Christmastime travel

I was in four states today, on the way home from a quick post-Christmas trip to Milwaukee for a surprise party for my Mom’s cousin (who my Mom and I are both close to).  We were so glad that we were able to go, and unlike most of the country, we had clear, good weather for travel.  My Mom’s cousin was surprised and grateful for our presence, and it was great to see her family.

I think this was the first time that I traveled out of state over Christmas break.  We used to sometimes go to northern Michigan at this time of year, but that was a long time ago, so this was a novel experience.  It seemed weird to travel with heavy clothes and boots!  My winter pajamas are rarely worn anywhere other than my very own apartment, so they got to travel too. 

I expect my next travels will be in April.  If all goes as hoped for, I would love to be in Cleveland for a big gymnastics event in mid-April and then hopefully traveling south for Easter.  We’ll see how 2011 unfolds, but I’m looking forward to adventures ahead.

Are you excited?

Tomorrow, we’ll celebrate Lucas’ baptism.  Last Sunday, when we were eating dinner together at my parents’ house, I said, “Lucas!  A week from now, you’ll be baptized!”  And he looked at me and said, “Are you excited?”  Yes indeed! 

Godmother

On Mother’s Day, when I was driving my cousin’s little boy Lucas (now 5) to Sunday School, he says to me from the backseat, “Sandy, I need to ask you something.”  This was a common occurrence during the past year of Sunday School, when he would ask me anything from whether I ever played a certain video game to how he would find his Mom in Heaven.  You never know what he’s going to ask next!  I told him to go ahead, ask me anything.

And he said, “I wanted to ask you if you would be my Godmother.”

I only wish he could have seen the smile on my face!  I said, “YES!  Of course, I would love to be your Godmother.  That’s such a special question to ask!”

Perhaps sensing that I was a bit too excited about this, he then added, “Not today though, OK?  You start when I’m baptized!”

I laughed outloud and told him that I did understand that!

Today, we went to the pre-baptism class to prepare for this wonderful event which will likely take place in early September.  And then my Godmotherly duties will be official.

Five

My buddy Lucas is five today!  I’m not sure how five years have passed since this child was born, but it’s also hard to remember what we did for fun before he came??  We certainly didn’t laugh as much!

Lucas and I have had lots of great times in the last year, as I’ve seen him nearly every Sunday.  We argue about math (no, pi is not 6040509, I insist!) and we hunt “wabbits” (ala Elmer Fudd).  We look at photo albums over and over again, repeating every story.  We run around my parents’ house as though we’re both five years old!  He tells me everything he knows about dinosaurs (which is a lot!).  He asks me questions about God and forgiveness and heaven. 

In a word, he is remarkable.

One

Baby Ben isn’t a baby anymore!  He walks and points and uses a little hammer and says “Da!”  He is a beautiful bundle of one year old boy.

More pink!

We only have one family baby (among close relatives like cousins) expected so far this year, and my cousin and his wife found out yesterday that it’s a GIRL!  That will make five great-granddaughters for my grandmother, and no great-grandsons!  The girl streak continues — and it evens out the boy-dominance on the other side of my family a bit.

I look forward to finding some cute pajamas or ruffly bottom outfit to buy for shower and/or newborn gifts, and I can’t wait to have another local family baby to photograph!

Best of 2009

Ending the year on a positive note (and I am feeling much better on the prescription acid blocker now, thank goodness!), some of my Bests of the year (not quite A to Z, but close!):

Best Adventure… Taking the subway by myself in DC, then taking the subway with friends (who I had never met) into Maryland for dinner!  That was a growing day for me.

Best Baby Moment… Singing Ben to sleep on Thanksgiving.

Best Cousin Connection… Nice long talk with Amie when she visited in April.

Best Dance Moment… Teaching the Red Hot Salsa at school.  So fun!

Best Escapes… numerous day trips to see friends in late summer.

Best Food Discovery… My beloved papaya, which is still such a treat when I get it.

Best Internet Discovery… OK, I’ll admit it.  Facebook is fun, and it’s helped me feel closer to some of my more distant (across the country or way up north) cousins as well as some old friends.  I feel like I have a full community of friends when I’m on there.  Never a lack of people to “talk” to.

Best Kid Moments… numerous games of tag and endless laughing with Lucas.

Best Love… from everyone who responded with such compassion and understanding when I left school.

Best Movie… ooooh, I’m going with “Doubt” on this one.

Best News…. five brand new healthy babies in our family!

Best Opportunity… being asked by the associate dean to lead a university-wide faculty workshop.

Best Party… my birthday party, celebrated with many kids/relatives for the first time since I was 17!

Best Question… “which is easier: making ice cubes or building a house?”

Best Re-discovery… my love of drama!

Best Sharing… with Kathryn’s family in Virginia.  The peace of their household and their understanding and compassionate listening were precious gifts during a stressful time.

Best Teaching Moment… telling a student who really struggles with math that she got an A on my final exam!

Best View… from our beach front hotel room in Mackinaw City.

Best Wish… for a better year in 2010.

A good news day

Today has been a good day!

My Dad had surgery yesterday, and he’s home tonight and has had no complications!

And my meeting with the research group that my old boss works with was fabulous!  They are moving forward with creating a position for me and will let me know final details on Friday.

It’s been a crazy busy week so far, but I’m looking forward to an evening of restful happiness.

Our Thanksgiving Cuties

Punchlines

One of my favorite jokes is “Why is 6 afraid of 7?”  Because 7 8 9!

My cousin’s little boy is very into jokes this month, but he doesn’t like that punchline.  At age 4, the better punchline is:

Because 7 is BIGGER! (said with a booming voice!)

And then he asked me, “Why is 1 afraid of 3?”

You guessed it.  Because 3 is BIGGER!

The joke is more generalizable with his punchline, I suppose.