New Years Resolutions.

Into the New Year with a bang. Missed all day yesterday. Didn't write a thing. Odd because my resolution is to start writing on a more consistent basis. But oh well, here I am writing now on the 2nd of January 2009. Xander spent New Years eve at a friends rather than with the family. I had to work until 10:30 on the eve and thought we would all rejoice together. No such luck, the family is not as exciting to a 9 year old boy as a friend. So Ginger and Katie spent the evening together waiting for me, having fun playing Wii. After I got home we all played Wii until it was time to say "Happy New Year" (Thank God 2008 finally ended).
My coming home was rather funny. I came in through the garage and Lucky was barking at the door so a sprang from behind it and he freaked out. Jumped right out of his skin, fell over trying to turn around. Couldn't get his going on the wood floor, finally took off for the dog door (a rather large one really) and missed. He slammed into the glass door, fell over, spun around, barked at me and darted out the door where he turned and stared at me. I about peed myself.
Well I hope to keep writing throughout the year, and hopefully it will improve. Maybe somebody will like things I have to say, but this is really used as a personal diary.

The loss of childhood dreams

Katie is now aware that Santa is a wonderful idea, but not exactly physical. As a 5th grader she has had a very difficult time holding on to her belief in Mr. Claus, her friends and acquaintances have insisted that he doesn't exist and only fools believe. She held strong especially since she has a picture of an elf left to her by Santa years past. Well, Xander was snooping in our closet prior to Christmas and came across some reindeer webkins and told Katie about them. On Christmas she received; from Santa, said reindeer. She brought this up to me in the car and I did some explaining. She broke in the saddest tears, weeping from great sorrow. Her faith is strong and she has been known to stand by people and things when no one else would. These traits are wonderful and I pray we haven't damaged or lessened them in any way, and that she can understand how Santa can be so real without having to be an actual person at the North Pole.

The Baby Sitting Class

Katie has gone off to Baby Sitting boot camp put on the Red Cross to teach young children (girls mostly) how to take care of a younger child. Katie has been waiting for this opportunity. Earlier in the year she was supposed to take a pared down version of the class in Marana, but we couldn't find the building it was in and there was much disappointment. When we picked her up last night she had a head-full of information that came pouring out. It was amazing the amount of scenarios Ginger and I have gone through with her that she was now telling us how to deal with: a kid who won't eat what she is supposed to, one who won't do her homework, what if they throw a temper tantrum. She also told us about the dolls they used, when I asked her what she named hers she said "nothing, mine was hideous!" I hope you don't have an ugly baby if Katie come to sit.

Christmas Eve 2008. I came off vacation today and returned to work after two weeks off and a trip to Disneyland. Not long after I got here I received a message that My wife, two of my sisters, both of my children, one nephew, one niece, and 4 dogs went to the dog park to play and run. They parked next to the dog run and because no one was around just opened the door to let the dogs out to get in the run. Lucky followed Xander instead of going to the run. Some guy sitting in the park with his two young kids (who are said to be afraid of dogs) freaked out and began screaming and swearing and stormed off. He came back later in his car cussing and yelling until the cops were called. While my sister was warned about having the dogs on a leash for even a small jaunt to the park what they really wanted to know was if they wanted the guy arrested for verbal assault.

We got a solar cover for the pool and I went to great lengths to explain to the kids how they would die if they attempted to walk across the water on the cover. That they would be sucked under and wrapped up in the cover and drowned. I wanted to be very specific so they would not test it for accuracy. Later that night Lucky decided to give a demonstration and jumped in the pool. He disappeared and I was frantically trying to find him under the cove to no avail. The kids were screaming, Ginger tripped on the step trying to get over to help, Sarah jumped in to help me, and he finally emerged. i grabbed his head and threw him out. He didn't seem worse for the ware and was very good example for the kids.

Intro

I guess this is as good a time as any to begin my family blog. Where I can write what I need to remember for the annual Christmas letter.
This year is almost gone and I need to bring everything together, but hopefully this will help in years to come.
Katie started Holy Molys today. Xander is riding his bike. He also got rid of most of his cub scout popcorn.
Ginger is not at all amused that I have looked at bass equipment and have a desire to play again.
Mike is down for the weekend for Halloween. Katie went as a goth girl, Xander as a Jedi, Arwin, a sock monkey.