NOTE: The video clips below will download to your computer's temp folder before playing. Patience! This can take a minute or two. If you choose the "Dial-Up" size, it's faster, but the clips are postage-stamp tiny.
Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas!
:?) :?)) and preschool (for G). Here's my shot at a recap:Winter
We started out the year by having J's birthday party at a local rock climbing gym. We invited all the boys in his class, and one of our "adopted cousins," Sam, came down to visit also. Here are two pix (and yes, he made it to the top! G almost did, too):
Spring
In March, St. Clare School had their annual talent show. If you haven't seen the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the one with Johnny Depp), this might not be as funny for you. Joshua and three of his friends decided to do what they called the "Oompa-Loompa Dance" — a.k.a. the Augustus Gloop song. Michael G. (whose idea it was) choreographed the whole thing; Chandler's mom sewed the costumes; Ben's mom made the "peppermint sticks," and Maman suggested the synchronized swimming formation and bought the movie.
:?)Keep in mind that these are first graders — this video clip doesn't do them justice. Suffice it to say, they stole the show. Joshua is in the foreground; his best friend, Ben, is next; then Chandler and Michael G. (who will always be Michael G., even if Michael C. leaves the class:?)).Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-UpThe next big thing was Easter, which we celebrated at a good friend's house. They have a huge, beautiful property, right in the middle of a very populated area (about a mile from our house) — just right for a big egg hunt. The Easter Bunny even dropped by.
Summer
Summer always seems to start with G's birthday, which we had this year at Chuck E. Cheese (or "Chock E. Cheese" as she pronounces it). Right after that was J's piano recital at which — gasp! — Maman performed a duet with him. (This is Maman's first live piano performance since seriously messing up in her own 7th grade talent show.
:?))Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-UpWin Media / QuickTime / Dial-Up
August saw our first family trip to Disneyland, where we were joined by Sam and his Mommy (Becky) and Daddy (Dale). We had a fabulous time, and Maman even got an idea for her next book (Maman says: I'd tell you what it is, but then I'd have to kill you, and well, that wouldn't be good, now would it?;?)).Fall
Right after that, school started again. J is now in second grade, but has a third grade math book he does "for fun" at bedtime. He swears he wants to, and who are we to disagree? The teachers are worried, though, wondering what they're going to do when he finishes Calculus in the sixth grade.
:?)His Perthes disease is going really well — there's no way to predict for sure, but we think he may be done with it in another 18 months or so. At his last check-up, the bone degeneration had "bottomed out", so to speak, and the blood supply was clearly coming back. The sides of the top of the femur were still vertical, protecting the shape of the bone, so there's a very good chance it will grow back essentially normal, and he won't need surgery.
Separated at birth? This is our friend, Maria, who is in J's class. She and G wore these dresses to the School Christmas Program without any pre-planning — and she already feels like a sibling to us. (She's our carpool buddy, and her Mom and Maman are starting a business together — more on that in the coming months;?)). Plus, we lucked out and got front row seats (incredible! seriously — at the Auction, front pew for this, Christmas Mass, and the Preschool Winter Program can go for hundreds of dollars — not making this up!), and therefore had an unobstructed view for filming. So...Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-UpMeanwhile, G is in the Pre-K class at her preschool, and is Ms. Active with a Capital A. (Lots of them!) Gymnastics is the perfect outlet for her — she can get all her "wigglies out" (her words), and Maman and Grand-mère get to take the dogs for a walk along the bike trail while she's in class.
Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-Up:?):Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-Up
G, J and Maria were all in the Children's Christmas Choir (look for the Santa hat in the middle — that's J; G is the Santa hat in the foreground), and say they want to keep going throughout the year. This means rehearsals one Saturday per month, and then a "performance" at the monthly Children's Masses our parish is starting. Fun!T still loves his job (see link at left), and Maman is still being a Mom, working, co-chairing J's school auction, and occasionally even writing. Her first romantic suspense novel has finalled in four of the five contests it was entered in (and may in the fifth, also — we'll know in April). Now if someone will just publish it...!
:?)She's 100% telecommuting now — the new-old joke is: "I need jammy bottoms and slipper socks — in other words, work clothes.";?)It's hard to work from home, because it can often feel (and look) like Maman is working all the time. But the flexibility is amazing, and gives her the freedom to do so many other things that it's worth it.Whew! That pretty much brings us up-to-date. Maman has high ambitions, the plan being to come back here once or twice a month and post some news, photos and videos. We hope you'll check back in, and leave us some comments — we'd love to hear from you!
Hope you're all doing well! See you next year!
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