It was the best of 2009, it was the worst of 2009
to steal from the opening line of a very good book. Is it really the end of the year? I find myself with a rare hour of quietness to think about things other than work and errands and the house. I don't want to wake anyone up.
THE GOOD
In spite of all the bad news about the economy, our family has been very blessed in 2009. We started the year out with a healthy little newborn who is turning into a little toddler. She has a pleasant diposition and is just a joy to be around. Her older brother is still adjusting to the change, but her big brother loves to carry her around and her big sister invites her into her room to play dolls and toys. She has become part of the family instead of just "the baby."
Our family has had some really good times this year. We spent Spring Break in Florida together after dad installed a new microscope system at a university there. We were able to enjoy Memorial Day with my family in San Diego and we spent the 4th of July weekend with my husband's family in Las Vegas. Our kids had some really fun times.
My husband's job has been made very secure this year with Obama's election and his generous grants for biomedical research. Thanks Prez! Work has been booming which is a mixed blessing. A steady income and job security means lots of travel. The economy has given me a great new perspective on his job though. Travel=company thriving=secure family.
I've spent the 2nd half of this year exercising and loving it. I don't know why it took me so many years to figure out that exercise is fun!! I even -gasp- joined a fitness club and I actually go there, a lot. I ran three 5ks and next year I plan to run the Boulder Boulder, a 10k and maybe even a half marathon in Moab. I ran a couple of times with a friend's group that does 10 miles every Saturday and I did it. It's not my favorite, but I did it and I know that I physically can run a half marathon if I want to. I'm just not sure that I want to.
THE BAD
Let's just face it: There's bad stuff that happens to every family. My family's no exception and the beginning of this blog was starting to sound a little too rosy like those cheesy Christmas letters my mom sends out that make us all sound like angels.
The kids, as usual, have given me a lot of stress this year. I've had embarrassing calls with other parents and principals that make my stomach churn. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that my kids all love to talk and they love a good story and one of them is easily persuaded to try new things - can't wait until she's a teenager- which makes for a lot of embarrassment for me. What's frustrating for me is I'm probably the polar opposite of my children. I was shy and quiet and timid and spent most of my childhood with my nose buried in a book. Isn't every parent supposed to be cursed with kids that are just like them? Life's just not fair sometimes.
Other things have gone wrong that are completely normal and probably you can relate. Things like a microburst-mini tornado that took out our garden and our roof. Things like appliances breaking all at the same time and our car getting robbed during a nice Thanksgiving break together and losing my wallet (yesterday.) Things like losing a new sister-in-law (and not to death) months after you welcomed her into the family. Things like the whole family coming down with every illness that's been going around within the span of one week. Normal stuff.
to steal from the opening line of a very good book. Is it really the end of the year? I find myself with a rare hour of quietness to think about things other than work and errands and the house. I don't want to wake anyone up.
THE GOOD
In spite of all the bad news about the economy, our family has been very blessed in 2009. We started the year out with a healthy little newborn who is turning into a little toddler. She has a pleasant diposition and is just a joy to be around. Her older brother is still adjusting to the change, but her big brother loves to carry her around and her big sister invites her into her room to play dolls and toys. She has become part of the family instead of just "the baby."
Our family has had some really good times this year. We spent Spring Break in Florida together after dad installed a new microscope system at a university there. We were able to enjoy Memorial Day with my family in San Diego and we spent the 4th of July weekend with my husband's family in Las Vegas. Our kids had some really fun times.
My husband's job has been made very secure this year with Obama's election and his generous grants for biomedical research. Thanks Prez! Work has been booming which is a mixed blessing. A steady income and job security means lots of travel. The economy has given me a great new perspective on his job though. Travel=company thriving=secure family.
I've spent the 2nd half of this year exercising and loving it. I don't know why it took me so many years to figure out that exercise is fun!! I even -gasp- joined a fitness club and I actually go there, a lot. I ran three 5ks and next year I plan to run the Boulder Boulder, a 10k and maybe even a half marathon in Moab. I ran a couple of times with a friend's group that does 10 miles every Saturday and I did it. It's not my favorite, but I did it and I know that I physically can run a half marathon if I want to. I'm just not sure that I want to.
THE BAD
Let's just face it: There's bad stuff that happens to every family. My family's no exception and the beginning of this blog was starting to sound a little too rosy like those cheesy Christmas letters my mom sends out that make us all sound like angels.
The kids, as usual, have given me a lot of stress this year. I've had embarrassing calls with other parents and principals that make my stomach churn. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that my kids all love to talk and they love a good story and one of them is easily persuaded to try new things - can't wait until she's a teenager- which makes for a lot of embarrassment for me. What's frustrating for me is I'm probably the polar opposite of my children. I was shy and quiet and timid and spent most of my childhood with my nose buried in a book. Isn't every parent supposed to be cursed with kids that are just like them? Life's just not fair sometimes.
Other things have gone wrong that are completely normal and probably you can relate. Things like a microburst-mini tornado that took out our garden and our roof. Things like appliances breaking all at the same time and our car getting robbed during a nice Thanksgiving break together and losing my wallet (yesterday.) Things like losing a new sister-in-law (and not to death) months after you welcomed her into the family. Things like the whole family coming down with every illness that's been going around within the span of one week. Normal stuff.
Comments
I already finished my Christmas cards to the extended family and friends and discovered that I do not have as many extended family as I thought! A lot of my aunts and uncles have passed on and I am beginning to appreciate the last ones that I have more and more. So it is doubly hard to have to give up on the extended family reunion in Laredo, TX on Dec 26 because I really want to be there!
But it just doesn't work with the Paull reunion just 2 days later. I would have to be a jet setter to pull that one off! And with your dad in no-spend mode, even harder.