It is important to me to keep in touch with our friends and family, so I write a beautiful holiday letter every December, which I include with my Christmas card. Everyone loves it, and I hear from many people about how much it means to them. It is hard to find time in my busy schedule to compose it, but I like to inspire others, soooo…
This year was particularly wonderful for my family, and the letter practically wrote itself, but I had a hard time with the Christmas photo. Röbert wouldn’t let me hire a photographer or buy something expensive for us to pose in front of (who doesn’t want a new cigarette boat? Röbert apparently.) so I had to come up with something that looked all cute and “I don’t care”.
Here is the photo and the letter…enjoy!
The flap says “bear cheeks”, like bare cheeks. Get it? LOL LOL!
Dear Friends and Family,
2014 has been another very amazing and blessed year for us. We have had quite a bit of success, but the most important thing for us has been how close we are as a family, and the love we share with the world.
Röbert and I decided that 2014 would be a year devoted to travel, and we certainly have done that! Luckily my parents live close by and adore taking care of our babies, so we can go on a whim. Röbert has been to Omaha, Tulsa, and Bettendorf on business trips this year, and he spends a lot of time in the mountains. I also had an amazing trip to San Jose in July. I was there for a life changing professional conference. Unfortunately, all of the trips we intended to take with the children (except a quick getaway to the beach) ended up being cancelled due to our busy, busy schedule.
Röbert has been working hard (as usual). He also spends his weekends walking mountains and other mountain activities. Also playing drums. The important point is how deeply in love we are and how we have the best marriage I have ever, ever seen. Even better than Cousin Stacey’s marriage to Eric. I know all my older relatives think Eric is the greatest thing since the typewriter, but honestly, enough. Love you, Röbert! Our marriage is solid.
Starling continues to be a beautiful and talented little girl. In February she played the part of “Third Rabbit” in the class play. She was amazing. Hello Broadway! She also has excelled in her academic life. She got a B in math on her end of year report card, and a B- in science. Everyone knows that girls never get such high grades in these subjects…genius alert! LOL. Right now Starling is enjoying a contemplative period in her life, where she is examining her choices carefully and often deciding that she will pass on opportunities. I know she would be an excellent classical, hip hop and modern dancer, she just isn’t interested in that area at present. And, as we all know, there would not be enough time for everyone to watch her youtube dance videos as well as those that Margot posts of lil’ cousin Whimsy’s recitals. Haha, just kidding Margot, Whimsy seems to be catching up with her peers nicely. Starling signed up for synchronized swimming last spring, but unfortunately all of the other girls in the class turned out to be creeps, so it just wasn’t fun enough for her. The school also practically begged her to join the elite “Gifted and Talented” class, but Starling felt she could be helpful to the less gifted by staying in the mainstream class and leading the dummies by example. She is sooo kind and giving!
Merlin plays guitar, and drums and has taught himself to write computer code and started a robotics club and a latin club at his school. He had to quit all of his sports and after school art activities because it was way too hard for us to keep up with them. He is in the gifted class at school…he takes after me this way. Those of you who have known me a long time will remember what a great thinker I was as a young child and the many intellectual ideas and opinions I had. I was also the prettiest girl in my class, like Starling, but that is neither here nor there.
Hummus is just the sweetest lil’ thing. It is perfectly normal for babies these days, especially very smart ones, to take a lil’ extra time to start walking and standing. You know how it is harder than ever for college graduates to get jobs? It is EXACTLY like that for babies. It just takes longer for them now. Everyone knows this, so when Hummus stood for the first time last week it really was like he is advanced even though he took longer than old fashioned analog babies. He hasn’t had a chance to practice standing since then, because I am always on the go with my gym and book club and important meetings at Starbucks about the podcast Serial, but I am sure he will do it again early next week (this weekend is crazy, right?)
Now a lil’ about boring old me. I have been as busy as ever with going to the gym and the spa and the coffee shop and book club. My gal pals and I also like to have a glass of wine from time to time, LOL. This year I learned about tea, which is fascinating and tastes different from coffee, even though it is usually also served hot. There is a new tea house in town where I spend a lot of time. I have also taken up yoga and do it occasionally with my new friend, Ty, who I met through Merlin, of all people. The most important change this year is my exciting new career as a blogger!
“What is a blogger?” you ask. Well, we bloggers write down our important ideas and opinions on the internet, opening up our deepest feelings and ideas to the scrutiny of the universe. It is often a painful and harrowing experience, but it is what I am called to do. Being a blogger is an important, important job, and many people rely on us to form their opinions for them as well as to entertain them. These same people, the ones for whom I cut my heart out and serve it up on a platter each time I write, can be cruel and say terrible things about my children (someone once said Starling looked chubby). “It sounds difficult and painful. Why do you do it?” I do it because blogging is important to us as individuals and America as a country, In July I went to an important blogging conference. It was amazing and I made many, many new friends.
I also learned how to be a dog trainer and animal investigator and saved my dear friend, Karen Sullivan’s dog Beefeater many, many times this year. Poor Beefeater is a troubled dog, and we all wish the best for him and the entire Sullivan family.
This fall I started an anti-bullying campaign in my town. Because I am an important blogger now, I think I will make it go “viral” and go all around the world. Going viral is a blogger term, btw. It is one of the ways I can give back, just a lil’ bit, to the world. Bullying and gossip are both super mean ways of isolating people from their peers. My adorable Starling has been a victim of bullying and gossip this year, even though she is by far the prettiest and most popular girl in the class. Fat Alice and that little bitch Chloe need to learn their place!
It is important at this time of year to remember “the reason for the season”. Christmas (and other holiday) blessings to everyone.
Hugs,
Lah Lee and her gang
mythreeangles 