I like bulleted lists.  I believe I actually THINK in bulleted lists.  I’ve been going through my pictures in hopes of posting my favorites of the year here.  They reminded me of how amazing this year has been.  So, on this last day of 2009, here are some of my random thoughts on just a few things that were WONDERFUL this year.  They are in no particular order, and I’m sure I’ll leave out some important things.  But, that’s what random is all about, is it not?  (I’ve inserted a bunch of links to semi-related blog posts, click on them if you are interested in wasting a lot of time.)

• DustMeister came to live with us in January.  Oh, the laughs he brought with him.  My greatest memory of Dust from this year is just recalling the hundreds of instances of him interacting with Magoo and Bud.  He really is their brother.  Oh, and he makes a mean sandwich.  And has a chocolate milk obsession.
• I am still in awe that the Singing Sally clan lives so close to us.  Dreams do come true.
• Watching Emmy change SO MUCH this year and discover her potential.  Starting with the whole collar bone incident.
• Mario Kart!
• Having the Texas cousins (Little Couz and The White Rose) here over the summer.  Those days were an absolute blur of activity and pure joy for me.  Well, except for the dirty dishes.  But, those are a small price to pay for what were definitely some of the very best times of ’09.
• Bud is a Senior!  And, guess what, one of my best moments of the year came just yesterday when we found out he’s got a pretty good chance at a job right here in Central Illinois.  It’s not a sure thing at all, but it’s an opportunity he earned by demonstrating his ability and work ethic.  People noticed, and it may get him hired.  I couldn’t be more proud.
• Magoo’s graduationheld so many special moments.  I’m not going to lie, when she was recognized as part of the Top Ten at her graduation ceremony and SweetGuy and I were asked to stand as well amongst a sea of parents and friends, I was overwhelmed, and it is one of my top ten memories of 2009. 
• The rest of her graduation was SO MUCH FUN.  Celebrating DustMeister/Aunt Ruth’s birthday’s, wearing Grace’s salutatorian medal, jumping over Bud, visiting with so many special people. 
• We said goodbye to youth group.  It was time, and the right thing to do.  I look back on it hoping we had a very small part in positively affecting the lives of a few young people, and I am SO grateful for the privilege.
• Singing Sally and her family surprising us with new outdoor furniture.  Even cooler than that was calling them back in the dark of night and sitting outside on a warm summer evening laughing, devouring chocolate chip zucchini muffins and AUBS! cracking us up with her Elf revelations.  (Oh, wait, their gift was supposed to by anonymous.  Oh, well.  Sue me.)
• A magical August weekendspent at FavoriteChild’s place in Wisconsin.  I think I shall always remember this as the moment my Mom started to get her groove back.
• On vacation, driving up, up, up that mountain in Tennessee, then up some more into the driveway of our rental home reaching the crest and having the view literally (yes, literally!) take my breath away.
• Empty Nesters! 
• Rock band with the gang.
• AUBS! helping us get so much done around the house/barn.  The progress is astounding, and since SweetGuy and I both tend to obsess about those things we have NOT yet accomplished at our place, her help was priceless.
• Willie and the Hat Gang.
• Reconnecting with old friends.
• The raccoons (the bad – the good – depending on your perspective of course).
• Magoo and The frog!  Coming soon to a theatre near you.
• Saying goodbyeto Jasmine.  As sad as it was, it was also beautiful.  Remembering her, holding our little ceremony, seeing how much people cared.  She bought us a gajillion laughs and wonderful memories galore.
• Saje!
• Magoo and my master plan for ridding the kitchen of ants. 
• Bud’s 25 things. 
• The final dance, the final cast party, the final band/choral concert, the start of something new.  With the moving out of Bud, Magoo, and DustMeister we gained some freedom.  But we also lost the joy of having all their friends in our house, like Grace, Da Kaff, Rob, Emily, and more.  I’m now LOVING their college breaks.
• PETE.
• SweetGuy’s Rambo Easter egg.  And, SweetGuy hiding DustMeister’s special Easter egg in a plastic bag in the middle of our pond.
• Climbing a (small) mountain in Colorado.
• Welcoming Magoo and DustMeister back from the other side of the world on her 18^th birthday.
• Bud’s 21^st:  the whole gang and their ridiculous bowling skills, Bud barely able to down ½ beer with Nanni. 
• Roman Candles.
• FavoriteChild on Oprah.
• Just this past week when we were able to spend so many special moments with both sides of the family, and even Skyping our Swiss family connection.

There really is SO much more, but the list has to end sometime. 

Here is what I know to be true:  I am rich and blessed beyond measure.  Thanks to the Lord and all of you for an awesome 2009. 

And, to you 2010, let’s get this party started.

 (Hey, anyone out there want to share what was wonderful for you in 2009?  Put them in the comments.  We’d all love to see them.)

Lovely Robin is not who she appears to be.  

I’ve only known Robin for 30 years or so (in which time I’ve aged 40 years, and she has aged 2.  I’m not bitter, my plan is when I get to her age, I will look like her). Clearly I haven’t had the time to observe her and decide for myself what kind of human being she is.  I’m pretty much  just working off my first impressions here.

Sure, at first glance she seems nice enough, and helpful, and unselfish. She always asks about my kids, pets, and the like.  You know, like someone who cares would.  She’s funny and easy to be around.  She makes an absurdly good mint-chocolate bar thing.  It’s pretty evident she adores her husbands, and kids, and grand-kids and all that.

But, I wonder to myself, does that make her a good person?

Hold the phone.

Towards the end of the Cookie War, there were discussions and even a random vote regarding whether Fadi and Robin would be allowed to return the next year.  You see, there’s limited spots available at the Cookie War and if you’re not willing to embrace the Spirit of War (or, let’s be honest, if you are too good at making cookies), you are not allowed to return.

Fadi seemed to care about returning:

And, Robin?  Well, I guess she cared too.  But in an evil caring sort of way.  SweetGuy had been sick and mostly absent on this particular evening.  And, during the vote as to whether Robin and Fadi would be invited back, Robin quietly proclaimed “Maybe SweetGuy can just  be sick again!”

She whispered this tidbit of hope to Singing Sally who immediately let the crowd know what Robin said. Here’s Robin’s defiant reaction:

This woman can not be trusted.

She has a bit of a mean streak to her.

She’s willing to trample on someone else to get what she wants.

She TOTALLY HAS A LIFETIME INVITATION TO THE WAR!

I don’t know if it’s like this in other places, but here in central Illinois, there is always a time when things turn green overnight.  And I think I do mean LITERALLY overnight.  Yesterday, was an absolutely miserable day.  Rain, rain, and more pelting rain.  Not a hint of sun or warmth.  Everything was shades of grey and brown.  Arising, I didn’t expect much better today, because although the rain had stopped, the temperature was still 40 degrees. 

As is my normal workday routine, I fed the dogs and ran them out to their dog run.  The moment I stepped outside I was struck by the sun and the GREEN.  This might be my favorite weather moment of the year.  What is a weather moment anyway? 

A little later, as is also the weekday routine, DustMeister and I left the house together.  He wasn’t exactly awake and trudged to the van with head down.  I made mention of things turning green overnight.  He looked up and at the sight of the very obvious color change let out a long “whoaaa.”  Weather moment right there.