Timothy is counting down the days until we go to Disneyland. Aren’t these two cousins cute?

No sooner are the Christmas decorations are stowed away in the garage than our house takes on a whole new emphasis:

Pinewood Derby Car Construction.

At our house, Pinewood Derby car engineering is more than working on a chunk of pine. It’s male bonding to the max. It’s late nights reveling in the odors of freshly sanded wood, metallic shavings, and graphite. (If graphite has a smell.) It’s an opportunity for tool acquisition; paint color tests and endless sanding of every surface, big and small. In short, its magnitude brings me to my knees,

“Can we please call it a night? It’s time for bed!” I plead.

Through the dust and settling graphite, I watch a father and a son, focused, driven, and so deep into the particulars that time and fatigue are no longer factors.

Last night we hosted a Pinewood Derby car clinic at church. I watched the sons with their fathers (and a few moms) and I felt a new affirmation in the power of

TIME spent together,

SIMPLICITY (despite a few gadgets),

and the BOND between fathers and sons.

And Mark, age 3, asked no fewer than 17 times if we’d make a car for him. He, too felt the draw of the blade, sander and pine. We did the math. In ten years, we will have 9 Pinewood Derby cars. Just one January without a race.

For a pensive kind of gal like me, I have to be careful when I dabble in memories. Some regret inevitably comes along with the smiling memories. It’s been a good decade overall, and full of lessons. I wouldn’t change any of the essential elements of the past ten years… BUT… If I could do it all again, I would change my hairstyle for the 2000 family photo and I would spend more time with Richard.

Happy New Year, everyone. Kiss your family and hold on tightly to them. They are everything.

2000

I had surgery #2 this year and was teaching New Testament each morning in our house for seminary and preparing to get braces. Paige was 4 and Daniel was 1. Richard was working at National Instruments.

2001

I’m wearing braces. I had surgery #3 in July. Richard worked at N.I. and I was a Cub Scout Den Leader. We began homeschooling Paige.

2002

Timothy was born on December 20. I was the Relief Society President. Richard was at N.I.

2003

Richard raised Timothy while I ran around as Relief Society President and homeschooled Paige. Braces were off!

2004

Paige was baptized, I continued serving as R.S. President, Richard continued to raise the children.

2005

We moved to Sahuarita. Richard began work at Raytheon. Daniel began kindergarten (2 children to homeschool). Grandpa John passed away. I was 4 months along with Mark in this picture!

2006

Mark joined our family. We moved into our current home. Richard was in the bishopric. Paige began studying ballet with Miss Michele. Paige and Daniel began piano lessons with Mrs. Albertson.

2007

Richard worked at Raytheon and in the bishopric; Daniel was baptized. Homeschool continued forward.

2008

Paige turned 12. Timothy began school, making 3 children to homeschool. Richard was released from the bishopric.

2009

Richard on high council at church and working at Raytheon. We found homeschooling adventures aplenty. This photo was taken at Newport Beach.

Believe it or not, we didn’t take many photos of our Christmas. We have two and one I won’t be posting. I’ve taken a break, not sure what to share about our lives around December 24-25. Here are a few of my memories:

My favorite moment: Mark, listening to the reading of the Christmas story, silently and carefully handing out Nativity characters to each of us at their mention in the story.

My biggest surprise? My own bookstore: a Kindle. It took my breath away. I may not be keeping a blog anymore; Too much to read.

Most wistful moment? Realizing Paige didn’t receive any toys this year; just clothes and teenager things.

Most beautiful carol? Oh Holy Night, sung by the King’s Singers

The gift I didn’t buy: a new piano bench for Richard

Gift that required the most effort: Caroline’s I Spy Quilt

A cherry on top: a sweet-sounding rental violin on which to fiddle

Books I’ve read over the past few days: A Christmas Carol, The Importance of Being Earnest, Little Women

Timothy turned 7 years old today. We celebrated by decorating graham cracker houses and eating spaghetti for dinner. He celebrated by playing with a new Lego set all day.

Here are the graham cracker houses we made. If you want to see one up close, select the photo by clicking on it and then click on it again.

For Family Home Evening, we listed some of the things for which we are thankful… to read in fun 🙂 (Yes, I’m thankful for Lawrence Welk. I watch it every week. My secret is out.)