UPDATE FOR EVERYONE....

ANOTHER WEEK HAS COME AND GONE TWICE SINCE MY LAST BLOG. WE ARE HOME FROM OUR HOLIDAY AND I AM GOING TO GET TO THE BLOG AS SOON AS I CAN. (INCLUDING PICTURES!! )

From April 2nd..

Another week is beginning, and did it begin early. We picked Bruce up at the airport at 2.00am from his Atlanta trip. Monday morning the boys went off to school for a a couple of hours, Bruce had a sleep in and I finished up the packing now that on of my bags was back from Atlanta. Bruce picked the kids up and Paula came over to have some lunch before we left for San Francisco. We were on the road at around 1.30 and stopped at Vacaville to do some last minute shopping before we left. We got a couple of bargains to cram into the case and off we went up the freeway. To everyone panic, Bruce got lost, Conner was not happy, and panicking which I have to say I was too. I knew we had some time, but it was just going to make everything a rushed. Which it was in the end, I’m not sure whether that was a good thing or not. We had time for a quick dinner for the kids and it was time to go through security. Bruce was upset, so which isn’t a good start. He walked off and Jamieson wasn’t the best. We went through security (after having to grab everything and run back to the table and grab a bag we forgot) it must have been a sight, the three of us running to the food court holding our shoes. We sat down waiting for our plane and Jamieson got upset, so that wasn’t the most fun. Conner was just excited, looking at the clock and calculating the time when we get there. We got on the plane first up, cause I had the kids. The boys were very excited to see that they had their own screen. Poor Jamieson chucked up his dinner before the plane even took off, so that wasn’t a great start to the trip. We took off and Jamieson went to sleep, Conner dropped off not long after that. I got broken sleep, but more than I usually do so that was ok. Jamieson got about 9-10 hours and Conner got 6-7 sleep, so that makes it an easier trip for me. We arrived at Auckland and got off the plane. Called Bruce with the credit card (cost a fortune) but it made Jamieson happy and Bruce too. We were back on the plane and off to Melbourne (3.5 hours) Jamieson refused to watch the screen or eat any food – but he did throw up his apple juice and water. So he now refuses, “Mum you know I don’t eat plane food”. Tuesday the 3rd April 2007 did not exist for Belinda, Conner and Jamieson. We arrived at the airport and went off to Maureen and Peter’s for some lunch. It was good to see them and they loved seeing the boys. We are going to be staying with them in our last week, which will be good. We made our way back down the freeway and surprised everyone, which was lots of fun and made it home to see dad and the twins and the kids. We had some dinner and I was in bed at 8.00pm, OUT!!!! Thursday, Conner and I were up early and I went off to the hairdressers. Elise came down for the afternoon. We went out in the afternoon the change a Easter present for mum then out for dinner with the Lynch girls. I then went out to Kmart and did some Easter egg shopping and dropped in for a cuppa and catch up with Liz and Al. Got home at 1.00am but it was totally worth it. Good Friday was a good day. We headed off to the Queenscliff Seafood Festival, with the family. The kids all ran around and played all day. Quote of the day – Jamieson – I was telling them why we don’t eat meat today. “Is it a law mum? In the Hultgren household it is. So that was something that kept us laughing. We had a quiet night; the boys and I were in bed around 9.30. Saturday turned into a busy one for me. Raels was going into town, so she dropped the boys off at Trudy’s for the kids to all play for the day. I organized some stuff at mums while she went out and did her stuff. She got back and I jumped in the car and made my way into Geelong. Had to do an couple of drop in’s and then off to Trudy’s. We went over to Tracey’s then went over to Janine’s together for a BBQ catch up, and to watch the footy, of coarse!! We had a great night with the Lynch Clan (as always) and the Cats kicked the Blues butt, which I told Bruce when I got home. It was a late night, and the boys were out by the time I got to the end of Janine’s street. They had a huge day of playing. HAPPY EASTER!!! The boys woke up and found that Easter bunny had found them and left some goodies. Grandma gave them Geelong Jumpers so you know they went straight on and didn’t come off. Pete and Fleur came over for a visit and tomorrow I’m making him his pumpkin soup, so he gets his fix while I’m here. Trudy, Paula and the kids were here. Liz and the kids arrived and Tracey the kids arrived also. We had some lunch and the kids all played. Everyone left later in the afternoon and Raels and clan arrived for some dinner. We spoke to Bruce on the phone, he had been sick all day, I think his body is telling him to slow down, just for a little bit while he can. So he had a lazy day, which he needed. Uncle Kevin and Jan came over and we all had some dinner, I was really tired and in bed at around 9.00. I’m getting up early, so getting tired early too. We had a really good Easter Sunday, the boys played with family and friends as did I. Our first week is over and our schedule for the next week is filling up so we are getting really busy which is going to take some organizing but it’ll all get done. Hope everyone had a great Easter and took some time to relax!! Hopefully will catchup with everyone while we are here!!! HAPPY EATER, ENJOY THE BREAK.

From Monday April 2

Weekly Blog – from Monday April 2nd. Well hello everyone, By the time you read this it is pretty obvious that Belinda and the kids are back in Australia and catching up with family and friends. It is Saturday night here in Sacramento and it is a little weird to be not sharing Easter with the family – and seeing the boys chase the eggs and the excitement of it all – I hope you have a great time! OK – what a week – Belinda has already written about the Final Four and what a success it was – I have spent the week putting together multimedia presentations for prospective business partners, sponsors and of course – recreation centers and schools to start the program in their places. So – lets re wind and go over the week…. Monday – well – after being delayed several times on the way home from Atlanta – I finally arrived at just after 2am and started home – thankfully! We all got up pretty early and the kids were off to their morning of school – it was perfect – allowed Bel to do final packing and for the 2 of us just to connect and talk before they flew out. I picked the boys up from school around 10am and we spent the next few hours messing around, playing a bit and just hanging out. We had lunch – packed the car and started out for San Francisco – knowing that we were going to be stopping at a few places on the way to get some last minute presents and to break up the journey – considering we would be hitting SF in peak hour!!!! Fun! Well – we stopped a few times as planned – then started for the airport – I buggered up the directions and instead of being at the airport at 6pm for the 9pm flight with no stress – we got there at 7pm – with a lot of stress from the travelers!!!!! All ended up pretty good though as there was literally no one in the check in line – then we had time for something to eat before they headed through security. I lost it and had to leave right away. The trip home was interesting – knowing that the house was going to be empty for the next 3 weeks – weird!!! Got home around 10pm and checked to see the plane had left on time – all was good – so I fell into bed – basically exhausted from the previous 5 days. They got there ok and the stories of surprises – well – I will let Belinda write about those because she was there!!!! My Tuesday was a day of trying to get everything in order of required completion – following up from the Final Four – touching base with people I had met, presentation planning and all the other fun stuff. Well – for the rest of the week – that is all I have been doing – getting up around 7am – having breakfast – then locking myself in the office and doing everything from recording a voiceover soundtrack – the first of many, then editing footage and doing general follow ups throughout the week as they arose. Most days have been finishing around 10pm – I purposely stop for dinner and give my eyes a rest – then will hit the laptop for maybe another hour or so before falling into bed. It is all good because I am getting fantastic clarity of purpose and there is simply no excuse to not get it done – after all – who ever said changing the world was going to be easy!!!! And that’s exactly what I an trying to achieve – especially in the US marketplace – the other question is – right now – what else is there to do? So – lets cut through to Friday night – Paula came over for a couple of drinks as she said she would – so we sat down and did that – I woke up this morning sick as a dog – so I slept most of the morning – I shot over to the Charles’ for Coopers first birthday party – but I simply couldn’t hack it – hot and cold sweats – nausea etc – so I last about 45 minutes before coming home and sleeping for the next 4 hours. Thankfully I woke up much better and had my wife’s beautiful lasagna – or should that be – my beautiful wife’s lasagna??? They both work for me!!! (Miss you honey!) And now I sit here – feeling pretty good – about 9pm pm Sat night – real party animal huh? I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and that the Easter bunny is good for you. It is really weird – for such a religious society that the USA is – Easter is very quiet – go figure!!!! You would think this would be up there with Christmas – kinda doesn’t make sense…. At all!!!!!! OK – I am going to sign off – have a happy and safe Easter – I wish I could be there with my family to share it with you – maybe next year – definitely the year after!!!! Please make sure you contact Belinda to catch up if you haven’t already – she is staying at her mums – if you don’t have the number – shoot me an email and I will get it for you. They leave Australia on Monday April 23rd – I will be waiting at this end with open arms!!!!! From Sunny Sacramento – talk to you next week Bruce

From 26th March

It’s been another busy week in the Hultgren household. The boys had their last week of school before heading off track for April that should be interesting!!! I was nice and busy at work, we had some deadlines, which I have to say with the team we have we just knuckle down and get it done. Wednesday Bruce and I were up and out of the house at around 4.30 to go to the airport. It’s finally here, off to the NCAA Final Four; he can tick that off his list now!! Got back and our day started. Bruce had a great first day, lots of meetings with the (right) people. He had a great second day, third day etc, etc. The bug was a hit and he had lots of fun doing it. He took all the opportunities he found as well as and making a lot of his own. (Just being Bruce) Everyone should all be really proud of him, I am. He was exhausted after the first day, (being in the suit for 3 hours a day will do that) It sounds like he had a great time, another life changing experience. The week for the boys and I was the usual week while Bruce was away. The one good thing was that I had the car, so a little extra freedom, which was nice. I was also lucky enough at the end of the week to treat myself to a pedicure, while Paula had the kids for me. SOOOOO NICE!!!! The weekend had been a little hectic; Paula and the boys had a sleep over on Friday night. Saturday Jamieson had pictures for baseball then we went home and cleaned the house. Later in the afternoon we went to watch Justin play baseball. We went back to Paula’s for some dinner and then home to bed. It had been a BIG couple of days. I picked up and organized myself, exhausted but I got it all done. I started packing; all the piles were done by the time I went to bed on Saturday night. I was off to bed at around 11.00. Sunday we were up and ready for our day out in the snow. Paula and the boys got here around 11.00 and we were off up the freeway. We arrived at the snowfield and the kids ran and played for a couple of hours then made our way home (singing to the IPOD, which is always fun) Although I was surprised at how many American Artists Americans Don’t know. We got back and had some dinner then said our goodbyes and the kids were off to bed around 8.30. It has been an exciting week; the anticipation of coming home has almost killed Conner. Next week’s blog will be a whole lot less mundane…..I promise.