Wednesday, December 31, 2008

That's So Last Year! :: 2008 Edition


January.
Disneyland.
Tamsyn.
Fun.

Obviously this is not going to be a wordy post.


Great low tides.
Natural marvels.
Homeschool rocks.
Geek bliss.


Play.
Imagination.
Max.


Welcome to the world Parker.
February.


No words.


Walking in the woods together.


March... William turns 17.
William, Delia, Max, Geoff, Maria.
Bill, Alison, Natalie, Alex.
Road trip.
California Central Coast.
Family.
Comfort.
Birthday Pie.


Wisconsin
Cousins.
Family.
Comfort.
Maria and Jordan and Carol.


Chicago.
Connecting.


Spring.
Grandma. Mommy.
Wild Animal Park.


Holly and Izzy.
Easter.
Hope springing eternal, and the goodness of children in gardens.


April.
Homework picnic, because chocolate and strawberries is smart.


Personality and sunlight and hilarity.


First haircut.
She cried.
I felt horrible.
She looked adorable.
We recovered.
Life is that way.


May.
The first hint of Summer.
We love heat + water.
We play.


Chickens return to Chickenblog.
Joy.
Amusement.
Anxiety.
Messes.
It's just like real life.


Life in Garage Mahal.
Our home.
Our columned, grand entry, slick floored, lousy plumbing, small yard, rental wonder.
We make due.


This is just pure childhood magic.
Maria meeting Mary Poppins, and falling in love.


Family time.
Bubbles.
Children.
Good stuff.


June.
Reflection.
Gratitude.
On our way home from Oregon.
Time with Delia and Ron.
Healing time, with prayers and gentle hugs.
Oh. And 3 chickens in the trunk, because I am "Crazy."


Alex turned 14.
Amelia.
She turned out to be a He.


July.
An anniversary dinner.
19 years.
4 children.
Lots of living.
Lots of love.
More ahead.


Best friend.
Thundering Nerd.
Lots of love.
More ahead.


Brothers.
Companions.
Co-Conspirators.
Comedians.
Kind.
Considerate.
Very Smart.
Sons.
Lots of love.
More ahead.


A year full of surprises.


A year full of creativity, sharing, reading, playing, exploring, learning and sitting together.


Comic-Con.
Geeks converge.


August.
Max turns 10.
Our L.A. weekend.
Tar Pits.
Art Museums.
SIGGRAPH
PIXAR.
Lassiter.
More Geek awesomeness.


Bricks in to spheres.
Not as easy as it looks.
William has sweet skills.


Septiembre.
Mi Abuela Antonia.
Amor.


Welcome to the World Marissa.


October.
Pumpkins.
Pie and Jack-O Lanterns and pony rides and country vistas and a season of gratitude.


All through the year I miss family.
It's the blessing of having so much family that I care about.
I like to remember that everyone is safe and happy, doing things they enjoy and that we will be together again for nice visits and happy exchanges.


Getting together is the best part of living, it's the best part of having friends and family.
Getting together and sharing makes life very good.


Playing and creating and imagining makes life very good.


November.
Aunt.
Grandmother.
Mommy.
Thanksgiving in the mountains, sharing laughter, recipes, prayers, memories.


Hans and Gretchen.
Lots of living.
Lots of love.
More ahead.


Maria.
Natalie.
Antonia.
A celebration of Maria's 4th birthday.
Much to reflect on about girls and women and dreams and love and how we grow and where we belong and flights of fancy.
We can make our own light, and heal, and trust, and live in faith.


December.
Delia.
William.
I love this memory.
More light, healing, trust and faith.
I am so thankful and filled with awe.


Cousin Nick and a sleepover.
Remembering games and laughing late in to the night and boys playing together and that really cool kind of friendship that cousins share.


More time together.
Just can't get enough of time with family.
Happy to have them safe and near.


New schools. New rules. New expectations and paths.
I am proud of Max and William and Alex.
I hope they are proud of themselves.


My Mom and my daughter.
Together.
This makes me very happy.


A 2008 memory post must include some Maria-isms.
Like hide and seek. "2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 7, 8,10, 2! Wready or not, here I come!"
She calls William "Yo-wee."
Cat barf and other messes are "Bigusting."
The tub of slime uncle Bill and aunt Alison sent her for Christmas is fascinating and also "Ugul-lee!"
She wants to be a "Beanerina" and wear a pink tutu and tights and beanerina shoes.
Pink is her favorite.


Changes and new traditions.
Christmas time spent playing and dancing and singing.
Ruth and Maria taking a spin, making merry!
A beautiful sight.

2008 has been a full year, a hard year, a sad year, a year of challenges and triumphs and adventures. It has been memorable...


and joyful...


and I have learned that we can expect to be surprised.

It's impossible to cover it all, the ups and downs, the details, the significant people and moments. I like how these images trigger a million synapses and thoughts and feelings and recall a year full of living. And it makes me pause, and look forward to the year ahead.

10 comments:

Tami @ Lemon Tree Tales said...

What an exciting 2008 ... here's to a spectacular 2009. Happy New Years!!!

Katie said...

What a year! You were a busy woman. You're very lucky to have such a wonderful (and photogenic!) family.

Happy New Years to you and yours!

d.a. said...

Best wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

mtnchild said...

Peace and Love to you and your family, ALL of your family.

(((Hugs)))
Yvette

Paul said...

We WILL meet you guys this year, Natalie. It's long overdue. Happy 2009, and thanks to you and your family for creating the pools and waves of goodness around yourselves that you do. It's a beautiful thing.

Mama Spark said...

Wowsa, what a year! I love all your photos, especially the one with the boys and Maria with the chicken on her head!

I wish for you and your family a happy, healthy and blessed New Year!

tara said...

What a wonderful way to recap the year. Happy 2009.

warren said...

The April pic is my favorite! Chocolate and anything is smart!

judy in ky said...

I love your photos. They are so full of family and fun! I wish much more of the same for your beautiful family in 2009.
The photo of the two little chicks is so cute.

village mama said...

Feliz 2009 amiga!

The photo of you at Maria's 4th birthday is stunning, capital S, STUNNING MAMA! xo