Happy Holiday Season! It does continue into the New Year, right?

Today is December 27, and I'm finally beginning to write the letter I started composing in my head around Thanksgiving. It's tempting to express my surprise that the year is once again racing to an end, but it may be more accurate to admit that we are the ones doing the racing. Evan recently reminded me how each of us perceives the passage of time differently. We were driving home from my sister's house on December 23 (Christmas Eve Eve), and he was looking wistful. When I asked if anything was wrong, he said, “Mom, days before special days like Christmas just go so slowly. It feels like they last a lot longer than regular days, because you kind of can't wait for them to be over.” I had to hide my smile because I was feeling exactly the opposite: there was so much I was hoping to do in two days I knew would go far too quickly, and I was trying to reconcile myself to the reality that I couldn't complete it all.

I'd like to say that was the moment I decided to let my letter wait, but in fact I kept imagining I could find the time to get to it before Christmas Day. And yet here I sit, several days later, all alone in my house for once. I'm elevating a colorfully bruised foot because on Christmas night it was brought rather painfully to my attention that perhaps I'm doing a little too much racing: I went for a run with the dog and rolled my ankle. The bruise is impressive and I am rocking a bit of a limp, but it is forcing me to stay home and rest while the rest of the family (even the dog!) is out. This is evidently the nudge I need to get going on my holiday rite of passage, a recap of our year.

On December 31, 2010, my mother proposed an exercise that we all enjoyed. We each listed memories of the closing year: important accomplishments, funny moments, sad moments, and times we specifically wanted to remember. Then we added intentions for the year to come. Reading our “reports” aloud prompted reflection and a lot of laughter. I looked at them again a few weeks ago and I'm glad I saved them. Because as I think back on all that we did this year, it still makes me laugh to see that one of Evan's (unfulfilled) goals for 2011 was to go to Texas. On the other hand, Andrew did tile the screen room (something that's been on his list for years), and I've established a more consistent routine of daily walks (on temporary hiatus until the ankle heals). I hope Lydia is proud to have achieved several of her goals: she made lots of jewelry, did more swimming, and expanded her exploits in the kitchen.

Lydia entered her teens this year, turning 13 earlier this month. For me, recognition of how much she's grown has been literal: over Easter weekend (which we spent in Mendocino County with Aunt Karen, Uncle Chris, and cousin Jacob) I realized she was taller than I am! She has gained more inches in the months since and is now nearly 5'10”. Her height and long arms are assets for a swimmer, and she had a great second season with the Seals Swim Club. She shifted her focus to freestyle and discovered that she especially enjoys swimming with relay teams. She brought home several first-place ribbons for relay events and competed in the end-of-season East Bay Swim League Championship Meet. Several of her swim team friends attend the junior high school where she is currently in 8^th grade, making for an active social life. This year the formal Winter Dance took place on her actual birthday, serving as the kick-off to a busy weekend of manicures, movies, and a girls' excursion to San Francisco.

Lydia has definitely embraced the stereotypical teenage girl's love of shopping, and exhibits a correlating fixation with fashion (as regards both personal style and home design). She likes to experiment with jewelry design, using all sorts of materials, and is generous with her creations, regularly making gifts for friends and family. She has also made a name for herself as a baker, often bringing homemade treats to share at school or weekend hangouts. One recent success was a recipe for Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies that were practically irresistible. She took most of them to school as holiday gifts for her teachers. When I spoke with her teachers at this year's conferences, they all said she is a dedicated and intelligent student who grasps material quickly, and that they would like her to participate more in class discussions. She retains the reserve I think she inherited from her Granny Mary.

Evan didn't make it to the Lone Star State this year. He did, however, care for what may have been the longest-lived mealworm beetle ever sent home by his second grade teacher. Jake the beetle lived in a custom cardboard home in Evan's room for several months, an apparently unprecedented old age for such a critter. Evan continues to be fascinated by all forms of animal life, and the books by his bed often offer clues about the species currently piquing his interest. We did some redecorating in his room this year, partly to showcase his baseball mementos. He played his third season in the Cal Ripken Baseball league; he was a team captain and starting shortstop for the Rookie White Sox. Andrew convinced him to go to All Star tryouts and he was invited to join the 2011 8U All Star Team. This reunited him with his coach from last year, and introduced him to new coaches and new teammates. It also extended his baseball season into the middle of July! Evan turned 8 in June, right after our family trip to Bodega Bay, and his gift from my brother led to the other major décor change in his room: vintage Star Wars prints that my dad got in the '70's, which had been in my brother's custody since the '90's, have officially been passed to the youngest Jedi in the family and now cover the largest wall in Evan's room. They look very cool, and also provide a unique link to my dad.

Evan started third grade in September. So far it has been another good school year for him. When I met with his teacher in November she told me he has a flair for public speaking and usually does his best work when he knows he will be presenting it to the class. I was not surprised to hear that he is doing very well in science and PE, but I was pleased when the music teacher sought me out a few weeks ago to tell me he'd made significant improvement in her class. Evan is currently in the middle of his first season with the City of Fremont Youth Basketball League, and he and Andrew are preparing to adopt a snake. So, even without a trip to Texas, it has been a good year for the youngest member of the family!

Actually, Evan is no longer the youngest Dadd. We have a new, furry, four-legged baby. Our beloved dog, Cleo, suffered a terrible broken leg and had to be put to sleep in March. She was approximately 17 years old and had been a very special member of our family for nearly 14 years. Andrew and I were with her at the end, sobbing uncontrollably. Thankfully our wonderful neighbor and carpool buddy kept the kids with her until we could collect ourselves enough to get back home. In July we began the search for a new dog, and our sweet, boisterous Maggie found us when we visited the Berkeley Animal Shelter. The kids and I brought her home two days later and she is now fully integrated into the family, making friends everywhere we go. She's encouraged all of us to get out and walk/hike/run more often, though I think in the future I will do my running in daylight hours.

That brings me up to date, in the home stretch of a busy but happy holiday season. We've hosted several family gatherings, starting with Thanksgiving when Auntie Alice, Uncle Chris (Dadd), Aunt Karen, and cousins Jonathan, Jacob, and Jeremy (Taylor) came for dinner. My mom arrived in December, and on the 18^th we met her, Auntie Alice, Uncle Dave, and cousin Ava in San Francisco to see A Christmas Carol. The four of them also came for dinner on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was a quiet day for me and Andrew and the kids (and Maggie), followed by our traditional Boxing Day get-together with Uncle Chris, Aunt Karen, and cousins Jonathan and Jacob. This year we decided to do brunch instead of dinner, which was a nice change. We were joined by Jonathan's girlfriend, Karina, and my mom was here as well. She'd spent the first part of her time here with my sister, and now it is “our turn” to have her.

We have no firm plans for the final few days of 2011. Andrew and I began the year at a lovely wedding in Carmel on 1/1/11, and went on to celebrate many different milestones with friends and family: baby showers, birthdays, baseball parties, housewarmings, Halloween parties, and I even made it to the east coast for my 20^th college reunion. One special milestone was our 16^th anniversary on 11/11/11! As we look ahead to another year sure to be filled with adventures and surprises, we hope you're enjoying some relaxing down time before 2012 gets into full swing. We send our love and wish you the best throughout the coming year...