Brotherly and Sisterly bonding through xbox

A popular activity among our kids is the xbox. I use to be so against it because I thought they were just wasting their time on something that didn't really matter. When we lived in Austria Nathan would go on with his brothers on xbox live. They would talk and have a great time even though they were thousands of miles away. It changed my mind on this activity. Nathan was having fun with his brothers and keeping their relationship alive. Now that we are home it still continues.

The brothers and sisters get together almost on a daily basis and play. There is lots of laughing and lots of competition going on. But there is also lots of fun memories being build. As an observer and the mom, it is so fun watching them be total goofballs and just have fun.

So for now......I think the xbox is a great thing to have in our house.

When painting goes wrong

First, I discovered today that Vienna has been rated first in quality of life. That's first in the world! Well, technically it tied with Zurich but no one here is talking about that. I mean Zurich, Really. How could that place matter? I think it would have been a slam dunk for Vienna, were it not for the dog poop problem. Yes, every modern city has its problems: LA has its street gangs. New York its drugs. Washington DC its murders. And Vienna its dog poop. I guess you can't have a modern city without its problems as this the city with the highest quality of living demonstrates. However their anti poop campaign is in ernest--as this little dog sign demonstrates--36 euros if they catch you leaving your dogs leavings behind.  Watch out Zurich!

Well on to art. Vienna may be the art capital of the world. The city spends more on the arts each year than the US government does. Think about that. 

But after you've seen so many van Goghs, Picassos, Rembrandts, Gauguins blah, blah, blah where do you go? You've seen the best. There is nowhere to turn except to the bad. So went to the Museum of Modern are to see their exhibit: Bad Painting, Good Art. Here is the anouncements:



Oh my gosh. Look at this! Isn't it awful?



And this one is so thought provoking:



Here's a bit of brilliant religious iconic art:



And this was their poster child, but oddly I really liked it. I honestly couldn't see why it was called a bad painting.



Trust me we are only touching the tip of an iceberg in terms of bad painting. My camera battery died before I finished. But this broad perspective will give you an overview.



Then there was the Mind Expanders exhibit. Let me just say that while I thought that I was so jaded I was beyond being disturbed by art. I am not. That's the point of great art I'm told. Well mission accomplished.

Then I discovered something. You might wonder where great modern painting comes from. I was wandering a little lost and despite my command of the German language I can hardly ever read the signs. I wandered down some stairs and discovered a small room where great art was being made! Who is it made by? Have you ever wondered about who the people that filled our museums with art were? In this room in the basement I saw it action and can now answer that question! Watch this video clip (it's short only 2.5 megs) but will reveal the truth as never before revealed to world:

It's made by prisoners!

My Birthday by Emily

Well I woke up and mom was in the hall. She said Lets go open your present down stairs. So I went down and there were three presents and a card. First I opened up the card. IT WAS FROM JARON!!! Thank you Jaron. Then I opened a present from my DAD! They were books [ I read them. They were awesome.] Thank you dad. Then I opened the next and it was a bike lock? So mom and Nathan covered my eyes and lead me to the garage. There was a bike for ME. Thank you mom. Nathan taught me how to ride it. Thank you Nathan. I rode it all morning. Then Tim came over. He got me a spa kit! Thank you Tim and Jess. Then mom took me KFC for lunch. Then mom took me to Lesa work. Thank you mom. Then Lesa Did my nails. Thank you Lesa. Then I got my hair done. Then Chris and Lesa came over. They got a picture of the beach. Thank you Chris,Lesa and Nathan. Then for dinner we had pot roast and mashed potatoes and gravy. Then we had cake.

I had a great birthday.

This is a video that i Made of our Beach Trip Family Reunion. the first part are pics of basically everyone, and the second part are pictures that i took of Chris Lesa and Emily.

Out of the Wild

Our trip to the beach

Our family reunion at the beach was a blast. Emily and I left Saturday morning to Jerry and Maureen's house (Steve's sister).

It took us 10 hours to get there. Sunday we left for Fort Bragg which took us another 4 1/2 hours. Steve's brothers Klint and Russ were really nice in letting me follow them out. Christopher, Lesa and Nathan left Sunday and did the trip in one day. They were really exhausted by the time they got there.

But we all had so much fun hanging out at the beach, playing, relaxing, shopping, eating and having fun with family. It was sad to leave but it was so nice to be home.

Wuss Mountain

In the land of California rises a tall mountain. a mountain in which very few have climbed. This mountain is call "Wuss Mountain"

(Wuss Mountain)

this mountain with super steep sides and no trail up has been climbed by very few people. most people cower at the sight of if. but we Peck boys and Girls conquered this mountain in a mater of minutes. setting a new record and now we are officially Wusses!!!

(more Pictures to come)

Back in Austria

I am back in Austria. It's been a bit lonely. However, several things seem to be changing for the better. First the Austrians are taking the poop on the sidewalk problem seriously as evidenced by their new sign campaign which includes a 36 euro fine for violations.



I find living here alone not quite as fun as when Lori and the kids were here. For example, today I visited the Freud Museum and all I could think about was how much Nathan would have enjoyed this.



There were lots of photos with long detailed discriptions from Freud's life that I know Nathan would have spend hours pouring over. huh Nathan? Right?




My Superego quite enjoyed the whole museum and wanted to read every description. My Ego gave it kind of a shrug and ho-humed the whole thing and sometimes seemed bored and other times quite excited about the displays. My Id was absolutely insisting that it be fed so we left a little early and had a bagel.

Emily's old school was just up the street so I stopped by and took a couple of pictures:




And for Lori I thought I'd remind her of the fun stairs I know she misses climbing:



I love and miss you all so much!!!!! And special thanks to my Mom and Dad, Brothers and Sisters (in laws and out laws too), and all my kids for taking such good care of Mom and my kids on the beach trip. I've been so worried, but from her reports it sounds like she was well cared for and loved. Thank you all so much for all you did and all you continue to do to take care of my family while I'm away. I've been watching the HBO docudrama on John Adams and those guys spend years away from their spouses. It makes me feel like a baby because I've been whining so much about it! Well, I'm going to keep whining I'm afraid. I love and miss you all!!!!!

Hot Momma

I just downloading these from a modeling web site. Isn't she hot!!!











I sure miss you!!!!

Doc by Emily

Doc is our dog. If you know doc you know she likes food. When ever doc meets some one new or she meets some one she not seen in along time or if she brings the to you she want to play fetch. If you say'', Wheres your ball.'' to Doc she will think that, that means lets play fetch. She is a cute dog. These are pictures of doc.

All Pictures by Emily