2010: A Bouncy, Bumpy Year

It's Dad writing today.

This blog covers the goings-on of my girls. After six years and over 500 blog posts, you'll see that we do a good job covering the pleasures of our lives together.

But pains and pleasures seem to go along, hand in hand. In hindsight, "good" things bring unforeseen trouble, while 'bad' things usually have a bright side.

So, in the interest of learning, here are a few events from 2010.

1. We re-financed the house and dropped our interest rate over a point. Then we discovered rates continued to drop another 3/4 of a point, so our timing was off.

2. I replaced our dishwasher with my own two hands. The old one did a mediocre job of cleaning. Getting the job done right and the satisfaction of a shiny new stainless steel dishwasher took a backseat to the realization that the new dishwasher also does a mediocre job of cleaning.

3. We spent a bunch of money on new hardwood floors. We love the way they look. We hate the way they snap, crackle, and pop with every step. After four months of negotiations with the manufacturer and installer, we're still no closer to a fix.

4. I spent the summer refinishing our kitchen table. I finally learned how to refinish a table just about the time the table was finished. I also had the unique experience of chatting with my in-laws on a hot July day, while standing in a garage, in my underwear as I polished and stained the table. At least I wasn't wearing tidy whities.

5. One kid went through sinus and adenoid surgery which was a misery for her. On the bright side, she's only had a single respiratory infection since the surgery, so our entire family is healthier and happier.

6. The other kid got hit in the face with a shovel so she'll have a permanent 'point of interest' just next to her nose.

7. Both kids started new schools. The youngest settled in well and is happy. The eldest is fighting against the structure and looking at days long past at her old school through rose-coloured glasses. There's nothing like seeing a four-year-old suffering from nostalgia...

8. The missus finally got the job she wanted. Now she's discovering the trials of management. She's also expected to travel around the world for work. There's nothing like 2am calls from the executives to make life more interesting!

9. I came down with two serious medical conditions and spent months under the weather, in and out of emergency rooms, and with tubes stuck in odd places without anesthetic. I learned a lot about myself, lost some weight, and got treatment that has brought me new energy, intensity, and vision for 2011.

10. I also found that the job I wanted throws me much more directly into the chaos and indecision that typifies my workplace. Before I was bored but calm. Now I'm frantically active and involved...is chaos better than boredom?

So, in writing all this, I encourage you to take a good look at your own lives. No doubt you'll find joys and sorrows, ups and downs, strengths and weaknesses. But I hope you'll also find wisdom, perspective...and hope -- just as we did.

Best wishes for a successful 2011,
Dad

Santa brought...a SeeSaw?

Everyone...is this the coolest thing or what? Santa brought us...a seesaw! It is the perfect size and Mommy says we can play with it inside, like we are here, or outside, which is even better! I don't know how he brought it down the chimney, but it got here. Thank you Santa!

I Tinkerbell!

For some reason, Daddy always asks me what I'm going to be when I grow up.

My answer is always the same.

"I Tinkerbell!"

And now I have the clothes. I even have the wings so I can practice my flying.

I'm off..flap flap flap!

The Caramel Pecan Pie -- Holy of Holies!

My PopPop is a fan of the pecan pie. He says that he's eaten hundreds of pecan pies. And my Mommy isn't usually good at making pies. But this is the prettiest pie I've ever seen. Mommy was so proud that she baked it. And it tasted better than it looked!

We want ponies for Christmas

My Dad says that these are Chinese horse statues, but I don't believe him.
If we ask very hard, maybe Santa will bring them home for Christmas!

I might be a little big for this one. Think Santa can get a bigger one down the chimney?

And this one is perfect for me -- lots of room to grow into it. 

Oh please please Santa, can we have ponies for Christmas?

I want to be a rhino!

Just before Christmas we went to the zoo in a place called Waco. It was amazing! I got so excited that I wanted to become a rhino! So I tried to climb the fence until my Daddy caught me and put a stop to it.

When you're a very small girl, there's something appealing about being a rhino. After all, they're big and strong and very very scary. Since I have an older sister, I need all those traits in order to survive.

Maybe I'll take up kung fu instead.

A Leafy Day

My Daddy likes to rake. He's had to rake the front yard three times this year.
And so we have a huge pile of leaves to jump through, take naps in, and play with. Check us out!

Christmas Cupcakes...or something more?

After visiting Santa, we decided to do Christmas cupcakes. My little sister brought Mommy a special tree shaped cupcake set, so we started out making tree cupcakes.

We worked together very well stirring and baking and decorating.

But the cupcakes were a special surprise for her -- they were for her birthday. 

She turned two and we had a wonderful party!

Such an exciting Birthday!

I'm turning two! Look at all these presents!

For some reason I think I look like Nanny in this picture.

And the best present of all, a purple guitar from my sister!

Our Christmas House

I love Christmas, and this year we have a special surprise for Santa -- TWO CHRISTMAS TREES -- one for me, and one for my little sister! How special is that? And look, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, we have nutcrackers and snowmen and candles, this is going to be the best Christmas ever!

Please Santa!

Every year, Santa and his helpers come to our neighborhood to make sure that all boys and girls can pass their wishes along to the North Pole.

But I was a little worried. You see, I've been pretty naughty this year, and I'm not sure that Santa is going to bring me ANY presents at all. So you can see that I'm concerned and having a serious talk with Santa.

But my sister isn't worried at all. I don't understand it. She's been AT LEAST as naughty as I have, but there she is, sitting with him, eating a cookie, not a care in the world. Does she think cuteness counts with Santa?

I bet she gets coal.

Holiday Ho Ho Hodown

One of the girl's favorite shows is The Busicut Brothers. It kind of reminds me of Hee Haw with more music. The best part about the show is that it is filmed in north Austin and they have various events throughout the year and are wonderful about interacting with the kids at the events. Cha Cha gets so excited when she sees Rusty and Burford.

Another character on the show is a puppet named Tiny Scarecrow. At the hodown, Tiny read a poem and then some of the kids got to ask questions. Charlotte was the first kid picked to ask a question and she had the best question of the night. She asked him what does he get in his stocking. Tiny said he got more stuffing! All the kids were laughing and Charlotte loved that he talked to her.