2011 Christmas card - taken on our fall 2011 Royal Caribbean cruise with family!

It's been a long time since my last post.

Well, it's been a long time since I've blogged - yes, I've fallen prey to Facebook as my new social media time stealer.  But, can you blame me?  People actually read my posts there!  So, while I experiment with ways to print my Facebook posts into a book so I can go back and read about my crazy family & friends, I'll go back to recording my thoughts here.  At least I know I can post my blog via Blog to Print into a nice hardbound book one day - like I did for the red Webs.  [Yes.... I miss them.  Why did they have to move back to Bama.]

So, to catch up, I'll start with the weather (always a great conversation starter).  It has finally started to cool off here in Kansas after the hottest summer on record.  We are still in a drought - farmers are qualifying for aid which means increased prices on food - but, hey, at least we are no longer experiencing triple digit temperatures.  However, we are experiencing triple digit utility bills.  Our electric bill last month was a whopping $536 - highest on record for us.  I'm sure that was a combination of the extreme heat, a broken air conditioner that had to be replaced due to prior hail damage, an extra family member [summer houseguest, college intern Dave Lawler), and the fact we spent most of our summer here at home.

We did start off summer with a 10 day vacation to Florida.  Since we had no snow last winter (and you thought I was finished with the weather) and thus, no snow days, school ended early and Caleb finally got to celebrate a birthday with extended family over Memorial Day.  We had a pool party at Aunt Lisa & Uncle Mike's for our 11 year old with all my siblings and their families.  While in Florida we also visited Harry Potter at Universal, went to a luau and stayed at the Lowe's Royal Palms hotel and made it to a couple of beaches.  We also enjoyed spending time with our former neighbors-turned-Floridians, the McWains - always great to see Chrissy and the kids!  We ended summer doing what just about everyone else was doing - watching the summer Olympics held in London.  It was the golden year for athletes Michael Phelps (swimming), the US women's gymnastics team, the US women's soccer team, Mo Farah and Usain Bolt of Jamaica (track), US basketball team (untouchable), and the beach volleyball duo with Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.  I really like the runner who didn't win, but that had no legs - the Blade Runner, they called him.  What an inspiring story.  Also the blind man who competed in archery.  How did he do it?  The cyclist mom who came back and won her race - in her 40's.  The stories are always so captivating.  Personally, I preferred the last winter olympics because my cousin Charlie and his partner Meryl won the silver in Ice Dancing.... but that's just me...

Back to the family update:  Josh is 16, driving, working at McDonald's to save up $ for a car, and will be a junior in high school this fall.  Caleb is 11 and loves playing soccer, football and basketball.  We're looking forward to fall sports and cheering him on.  Caleb has had a summer job of sorts this summer - doing an allergy research study.  I think he's made more money than his older brother.  But he's spending it just as fast on ipods, legos, and wrestling figures.  How fun to be 11.  I still teach online and work part time for a church and my husband of 21 years still is provost and chief academic officer of a college.  That's one way to get a free education for our kids, right?  And finally, our loyal dog, Maverick, seems to be almost seizure free and I give most of the credit to his new dog food - Blue Buffalo!  It's expensive but worth it.

Nothing much else has changed.... still live in the same house, everyone is relatively healthy (even though I'm wishing I could slow the aging process).  I still drive a Mini and love it.  Terry still loves his red Honda motorcycle, although I did see him eyeing a Harley just yesterday.  We still hold season tickets to the dinner theater, love movies, eating out at Bravo, Jose Peppers, Moes, Five Guys, Twisters, and even McDonalds - well, it's convenient since my son works there.

Life in 2012 has been good.  We are blessed with health, good friends, family, jobs and a great church. I pray though for my friends who've had a tougher year - especially for my friend Joyce.  Cancer is such a hard cross to bear.  We never know what is around our corner, so live every day well and full.  Be grateful for what we do have.