2009 In Review

Might as well make it an annual thing.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Went to a U2 concert!!!!  I am not normally a big fan of concerts, but my sisters have been going to U2 shows for years and assured me it would be a good time.   It was, it was, it was.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? My main resolution was to try something new every month.  I'm not sure I managed to get one in once a month, but I did try a lot of new things with that resolution in mind.  I wrote a poem, tried wakeboarding, learned to knit, made homemade peanut brittle and read my first Shakespeare play.  As far as resolutions for 2010,  I'm not making super lofty goals.  I would like to shave 15 minutes off of my Bolder Boulder time (which means a lot more running and less walking) and to have my Christmas cards out by December 15th.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Several of my friends had babies.  I can't decide if I am jealous or not.


4. Did anyone close to you die?  No one close.  I did sing at a funeral.  Singing "To Where You Are" a la Josh Grobin was not easy with a head cold.  I'm ashamed to admit that I squeaked.

5. What countries did you visit?  No new countries, but, I did see several parts of the US I'd never seen before.  Bear Lake, the Grand Canyon, Petrified National Forest, Painted Desert and Baltimore, Maryland.   I have made a previous travel goal of going abroad every three years and  2010 is a travel year.  Still no idea where I'm going, though.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? I'm not going to say a house of my own.  That would be beating a dead horse.  So, I'll just say a four-wheel drive vehicle for Jay.  And, it wouldn't hurt to park it in a garage that we owned.


7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? January 15th, Jay had surgery and he and our family got a a big bump up in quality of life.

8. What was your biggest personal achievement of the year? I remember hating this question the last two years. I don't know. Getting atop of Hogsback in spite of having a panic attack was rewarding in a humiliating and enlightening way.   Running and having a ball with Seth at this year's Bolder Boulder.

9. What was your biggest failure? It is currently happening with Henry's potty training. I am reminded on a daily basis that whatever I am doing is not working.  He can, however, get a cheese snack all by himself.

This photo was taken in January.  2009.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I think we've been a bit sicker than average this year.   Of course, I'm biased as I'm fighting a lingering sinus infection and have been for the past three weeks.  We all got sick the flu, probably H1N1. Henry had his recent surgery. I think Sam may have celiac (I don't know but we are going to be doing some further testing to find out why he has so many stomach upsets). No broken bones, or even trips to the ER, though.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My camera, a Nikon d5000 and my laptop. I'm embarrassed that both fall into the technology category and both are basically for me.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Jay completed a marathon and qualified for Boston. His parents were called as a temple president and temple matron.  Henry speaks in complete sentences and I have two boys who can now play the piano.  And I deserve a trophy for getting everyone where they needed to be, especially during Seth's football season.

This isn't at his marathon, but it's my favorite running picture of him ever!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? So, so many. Celebrities, politicians, terrorists, criminals, hypocrites, liars, and Tiger Woods.

14. Where did most of your money go? To our savings account! We still have a ways to go, but we are chipping away at that down payment.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My front tooth was discolored and after one internal bleaching, it changed from grey to pearly again. Every picture, every smile, every close face-to-face conversation was affected by my dead tooth. Having a normal smile again makes me really, really, really excited.

Buh-bye grey tooth!

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Gravity by Sara Barellis. I loved the dance on this year's SYTYCD (well...season 5 since there were two seasons this year), but I am just as happy listening to the song without watching Kupono be creepy.



17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
a) Happier. Henry is talking, Jay is swallowing, Seth and Sam are skiing and I feel good about who I am.
b) Neither. I'm about the same as I was at last year's end but I had gained about ten pounds during the year. Next year....different answer!
c) Richer. In more ways than one.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Visiting teaching, service, playdates for my kids, going to the temple, following through on good intentions.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Less time-wasting games on the computer. I went through a WordTwist phase, then Typing Maniac phase and now am trying to beat a Bejeweled Blitz obsession.

20. Did you fall in love in 2009?  I just recently fell in love with an ipod touch.  It is sweet.  Again with the technology, though!  Sheesh!

21. What was your favorite TV program? It's definitely So You Think You Can Dance, even with its flaws, but I am a fan of Glee, a lot of the time.  I think it's a fun idea.


22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I really hate it when people drive under the 45 mph speed limit going down Florida Rd. My van is prone to brake problems and I now downshift to save my brakes. When I have to brake on top of downshifting, I get little fits of rage.  But, of course, I don't actually hate the person driving.   If I did, that would be embarrassing.

23. What was the best book you read? Oh, I've been so disappointed in my book reading this year. I'm glad I'm doing the classics, but hate that people were right about it stealing my reading mojo. It's hard! Before that all began, I read, loved and gushed about The Help.  I also enjoyed Cutting For Stone, The Forever War, City of Thieves and Gilead.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery? The 500 Days of Summer soundtrack and Beethoven's Wig CD. My kids are rattling off names like Franz Listz and Haydn and I couldn't be happier.

25. What did you want and get? Season passes to ski this winter. And, I finally got my van detailed.

26. What did you want and not get? I really wanted Jay to come for part of our summer trip. He did not want me to tell him what to do and reprimanded me for not having the courtesy to ask. Hopefully, our miscommunication will not happen again.

I will drive 1,000 miles to see my favorite brother:)

27. What was your favorite film of this year? I loved UP. It makes me happy that a movie marketed to kids was actually a really, really good movie. And 500 Days of Summer was a really fun grown-up movie. I'm a fan of any movie that has its characters spontaneously break out into song and dance.



28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 34. I spent the day at the lake and dinner with friends and family. It could only have been better had someone spontaneously broken into song and dance.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?  If I could learn to articulate my feelings in a calm and rational manner when I am unhappy or frustrated, without hurting, or worrying about hurting, the feelings of others, my whole life would be more satisfying.  My current method of giving the silent treatment, even to vendors who do me wrong, is quite ineffective.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Shade shirt underneath blouse, with jeans.

31. What kept you sane? My family, Jay's sense of humor, modern medicine, bad dancing and sleep number 35!

Overheard

It's Christmas break.  The rules are relaxed.

But, my boys don't know that.

Both Seth and Sam received Nintendo DS Lites from Mom and Dad for Christmas.  They were originally Santa gifts, but after Sam overheard me telling my sister to be sure and remind me to pay her for the DS she purchased for me, one cat was out of the bag.  I fibbed (an entire post was missed due to my irregular posting habit about the art of lying at Christmas) and explained that, yes, Seth was going to get a DS.  Could he please keep it a secret?  He was sad that he wasn't getting one, but reassured that if I thought he was old enough after watching Seth play with his, perhaps he could get one for his birthday in January (does keeping the element of Christmas surprise negate the sin of lying?)

Needless to say, Sam was delighted, and for one short millisecond, confused, when he opened his own DS.  I hugged him and told him, "Merry Christmas" and hoped he didn't connect the dishonesty dots too quickly.  

Now, I purposely chose the DS lite because I did NOT want my nine and six year old to have internet access, nor did I want to pay more for a service I would only disable.  What I didn't realize, however, is that when DS lites are close enough to each other, a "chat" connection is possible.  The boys quickly discovered this and I watched amusedly as they sat side by side on the couch, "chatting."    I have no problem with it as long as they don't develop the obnoxious habit of text language.  I am seriously worried about the future of the English language after reading teenage text messages.

Tonight, I had my own moment of discovery while eavesdropping.   Seth, apparently unaware of how well sound carries from the basement to the living room, explained to Sam how, "if you put one headphone in, you can easily hear Mom or Dad coming down the hallway."  The plan is for the DSes to break out after lights out and to continue their conversation via DS chat.

My kids know me well enough to know that I don't have the personality to be o.k. with electronics in bed after lights out.  Secret under the covers book reading? I'd turn a blind eye.   Lego light saber fighting?  Um...no.  Unless it's Christmas break.

What adds to my amusement is the fact that Seth has been in his own room for less than two weeks.  With only a shared wall in between our bedrooms, I have spent the better part of the last four years listening to the two of them chat after goodnights have been said.  I have also listened to one or the other, but usually Sam, come out and complain about the other one keeping them away with an unrequited desire to chat.

I can't hear any noise coming from either bedroom.

I sit here, with a smile on my face.

Wondering if I should walk down the hall.

Where Everybody Knows His Name

After returning from Denver where Henry had surgery for meatal stenosis, Jay told his parents how by the day's end, about ten nurses appeared to say goodbye to their new favorite patient, Henry.

Henry has a certain Je ne sais quoi.  Where ever he is, people seem to notice.  During Seth's soccer season, I heard more than one parent refer to Seth as, "Henry's big brother."  And these were people I didn't know.  I think they just heard me calling Henry's name.

From the airplane to the hospital, Henry found more fans for his fan club.  I don't know if it's his glasses, his small stature, his round face or blond hair, but whatever it is, I sure enjoy being part of his entourage.

Here we are boarding the plane for Denver.  He's been in an airplane before, but only as an infant.  He loved his window seat and cup of sprite.

Unfortunately, there was a mix up and his surgery was later than we were told.  It was hard to keep him happy, because Henry's favorite thing is eating any time he feels like it and he had to be fasting pre-surgery, but this boy helped for a half hour by asking him to play ball with him.

Waiting with Dad.



Waiting with Mom.

Then we got called back to the pre-op area.  Henry had fun exploring some of the buttons.

He was extra excited that he got to be on a bed with wheels.

Nurses of pediatric patients are good at what they do.  They handed Henry his very own beach ball and the hour before his surgery and it kept him very happy.

Which hand is the ball in, right or left?

Right! (His right and left were the same right and left as Jay, who was sitting opposite of him.  We didn't correct him).

Jay, Henry and I had a good game of catch going on.

But, then he got too excited and we told him he shouldn't be so loud.  So he was sad.

But, then he remembered he had fun, new yellow socks!  All is well!

He got to sign his own release form.  Dad signed too.

Time to put the cap on.  Henry style.

This picture helps me get it.  No wonder the nurses were loving him.



Jay went in with him for anesthesia.  Only one parent could go in, and Jay holds the trump card in hospital procedure rooms.

The surgery was very short; only about twenty minutes, and then we just had to wait for him to wake up from the anesthesia.  It took him longer than either we or the nurses expected, but when he did come out of it, he was mellow and calm.  The grape Popsicle helped.

Welcome back, buddy.  You did great.



I wish we could report that all potty issues have now been solved, but that isn't the case.  We continue to work on it, but the surgery was successful and he can now pee straight, which will help a lot.  Every time I get consumed with frustration, he blinks his big blue eyes at me and says, "I forgive you."

Wouldn't you be a fan too?

Christmas 2009

We had  a great Christmas this year.  Here's proof.

First things first, I changed my hair color.  I thought it was noticeably different, but my sister, who has even darker brown hair, was unimpressed.  Still, it is darker.

Christmas Eve was spent at Jay's parent's house.  We had a lovely dinner at a beautiful table, of which I forgot to take a picture.  Must have had something else (ahem...food) on the brain.


Later, we kicked off the festivities with a musical program.  Jay and Derek performed a couple of trumpet/trombone duets.  For a guy who really only picks up this brass instrument every couple of years, I have to say, he's still got it.

Delanie is a budding writer.  She wrote a lovely poem and shared her original work with everyone.

I sang.

Vaughn Sr. recited the spoonerism, "The Goose Who Laid The Golden Egg"  perfectly.

Stephanie created a really fun memory game matching Christmas clues with candy bars (i.e. Dove=Symbol of Peace, Cost of Christmas=100 Grand, Elves=Runts).

Sarah made a match with "The Sound of Walking In the Snow" with Nestle Crunch.

Vaughn Jr. made the traditional rice pudding with an almond hidden in one of the bowls (winner gets a prize)

The comes the annual pinata (or pini-ta-ta, as it's become known).  Everyone got a turn starting youngest to oldest.

Seth hit so hard the plastic tie broke and Grandpa lost the safety of the broom.

I think Delanie scared Grandpa a bit.

Derek broke it through and my little candy mongers were all over the scene.

Jay kept on top of where Santa was by frequently checking the NORAD Santa watch app on his phone.

Ethan was the youngest cousin there and made his cuteness rounds a few times.

Just some of the unscripted action in the house.

Clark and Stephanie broke all the rules by making Vaughn and Karen open a gift on Christmas Eve (not allowed while their children were growing up).

They got pajamas.  Vaughn was particularly dashing in his demure jammies.

The cute couple.

Then we went home to open our own Christmas Eve jammies.

It was nice to have Sarah here so that I could finally have a non-blurry/non-timer shot of our family in our pajamas.   We had a red/cream/brown theme this year.

Then a goofy picture, because it was late.

My kids do not get up especially early on Christmas morning and never have.  This is Henry coming out of his room around 6:45 (which is when they all wake up on any given day).

Ummmmmm.....momma got a size too big, me thinks.



It was fun to have my sister, Sarah, here celebrating with us.  This is her opening up one of her presents.

I love the first few moments of gift opening, when they can hardly contain their glee.  Seth opened this gift from his brother, a map of the United States, and declared, "It's perfect!  Thank you, Sam!" and meant every word.

Henry fed us all with his new kitchen.



Some presents from Grandma and Grandpa.



Hey...might as well get an early start if he wants to grow up to be like his daddy.



Henry really would have been content with only candy and gum as gifts.  He ate chocolate and pez candies pretty much non-stop this morning.



Doesn't it look like fun?  Hope your day was as...explosive...as ours.



Merry Christmas!!!