Autumn Wrap-Up

Oh, my poor, dear, neglected bloggy friends.  It’s become a thing this year, my not blogging.  Not at all how I want it.

However, the longer I don’t blog, the harder it is to come back and share, because how could I possibly update you all on everything?  Well, like this I guess.  Bullet-point style.  (I’ll try my best not to be overly verbose, but come on.  We all know me better than that.)

*Last night, I finished the annual family calendar.  I began this tradition for 2010, when we had moved across country, away from all the family, as a way to have our (mostly the kids’) smiling faces in the grandparents’ homes.  I’ve continued it, because we all love it.  I send a copy to my sister, to Jason’s parents, and to my parents, and we have one on our kitchen wall.  Jason even hangs one in his office at work, where it apparently gets all sorts of compliments.  It’s fun.  The cover always looks something like this.

There you go, 2013 in a nutshell.

*In early November, I took a weekend to visit my sister in L.A.  We don’t get nearly enough time together, much less alone time together.  It was a blast, even if she was way sick.

Artsy. The photo that launched a thousand, “Are you twins?” Facebook comments.  Short answer — no, we’re not.

We hung out at her Georgia Bar (The bar where all the UGA alums watch the UGA games.  I even cheered for the Dawgs – this is how much I love my sister.), watched movies, and got tattoos.  Yes, matching sister tattoos!!  SO awesome.  Neither of us were tattoo virgins, but these ones were a bit more painful.  Top of the foot = ouch.

I can’t believe it, but I don’t have a good photo of our finished tattoos.  I know we took one, but it’s neither on my phone nor on my camera’s SD card.  I’ll see if we can get another one when she’s here for Christmas next week.

I’m such a tease.

*Oh, I also got to meet Gretchen and Elizabeth while I was down Cali Way!

Grainy cell phone pic!  AWESOME ladies.

Gretchen took me on a whirlwind tour of Hollywood.  Sort of an insiders thing.  (Not really, but it’s fun to say.)  We drove up to the Hollywood Sign (as close as one can get), past large homes, to the Griffith Observatory, and met Elizabeth for lunch at a (and I am quoting here) “trendy L.A. lunch spot.”  Total Hollywood tourist treatment, and I loved every moment of it, but mostly because we all like to TALK.  It was fabulous.  Chatty, chatty, chatty.  I want them both to come to Seattle for a weekend.  We’ll end up with sore throats from talking ceaselessly, and it will be wonderful.

*In September, I rowed in the Race For the Cure.  I believe I talked about it.  Well, get this – we medaled!  Sure, we probably had an edge, as the only boat in the novice race containing people who had been rowing a month too long to be considered novices, but the rules confused us.  Anyway, we worked hard, we dressed cute, and we worked very, very hard.  (It’s worth mentioning twice.)

See? Totally cute.  And a medal!

*I also rowed at Tail of the Lake in October, this time in the appropriate category.  Therefore, I did not come home with a medal.  It will be quite a long time before I earn another one, as I am up against some incredibly strong, talented, women.  I am 100% okay with that.  I just want to row and race.

*Nicky made Junior All-State Band!  The ONLY kid from his middle school to do so, and he’s only a 7th grader.  Can you say Proud Parents?  Kiddo deserves it.  The best part?  He was totally unimpressed.  Forgot to tell us about making it for four days.  FOUR. Days.  He goes in February.

*Jason’s parents are coming for Christmas!  They’ll be here in three days.  I am so excited to see them, and my house is completely unprepared.  I think I’ve passed stressing about it.  It will get done.  Or partially, anyway.  Either way, we get to spend a week with them.

*Jason and I saw Wicked at the Paramount Theater in Seattle for his birthday.  It was fabulous.  (No surprise!)  It’s been his favorite musical for years, but we had never seen it.  (He has the soundtrack memorized.)  In other musical news, LES MIS IS IN THEATERS NEXT WEEK!  I am slightly, just a tad, looking forward to it.

*Life has been happening.  Piano lessons.  Trumpet lessons.  Kalen took a few drum lessons.  Rowing, working out, eating too much.  Laundry, dishes.  Church choir (we sang Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols yesterday – whoa.).  LIFE.  It’s busy; it’s good.