Holiday Cheer 2009

Julia made a list of 100 holiday related items for a school art project: Christmas cards, Santa’s lap, lights, wrapping, relatives...and (my favorite) “stalkings.” Add to this Edwin’s expectation of a Hanukkah celebration (thanks to best buddy Alexander down the block) and it all adds up to just the right blend of realistic, holiday cheer around here.

The Christmas tree and outdoor lights (mixed LED and regular because “they’ll look just fine, honey.” Really? Not.) were put up Thanksgiving weekend. Brian’s 97th trip back to Vienna , Austria that weekend precipitated the early festive preparations (OK, not 97...but it sure feels like it) The kids and I have spent much of this fall talking to Brian on the phone during his various travels – and with a 9 hour time difference, it’s not as easy as it sounds. We look forward to 2010 when Brian will head up a new Baxter project that will keep him in Los Angeles most of the time. However, we will miss the coffee and chocolate he brings back to us from Europe .

2009 has been as normal as it can be for a family with 4 kids in various schools and activities. We’ve added more sports into our afternoon and weekend repertoires: Colin played 5 on 5 flag football in the spring; Julia played spring soccer (with our neighbor -16 year old West Point bound soccer star/ Julia’s role model - as her coach) and fall soccer; Aidan and Edwin continue their study of Tae Kwon Do and will earn their 2nd degree blue belts tomorrow. All the kids are back in Religious Education this year – adding more drop-off and pick-up times to our harried schedule. I have only forgotten a child once so far. (OK, maybe twice – but it wasn’t Edwin, so it doesn’t really count, right?)

Colin is a sophomore at West Ranch High School . He’s made the National Honor Society – with the help of mom and Aidan who accompany him on his “community service projects” to earn the required hours necessary to remain in said society. As the majority of his hours have come from projects which require trash pick-up from the side of the road, I’m left to wonder how this enriches the “honor” part of this academic society – I’m sure there’s a metaphor in it somewhere. And here’s a tip for those of you entering the community service world: bring gloves with you. Colin has added AP Chemistry and Honors Pre-Calculus to his class schedule, so when Dad is out of town (see above) Colin is on his own for homework help. Frighteningly, he has not needed it with math. He looks forward to the weekly arrival of Sports Illustrated and ESPN is his TV channel of choice – sigh. Colin has high hopes of joining the football team next year, and can be found running (jogging around the neighborhood and 5k races) and working out in his room with new free weights – the weights he tried to bring with him on summer vacation (in his backpack!) were confiscated by TSA as they were shaped like soft explosives. Yeah, that was a fun security experience...

Aidan is finishing up 8th grade in Junior High School. He and I will both be thrilled when this rite of passage/torture is done in June. Let me say here for the record that Southpark is evil – and being a redheaded adolescent boy got even harder this fall. On a happier note, Aidan is excelling academically and made the Honor Roll at school. He enjoys the wit of most of his teachers, and through the Advanced Cooking class, has become quite the chef at home. On our way to Lake Tahoe this summer we stopped at the former Japanese relocation camp, Manzanar. Aidan’s study of US History was one reason we decided to tour this illuminating piece of our country’s history. Aidan has moved up to the adult class in Tae Kwon Do and has been known to kick his mom during sparring. He participated in Tae Kwon Do tournaments this year, taking home numerous medals. The “broken ankle” Aidan sustained in his sparring match turned out to be a false alarm...knock on wood, we’ve gone another year free of broken bones. He continues his love of reading and while finishing an assignment for “The Outsiders” tried to argue with me about characters from the famous 1983 movie. He lost the argument, of course.

Julia is in 5th grade and enjoys school. Her teacher this year is a country music fan and is teaching the class line-dancing as part of their PE. She and her Junior Girl Scout Troop earned the “Bronze Award” this fall after many months of hard work and preparation. (I have earned my “Mom award” as I have kept up on the sewing of every badge and fun patch she’s brought home.) She keeps busy with the scouts and the various meetings, outings and campouts. One highlight this year was going to “Surf Diva Camp” in San Diego where she conquered the waves in a wetsuit. Julia has run several 5ks this year, and managed to break off on her own to finish with her best time during the Santa Clarita Marathon/5k. Her favorite color is lime green and she favors brightly colored clothing and accessories with faux fur – in response, I believe, to all the testosterone in our house. Soccer continues to be her passion: she has earned spots on both the All-Stars team and on a travel Tournament team for the coming spring – big accomplishments for this age group in our city. She very much enjoyed our family vacation to Texas – girl time with cousin Lizzy was a big highlight for her, as were the Texas shaped waffles at an Austin hotel buffet.

Edwin is seven! And loves 1st grade! And recess! And Tae Kwon Do! Especially on dodge ball days! Yes, he’s *that* excited...about everything. He continues to prance, run and jump through life with gusto. He really loves school and is working at becoming a better reader – currently, his favorite word is “awkward” and uses it (too) frequently. He continues to attend speech class, but has finally mastered the “S” sound: on to the letter “R!” He joined a Cub Scout den this fall and is an official “Tiger Cub”. He would be perfectly happy getting into uniform every week and showing up just to salute and have snack. He loves to play outside with his buddy Alexander – the more complicated the game, the better. Many obstacle courses pop up during the week. This is done while dodging the basketball/football games played by the big boys on the street – games which Edwin and Alex, to their dismay, are rarely allowed into. Roller blades, Legos, Sponge Bob, and the Bop-It are some of his favorite things. He had a great time on our family vacation this summer back east: 2000 miles from Chicago to Boston and back. He had a blast with cousin Henry in South Bend and during the Danahy family reunion. He perfected his Boston accent on Cape Cod with his introduction to “Chowdah” and “Lobstah.” I think he'll always be welcomed at Aunt Anne's house, as long as he brings the accent!

Brian got to spend some vacation time on the Notre Dame campus again this summer, where we were joined by many members of the Danahy family in Carroll Hall. He especially enjoyed the rain that started in South Bend and followed us throughout our entire vacation. The kids and I were less thrilled. He spent some time on the sidelines of Julia’s soccer games as Assistant Coach and sideline referee when he wasn’t overseas “enjoying” 4 hour European dinners every other week this fall. He continues to bike on the weekends with the kids to the mall and dreams of expanding the house. I dream of the easier expansion version: start kicking kids out – the house will seem much larger and we avoid the whole dust/demolition thing.

In March, I started Tae Kwon Do classes myself. It kind of stuck, and I will be testing for my green belt with the boys this week. I admit to not enjoying the sparring portion of the sport, but having the opportunity to legally kick your teenaged son is somewhat of a bonus. I keep busy volunteering for the schools: I can papier-mache like a pro now, thanks to many 1st grade projects and chaperoning junior high dances remains a terrifying task. I continue to exercise and run when my body doesn’t fail me. Some 2009 highlights include: purchasing real cowboy boots in Texas , taking outdoor showers on Cape Cod this summer, falling in love with Boston and having kid-free days for the first time in 15 years. My friends and I still use coffee (although most of them have switched to decaf. Traitors.) to get through the highs and lows of daily life. As I enter this mid-life (but not 40! yet!) phase of my life, I’m grateful for good family, good friends, good coffee and Miley Cyrus – it’s all about The Climb, people.