The Lindenbergs

Hey everyone-

Sorry for the looong delay in postings. My personal endeavors got a little out of hand and I was running to lay track in front of the train. Please make note:

• I'm done constructing proton packs for the season (6 built and sold),


• I'm done teaching my PMP Prep class at the community college until next semester (no more 8-hour teaching days on Saturday),


• I've almost completed editing the wedding video we shot 3 weeks ago,


• We've completed our shoot planning for the wedding we're shooting this Saturday,


• At work, we've completed both of the RFP responses and oral presentations I'd been buried in for the last month


• I have no business travel schedule planned through the end of the year - in the last 3 weeks I've been to Virginia twice, Pennsylvania, Nebraska and New Hampshire

Phewww. I can sleep again.

All that being said, the family is ticking right along. We had a great Halloween. For costumes; Anna was Daphne (from Scooby Doo) and Pierce was Indiana Jones. After trying on her costume when she got home, Anna cooled off to it a little bit. On successive wearings she would not wear the red-head wig or the neck scarf -so most people thought she was supposed to be a "hippie chick". Pierce LOVED his Indiana Jones costume and frequently put it on after school and wore it around the house until bedtime.

Speaking of which, Pierce has become a HUGE Indiana Jones fan. He's seen parts of the first three movies (Nora and I don't want him to see the more questionable portions of the film). He's read, multiple times, the novelizations of all the movies, and has an extensive set of Indiana Jones Lego sets. He and Anna often create Indiana Jones scenarios using all the toys he has. Since one of my favorite set of movies are the Indy films, I think this is a great development.

We scheduled the kids' birthday party for the weekend after Halloween. After discusson with both Pierce and Anna, we went with a bowling party at Incredi-bowl. I suspect this will be the last year that we can have a shared party for the two of them (I'm sad), but it turned out great. Pierce's cub scout den was invited along with several of Anna's classmates and the kids' cousins, Jackson and Sampson. A few of Anna's invites were not able to make it, but all the boys brought gifts for both she and Pierce -so she made out like a bandit.

The party was held in a party room at the bowling alley and included bowling for everyone, a trip through a lazer maze, cake and soda, and LOTs of present opening. And no cleaning up for Nora and me (yea!).

Anna started horseback riding lessons about 3 weeks ago. Its something she's been lobbying for ever since she was able to participate in Pierce's scouting horseriding activity. We're doing it through the parks and rec department, so its not terribly expensive and Anna loves every minute of it. Her horse's name is Beau. On arrival, she's responsible for brushing the horse and helping put its tack (equipment) on followed by about 30 minutes of riding. The horses are led with each kid (there are 3 of them) posting English-style in their saddles. When they're done riding, the kids lead their mounts back to their stables, remove their equipment, and brush them down.

Anna's on a full-size horse, not a pony, and is completely dwarfed by it. Much like an airplane, a set of stairs is pulled up to the horse in order for her to mount it. Watching her attempt to throw a leg over the saddle is a little like watching a Monthy Python sketch.

Pierce has started fall basketball. Due to my teaching schedule, I haven't been able to attend his practices yet. He seems to be enjoying it and Nora tells me that his skills and focus are much improved over last season. I'm looking forward to attending them in-person this Saturday.

And with that, I think we're mostly caught up.

-Eric (Dad)