and dealers milling about Aug. 12 on Eldridge Avenue at Plateau Avenue. Fearing they were about to commit despicable acts of crime or evil, police disbanded the group and kept watch on the area.
  
  
• Officers responded to the 1000 block of North Rock Hill Road Aug. 13 for an out-of-control juvenile. When officers walked though the door the brat morphed into a very complying young man.

Pictures from Wisconsin

Double-click the slideshow to see a larger version.

Happy Birthday Ninny Cindy!

Hope you have a great day!

First Day of Third Grade!

Ready to Go!

A hug from Dad

A hug from Mom

A hug from Emmy Dog!

At school

Mrs. Woodard

A hug from Adam!

Putting her supplies away

Our neighbor, Annie - working hard on the Safety Patrol

It's hard to believe it, but Emily started 3rd grade today. She went to school yesterday for a few minutes to meet her teacher - she seems very excited to be back.

Back from Wisconsin

It was a LONG day in the car today, but we got back from our trip to Wisconsin at 9PM tonight. Needless to say we're all wiped out and headed to bed!

Off to Wisconsin!

Seriously Adam...

did you have to choose today as the day when you'd stop napping?? Maybe its the excitement of vacation and the end of Puppet Camp. At least I've been able to convince him to have some quiet time in his bedroom. He's been reading books and playing with his airplane since 2 pm. Now I am REALLY behind on my vacation packing!

Adam's Summer Camp

Adam did 4 summer camps this summer at his preschool - Dinosaur Camp, Weather/Seasons Camp, Under the Sea Camp, and Puppet Camp. Fun was had by all who attended, but especially Adam who came home from camp everyday sweaty and worn out!

Here are two pictures of Adam with his teachers:

New and Improved

Thanks to hard work and running, I'm down 107 and Amy's down 40!

Random Stuff

Just a few random pictures. The first is Adam's impression of a "bug" at the pool this past weekend. Both the McKeowns and the Stehns were in town from Springfield, so we hung out at the pool and had a cookout that night - just like old times.

The second picture is of the new Sox hulk-hand/beer holder I got from Mary, Carmel, and D.T. - my old crew from Springfield. Thanks guys!

The last picture is of the Google Earth street view of our house in Springfield. Based on the Bekins truck in our driveway, and the U-Haul trailer there, we can tell that it was taken exactly one year ago today - the day we left for St. Louis!

Visit from the Illinois Kreidlers

We're way behind on blogging. Joe, Lucie, Jess, Becky, and Jon stopped in St. Louis last Wednesday and Thursday on their way home from their east coast trip. We went to the Arch despite the steady rain from tropical storm Dolly and then hit Ted Drewes for some ice cream. On Thursday, Amy and Adam went with the group to Grant's Farm. Emily was at Girl Scout Camp in Springfield, and I had to give a presentation at work, but I met up with everyone at Blueberry Hill in the Delmar Loop in University City for lunch.

It was a quick trip, but we enjoyed seeing everyone, and of course Adam was happy to see Beba.

Happy Birthday Aubrey!

Have a great Birthday Big Girl!!

Happy Birthday Brandon!

Happy Birthday to our buddy Brandon!

Happy Birthday, Dad

Some so not appealing parts of everyday Kreidler life!

Another blog I visit had a post like this, so I'm "borrowing" her concept!

Usually when people come to visit, our house is clean and decluttered. But when Emily and Adam are grown, will I remember what day to day life with my two kids looked?

Here are some pictures to remind me. I also took these pictures to remind myself that it is more important to have healthy and happy children than a spotless house. Claire, who I used to work with, gave me a magnet once that said "Boring women have spotless houses." I guess then I am definately NOT boring.

Enjoy the day to day Kreidler mess! What does your house look like daily?