New Years Eve

It's December 31st, the last day of 2010.  It's early here and I'm glad to see that it's already 2011 in some places, like Sydney (see fireworks to the left).  I'm going to let that be my celebration.  Because I have not slept in past 6AM the entire time I've been off.  Since December 23rd, I've woken up between 415AM and 5AM, except for one delightful day when I made it to 6AM.  No reason at all for the wake-ups.  I've not had my alarm clock on.  I've been looking forward to sleeping in and it has not happened.  Once.  So I'm pretty much doubtful on the whole "Ring in the New Year!" thing.

2010 - it's been a good year for the residents of the Den.  I'm not going to do a recap of the year here - the blog speaks for itself and tells the story of what we've done.  I'm glad we've had the last few weeks with Our Lady of BYU home and that the stunningly patient and mighty fine SML and I have been off work.  We've had a good time.  We've even done some good.  Last night we met some friends at Feed My Starving Children and helped to package boxes of food for starving children.  It was cool.  It's a good organization and if you're still looking for a worthy donation cause at the end of the year, this is worth it.

Here's to an excellent 2011.  Happy New Year!

22

22 years!

As mentioned in yesterday''s post celebrating CAL's birthday, I pointed out that the stunningly patient and mighty fine SML and I had chosen the 27th of December 1988 as our wedding date and today is our anniversary.  We celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary today.

These past 22 years have been pretty darn amazing.  We've grown together, learned together, traveled together, been tested and challenged, and overcome.  It's been really good.  I can't imagine a different life.  This is how it was supposed to be.  And through it all, we've been richly blessed.  Our greatest blessings are these three:

Couldn't be prouder of them...

We've spent our anniversary with Our Lady of BYU, CAL, and the Boy.  We started the day with family pictures which will constitute our now annual belated holiday card (for whatever reason, we can't get Christmas cards out before Christmas).  That was lovely - it was freezing.  So here's hoping our awesome photographer, Nancy, can airbrush out the watery eyes, red noses, and frozen snot.

After that, we thought 'Let's keep the cold streak going' and we took off for the Morton Arboretum to snowshoe!  We had a really good time.  Who knew snowshoeing could be so fun?!  We watched our kids as they plowed through the snow, having a good time, and it was a wonderful manifestation of our 22 years together.

So tonight we'll finish our night with friends having a little post-Christmas dinner party.  It'll be casual and nice.  It will be a good way to cap our day.  I'll sleep well tonight, recognizing how fortunate I am to have married an amazing woman.  She still makes me want to be better every day.

18

18 years old today

The end of the year brings a lot of significant activity (there's a little thing called Christmas that kind of takes over) in the Den but it also highlights our lack of foresight when it came to planning a wedding and having a baby (in that order, by the way).  Why?

Here's why....first, the stunningly patient and mighty fine SML got married on the 27th of December, smack in the middle of holiday stuff.  Nice, right?  Well, we got married in between semesters and this was the day the temple in which we were married was opened, so you do what you have to do.

Secondly, our planned timing for our second child was off.  Or rather, the day she decided to appear was off.  Eighteen years ago today, 26 December, our second child and our second daughter, CAL, was born.  So on top of Christmas, we added a wedding anniversary and a birthday.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I could not be prouder of my daughter.  She's growing up and is making excellent choices.  She's ready for the next chapter in her book of life.  She'll be leaving for college this summer and I know she's ready to go.  She's going to do great.  She's brought us an enormous amount of joy.   She's a wonderful reflection of her mom.  I'm very proud of my girl.  She's growing up and she's doing it right.  Love that girl!  Happy birthday, CAL!

On a Quiet Christmas Morning

It's still too early here in the Den.  Once again, I've awoken obscenely early - 415AM, just like yesterday, unable to go back to sleep.  The house is quiet, well, quiet enough that I can hear the ticking of the clock on the other side of the room (until, of course, our furnace kicks on, and then at that point, the dead will rise from the racket).

It's snowed a bit overnight so there's shoveling to be done.  I'll do that on my own.  The Boy can sleep (Merry Christmas to you!).  I'm looking forward to it, actually.  There's something peaceful to the work of shoveling snow.  Or maybe it's just peaceful today, given that it's Christmas.  Anyway, I'll throw on my iPod and listen to Handel's Messiah as I do.  What a great piece of music!

It's going to be a good Christmas day - we had a great dinner as a family last night, shared our favorite Christmas stories, and laughed a bit.  It was a good set-up for today.  I have the baked french toast concoction mostly ready to go and then we move on to our traditional Mexican lunch.  We scored fresh tamales (rojo y verde) yesterday after quixotic journey and I can't wait to try those.  Nothing says Christmas like tamales and enchiladas!

It's just going to be good to spend the day together as a family and with friends.  We have been richly blessed and I'm so grateful for the One, our Savior, whose birth we celebrate today.  For without Him, I would not have the blessings that I do.  I am thankful.