I debated in my mind whether I should post the Christmas letter I sent out to everyone, since most of it is just a summary of what I've written about here, but there are some things there that aren't recorded anywhere else, so here ya go:
Sandi started the year by going for her Realtor's license. She's worked as an assistant to her mom for the last three years, but as a Realtor she got to show houses, list properties, and do lots of work for no money, like all real Realtors do! She had a lot of fun despite the depressed market. But a few months ago she decided to let her license go inactive (for now) because of a small bump—a baby bump, that is. That's right, we're having a baby! The little boy is due in February 2011. We are so very excited, especially because we had to work so hard to get him. After months of disappointment and tears we got some tests done and found out we had fertility problems. We were preparing to start expensive treatments in July, when we miraculously found out we were pregnant in June! This pregnancy has been a lot different than Annalee's; instead of being unable to eat, Sandi would get sick unless she ate, all the time. Also, she's been very tired, more than having an energetic toddler can account for. All the differences gave her the certainty that this kid would be a boy, long before we found out. Of course, she could have just listened to Annalee, who was saying she would have a “baby budder” since several months before we were pregnant! In addition to sickness and fatigue, Sandi's been cursed with that wonderful “maternity memory” that has led to several embarrassing situations. (Like the time the checker at the grocery store had to chase her down in the parking lot to remind her to pay for her groceries.) But even with the inconveniences, Sandi's not in a hurry for the little guy to get here; she has to paint two rooms, find more baby boy clothes, and move a ton of furniture before that happens!
Nathan is ecstatic to be having another baby, despite the load he's under. He's been working full time all year, doing the occasional Head Start consultation, and going to school on his days off—even through the summer. But all that is about to change; after being in school for nearly our whole marriage, Nathan will graduate this December as a Registered Nurse! No more waking up at 4 a.m. to go to clinicals at the hospital (working for free). No more late night homework sessions. No more Saturday morning tests. And we just finished the last obnoxious poster presentation project last night. (Yes, “we”. Nathan does the research, and Sandi is responsible for creative consultation.) It's a good thing there won't be any more; Sandi started to get a little daring with the creativity. The last two posters featured Homer Simpson (subject: Hepatitis C) and a man in flames (Malignant Hyperthermia), respectively. Nathan's boring walking graduation will be in May, but the Pinning Ceremony (a more personal type of graduation, just for the RNs) will be on December 9th, and that's when we're really celebrating. (Come, if you can!) He will then prepare to take his state boards in January and get his license.
Annalee turned two this year. It's amazing to look back at how far she's come. She's an independent little person now, able to express her thoughts and form her own opinions. Family are finally able to understand most of what she says over the phone (though sometimes Mommy even has trouble). She can recognize nearly every letter in the alphabet. Her Grammy Vann worked tirelessly to help her write an “A”, which she now writes quite well, but the first letter she ever wrote on her own was a small “d”. She was so excited to show it to me!
This year her hair got long enough to do into a small braid, and she became much more willing to let Mommy do her hair in all sorts of ways. In fact, she loves to “get ready” with Mommy in the morning. She stands on the toilet and brushes her hair when Mommy does. Then, after Sandi puts on each part of her makeup, she pretends to put it on Annalee too. (Since Annalee's eyes are squished shut she doesn't know the difference.) One day Sandi found Annalee sitting on the couch, painting her nails red. Panicked, Sandi rushed Annalee to the safety of the tile kitchen, then went back to inspect the damage. Despite the fact that Annalee had painted both her toes and fingers, there was nothing on the couch or the carpet! (And they say miracles don't happen.) Of course, we haven't been so lucky with all of Annalee's experiments. Earlier this year Sandi nearly pulled out her own hair when Annalee started making a new liquid mess several times a day. One day it was sunblock—smeared all over the toilet and herself—another time it was lotion. She seemed determined to show off her new-found abilities of climbing and infiltration. Just a few weeks ago she managed to cover her arms in green marker. It was a mystery at first, since we knew there were no markers where she could reach them. Annalee proved us wrong by climbing on the computer desk and getting the dry erase markers off the marker board, two feet from the ceiling!
But with her ability to make messes Annalee has become better at cleaning them up. Sometimes we don't even know about a spill until we find the towel she used to soak it up. Our daughter has been taking on more chores lately: feeding the dog, letting the dog outside and in, picking out clothes and putting them on, taking her dishes to the counter after each meal, helping to set the table, unloading the dishwasher with assistance, putting away toys and books, fixing the couches after playing in a couch cushion fort, stirring things that are cooking, and taking turns praying and “reading” (repeating) scriptures. This year she began giving her own unaided prayers. Her first one was “Dear . . . we thank thee . . . please bless this food. In the name, Jesus Christ, Amen.” She got a play nurses' kit for her birthday, and when one of us isn't feeling well she will take our temperature, measure our blood pressure, and listen to our heart. She is much more interested in dolls and babies, especially the “baby in Mommy's tummy.” Although we have not started official potty training, she has been known to declare the need for the potty and actually follow through, leaving her diaper dry. (When that happens a lot more often, Sandi will be willing to take on that beast.) Annalee is testing her limits daily, just like any toddler trying to understand her world, but we are very proud of the sweet little girl she is.
Steven (Sandi's brother, who lives with us) has less than a year left before he graduates with his degree in Computer Networking. He's been doing better than he ever thought he would in school. Thanks to his G.I. Bill he's been able to get along without a job so far, allowing him to focus all his attentions on school . . . um, and also playing computer games. Because it's computers, so it counts as “research,” riiiiiiight? [wink, wink] The biggest thing that happened to Steven this year is that Sandi finally caved and said he could get a cat IF it did not shed. That limited him to either a hairless Sphinx, or a nearly-hairless Cornish Rex, which is what he got. Haineko (“cat” in Japanese) looked a little weird to us at first, but now other cats look strange. She fit in pretty fast around here, getting into things she shouldn't and waging epic battles with Tavi. Annalee was ga-ga over the kitty, of course.
We took several big trips this year: to Oregon to see Nathan's family, to Mountain Home, ID to see Sandi's, many trips to Utah for both (including for Grammy Vera's 90th birthday party), and a week in Island Park with Sandi's family for a reunion.
Halloween is always a big deal at our house, due to Sandi's interest in dressing up (or being a drama queen, as Nathan might say). This year we did a Shrek theme, with Sandi as Fiona, Nathan as Lord Farquaad (complete with height adjustment), Steven as Shrek (shaved and green), and Annalee as Gingy. A few weeks later we threw a Harry Potter costume party in anticipation of the newest movie. Sandi dressed as Prof Trelawney and Nathan as Prof Snape, and we taught our respective classes and had a lot of Harry Potter crazy fun.
In September we made a hard decision that turned into a major blessing: we booted the television. Our entertainment center, tv, movies, and video game systems all went into storage or were sold. It has made it easier for us to spend time with each other and develop some talents we had been letting slide. It may seem a little drastic, but it was the right decision for us for now. (And when we get really desperate we can go downstairs, where Steven certainly has not participated in our deprivation!)
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas,
Nathan, Sandi, Annalee, and baby . . . and Tavi
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