What Christmas Looks like in an Awesome Family

December 27, 2013

For the first time since having kids, I didn't send out a Christmas card this year.  I love Christmas cards too, but it just didn't happen this year.  I think with the combination of posting photos on Facebook and writing in my own blog, the urgency of keeping people updated has certainly diminished.  So if you are reading this and you usually get a card from me, please don’t think we don’t love you anymore.  It’s not you, it’s me. :)  Hopefully this post and the ones before it will fill in the gaps about what you may be wondering about my family.

Everyone always asks me what I plan to do for Christmas: whether we’ll be taking a vacation or relaxing at home.  My answer is “neither.”  We won’t be going anywhere far, but it also won’t be relaxing.  Our Christmas breaks are absolutely filled with fun activities.  It seems like every year we add on more traditions.   So this blog is basically designed to brag about how cool my family is.

This year the fun started on Sunday, the 22nd.  Our first family event was with my mother-in-law’s family.  See, that’s the thing.  With both sides of my family, plus both sides of my husband’s family living in San Diego, we have many opportunities to celebrate on any given holiday.  The Oaks side is perhaps the most complicated of all the groups we visit.  My mother-in-law belongs to a big family with various step-siblings and half-siblings.  The titles don’t matter though.  They all love each other and they all get along splendidly and so their get-togethers are big, loud, yummy affairs.  In their family the gift exchange involves picking a gender-neutral gift (or combination of gifts) to be played in the steal-the-present gift game.  They always say that the gift is supposed to be around $25, but hardly anyone follows that advice.  Some gifts will have $50 gift cards in them, making those of us who follow the rules feel a little shabby.  My competitive nature has kicked in with this family and next year I am absolutely determined to have a good gift (just not sure what it’ll be yet) to bring!  

This year’s party was more fun than others for me because my kids are finally old enough to play by themselves away from me.   Wahoo! They and their cousins just ran around for a few hours outside leaving me free to socialize a bit.  Even though I don’t want my kids to grow up too quickly, having them be more independent really is nice.

On Monday we spent the day playing with Sarah and Terence who are in town for the week.  It’s fun to see my sister pregnant and happy and so exciting to think about having cousins on my side of the family.  Yea!  What I love about my sister and brother-in-law is that they are are total troopers.  Even though they must get tired, they are always willing to play board games, shoot baskets, sing songs, dress in costumes, whatever.   This Monday when my “I refuse to nap for you” three year old got a little cranky Terence made an impromptu song about “It’s Not Funny” that had everyone laughing for the rest of the car ride.  

On Monday night, for Family Home Evening, I introduced what I hope will be a new family tradition called “The First Gift of the Season.”  We read Luke out loud and opened up our first Christmas gift which was a beautiful new nativity set--kid friendly.  This lead to a nice discussion about Jesus and His gifts to us.  I’m hoping this will be a fun way to make sure we keep Christmas holy and also to expand my nativity collection!

Christmas Eve has always belonged to the Worthen side.  This is kind of an interesting year for the Worthens because Grandma Sue, who has hosted holidays at her house for decades, has moved into a retirement home, leaving the next generations to come up with their own traditions.  My sister-in-laws took up the mantle for a super-fun Christmas Eve.  The mere fact that the 4 boys (ages 3,4,5,6) were kept busy and out-of-trouble for 5 hours is a feat in its own.  We had a huge Mexican feast, played Disney Scene it (the boys won again, arg!), gifted everyone with new pajamas, had an outdoor fire, sang carols with new songbooks, and got to be with some of our favorite people all night long. It  really was a very special day that I hope will continue to repeat itself for many years.

Christmas is done in three parts for my family.  Prior to the Big Day I actually put all of our presents at other people’s houses (the advantage of living so close to our mothers) so that when the boys wake up on Christmas morning all the see is what Santa brings.  I like the feeling of presents being carefully opened instead of amassing into a large pile.  This year my first grader got a giant Pikachu, and a huge Lego set (996 pieces) from Santa.  My three-year-old got a new bike and lots of little toys.  Daddy got some new shoes and Mommy, well, Santa had to bring her present to Grandma’s house because it didn't fit at home.  

After unveiling our stockings, trashing our living room, and grabbing a small breakfast we head on to phase two: Grandma & Grandpa’s house.  Christmas breakfast has always been the tradition in my family’s home.  There is where the bulk of our family presents were unwrapped and played with.  I got to see my Christmas present first: a giant archery target!  Wahoo!  After breakfast I finally got to use my birthday present (an awesome compound bow).  Actually everyone used it.  Aunt Sarah, 6 months pregnant and all, was actually the top scorer, but I plan to practice and practice all year long, so we’ll see about next year!

We were blessed with many wonderful presents this year--of which I don’t think I need to list.  As a family we took a lovely walk outside.  How many people in the world get to enjoy 80 degree weather on Christmas?  We also watched one of our new movies and played Disney Cranium (the girls won) before leaving everyone to their naps.

Phase three was just down the street at Nana and Papa’s house.  There we met up with the cousins again and were treated with multiple Nana activities.  She had outdoor games set up, including archery for the kids.    There was a huge dinner and tons of desserts and of course more present opening.   I always like doing presents at Nana’s house because we think so much about what to give to all the kids that it’s rewarding to watch everyone receive them.  By the time everyone headed home we were all ready for a good sleep!

The day after Christmas was dedicated to the Ball side of the family.  This part of my family has always been creative and fun.  Even though the traditions we had growing up have faded with time, the idea that dinners and gifts and parties can be interesting and clever has be indoctrinated into me by my clever aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and grandparents.  So this year we decided to revive our theme dinners--something we have not done for 20 years or so.   On the theme dinners you don’t get to see the food and you don’t necessarily know what you’re getting.  You have to order your plates and utensils too, so you have to be careful.  Take a look at the menu to see how many items you can figure out.  Anyway, the dinner was a great success and I have a feeling more themes will be played out in future months and years.

Heroes & Villains Menu

Name: ____________________

Please circle THREE items and return to your server:

HEROES                                        VILLAINS

Santa Claus Big Bad Wolf

Popeye Snow White’s Witch

Harry Potter Hansel & Gretel’s witch

Sam Wise         Wicked Witch of the West

Charlie Bucket        Silver Samurai

Mario

Ninja Turtles

Captain America

Poseidon

King Arthur

Cole, Jay, Zane, Kai & Lloyd

Anpanman

Batman

Ethan

Aaron

And that brings us to now.  The downside to all this fun is that my house is a total disaster!  Ah well.  It’ll get cleaned bit by bit, in between even more fun things coming our way!  

Merry Christmas to all of you and have a great new year.  

Things I’m Thankful for: the not-so-obvious list

All month long people have been posting things they are thankful for online.  I enjoy reading these and many times I read along thinking, “yep, I’m thankful for that too.”  I am one of those people who knows without a doubt how fortunate she is.  I have an amazing family, great in-laws, a home, a great job, and two fantastic kids.  But this post is not about any of these.  Here is a list of ten other, more random things I am grateful for (in no particular order).

1) LEGOS - I’ve known for a while now that little boys love playing with legos, but I really did not “get it” until Ethan got his first real lego set a few years ago.  When he opened the box and then sat on the floor for SIX STRAIGHT hours reading instructions and building his firetruck, I thought to myself, “wow, this toy is incredible.”  Yes, they are way too expensive.  Yes, the little parts get everywhere.  Yes, there is a meltdown if a beloved project gets destroyed by a younger brother.  But still, what an amazing toy.  I really truly think that because of legos Ethan’s reading, math, fine motor skills, and patience has greatly improved.  I am officially on the lego bandwagon now.

2) COSTUMES - My Aaron loves, loves, loves to dress up.  It makes his room so messy all the time, but it brings him such joy.  And the thing is, when Aaron is dressed-up and in public, he gets smiles from all the people around him.  Don’t these pictures make you smile? It’s like he single-handedly makes the world brighter just by donning superhero garb.  

3) GOOD SHOES - One of the things I splurged on this summer after Stephen got his new job was a good pair of Nikes to wear to work. It had been so long since I sported my favorite brand and oh what a difference it has made.  I am so grateful that my feet are not in pain every day anymore.  

4) PRESCHOOL  - I talk a lot about my school and Ethan’s classes, but I rarely credit how grateful I am for Aaron’s preschool.  It is such a comfort to know that my baby is being taken care of every day.  I’m so glad that if I have to leave early, or come late, or whatever, that I don’t have to make special arrangements, it’s just taken care of.  I love that Aaron sings, paints, and swings every single day--because I don’t have the energy to do that with him.  And the biggest miracle?  Aaron seems to be perfectly well-behaved at school.  I’m not sure how they pull that off!

5) PH’s DIET is finally under control -- It has taken a long time to figure out how to cook with dairy-free, gluten-free, plus no corn or tomatoes, but this year we’ve finally figured things out. I’m grateful that more companies are making gluten-free substitutes.  It is so nice to see my husband at the end of the day without suffering body pains anymore.  

6) NO STATE TESTING - This year, as everyone shifts towards common core, we don’t have to take the states testing.  Wahoo!  I can’t tell you how liberating it is just to be able to teach and not have to worry about teaching towards a test.  Plus, as testing usually takes two months (of prep/review, then the test) it’s like we get all those weeks back to finish up things like Science and Social Studies.  I’m so glad the state, for once, took things off of the teachers’ plates, instead of constantly adding to them.

7) AMAZON PRIME - I really think the best $80 ever spent was on Amazon Prime two years ago.  This has totally revolutionized my world!  Not having to travel to a different city to get specific things, not having to time things right to make sure it gets to me on-time.  I love, love, love free two-day shipping and don’t want to imagine life without it.

8) MUSIC CLASS - Read with your kid every day, got it.  Practice sports and exercise, check.  But when it comes to helping with artistic pursuits like singing and playing instruments, I am way out of my element.  That’s why I am so glad we signed up Ethan for Let’s Play Music last year. Now in his second year, Ethan is picking up keyboarding skills and is learning to play songs already.  It is so fun to see him do something better than me!  I really, really want my boys to play the piano (and later other instruments if they want), so I’m hoping this early introduction will carry on through older years.

9) WILD TURKEYS - I get to see real life turkeys nearly every single day of my life.  How many people in the world can say that?

10) BASKETBALL - Ethan has just started a new sport and he LOVES it.  Every single day after school he’s taken a ball out to dribble.  And yesterday, on Thanksgiving, Daddy put up a hoop at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.  Ethan shot baskets (which he finally just stopped calling “goals”) well into the night with several family members shooting with him off and on.  Before bed he said basketball was the best game he’s ever played.  Poor Aaron loves it too and does NOT like sitting on the sidelines during Brother’s practices. There are a lot of basketball fans in my family who are rooting for this sport to grab hold.  

Some friends recently told me that in a test of emotions on a cellular level, gratitude was reported the strongest emotion that a human can feel.  This inspires me to both feel more grateful and to express my gratitude more fully to those who deserve it.  Thank you then, readers, for listening to me.  Thank you to my wonderful friends and family who make my life so fulfilling.  

Scaling the Mountain of Duties

November 3, 2013

This morning when I woke up I found it hard to get out of bed.  I felt a huge weight upon me, pressing me down under the covers.  I thought at first I must be getting the flu, because I could feel aches throughout my whole body.  The more I lay there though (thankfully using up daylight savings’ extra hour), the more I realized it wasn’t my body being sick, it was my mind.  On top of my body I could see in my mind the mountain of duties I need to accomplish in the near future.   Stacked up on top of me were virtual icons representing chores like laundry, dishes, grading essays, prepping science, going shopping, making breakfast, reading scriptures, visiting teaching, Ethan’s homework, Aaron’s potty training, downloading pictures, writing a budget, cleaning my car and my dining room table, calling my friend, kids fighting, buying a birthday present...on and on these visions of duties appeared.  When the mountain reached my tall bedroom ceiling I flipped over in bed, listened to the silent icons fall all over my room and asked my husband to take over for me this morning.  

I know that the mountain of duties is part of being an adult.  And I know that none of these things--even the entire collection together--will determine the measure of my happiness or unhappiness.  Having just attended a funeral this week I also know that my problems are small compared to many.  This knowledge doesn’t lessen the physical burden of my mountain, however.  In a way the guilt that some people I love suffer more than me adds to the mountain instead.  What is to be done then?

It was then, when I had decided to postpone all of my duties for a time, that I thought of this blog and of my mantra to live like a Kindergartner this year.  So instead of thinking about all the other moms out there making it work for them, I thought instead of a kindergartner.   What does a 5 year old do when facing a mountain of his own?  He cries, he storms about for a while, he yells about the injustices of the world, and then, he gets over it.  He find something else to do, something to make him happy.  In my kids’ case, Ethan would choose Lego's, and Aaron would choose costumes for their own remedies.   If they can do it, then I can too.  I can scale my mountain of duties by turning to the things that bring me peace and happiness and by choosing to view my duties as speed bumps rather mountains.

So what can I do today to make me happy?  Well, here are some pictures I finally got off my camera.  Looking at them makes me smile.  I can find a new book to read, something uplifting (recently I haven’t been able to finish my more intense series because they seem to add to my anxiety).  I can put on uplifting music and play games in between doing chores.  I can take seriously my commitment to not working on the Sabbath Day and instead enjoy one day without the burden of my job.  I can talk with my husband, my kids, and my friends and enjoy helping them through their trials instead of focusing on my own.  I can enjoy simple things like hot showers and Halloween candy.  I can get out of bed, and just take it from there.

Mrs. Versatility: True Confessions from the “other” 5th grade teacher

October 6, 2103

The other day I saw a student with her father at a store.  I introduced myself by saying, “Hi.  I’m your daughter’s math teacher.”  A few minutes later it occurred to me that I’ve never said those words before.  Besides teaching 6th grade math there are actually a lot of new things in my life this school year.  Because of circumstances I tend to explore in this entry, I’m finding myself being pushed and pulled and challenged in ways I haven’t experienced in a very long time.  Thankfully, I’m still applying the “Live like a Kindergarten” philosophy into my career, which means the experience has been equally as thrilling as it has been exhausting.

This is my 6th year teaching 5th/6th grade, but it’s my first time teaching the entire curriculum.  There is another teacher at my level, but for various reasons we mostly keep our same students all day rather than share them.  During my cynical moments I feel like I must have one of the hardest teaching assignments.  After all I’m expected to be like a middle school teacher as far as teaching pre-algebra and advanced reading & writing, as well as keeping up with grades and so much paperwork.  But most middle school teachers only teach one or two subjects and have a prep period.  I am currently teaching 7 subjects for two grades and have never, ever experienced paid prep time.  

When I’m not throwing a pity-party, however, I realize that in some ways my job this year is better than ever before.  Not having to “switch classes” gives me more flexibility in how long a subject goes and allows for much smoother transitions throughout the curriculum.  We can read and write for history, for example, while never leaving language class.   The prep for all these subjects is depressingly time-consuming, but getting to have 34 students that are just mine is a really neat feeling too.  

One thing I did not anticipate about having a self-contained classroom is that I would, in subtle ways, be competing against the other 5th/6th class.  During dismissal in the first week of school I heard one parent say to another, “my daughter is in 5th grade this year and she has the best teacher.”  I looked at the parents and had to realize that they weren’t talking about me, they were talking about the other 5th grade teacher.  At that moment I came to this truth: I have to be on my game at all times this year.

I know it sounds immature, but the truth is I hate the idea of any of my students wishing they were in the other class.  Underneath my “everyone is treated fairly” teacher mask, is still the drop ball pitcher who at age ten tried to convince the league to hang up a sign reading, “Welcome to Ramona softball fields, home of Laura the Best.”  I don’t want to be the other teacher, I want to be the best teacher.  It’s competitive and silly and totally un-Montessori, but it’s also totally true.  I'm even fine with both sets of students and parents thinking their teacher is best, as long as I'm up there with them.

The result of admitting my own insecurities to myself is that this year I have made myself the best teacher I’ve ever been before.  Teaching all these subjects and focusing on being the best has made me more versatile than I’ve ever needed to be previously.  6 weeks into the school year I’ve already scrubbed test tubes, memorized songs about integers, used food in 5 different lessons, prepared anti-bullying lessons, started three fundraisers, created a huge capture the flag competition, and even eaten crickets.  

In fairness to my students our new motto of “every day is something new and interesting in Mrs. Worthen’s room” has as much to do with them as it does with me.  This year I have an excellent group of students.  They work hard, say nice things, laugh at my jokes, compliment my earrings, and in general encourage me to create the kind of class teachers dream about teaching.   I love learning with them.  Here’s to a great year!   

The Woes of Being a Reader

The Woes of Being a Reader

September 11, 2013

I haven’t written in awhile and there is a perfectly good reason why: all of my free time has been spent reading.  And it’s got me thinking (by the way, this better  NOT get passed along to my students), there really are some downsides to being an avid reader.  Humor me for a moment while I ruminate a bit.

First of all, being an avid reader probably means being a quick reader (since reading is one of those things that continually gets better as one does it), and being a quick reader means finishing books way too fast.  I live my literary life on a tormented sea of waiting and wondering what next.  On my bulletin board at home I keep a calendar list of when books come out that I want to read.  I anxiously await those days.  But then, when those days come, and I finally get to devour the next book in a series, within a couple of hours the book is done and then it’s back to waiting again. Hmph!  Yesterday, for instance, a book came out that I’ve been waiting a year to read (Blackmoore, by the same author who wrote Edenbrooke--it was soooo good).  I shirked the dishes and let the kids watch a little more TV than usual so I could read it.  But by 10:00 the book was done.  I’ve already re-read the mushy parts and am left with the same awful question: what the heck do I read now?  I have another book coming out next week, but that leaves 6 days of near despair, because it is impossible not to have a book in progress.  What a torturous existence!  

Also, being a book lover can be really expensive.  Just ask my husband.   It’s not good enough for me to wait behind 50 other people to share a library book, so that means getting my own copy. Most of my books are on kindle, which isn’t too bad, unless you’re reading a book every couple of days, then it really adds up.  Plus, I have this other problem.  When I really, really like a book or a series then I want to have a hard copy in addition to the digital version.  That means buying the book twice.  I’m not saying it’s not worth it, it is.  I work hard and reading is about the only thing I do for myself.  And I honestly get pleasure out of looking at my favorite books every day on the shelves.  But, even I can see my finances would be a lot better if I kept to a stricter book budget.  I think I once figured out that the cost of all the books in my house would be enough to buy a brand new car.  Yikes!

Finally, being a good reader means having to decide every day whether or not to be social or holed up with a book.  I love being with friends and family, I really do.  And I spend my whole day with 40 other people always around me, so I can’t possible be accused of being anti-social, but I can’t even tell you how many times I am thinking to myself “I wish I could be reading my book right now.”  I don’t keep up with the news or with popular shows, because I choose to read instead.  Plus, I have to seriously discipline myself, like not taking my Kindle to school, and setting a timer at home.  Sometimes though I give way to my addiction and effectively block out everything out for a few hours.  I love those hours and I also hate them because they expose a weakness in me.  And yet, it’s a weakness I wouldn’t change even if I wanted to (and I don’t want to change, not really), so I’m stuck with it.  I guess I’ll forever just be a book addict.

In case you’re a book addict too, here’s a couple of lists you might be interested in:

Laura’s Top 5 All-Time Favorite Books (at least as it stands right now)

1 - Harry Potter - all of them together -- for the storytelling, the accessibility to generations of people, the perfect hero story, and the sure joy of reading

2 - Edenbrooke - For the romance, the humor, and the way I can read it multiple times without getting tired of it

3 - Ender’s Game - For the genius kids, asking the hard questions in a creative way, and creating a universe I could never have imagined myself

4 - My Name is Asher Lev - Because it changed my life at a time when I needed some change

5 - Pride and Prejudice - For the chance encounters in the woods,  and providing a story that can and has be told over and over again by women for the last two years

The Books Laura is waiting to come out over the next few months

Sept 17 - The last Gallagher Girls book - WAHOO!!!

Sept 17 - The Dream Thieves (second in the Raven Boys series)

Oct 1 - Enchanted Heir ( I JUST found out she’s writing more Heir books. Yea!)

Oct 8 - Emerald Green in the Ruby Red series.  These books are so good!

Oct 22 - Allegiant the last in the Divergent books.  Please let the ending be good!

Nov 5 - Champion the last in the Legend books.  Same comment as Allegiant.

Feb 4th - Cress  in the Cinder series, which are totally fun.  

Feb 25th - The last one in the False Prince series.  Will there finally be a love story?

 Also the third Selection book should be here by spring.  I’m really nervous it won’t end the way I want it to.  

Happy Reading!  

School Year's Eve

Another school year is only hours away, and like millions of school kids I am in a state of nervous excitement.  It occurs to me that while three whole blogs were written about some of the harder points of teaching, I haven’t devoted much time at all to writing about the things that I love about my job.  So now before all the meetings start, before my desk/bedroom/car gets filled with papers to grade, before the threat of under-performance clouds my dream state, I’m writing a little about the fun stuff (not just vacation time either) that comes with my job.  In a few months I’ll no doubt need to look back at my own words to remember how lucky I am to be in this profession.

#1 -- Teachers probably get complimented more than most people.  Young students especially can make even the plainest teacher feel beautiful and wise.  Even my older students with their sassier ways are quick to compliment teachers.  Hardly a day goes by without someone telling me that they like my earrings or my shoes or something.  It’s nice to know that even on the hardest days there are people around me trying to make me smile.  

#2 -- I get paid to read!  Everyone’s always telling me that they wish they read more for pleasure, whereas reading fiction is actually part of my job.  Every single day I get to read and be read to and when I go home and read for myself I have the satisfaction of knowing that I’m setting a good example for my students.  

#3 -- I am never, ever bored at work.  Everyday is different and every week is filled with such a variety of things.  I honestly cannot imagine sitting at a desk all day.  I never think about the things I could be doing instead, because I’m so busy working there is no time to think about other things.   It’s true that I leave work utterly exhausted on most days, but I think that’s probably better than being bored.  

#4 -- I can look and dress basically how I want to.  Being around peers is terrifying to most people, and really aides our adult self-consciousness.  I however, don’t interact with peers much.  I work with people who by nature are going to dress and look differently than me and who really couldn’t care less what kind of style I have.  It’s nice not having to shell out big bucks for make-up and suits (not to mention not having to wear a tacky uniform) and to basically be concerned more with comfort than beauty.  

#5 -- I know without a doubt that my job is important.  How many people really believe that about their work?  Even with the toughest kids during the toughest years I always get to witness growth.  It is the coolest thing to see former students with all their success and beauty and talent and know that I got to play a small part in that.  It’s this knowledge more than anything else (even those nice long breaks) that keep me and other teachers doing this year after year.  It hasn’t changed in hundreds of years and as long as teachers get to actually work with students, this partnership of mutual growth with continue.  

Have a great school year everyone!  

Sweet Sister Sarah

Sweet Sister Sarah was Named for a Song

August 6, 2013

My sister, Sarah, was married last week, giving me plenty of moments to reflect about our lives together and about the person she is now.  I’m sure if I wanted to spend the time looking, I could come up with dozens of pictures of Sarah for every stage of her life.  Instead, I’m just including pictures of her wedding because she looked so beautiful that it definitely ups the value of my blog. :)

I read a book once called “Enthusiasm” where the main character calls her friend an “enthusiast” because she gets really into things, but only for a short period of time.  For me, Sarah has always been an enthusiast.  She seemed to try almost everything growing up.  She started with team sports and did a season of soccer (where she preferred kissing boys on the sidelines) and of t-ball (where she couldn’t get her pretty uniform too dirty).  She tried individual sports too like swimming and running, but preferred practicing over the competitions.  She tried dance and gymnastics--but anyone who saw her spill as much milk as my family did, knew that would never last.  In high school she joined the Scholastic Decathlon team.  She was brainy and they did well, but when it came time to sign up again the following year she was already onto drama.  She acted in a few plays, but then decided tech work was more up her alley.  She got really into backstage work and would worry my dad with how many hours she spent building sets, writing cues down, etc.  When all of her drama friends graduated before her though, I think it lost some of the joy for her.  

Sarah’s perfect grades (she was Valedictorian) and near perfect SAT scores landed her in the physics program at Stanford.  Even that was a phase, I think, because I don’t think she plans to do anything with physics in her life.  While in college she did join the fencing team.  She even got to travel to some different countries playing with them.  She had never picked up a sword before then and I’m sure has never held one since.  After college she and my dad got really into triathlons and competed and trained fairly thoroughly  for a few years.  One day Sarah got hit by a car while on her bike (the guy didn’t even stop!!!) which left her with an injury that stopped those intense races.  She got really into hiking for a while, and had a stage where she contemplated writing books.  And then came dancing.  Now in law school at Berkeley, Sarah started taking all sorts of weird dance classes and even joined some enthusiasts for dance contests.  Here is where she met Terence, in an dance class, where evidently she had greatly improved since our living room performances twenty years prior.  And now with a permanent partner, dancing seems to be the hobby that will stick for a very, very long time.

I know that listing all of her temporary hobbies could make Sarah seem flaky, but anyone who knows her will testify that she is quite the opposite.  Sarah is a truly loyal and dedicated person.  She achieves the highest praises at whatever she tries and is the most fierce advocate for her friends and family.  I used to think that once Sarah stopped her various hobbies, she abandoned them altogether, but watching her last weekend I realize it’s the opposite.  Sarah has retained a little bit of each of her enthusiasms, making her a thoroughly engaging and interesting person.  Because she’s tried a little bit of everything she can hold all kinds of conversations ranging from sports, to theater, to dance, to travel, to nature, etc. And she’s kept some of the most important pieces of all those things.  She never stuck with a sport, for instance, but she knows the value of exercise (don’t you see how gorgeous she is?).  She doesn’t have the desire to yell out curtain calls anymore, but she appreciates a good show (and Terence is in theater, so that brings them together more, I’m sure).  She doesn’t participate in scholastic competitions, or in fencing, but she realizes that there are people who love and excel at all sorts of different things and thus has a wide variety of colorful, interesting friends.  And now with Terence, who is interesting and enthusiastic as well, she no doubt has many more adventures ahead.

Terence is originally from New York, though he has lived in the bay area for quite a while.  For their wedding, what the two of them wanted most was for their families and closest friends to spend quality time together.  So they created “Camp Wedding” at a conference center in the middle of a forest.  For three days 150 people lived, ate, and played together.  Sarah and Terence had every detail planned and their hard work really paid off.  It was a glorious weekend, one that I will always remember with fondness.  At the end of the weekend they had an outdoor ceremony at a ranch called Nicasio.  Their ceremony was a bit of a performance with singing, dancing, drums (check out Ethan leading the children in a Chinese dragon), cute cowboy kids, and heartfelt vows.  My mom and I cried a great deal, and there were even some funny parts.  During the reception Dad gave a brilliant speech, a big buffet was served, and there was plenty of dancing.  Sarah and Terence even sang a couple of songs (maybe her next hobby???).  It was all planned and executed beautifully.  Now, hopefully, without the stress of planning a big event Sarah can begin her next phase--whatever it may be.