I have to say, 2011 has been one heck of a year. For us, the country, the world, humanity (and that poor Charlie Sheen). Every morning when I wake up the first thing I do is check the news online - just a quick overview in case I missed anything while I was asleep. I don't know why I do this, but I have a real fear of being uninformed, nay ignorant... and lets face it, the news is an addiction. I'm captivated by world events and concerned about what kind of world my children will be raising their children in. I have my passions, beliefs, and causes; but those are all trumped by what my children will encounter when they walk out of my house and into the world.
So, in what's about to become an epic blog post, The Epistle of Susannah in the Year 2011 if you will, I'll attempt to digest a years worth of news from our household - all of which would have made great news-making headlines, I'm sure!
JANUARY
2011 started with Clara turning 4.
Oh Clara. This child is the light of my life. She brings so much energy and joy to our house. I've never met a more stubborn, self confident, independent soul in my life. She knows what she wants and I pity the fool who tries to stop her.
Max started the year dressed as a paper robot named FACT:
... and there's really not much more to say about that.
Penny started the year being cute, hairy, and literally growing before our eyes:
The world started the year in uprising. A Tunisian man who wanted to sell fruit on the side of the road set himself on fire after being humiliated and having his goods confiscated by the local police because he didn't have any bribe money. This sparked the "Arab Spring" and as of Dec. 2011, three governments have been overthrown in bloody revolutions - Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Other Arab countries are teetering.
It's OK if you want to keep looking at the puppy picture. I agree it is much more pleasant.
FEBRUARY
As the world was uprising, I was growing older. In February I logged 35 years:
I also had the amazing opportunity to take a jaunt across the world and visit a dear friend in Beilun, China. I relished every moment from the 24 hour journey there, to not understanding a thing (body language, spoken language, the food my god the food) to appreciating and admiring K's effort in holding down the fort here at home.
The world is a big place and I needed that reminder. People are beautiful everywhere. Everyone is trying to live a good life. I also needed to remember that despite distance, I have the best of friends in this big world. And the best husband, too. EVEN though Clara's hair was a rat's nest the entire time I was absent.
(Daddy Daughter Night)
MARCH
It was one of those early mornings of me waking and checking some online news, when I learned that Japan was suffering. Not because of war, greed, oppression, or poverty but because of an earthquake. I was captivated by the videos showing water sweeping through towns, destroying everything. People's lives. Tragedy on a scale where it can't be understood, except maybe in the context of a universe with pitiless indifference.
"The total amount of suffering per year in the natural world is beyond all decent contemplation. During the minute that it takes me to compose this sentence, thousand of animals are being eaten alive, many others are running for their lives, whimpering with fear, others are slowly being devoured from within by rasping parasites, thousands of all kinds are dying of starvation, thirst, and disease. It must be so... In a universe of electrons and selfish genes, blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won't find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice." -Dawkins
As an individual, warm and safe in my king-sized bed, I invited my kids in to cuddle with me. I smelled the sleepiness in their hair and warmth in their little bodies. We were a little late with our morning rush but it didn't really seem to matter.
March reminded me that it's about the here and now.
In the wake of such extreme tragedy, our family found hope in a packet of papers being sent to an address in Texas.
Now at the end of 2011 we are 15 months into a process that will bring a new little life into our family. We don't know when, and the wait and uncertainty can be excruciating at times, but we're ready, joyful, and (mostly) patient!
APRIL
Judge me if you will, but I was one of those people who loved every moment of the Royal Wedding between Kate and Prince William this month. It was beautiful. Even Clara sat with me mesmerized as Kate walked down the aisle. I was even inspired to show Clara our own wedding video. I'm rarely sappy, but this event was just what the sad world needed.
Continuing on the British theme, we were extra excited to host the daughter of my best friend this month:
Our time living in England (2002-2005) is something that we will always treasure, as are the friendships we made.
2011 was once again a year where we saw continual change in our circle of friends. Having been here for almost five years, we've seen many people come and go. I will always loathe that aspect of the military... saying goodbye over and over again. But in truth, it's the military life that makes it possible.
MAY
After hiding for 10 years, Bin Laden was finally caught and killed.
September 11th, 2001 changed America. It changed my family too, as my husband's job was completely redefined. I remember being scared that I would lose the man I'd just married to the Middle East. We've now been at war for 10 years and living in uncertainty can take it's toll. Our military families have sacrificed a lot, much more than us. I hope that soon everyone will be home. And this crap will be over.
Nowhere along the same line of evil, but still menacing and scary (and there is probably a metaphor somewhere in here), but we fought our own little terrorist this month:
Unbeknownst to us, this little bad boy (also known as a copperhead) had been living in our garage. I may be no Navy Seal, but I (along with some teenage testosteronic help) got the job done and this guy was put to rest. I was concerned for the safety of my kids and the dog, who would have ignorantly licked the thing thinking it was food. When K got home from work and asked "how was your day?" I simply pointed to a bucket holding a poisonous snake carcass in the garage.
I must have somehow upset Mother Nature's balance, because shortly after the untimely death of the serpent, Penny managed to destroy a tendon in her leg. One of the rarest injuries known to the dog world. Oh, and one of the most expensive.
But what do you do? We'd taken this Beast of Burden (meant lovingly) into our home and committed to loving her and taking care of her. So we nursed her through 6 weeks of her convalescing. I stress: A seven month old lab-mix puppy convalescing. Just imagine it.
So while the big world was turning this month, I was carrying my 70 pound dog outside to pee.
JUNE
This month saw the departure of our Major and the arrival of our Lt. Colonel. He also started year three of his job here in the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. K's parents and sister came to celebrate and I threw a party.
I think it was about this time that I logged in one year of being a business owner and having made over 100 cakes and cookies. That's right, Roundhouse Cakes (my little company with that bitchy boss) became official in June 2010 and my kitchen turned into a sweatshop. I have to admit that it was somewhat exhilirating filing a tax return and to see mail in the name of Roundhouse Cakes arrive at the house. It's even more satifisying to put every cent earned into our labor of love - the one I talked about up there in March.
K's promotion cake:
June also ended the school year for Max as a first grader. He continues to excel academically and loves being in the gifted education program. Unfortunatley for us, he visited a friend this month who had his own laptop, then promptly made the point that "daddy has 3 laptops and I have none." Since then he's spent every free (authorized) moment playing involved stratedy games that usually involve dead wizards on his "new/old" laptop.
He also prefers to not wear shirts and always ropes Clara into being the Dead Wizard Princess or something like that. We stopped asking questions.
JULY
I think July was one of my favorite months of 2011. It was about love. Being with the people I love - people I don't get to see very often - and witnessing love first hand.
My dad, as part of an amazing Christmas present, rented a beach house for a week in the Outer Banks for the entire clan on my side of the family. That was brave of him!
It was So.Much.Fun.
Clara in particular, blossomed in the presence of all her cousins. She relished being the youngest and cutest and spent most of the time in "squeaking mode" - our affectionate term for her happy squeals.
Our vacation sponsors and pretty much the sponsors of me, my values, my blue eyes, and my craziness.
July reminded me that even though I'm the only one that lives far (very far) away, that it makes no difference in how much we love each other. Even though sometimes it's an intense- I'm going to cut you- kind of love.
July also reminded me that no one has the right to define love and how it's consecrated. Toward the end of the month I got a phone call from a friend inviting me to witness their marriage in New York City. My friends have been together for over 16 years. They love each other SO much.
Being able to witness this event, to be a part of New York City (and world) history, to share with all the other beautiful couples who were there on that very special first day when marriage discrimination was abolished in New York, will rank in one of the top moments of my life. I won't wax on about this, except to say that I know in the deepest part of my soul that this is right. I watched it with my very own eyes.
And I was honored to be a part of it.
See, I told you July was about Love.
AUGUST
Ok, so July may have rocked my year, but August literally rocked my year. On the 23rd of this month, our region was hit with a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. I was sitting outside on our deck communing with nature and I'd sent Max out front to check the mail. Clara was at Princess Dance Camp down the street. When I felt the earth start to rock I thought "NUKE!" I think it may have been the fact that I was raised during the Cold War and now live in the Capitol, but it still freaks me out. But there was no big blast, just shaking. Lots of shaking. It went on long enough for me to compute what was happening, get up, run through the house, catch stuff falling off a shelf, run into the driveway where Max was standing dazed, and hold him as the shaking finally started to subside.
It was the weirdest thing ever and something none of us will ever forget. The shaking went on and on and on and on. And to have experienced it here and NOT in Utah is ironic.
And then we had a hurricane. But it wasn't as scary. Just lots and LOTS of rain.
After the quake and hurricane we were still shaking in our boots somewhat, as K was put on the VML (time for a new assignment list). We had discussed for a while the possibilty of an overseas assignment and decided to pursue a job in Ankara, Turkey.
We got it.
The best part about the assignment is that we will remain in DC for another 2 years while K (and me to some unknown degree) is in training. We are both expected to be fluent in Turkish by the time we leave. I fear my brain is coated with a thick kid-induced idiocy layer, but I'm hopeful that I have it in me. But really, I'm excited for our family and this amazing adventure we'll be embarking on.
SEPTEMBER
Back to school! Back to school!
Max started 2nd grade and Clara started her last year of preschool. I love my kid's schools and their desire for learning. Max in particular, is a sponge and absorbs everything. He's going to be an engineer when he grows up:
...and live in a pyramid with special powers and a Windows7 computer.
When Clara grows up she's going to be an "Artist/Mommy."
When Penny grows up she hopes that I'll still let her be my 70 pound lap dog.
Whether my children grow up to be one of the 99% or the 1%, I hope they grow up to a more just world where people won't feel the need to "occupy Wallstreet." This was the big news of September along with the credit down-rating of United States because our politicians have ceased to function properly.
September was also the celebration of our 11th year of marriage. I'll give that a Triple A Upgrade.
Yup, still love that man.
OCTOBER
On October 31st of this year, the world's population reached 7 billion. I remember when our population hit 6 billion - back in 1999. I was studying international health and development at George Washington and really delved into the subject. At the time I wondered what I'd add to the population and if I'd ever meet a man worthy of helping me with that endeaver.
And look what happened!
This year our household population (including our friends from the animal kingdom) went from 5 to 7 with the addition of one hermit crab and one beta fish.
We also celebrated Max's 8th birthday, enjoyed a visit from Grandma and Grandpa, took a mini-vacation to Virginia Beach, and morphed into a bunch of Angry Birds.
We also, along with the rest of the world, mourned the death of Steve Jobs this month. As I type this (on my MacBook), my iPhone sits next to me and my iPad is across the room. Oh, and iTunes is playing.
Even my kids know that "laptops" rule the world:
NOVEMBER
This month was all about the next presidential election. You can't turn on the news, read the newspaper, or browse the internet without hearing about all the potential candidates. It's no secret that I was an Obama fan (and still am), but currently I find myself disgusted at politics in general. I fear we're headed into a Counter-Enlightenment and it's discouraging. I fear that the separation of church and state is getting muddy. I fear that people are idiots. So in the month of November, I turned off the news and decided to play Plants vs. Zombies and watch the Vampire Diaries instead. Best decision ever.
Communing with the undead relaxes me.
I also enjoy communing with the living:
... and did just that on Thanksgiving.
DECEMBER
And now we're here at the close of 2011. December is always full of such promise, and for families with loved ones in Iraq, this December marked their homecoming (for most). There truly is no better gift than being able to spend the holidays with your family.
I work so hard to relish every moment with my crazy kids, because in truth they're my special purpose. It's not cakes, it's not a clean house, it's not a perfect schedule, it's just them. And December stands out to me as a time to slow down and soak it in. My favorite times this month were spent cuddled on the couch near the Christmas tree reading books about snowmen and reindeer; laying with Max in bed talking about all the things he's going to invent when he grows up; going on my weekly lunch date with Clara to Panera; and staying up way too late with my husband playing dorky games.
So thank you 2011, because here at the end of it I'm feeling extremely blessed and joyful.
And here's to you, 2012. We've got great expectations!
Wow Turkey on the horizon and adopting? That's a lot of excitement! Good luck at learning Turkish (is that the name of the language, I don't even know). You can do it. I somehow learned another language.
Posted by: Liesel | January 08, 2012 at 07:44 PM
What a great post and WOW!!! What exciting news. I am so excited for you guys... I love that we can keep up with each other thanks to blogs... can't wait for more updates on your beautiful family. I LOVE your pictures and the one of Max and Clara walking hand in hand gave me chills. Give you family a squeeze from the Hansen's and know that we are thinking about you guys. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Ashley | January 08, 2012 at 07:56 PM
Congrats on both your new adventures! :)
Posted by: Kami | January 08, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Just a super year-end wrap up AND there is a hole in that family photo where the new little one will just fit PERFECTLY!
Posted by: Mom | January 09, 2012 at 02:28 AM
I love you.
Posted by: Kirt | January 31, 2012 at 04:21 PM