year in review

2010 was a big year at our house. Here's how it went down for each of us.


Blake began the year working hard and minding his own business. Then the snow melted and spring came and suddenly he was called to serve as the bishop of our ward. His consequent ordination to the office of high priest coincided with the moment he began sitting with his legs effeminately crossed. This calling has brought blessings, to be sure, but the burden is often heavy, which is why I'm more wont to blame this rather than genetics as the reason he has started going gray. In the late fall he was finally given a long overdue and very well deserved promotion to research manager at work. He won't readily admit it, but it tickles him just a little to have people now reporting into him. He turned 30 yesterday, and as his golden year kicks off into his next decade, things aren't looking so bad for Blake. He's in a good place and happy to be there.

One of Garrett's biggest accomplishments this year (and one of mine as well) was the acquisition of speech therapy through both the Early Intervention and CPSE programs. He's been working with therapists since the spring and I can't even begin to tell you the world of difference it has made. This time last year I could hardly understand what little he was saying whereas now he won't stop talking and I can understand 90% of what he tells me. He still has a long way to go before he'd be considered eligible for "graduation" from speech therapy, but in the last few months we've seen some incredible progress. In conjunction with his IEP and speech therapy requirements, he started school in September in an integrated pre-K class. It got off to a rocky start, but his teachers and I seem to be the only ones who noticed; he's had an absolute blast. And when you think about it, who wouldn't? He gets to ride a school bus every day to a place where he gets to play and be with his new friends. As of yesterday, Garrett is officially 3 1/2, and, as if to punctuate that fact, is in the middle of a growth spurt. He's grown so much in the last twelve months, both physically and developmentally. He's potty trained, he dresses himself, I've nearly got him trained to make his bed independently, and every day he looks (and sometime acts) more and more like his dad.

This year Caleb learned to sit up, crawl, walk, run, climb, and live dangerously. He is no longer a baby but a full-blown toddler who determinedly pushes his way into the action. He is clever and a tease who doesn't sit idly by while his big brother pushes him around, and he can throw a dramatic tantrum with the best of them. His vocabulary is increasing at a normal rate which, when compared with his brother's, is positively alarming. His latest words are "blanket," "more," "baby," "no," and "hi." His personality is all his own; he honestly could not be more different than Garrett. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

My year was mostly spent chasing two small boys around and making sure they ate, wore clothes, practiced good hygiene, and didn't kill each other or themselves. Somehow I found time to read a lot and work on various pet projects. When Blake was called to be the bishop, I became the bishop's wife, which, while not without blessings of its own, has proved to be just as demanding and often very lonely. I've worked hard to devour this city while trying to not let it devour me (which, I'll have you know, has not been easy). I discovered this year that I really do love my kitchen, with its growing collection of dishware from Fishs Eddy, and that spending time there poring over and tweaking recipes is something I enjoy doing. It's become incredibly rewarding for me to make something that receives compliments from those who eat it (or, in the case of Garrett, is actually eaten). I've also discovered that sewing is not so impossible after all. Still a challenge, but in careful doses something I can actually see through from start to finish. And writing, of course, continues to be a passion I love to pursue.


It's been a good year. Busy and incredibly difficult at times, but satisfying just the same. Tonight we'll stay up late and see the year out with our traditional New Year's Eve All-You-Can-Eat Banana Split Extravaganza because after all, there's no better way to end the year than with a cherry on top.