Happy December 2016! It’s time again to discuss some of the
lighter moments of our year and share some news that is not super important but
could be fun to learn if you are really bored or find us interesting for some reason.
·
Officially
decided we will leave California…in a few years
·
Todd has embraced
“extreme hiking.” It’s walking fast up
and down steep hills for 10-20 miles ... in one day. Not as punishment.
·
Kelly perfected a
technique of hitting deer and not leaving a mark on the car (the savings will
be used on Matthew’s resulting PTSD).
·
After working for
a year at a Veterinary clinic, Julia has decided she wants to go to college to
learn to be a nurse for humans.
·
Allison reduced her
activities to just cross country. And
track. And hiking. And falling down a lot. And soon driving.
·
Amanda is maybe
changing majors to Forestry and Natural Resources with a Wildlife Biology
Concentration. Stay tuned…
·
In an effort to
test the resilience of Catholics worldwide, Matthew now attends Saint Mary
Magdalen Catholic School.
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Amanda
– College Sophomore (California Polytechnic University – San Luis Obispo)
Babysat a corn snake and found her
spirit animal…and discovered that dad REALLY hates snakes. Really really really hates them…so much.
Thinks it’s fun to run around a desert
chasing reptiles …. and meet the friendly men and women of the US border
patrol.
Managed to get placed in a dorm
apartment with the only service cat on the campus. Yes, you read that right, SERVICE CAT. “Misty” J
Visited New Mexico. She is the only one in the family who has
been to New Mexico. We are all jealous.
Receives frequent invites to dinner parties
describing her as a “retired woman of means” that has us both concerned and
intrigued.
Julia
– High School Senior (Nurse “Hoolia”
to her cat/dog/turtle/bird/bunny/guinea pig/snake/lizard patients)
After seeing numerous retirement
communities promoting an “active retired lifestyle,” she decided a fortune could
be made promoting a community for those looking for an INACTIVE lifestyle. Could be combined with a Costco
membership. So many possibilities…
Literally the only kid in her classes
without an iPhone. They did a
survey. It was sad.
Believes that math can only be fun when
taught by teachers with lightsabers.
Otherwise, it is a form of torture that should be banned.
Her alias/pseudonym is… “Judith
Puddles.”
Will have 3 dogs when she is a
successful adult: “Orc” the bulldog, “Phillip Steve” (a “derpy” dog), and “Mac”
(a fluffy dog).
Allison
– High School Sophomore (Princess Grumpy Pants)
Leaves iPhone sale ads strategically
lying around (taped on steering wheel, as a bookmark, on pillows) as a subtle
hint that she wants one.
Has just started Driver’s Ed. Be afraid.
Be very afraid.
Successfully didn’t injure herself in
sports this year. Instead, she has started to fall getting out of the car when
dropped off at school.
Would win any competitive
sickness/injury/malady competition.
Lives by the motto: “Life is short and
running makes it seem longer.”
Matthew
– Catholic Middle School 6th Grader
Decided swimming was okay again … unless
you make him do anything other than breaststroke.
Still cannot be convinced to eat a
vegetable without almost executive-branch level kinds of negotiations
Learned that if you fall, bite through
your lip, and require 20 stitches at the ER that it will get Julia out of bed
before 9am on a Sunday.
Learned that when mom drives through
Ashippen, Wisconsin deer are going to die.
Likes to conclude prayers with “The
End.”
Bucky
– age 9 ½ - “Bumpasaurus”
Has embraced his “grumpy old man” dog
status by occasionally gassing people out of a room.
Did absolutely nothing when a raccoon
loudly knocked over and tried to drag away his dog food container outside.
Has added “any items reachable in the
open garbage can” to his list of “foods that MUST be tried.”
Sneaks out when he can…and we only
notice he’s missing when we leave and see a dog sitting in the front yard
tilting his head in confusion.
Enjoys drinking plant water. As in water that has collected in a pot. He has water in his bowl. This is apparently not good eough…
Have a
wonderful holiday season and a safe and happy 2017!
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Todd,
Kelly, Amanda, Julia, Allison, Matthew and Bucky
