the year in review

my final post of 2008 was a list of the five highs and lows of our year. i considered repeating the idea, until i realized i just lacked material. we didn't move across the state in 2009, we didn't buy or sell a house, the kids didn't change schools, and i didn't potty-train anyone. as far as life-changing events go, i'd say that 2009 was pretty much lacking. (which isn't necessarily a bad thing.) so instead of highs and lows, i thought i'd just briefly hit the major points for each of us. as a challenge to myself, i'm going to try to do so in chronological order.

chris: trained for a half-marathon. ran it in a cold drizzle. marked it off his "bucket list" and says he'll never do another one. went on a guys' trip with fraternity brothers to chattanooga to root on their beloved davidson wildcats to yet another southern conference tournament win. watched davidson lose in the first round. kept plugging away at his job. spent weeks (and a few choice words) screening in our back porch so that it's now our favorite place to be in the warmer months. appointed as chair of the outreach committee at church for the next two years. patiently explained every nuance of football and baseball to an eager son. constructed a firepit in the backyard and has become quite the s'mores expert.

sara: went on a girls' weekend to the beach and missed the kids and hubby a little. advanced to the state tennis championships in pinehurst. lost both matches i played. made fun of all my friends who became obsessed with the twilight series. read the twilight series and became obsessed. had a letter to the editor printed in the paper. celebrated our ten-year anniversary by receiving a beautiful diamond ring, and promptly lost the center stone in the sand at the beach. found it. started my first job in six years, teaching expelled students high school math online each afternoon. danced a jig all the way to the bank each month to deposit my meager paycheck. celebrated the big 35 in grand fashion at red robin with a free birthday burger coupon and was reminded that i now am classified as Advanced Maternal Age.

super: did a whole lot of transporting shoes from closets to random spots all over the house. left out of the family christmas card picture yet again. could win an award for canine flatulence. is loved to pieces anyway.

susanna: continued sobbing hysterically each day during drop-off at 2-year old preschool in the spring (a true momma's girl.) became even more obsessed with disney princesses than i was with twilight. rebuffed my suggestion of taking gymnastics and insisted on beginning ballet. counted down the hours until the next time she could don her pastel pink leotard and tutu. walked into her new 3-year old preschool class in september without a single tear and never looked back. (hallelujah!) mastered naming all 26 letters. began writing her name. is definitely a lefty. attended the local production of cinderella and was honored to have prince charming come down to the audience to try the glass slipper on her foot. requested only one item for christmas -- princess pajamas -- that cost $12.99 at target. gave us hope that her future wedding aspirations might also be of a similar price range.

liam: played his first organized sport (t-ball) and second organized sport (soccer) and third organized sport (basketball). exhibited athletic abilities that thankfully come from chris's side of the gene pool. also exhibited a strong dislike of losing. began reading chapter books. fell one time on a slight hill while riding his bike and refused for months to get back on the dadgum thing. had his picture printed in the paper (at left). can add and subtract double-digit numbers. observed me teaching integers one day and now can add and subtract negatives as well. proved to be a little freakish in the numbers department. lost his first tooth. became even more obsessed with the game of bowling than susanna is with disney princesses. walks around the house all day rolling imaginary bowling balls and yelling, "strike!". upon opening his christmas gift of a nintendo DS, declared that "santa made all my dreams come true!", prompting us to wonder if we should just return the rest of his unopened presents.

i guess in looking back, 2009 was a tad busier than i initially gave it credit for. but most importantly, we continue to have our faith, our health, our happiness, and our love of family and friends. we thank God for our blessings and look forward to what might be in store in 2010. happy new year from all of us!

xoxo ~ chris, sara, liam, susanna, and super