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2009

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

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.)

Posted in Wonderful | 2 Comments »

Cookie Clones

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

So check out this cookie created at the cookie war:

Singing Sally spotted the cookie and came running over to Magoo to hold it up near her face and congratulate her on creating such an awesome self-portrait cookie.

Magoo wasn’t exactly pleased.

Magoo went onto emphatically explain that this cookie was NOT a self portrait. In fact, it was a representation of her creepy teaching assistant, the guy with the pony tail always pulled off to the side. The guy with the beady eyes who was way smart, and way strange.

But, Singing Sally was just not buying it, “Look, Magoo, this cookie captures you perfectly, don’t you see? Why not embrace it?”

“NO!” Magoo exploded with frustration.

“This is NOT me. I am NOT buggy eyed, and creepy with weird pony-tailed hair pulled off to the side!”

Singing Sally glanced back and forth from cookie to Magoo, Magoo to cookie and managed a half-hearted “Well, if you say so…”

World, please say hello to Magoo’s cookie clone:

It’s a perfect likeness, is it not?

Posted in The Many Faces of Magoo | 2 Comments »

Not as nice as she looks

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

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!

Posted in Wonderful | 2 Comments »

Cookie War Stress Relief

Monday, December 21st, 2009

A longggggg time ago, my siblings and I got together with some awesome family friends to bake some Christmas cookies. It was supposed to be an evening much like many other people hold every December. People get together. They bake Christmas cookies. More fun to do in a group, right? Normal, right?

Somehow, before this initial evening ended, we had completely abandoned the idea of making ordinary cookies. We began making “theme” cookies, throwing cookie dough, wiping flour on people’s faces, and launching a rolling pin across the room (may cause injury, proceed with caution). And, the random get-together was forever dubbed the COOKIE WAR.

Over the years, we’ve held the Cookie War a number of times. Seven, eight times, maybe? Our themes have inexplicably included pregnancy, medical procedures, and oddly enough: a holiday scene! Themes aren’t thought of ahead of time; they just emerge naturally.

Last night was our not-so-annual Cookie War, this time taking place in our barn. It’s the first time our kids have ever participated (it’s not always been “G” rated, if you know what I mean), and they managed to take to it like naturals. Before long, a theme emerged. It was decided we would all depict, in cookie form, those things that had been stressors in our lives throughout 2009… difficult relationships, evil professors, malicious bosses, health problems, and so on. I highly recommend this type of counseling! Take your problems, shape them into extraordinarily ugly cookies, bake them, then smash the heck out of them. It’s surprisingly therapeutic. And, well…. weird.

Below, are a few of my favorite pictures from last night. I had originally planned on writing a single Cookie War post. But, a single post couldn’t possible suffice.

So, I will just leave you with a few random pictures and let you either guess what they are about, or comment in advance of my explanations which shall follow in later posts. Both would be appreciated and hilarious, I’m sure. Here you go:

Please stay tuned. More Cookie War posts to follow……………..

Posted in Animals, Family | 7 Comments »

Because we CARE Package

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

When Bud and the Jakester were the first of our kids to head off to college, we sent them a few care packages. In particular, during their first Finals week of college, Singing Sally arranged it such that Nanni, TheOldest, and FavoriteChild joined with Sally and me by making sure each boy received at least a small package each day of Finals.

So, admittedly, the firstborn often gets a little more attention and worry. And, sometimes younger children get the short end of the stick.

Hey, no one knows this better than me. Here is the only baby picture that I’m told exists of me, the youngest of the family:

I was cute, wasn’t I.

A few weeks ago, Magoo went into a tirade about how mistreated she is:

You all sent care packages constantly to Bud. Every week! He got hundreds and I’m not going to get any. Life is so unfair to me. You love him SO much more.

I agreed. Except for the part about sending him so many packages. And about the part where she hadn’t received any. And the part of life being unfair to her. But, I said we probably do love him more.

Fast forward to this week, which is Finals week for the kids. SweetGuy went to the store and bought $7,000 worth of food and toy crap for the kids. This time, we put together packages for AUBS!, Magoo, and Bud.

We sent ONE care package to each child. What we did NOT do is arrange for others to send care packages too. Also, we did not send a care package every day. Poor, mistreated children, aren’t they?

We stuffed boxes full of snacks and toys and notes. And, as far as Magoo’s assumption of our lesser treatment of our younger child? I’ll let you be the judge. I took a picture of her single, solitary pathetic package:

Hey, Magoo, Bud, Jakester, AUBS!, Grace, White Rose, DustMeister and all you Finals taking folks: Work hard, don’t stress, come home safely.

It’s going to be an amazing Christmas break.

Posted in Family | 12 Comments »

10 years later

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

Sweetguy’s Dad is about to turn 70.

He lives in California. His three children live in Texas, Illinois, and Switzerland. SweetGuy and his siblings not only live in distant lands, they each are workaholics. It takes an act of Congress AND 14 moons aligning for all these people to convene in the same place.

Lo and behold, a convergence happened last week. Each of the three siblings flew into California on the same day and met up at the airport. They then drove to their Dad’s and surprised him. Surprised seems like an understatement. Poor guy, does anyone else think it’s a little cruel to show up at a 7o year old’s house late at night and declare you’re all living with him for the week?

I’m planning on hiding when I near 70, that’s all I’m sayin’.

SweetGuy’s Dad was touched. And, that’s what it was all about. That, and a family that cares deeply about each other but just doesn’t get to hang out much, or pretty much, ever.

All of us, being the incredible planner-aheaders that we are, made a special video for SweetDad. Actually, it was made some 10 years ago for his 60th. But, well, we didn’t so much get around to sending it to him for his 60th. So, we edited it a bit and showed it to him for his 70th.

It features an 11 year old Bud, 9 year old White Rose, 8 year old Magoo, and 5 year old Little Couz in TX. And, let me say, Lil Couz is the sweetest, cutest, adorablest, darlingest child that ever lived.

There’s a link below to the video. Here’s a couple of things I have to say about it. 1) Our children were hyper. 2) Our children’s hyperness increased exponentially in the presence of their cousins and 3) Did I mention Little Couz is adorable?

If you don’t want to sit thru the whole thing, skip ahead to the 2:40 mark and check out Little Couz, you won’t be disappointed.

Bob’s 70th from Andi on Vimeo.

And, a very Happy Birthday to Grandpa Bob. You’ve done well, sir!!

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »

2009 Madrigal Dinner

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Saturday night was the high school Madrigal Dinner. We had an extraordinary time with family and friends. And, I particularly liked just attending the show and not having to work at it as a parent of a participant. Another one of the perks of empty-nesting. Laziness becomes me.

Emmy was the star of the drama portion of the show. She played an ornery court jester. Can you say TYPECASTING!

Her director, who is also one of our best friends, let me know that Emmy’s performance may have just been the very best ever by anyone in the madrigral casts in the years and years he’s been doing them.

She was a hoot.

And definitely rocked the sexy costume.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

They’re not people, they’re family

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

As part of a leadership development program at my work, I was evaluated by a job coach who was determining my personality type. One of the criteria he had to decide on was whether I was introverted or extroverted. Not in the normal sense as someone who is outgoing and talkative versus a reserved, quiet person but in the sense of who I feel the most comfortable around. Do I recharge my batteries by being around people, or do I recharge them by being by myself.

I told this guy that I knew I didn’t get recharged by hanging out with strangers, and also wasn’t energized by hanging out with acquaintances or sometimes even good friends. Not saying I don’t like doing that, it’s just that I don’t get rested by doing so.

I remember saying “… but I don’t feel the same about my family. I can hang around them forever and they don’t drain my batteries.” He immediately said “You are an introvert.”

But, the introvert thing is not really the point of the story. The point is that there are certain people I feel completely comfortable and peaceful with, even when chaos and craziness is all around.

Thanksgiving break week made me feel this way all week long. I’ll share a few more stories and pictures, but there was one single moment in time last week that struck me above all others as perfect. It was seemingly ordinary, yet for me it was as good as it gets because it was just the epitome of normal, but also the height of peace and joy for me.

Everyone was in the kitchen. Magoo was cutting up fruit. Bud and Dustin were playing cards. And, Emmy was working on an art project for school. Me, I was doing dishes. And, we were laughing and joking and talking and not talking.

That’s it. Can you believe it? My perfect moment and there wasn’t even anything techie involved. It was just that there was such a tangible sense that everyone in the room was completely at ease, free of stress, and enjoying these simple moments. Me, more than anyone.

These aren’t just people, they are family. And they make it really easy to be around them.

Here’s a few pics from the weekend:

Bud is like relentless with mini-basketball. He’s irritating.

Bud comes by it naturally.

Do you get what I’m saying about being at ease with each other? Nothing says relaxed like group naps.

Look at the determination. I WILL PREVAIL.

Or not.

This picture was taken right before I creamed FavoriteChild at ping pong. I forgot to call Mom and tell her that. I’m going to do that right now. Maybe she’ll be disappointed in him.