Summary Post 1
Well, it has been some time since I've actually been on here, so I've decided to do a set of summary posts to try and get myself in the mood to post on this journal.
So, let's start with family.
Since 2006, we've grown to a family of 7 (excluding boyfriends, spouses, and grandkids). Of course my parents count as two and myself as one, and Vanessa has been a part of the family since long before then. Rosa joined us and has since married Jorge. I've got a niece and nephew - nephew currently hates everyone except Mommy (including Daddy), and my niece never smiles for pictures but likes people. She's still tiny and he's a big boy. Cassy, Vanessa's younger sister, is with us officially now - well, as officially as it gets without actual adoption papers. She's living on the coast and Vanessa is living in Ukiah with her dog Tito. Rosa's in Willits with her family in her new house.
Yep, three daughters. My poor father. The good news for him is we've got a boy now - recently got guardianship of Josh, my little brother. He's been with us for 1.5 years and is here to stay. Little baseball fiend. He and Dad drive Mom crazy with their rough and tumble tussling boy behavior. Dad likes finally having a boy around.
We've hosted several exchange students long and short term. Our longest were Miyuki from Japan in spring of 2006 and Alihan from Turkey in spring of 2009. Those are our international family members. Alihan is still in high school in Turkey right now and we see him on Facebook. I stayed with Miyuki in Okinawa last summer for a week, but that will be on a different post.
No one else is expecting babies except friends of the family. My parents have an extra grandbaby from my friend Caitlin (previously referred to as Saoirse), Mason, who was born in May. He's a cutie. Family friends are expecting two babies in the next few weeks! Lots of babies this year, it seems, and I'm not around to enjoy it. Sadness.
I'm not planning to add to the family anytime soon, don't worry. That would require a boyfriend (or money) and I really don't have either. Someday.
Mom and Dad have celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary this year. For their 20th they went on a cruise to Mexico. For their 21st they went to a resort in Mexico (I wanted them to go to Vegas - they did eventually make it there, of course). Dad is now a Battalion Chief at the department and Mom graduated with 3 associate degrees in business in 2009.
Our second lab, Buddy, had to be put down a few years back. Heart failure. :( I cried. It happened on my way to my Japanese class in Santa Rosa. A couple years back now I wanted a cat and Dad went to look but of course wasn't interested... and looked at dogs. How is it a cat is too much trouble for our lifestyle, yet we end up with a 160lb mastiff mix as a pet? Biggest cat I've ever seen outside a zoo. But Humphrey is a sweetheart - great conversation piece too.
We're all growing and evolving and moving along just fine.
So, let's start with family.
Since 2006, we've grown to a family of 7 (excluding boyfriends, spouses, and grandkids). Of course my parents count as two and myself as one, and Vanessa has been a part of the family since long before then. Rosa joined us and has since married Jorge. I've got a niece and nephew - nephew currently hates everyone except Mommy (including Daddy), and my niece never smiles for pictures but likes people. She's still tiny and he's a big boy. Cassy, Vanessa's younger sister, is with us officially now - well, as officially as it gets without actual adoption papers. She's living on the coast and Vanessa is living in Ukiah with her dog Tito. Rosa's in Willits with her family in her new house.
Yep, three daughters. My poor father. The good news for him is we've got a boy now - recently got guardianship of Josh, my little brother. He's been with us for 1.5 years and is here to stay. Little baseball fiend. He and Dad drive Mom crazy with their rough and tumble tussling boy behavior. Dad likes finally having a boy around.
We've hosted several exchange students long and short term. Our longest were Miyuki from Japan in spring of 2006 and Alihan from Turkey in spring of 2009. Those are our international family members. Alihan is still in high school in Turkey right now and we see him on Facebook. I stayed with Miyuki in Okinawa last summer for a week, but that will be on a different post.
No one else is expecting babies except friends of the family. My parents have an extra grandbaby from my friend Caitlin (previously referred to as Saoirse), Mason, who was born in May. He's a cutie. Family friends are expecting two babies in the next few weeks! Lots of babies this year, it seems, and I'm not around to enjoy it. Sadness.
I'm not planning to add to the family anytime soon, don't worry. That would require a boyfriend (or money) and I really don't have either. Someday.
Mom and Dad have celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary this year. For their 20th they went on a cruise to Mexico. For their 21st they went to a resort in Mexico (I wanted them to go to Vegas - they did eventually make it there, of course). Dad is now a Battalion Chief at the department and Mom graduated with 3 associate degrees in business in 2009.
Our second lab, Buddy, had to be put down a few years back. Heart failure. :( I cried. It happened on my way to my Japanese class in Santa Rosa. A couple years back now I wanted a cat and Dad went to look but of course wasn't interested... and looked at dogs. How is it a cat is too much trouble for our lifestyle, yet we end up with a 160lb mastiff mix as a pet? Biggest cat I've ever seen outside a zoo. But Humphrey is a sweetheart - great conversation piece too.
We're all growing and evolving and moving along just fine.