2008 in Review: Winter and Summer addendum

Benny feels he's blending into the woodwork and hasn't been featured nearly enough in this photo review. He has a point. Truth be told, our faithful mutt could use more exercise and more brushing. To his credit, he has learned to be content in all things.







Allie gets home after dark this winter because of soccer. Jim left work early one day to get a shot of her recent game. She loves the endorphin rush that follows each practice if not the demanding coaches who keep them conditioning rain or shine.















As Reid mentioned in his favorites, Borders bookstore invited The Kingsmen for a second gig, to play their Holiday Party. Reid and his buds brought the crowd some Christmas cheer and had them singing carols. He's stepped into the self-appointed role of "front man," introducing each song and band member from the microphone. His latest tactic is to begin clapping during the last measure of each song as if to cue the audience that it is time they show their appreciation. Wonder where he got this leadership skill?


















Here's another great shot from Jim's Camera Bag iphone app. Reid and The Kingsmen played All These Things that I've Done by The Killers at all 3 of our services at church last Sunday. It was an incredible day of experiencing how the Holy Spirit works through resonance; not so much what was said but how it all worked together was powerful. The message by our Pastor Josh, an introduction by Angela Neve, the advent reading Allie did, and the lyrics of this secular song moved like sound waves to illustrate the Advent Conspiracy call to "love all." Truly amazing and masterminded by a God worth yielding to.


As we draw this Christmas Countdown blog to a close I must admit to finding gaps, edits, and multiple ways to rework it...maybe next year? Most notably, I made reference to the Moriarty Family Reunion in Hatteras but never illustrated it. It was a week well worth the decade-long wait to get everyone together in four houses along the Outer Banks. The overabundance of photos taken that week eluded me until now, although I am confident they are stored for eternity on Shutterfly?*! (Turns out they were on Jim's computer.) So, in the spirit of an Endless Summer, I'll conclude the photo montage with these lost and found shots of our week on the Atlantic.







































Jim gave everyone tattoos to celebrate the pirate lore of the region; I led a kayak expedition fit for foolhardy die-hards(and took most of the pictures so I'm not in them!).

2008 in Review: Fall continued...

Jim and I get to go out once in awhile now that the kids are staying home alone. This was a fun outdoor wedding overlooking the Pacific. Use your imagination....











Jim continues to thrive in his high profile job as Executive Director of Surfrider Foundation. I bought three frames and hung his smiling face from the various publications in which he's been featured recently. He commanded me to remove from the family room wall immediately. Not his style, but we are proud of him!

















He also keeps a low profile at home, especially after the international travel which continues to punctuate our year.

Like Allie, Reid is at a new school. He's made an awesome transition riding the bus and doing homework diligently. He posed with his awesome case manager at back to school night.













I had hoped by now to have outgrown Halloween but instead Allie actually wore her costume to school for the first time. I guess the Cinderella story is timeless. Jim took this early morning shot with one of his many iphone apps.

Reid's Favorites

Way to go everyone on the comments! Reading the numerous contributions Thursday stirred up a lot more memories for me. I appreciate those who took the challenge and highly recommend everyone click on "comments" at the end of the December 18th post to hear what others chimed in. I had totally forgotten the faux green crocodile bedspreads at my grandmother's house! Good times. Wish we were all together in one room--singing carols!

Reid and I sat down before dinner and he offered these answers very directly. Glad I asked! He is so easy to please.

1. Favorite ornament: the golden star

2. Favorite tradition: snow in Ohio

3. Favorite gift: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory video

4. Favorite Christmas meal: bean and cheese burritos

5. Favorite Christmas cookie: the gingerbread man

6. Favorite place to be: the family room watching whatever new DVD I get

7. Favorite memory: singing at Borders

got comments?

We must confess, in our zeal to re-invent the Christmas card, we have inadvertently created what Jim is now calling, the Christmas newsletter on steroids! That was not our intent; but it's where we are.....and it's only December 18th. So, at this point, I will take it over the top and give you an assignment. Today's post begs a reply from you.

Beth Moore is my current favorite Bible teacher. She and her daughters posted this Christmas questionnaire and I thought it bore repeating. My mom is infamous for posing a "profound question" at the dinner table which everyone must go around and answer in turn. Since they often fall in the same category as the following, Jim and my jeering response is, "We'll decide whether it's profound or not."

To relieve any pressure, I would simply call these fun for the whole family. You decide how profound you want your answer to be! As Reid often says, "Come on, don't be shy." And as Allie recently told a friend who is fed up with their militaristic soccer coach, "I don't quit." I figure if I can get Jim, Allie, and Reid to reply, that's four more day's posts! Benny would make five. And Christmas is just 7 days away.

Here are mine. Will you give us yours in a comment? Just click on "comments" and share your 7 answers.

1. Favorite ornament

many, but this angel that I've re-glued multiple times because it reminds me of the Neopolitan tree at The Met in New York
2. Favorite tradition

waiting at the top of the stairs at Nana's in Sandusky; my aunts and uncles required all the cousins to do this when we were children so they could turn lights on, put batteries in, start the coffee and get the obligatory photo before we all descended to unwrap presents. The multiple photos capturing it make it all worthwhile in retrospect. (Where are those, anyway?)

3. Favorite gift ever received

cross country skis from Jim because I was NOT expecting them at all and he stretched me to new limits believing my potential for the future; coffee table art books from my mom because they broke from her normally practical nature in a streak of decadence and appreciation of beauty

4. Favorite Christmas meal

turkey with nouveau gourmet variations on the traditional, like brussel sprouts with orange glaze or mashed sweet potatoes and rutabagas or cornbread/sausage/chestnut dressing or pumpkin cheesecake with ginger snap crust

5. Favorite Christmas cookie

powdered pistachio mexican wedding cookies to eat; gingerbread men to look at

6. Favorite place to be

home in our living room Christmas Eve around the fireplace with salade Nicoise each opening one gift

7. Favorite memory

waking up to heavy snow falling outside the windows at the Moriarty's in Chagrin Falls and the exuberant sledding that ensues afterward down their hill

Anticipation is half the fun of any celebration. The other half may be memory.

2008 in Review: Fall

This September Allie started at a new private high school in our area, Pacific Ridge. She is loving the increased challenge across the board. Their hallmarks are academic excellence, ethical responsibility, and global engagement. Her faith is growing in new ways (despite leaving the Christian school) as are her soccer skills, dramatic reading, Harkness discussion ability and writing proficiency.















Which do you prefer, the spiffy new uniform or the Jack Johnson tour t-shirt and earbuds?
















We spent a weekend up in the mountains with Benny.

Andrea and her mom celebrated their November birthdays at Lake Austin Spa. We did not wear towels the entire time--just when paparazzi approached. When I received the following photos on my phone, I figured Jim must have everything under control at home.

Our year is sprinkled with musical events, like this San Diego Youth Symphony concert in October.


Allie is there in the white blouse, second to last row! See her with the flute?

Reid performed at the San Diego Walk Now for Autism event with his band, The Kingsmen, as well as with the In Harmony Band, Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse and as a soloist. He can't get enough time in front of an audience so says yes to everyone who asks.

Including the music director at our church! We are grateful for his encouragement and interest in the band. He made it possible for them to record a CD in the sanctuary (above, Reid must have goofed) and play as guests during Advent at all three services. He recognizes the unique message these guys deliver especially in a church setting. Check them out on www.myspace.com/kingsmensandiego

2008 in Review: Summer

We enjoyed some visitors over the summer and a trip to Hatteras for a Moriarty family reunion.


It can be dangerous to ask for a haircut from Uncle Jim. Jim's look-alike nephew, Pat is brave!

The hair cutting turned into a group experience and they rinsed the loose hairs off in the ocean. Around here we call it a "Jack Johnson cut." A life thrill for all of us was being backstage when he came to town. Only Reid has proof!

Another nephew, Will, came out for some surf lessons and to visit out local haunts. Allie's heard this speech before!








It was Andrea's brother, David's birthday while they were here.

2008 in Review: Reid's Spring

Reid is in a band called The Kingsmen with 3 other guys his age. They performed at Borders bookstore to an audience of many of his teachers, friends, and intrigued shoppers. The manager invited them back for their in-store Holiday Party so, we considered it a success! Reid's at the keyboard. (above)

Another song at the same Borders gig. Very apparent that night was Reid's leadership skill. He likes to start the guys off and is pretty adept at working the crowd too.

Last Easter morning, Reid asked our Pastor Josh to baptize him (as he had seen Allie do the previous October). Soon after, we gathered for a glorious Saturday morning at the beach to witness his public profession of faith including a song he'd written with his piano teacher.

Not a bad family portrait--no balloons, just watermelon which is safe for seals.

This is Reid's favorite shot of what he saw when he emerged from the water--everyone cheering! He often sleeps with it and carries it to school.

The House of Blues Gospel Brunch for Father's Day was memorable. Jim joined all the dads on stage to rock out with these ladies. Reid caught them afterwards for a photo!


In June, we had to say goodbye to Carla. She spent the year back here in San Diego getting another Master's degree. She is home with Sean now, having their first baby and waiting for God to open a door for them to return together to the States.

2008 in Review: Winter

Last year we left the day after Christmas to redeem my mom's gift to us: a ski week in Deer Valley. It was a great time in the snow with cousins made bittersweet by the fact that Jim could not ski so soon after his broken bones. He and Reid (who has just about had it with all the clothing and gear) had a lot of bonding time taxiing to the base lodge and picking up groceries.

Group shot just before the first cousins got picked up for the airport. Allie's in light blue. Reid was elsewhere. (above) Below, Reid and Allie flank my mom on the left.


How many family members can you fit in a hot tub was the question. Who could get there first was the competition that ensued. It was right on the balcony of our bedroom so Andrea was a frequent winner. Did Allie forget to pack her suit? Not sure why she's wearing a shirt in there.

She Told Me So...

When she first met Jim, my mom was amused. His kid-next-door familiarity was entertaining. As we got more serious, she became concerned. Jim seemed a bit unconventional. He first arrived at my traditional family home wearing peg leg seersucker pants and "monkey socks." My mom, never afraid to speak her mind, and always diplomatic (however thinly veiled), inquired, "So...Jim....tell me about those pants. Are they something new I should know about?" He unabashedly told her how it was a skateboard fashion and he had pegged them himself on his mom's sewing machine. To which she replied, "Uhuhah...so you sew, do you?"

When we decided to marry, my mom articulated her concern to me with a visual,"I am just worried that one day you'll live in a nice neighborhood and Jim will want to paint the picket fence purple or something, just to be different." At the time, I thought that would be cool and proceeded undaunted. We obviously married and Jim has aged nicely, like a fine wine gaining complexity and a smooth finish.

Jim hasn't lost his creativity or willingness to take risks. Several summers ago, we gave ourselves an ocean friendly facelift by re-landscaping the front yard with native, drought tolerant plants. It is now a dense jungle of succulents and grasses. We love it all year, with the possible exception at Christmas, because it is virtually impossible to hang outdoor lights on lavender and flax. Turns out the yard saves on water and our electric bill! No problem (see photo at right). Always the innovator, it didn't occur to Jim to put them on the house--already been done! I am just praying he is home when the police knock at the door to remind us the street sign is public property. Once a skateboarder always a skateboarder.

Twenty five years have passed, my mom and Jim have grown to appreciate each other for their uniqueness. What they do have in common is a certain boldness! This Christmas, I guess I will have to admit though, "she was right."

Umm...Jesus is the light of the world. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine? This is holy ground, a burning bush? Help me out here, how many days are left in December?

photo credit: www.toystoreinc.com