2009: July to December

The end of the year, the decade. I hope you all have had some time for reflection...it feels good.

Here's a bit of the rest of 2009.

July
We visited Cannon Beach for the first time.

Our neighborhood is full of wild sweet peas in the summer. This was taken on one of many evening walks to our neighborhood ice cream parlor. We were accompanied this particular night by our French houseguest who stayed with us for a few weeks over the summer.

Making s'mores on our annual summer camping trip with another family. This year we went to Fort Ebey State Park.

Here we're heading out on a date night the day we returned from a vacation...a little time alone after a week of family time.

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August

Every year the Blue Angels fly on Abbott's birthday - just for him, of course.

This year the boys had a combined birthday party at our neighborhood pool.

Kitchen windows, when my sister visited in August. The nights were so warm and long we sat outside every night until well after dark.

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September

One last vacation before school started.

Our tomatoes produced famously.

First day of school. Cal started at Abbott's school this year in prekindergarten; Abbott entered second grade.

A special dinner at the Herbfarm celebrating a milestone birthday.

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October

October was insanely busy with sports; both boys played overlapping soccer and hockey.

I noticed a neighbor's gingko tree for the first time, and then of course I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

This year we were able to spend the entire day of our anniversary together.

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November

Alexi's mother and stepfather visited for a week. We enjoyed many meals with them out and at home - including Thanksgiving - and celebrated Alexi's birthday a few days before Thanksgiving.


Cal lost his first tooth - a total surprise - while eating soprasetta on Thanksgiving.

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December

Abbott as narrator for the Christmas pageant at church.

vacation to the Methow Valley

Have a fun and safe New Year's Eve. Tonight there will be a blue moon (when there are two full moons in the same month the second one is called a blue moon). This occurs only every two and a half years; it occurs on New Years Eve approximately every twenty years. The next one will be in 2028.

Thank you for the time you spend here and for sharing your own inspiration. Wishing you a most happy and healthy 2010! I'm looking forward to our next year together.