2019: It's a Wrap!

As Christmas music plays, wrapping paper and ribbons lie strewn across the floor, and each of us happily play with new treasures, it seems the perfect time to reflect on a year rich with new experiences, new friends, and even new family members!

The year began with one of our craziest adventures yet.  The morning before My Man and I were set to fly off to a long weekend getaway, Darling Daughter talked us into a scouting trip to the local pet market.  We'd been toying with the idea of getting her a new cat for awhile, but weren't sure we were quite ready.  We should have known better.  An hour later we were driving home with two sets of very happy siblings: Darling Daughter snuggling her new purring kitten and Funny Guy snuggling his jet black puppy.  The pair had been too cute to pass up, best friends snuggling together with longing eyes, and besides, they needed a loving home.  We should have known that once they were in our children's arms, there was no return.  We made a mad dash to the store to get the necessary pet essentials, apologized to our nanny for the new additions, and headed to the airport with the sinking suspicion that we were either completely crazy or totally awesome.  The jury was still out.

We had a great trip (though My Man was secretly jealous of Funny Guy getting to snuggle with the new puppy) and by the time we got home, Funny Guy was sleep deprived but happy from training his new charge.  We helped out and let him get a few nights' sleep but Ash is definitely his dog and from day 1, Funny Guy has been the one taking care of training, cuddling, and caring for him.  Darling Daughter was completely smitten with Prince.  One look at our kids' faces helped us realize that in spite of all the crazy of traveling the world with two pets, it would be worth it.  

The rest of the year passed in a flurry of school, work, trips, and fun.  We visited Turkey, Poland, the Czech Republic, Egypt, and London on family trips.  The kids traveled for school tournaments: Krakow (Young Man, knowledge bowl), Bucharest (Young Man, soccer), Budapest (Funny Guy, robotics), Baku (Darling Daughter, speech & debate); Funny Guy spent a week in Switzerland for Scout Camp; Young Man skipped the last three weeks of his junior year to do a science research internship at the University of Arizona; we all spent a few weeks visiting family in the United States; My Man spent a month working in Botswana and Namibia; I spent two weeks in training in DC (and snuck in a great Boston sightseeing trip); and My Man and I snuck off for paragliding and exploring in the Canary Islands, Italy, and Spain.  And we've had a great time exploring Kyiv, scouting, and working.  It's been a busy year, but one so rich and full of good things.  And some of my favorite moments were those spent laughing around our dinner table, walking in the park, playing games, and  celebrating each others' successes (and supporting each other through the harder times).

It's been a year like no other (our last year with Young Man at home, our last year in Kyiv, our last year, at least for a long time, so close to Europe).  We've said some hard good-byes and made new friends.  We've grown (quite literally--I think Funny Guy grew about a foot taller and Darling Daughter is threatening to overtake me!) and had some setbacks and a lot of successes.  The kids have blown us away with their creativity and commitment and accomplishments.  Life is so very good.  Thank you, 2019, it's been a great year.  We are looking forward to finding out where Young Man will head off to school and looking forward to exploring all that Tanzania has to offer.