SUNDAY NEWS
December 28, 2008
Well, we hope you all had a Merry Christmas. Soon it will be 2009. We finished off the year with lots of good company, good food, playing lots of games, watching lots of movies and enjoying a few naps here and there. Both Lori and Karl have been sick and wearing masks around Vayden trying to keep her from getting the upper respiratory virus they both have. Thankfully the rest of the kids managed to stay healthy. Karl has been sick the longest and lost most of his voice. The rest of the family has enjoyed his involuntary silence. It is so hard to be around Vayden and not be able to pick her up, hold her close and kiss her cute cheeks. Vayden is not lacking for attention though with her sisters around.
Erik, Karl’s brother came to visit us for a couple of days. He flew in to go to the Cardinal’s game. Christian joined the Cardinal’s Kid’s Club and was super lucky to be drawn to be Junior Field Captain for the Cardinal game today. Christian got to meet all kinds of people and go out on the field for the opening coin toss among other things. Erik, Karl, Brittney and Christian all got special passes to go down on the field with the players and then watch the game from some pretty fantastic seats. It was an experience that we will all remember. Ohh yeah, and the Cardinals kicked the Seahawks butt!
Very Vayden
Vayden has added laughter to her assortment of adorable noises. Brittney has been particularly skilled in getting her to laugh. We still can’t determine her eye color. Some days they look brown, some days olive, and some days hazel. If we had to pick one word to describe Vayden, it would be determined. It is hard to remember life without her. We sure love her.
Completely Christian
Brittney Christian some Star Wars pajamas and a matching robe for Christmas. Brittney had him open her present early one night after he put on an old pair of pajamas bottoms that looked like capris. One day this week, after coming home from shopping Christian asked if we were going anywhere else that day. When he was told that we were not planning on going anywhere else he proceeded to go up stairs and change into his pajamas and robe. What makes the story funny is that it was only 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon. He also asked the other morning if he could go to his friend’s house to play. He wanted to go in his pajamas and robe. Do you think maybe Brittney’s gift was hit?
Here is some Christian trivia: There is an unexplainable phenomenon that we experience with Christian. In the summer he wants to wear sweatshirts, long sleeved shirts, and long pants. In the winter he wants to wear shorts and short sleeved shirts. Arguments over changing his clothes have gone on for years in the mornings prior to school. Christian got a BB/pellet gun for which he is excited to use. (with supervision - see Family Story section)
Sooooo Shelby
Shelby was finally able to collect on her bet with Karl. Long ago they both had a bet going on whether Vayden would turn out to be a boy or a girl. Karl lost and owed Shelby a pair of shoes. They went to Last Chance and Shelby picket out a pair of Juicy Couture shoes.
All Alyssa
It has been difficult to keep up with Alyssa this year. We have missed her company greatly. In 2008 she only spent about 36 hours here in Arizona with us last September. So it is going to be difficult to tell any recent stories about Alyssa. We did get to see her twice in 2008 though. She was able to spend part of our trip to California with us last February.
Alyssa goes to Pacifica High School. Go Mariners! Alyssa has enjoyed being involved in student government. She seems to really enjoy planning things for the benefit of others.
If you go to her school website at www.pacificamariners.com , there is a picture of the homecoming float she helped design. Hers is the class of 2011, and she is in the middle wearing shorts. Alyssa has enjoyed drama in the past landing some challenging roles. She even had to sing a solo in one production. Last time she visited us in September she was talking about joining the swim team. Alyssa will have her learner’s permit soon, so watch out. Alyssa was hoping for a sewing machine from Santa. We hope to see more of Alyssa in 2009.
Being Brittney
Brittney has been very helpful and is very good with Vayden. She says she likes to hold Vayden and look in the mirror to remind her that she looks too young and is not ready for a baby. Lori and Brittney had a conversation in which Brittney was forbidden from getting married and having children for at least the next seven 7 years. The reason, Lori has decided she cannot tolerate the title of grandma until she is at least 43 years old.
Really Roxy
Roxy has always had this problem with chewing up some of the plants and the drip lines that feed those plants in the backyard. Now that we have that problem nearly corrected, a new problem has emerged. Cats! The cats walk the back wall driving Roxy crazy. She jumps and jumps trying to get them destroying the plants below her. We have a plan. More on that in the weeks to come. No . . . that is not why Santa brought Christian a BB gun, although very tempting. Just a little joke you animal lovers . . . lighten up ok?
Family Stories
In Under 2 Seconds
Speaking of BB guns. Karl and Lori went to Mexico and while there Karl purchased a plastic BB pistol. The gun shoots plastic BB’s making it only semi-dangerous. Christian was 6 or 7 years old at the time so obviously he was not allowed to handle the gun without supervision. Christian tells one of his friends about the gun and can’t wait to shoot it. So Karl, Christian and Christian’s friend go outside to shoot the gun. Karl gives Christian a safety speech about never pointing the gun in the direction of anyone and then loads the gun. He hands it to Christian, who manages to shoot his friend in the forehead at point blank in under 2 seconds of having possession of the gun. His friend was ok, but that enough to bring a swift end to the plastic BB’s.
The Burger King
Not too long ago Burger King was selling double cheeseburgers for 99 cents. Karl would hit the place up “occasionally” because he really likes cheeseburgers. Oh, and yes, more importantly because he is cheap. On one occasion, he had just picked Alyssa up from the airport and stopped by to get a burger or two. As the pair walked into the BK Palace, Karl was greeted by an employees by name. The manager came up to the register from the back and asked, “Karl, do you want the usual?” Karl answered that he did and Alyssa questioned, “What is the usual?” Karl explained that he had talked them into putting four meat patties in a carton with extra cheese and no bun. As they sat down the manger came over to Karl and Alyssa’s table and sat down to chat, bringing with him some complementary fries. (The manager was usually looking for some free legal advice). Perhaps Karl did frequent Burger King a little bit too often, but you have to have Alyssa tell you the story in person if you ever get the chance because she does a very animated job of explaining just how embarrassing all of that was.
The Curious Case of the Disappearing Lunch Money
We put money in an account at Christian’s school so they provide lunch for him every day. It seemed like the account kept empting far too fast, so finally we looked into it and discovered that although one of us was waking up every day and making Christian breakfast, he would go to school and tell them that his parents didn’t give him any breakfast that day. They would then provide him with breakfast each day which was draining the account twice as fast as it should have been.
Sister/Sister Eating Habits
On the other hand Shelby went her entire 8th grade year at Gateway Pointe without using any of the money we put on her account for lunch. Brittney claims this is because Shelby won’t eat in front of boys. Shelby disputes this Brittney’s claim. Shelby claims the food at Gateway Pointe is terrible. Christian disputes Shelby’s claim as evidenced by the previous story. There is only one thing we know for certain, and that is the Brittney has no problems eating in front of boys. She once invited a boy over for dinner one night while she was living with us. She requested porcupine balls. After she ate all her porcupine balls, and long before her date had finished his, Brittney was not shy about requesting seconds, helping herself to thirds or even fourths for that matter.
