Christmas '08

We were blessed with a wonderful holiday! Kevin took nearly a week off, and we didn't travel anywhere. It was relaxing and fun. Everyone at our house (knock on wood) has been quite healthy, although my grandfather had surgery before Christmas and we've been praying for his recovery daily.

We went to Kevin's mom's on Christmas Eve and to my sister Wendy's house on Christmas Day (something we do every year and we all love). Since Jon had to work that day, Brady was the only grandson at the Jostes party! Thanks to David, it was a house filled with girls. Unfortunately, my sister Terry, Kevin's brother Kirk, and their families weren't with us this Christmas.

Mom and I took Maddy to Chicago to get her American Girl Doll (something Mom does for all of the granddaughter's). I loved running along Michigan Avenue before the sun came up and the streets were filled with people. We enjoyed eating and shopping a bit, too. Brrrr, was it cold! Mom treated us to lunch at the American Girl Doll store. What an experience that was! I loved it.

I know the holidays are not always joyous; some of my dear friends, in fact, dealt with serious loss and illness this year. While I thank God, more seriously with each passing day, I also have been praying for my friends and loved ones.

Europe 2008

This summer I went on my third student tour, and it was especially meaningful because my mom went, too.

We spent our first five days in Paris, which I must say is one of my favorite European cities. There are several closely tied for second, of course. Our favorite part of the trip was the evening boat ride down the Seine. The top of the Eiffel Tower was scary but amazing. Versailles was spectacular. I was also quite excited to find Hemingway's first apartment; we sat under the canopy of the outdoor cafe nearby and drank coffee while it rained.

An overnight train took us toward the south of France, where we stopped along the way in places like Carcassone, until we reached Barcelona. The architecture in Barcelona is unique. We then hit many highlights in Spain, including Madrid and Seville. Several of our hotels were along the seaside coast in resort towns. That was definitely a highlight. Cordoba was one of my favorite places, although it was over 100 degrees that day.
We ended our trip spending a day Morroco, and the old city center of Marrecesh.

Family Travels 2008

This year we took the kids to St. Louis to the St. Pat's Parade (for a race, too). We stayed near the family-friendly end of the route, with fun kid activities before the parade started.

We went to Nashville (which in hindsight is one of those funny family survival/bonding stories you can ask me about if you have the time!). I ran the Country Music Half Marathon, and the kids swam a lot. We did see a bit of Nashville, but not as much as we had planned (the long story).
For our summer vacation, we first went to Detroit to spend time with Grandpa Bob. The kids and I flew (to give them their first flying experience, which was a delight for me). We spent most of our time eating (some White Castle, of course), playing with Grandpa, and going to the Ford Museum. Then we ended up in Chicago, where Brady and Maddy wore Kevin and me out!! It was a wonderful place for kids. They loved Shedd Aquarium and wouldn't leave until we saw everything and the adults were glassy-eyed! They swam in the lake near Navy Pier. We rode the el to Cellular Field to see the Red Sox play a horrible game against those other Sox! Millenium Park was filled with family fun, and of course we love Chicago and the food!!

Kevin and Lisa 2008

Kevin has had a successful year at the club, always meeting his goals each month. I am teaching all senior classes this year except for the one semester of poetry. We both love our jobs and the people / students we work with. I have so much fun at my job! The grading load can be overwhelming, but it is also rewarding.

Kevin finally got his Corvette ready to show this year. I am so happy to see him doing something he loves, that I don't complain about how much time he spends doing it! Kevin and my dad have gone to car shows together, and that is good for them both.

I am still running, mostly as a member of the 180 Energy Drink Team. But after 6 years of hard training, my body was ready for a break. I ran some spring races and various half marathons. At least for now, I have no desire to run a full marathon again. My body was pretty tired all summer; teaching English and raising two small children does not leave much room for serious training. I am just now starting to feel like running fast again.

One exciting change this year is that we got new flooring. We finally got the wood we love, and it's been like having a new house.

The Kids

Brady and Maddy are in the first grade, and they love it. Since Brady looped, he has had the same wonderful teacher, Mrs. Schwartz, for two years. Maddy thrives under Mrs. Pehlman's sweet spirit. Maddy is all about flare, and it shows in her school work. She struggles a bit in math but is great at spelling and reading. Brady does very well, and schoolwork seem easy for him. Brady loves praise and is easy to motivate. Maddy, on the other hand, is a bit stubborn (hhhmmm, wonder where she gets that!).

The kids have tried various sports this year. They enjoyed basketball which was hilarious to watch. When it was time to sign up again, neither one wanted to do it. They did not like soccer at all (sorry, Coach Kutscher, we tried). Maddy finished her third year of dance and decided she didn't want to do it anymore. I really miss seeing the dance moms every week!

At least for now we are a family involved in the arts. Brady and Maddy are taking piano lessons and are doing very well. Brady has even written some music (after watching the movie August Rush!). Brady continues to thrill the teachers and us with his artwork. And now that he is learning to read and write, he has even written and illustrated some books!! I think that, at least in the creative sense, he is an "old soul"! Maddy loves animals and board games. She finally got over her "I don't want a job when I grow up, I just want to live with you and be a kid forever" phase and now says she wants to be a vet like Dr. Janet.

School days are filled with math and reading homework, as well as daily piano practice. Maddy and Brady also love Kids Zone at church. In the summer we spend a lot of time having fun, especially at the Elks pool, where both kids have learned to swim quite well. We also live in a neighborhood of children. We enjoy our neighbors who've become great friends.

Maddy and Brady are best buddies and often play together for hours.

I love being a mom! Every day is truly a new adventure, and I am thankful for the joy. Ah, the joy, the laughter, and the time we spend together....I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Brittany is still living in Savannah, trying to work on a portfolio to get a job within the advertising community. There aren't many options for her in Savannah so she hopes to get a job closer to home eventually! She has recently been accepted to the Masters of Design Management department at SCAD and looks forward to beginning classes in January. Her boyfriend James will soon graduate from Armstrong Atlantic State University. James and Britt recently got a new kitten named Sookie: Britt says, " She has the most personality I've ever seen in a cat! She's so silly and plays constantly." James was promoted recently and is now store manager of the Journeys in Savannah. Brittany also changed jobs and is a sales lead manager for Bath & Body Works. She hopes this will give her the opportunity to move up in the Limited Brands, Inc. and maybe work for their advertising/graphic design department, if not something in marketing. In the spring, she will be going to Columbus,OH to corporate headquarters to complete their marketing internship! She is hoping that will get her foot a little further in the door! In their free time, Britt and James compete on a professional dart league and finished 1st in their division their 1st season. The second season they joined a different team and finished 4th. Britt was only one shot away from earning a trophy for the most tons scored by a female player for their division. The new season starts mid January and they are looking forward to moving up to the top 2!