The highbrow web sites, blogs, and periodicals on our reading list seem determined to end the year by reviewing the 2000s to death. When the time came for holiday mailings, we decided to join the fun. What's in and what's out at the Hamilton homestead as the decade turns over:
Out | In |
Hanging chads | Hanging ten at Surfers' Healing |
Americans screen mail after anthrax scare. | The Hamiltons screen phone calls from school. |
Asking a bartender for a beer. | Listening to Leah sing, "Hey you, beer me …" |
Gazing into the eyes of our newborns with awe and wonder. | Gazing around the house and wondering why we reproduced. |
Annoying our friends in northern states every February by reminding them we're wearing shorts. | Feeling annoyed every February that we no longer live in Florida |
Growing weary of coverage of Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction." | Preventing Leah's wardrobe malfunctions (and wishing for the DNA strand responsible for her lack of butt). |
Dora and Diego (parents rejoice) | Phineas and Ferb (parents find themselves singing S.I.M.P -- Squirrels in My Pants) |
You Tube makes some people rich, saturates the world with internet celebrities. | You Tube gives Leah the opportunity to saturate us with her favorite Guinness commercials. Brilliant. |
Bob Davie, George O'Leary, Tyrone Willingham, Charlie Weis. Patience. | Brian Kelly. Avoiding local media after Notre Dame-Navy games. |
Al Gore, John Kerry, and John McCain concede presidential elections. | Alison is forced to concede that she is old enough to be president. (It took a few years to surmount the wall of denial.) |
Pregnancy-induced snoring | Fond thoughts of snoring as we point out to Leah that 3:00 a.m. is not a good time to watch FIOS on demand. |
Finding new baby teeth in little ones' mouths. | Finding acceptable explanations when lost baby teeth are still under the pillow in the morning. |
Coaxing babies and preschooler into holiday-photo participation. | Coaxing first and third graders into holiday-photo participation. |
Recovering holiday ornaments toddlers left under couch and in couch cushions. | Yeah, that's still happening too. |
Attending to infant twins' soggy posteriors. | Pointing out to twins that singing about posteriors is considered inappropriate in certain settings. |
Summer vacations | Summer staycations |
Wondering whether Mack Brown can lead the Longhorns to national glory. | Flying to LA to watch Mack Brown and Longhorns go for another national title. |
Newly mobile Lauren and Maddie watch with awe as older sister Leah moves freely through the house. | Watching Lauren and Maddie with awe as they lead Leah through a bizarre game of tag in the upstairs hallway. |
Lauren and Maddie wearing matching outfits. | Maddie insisting stripes and plaids match. |
Two-year-old Leah underwhelmed by first exposure to snow. | Nine-year-old Leah underwhelmed by parental order to come inside during DC area's 20-plus inch snowstorm. |
Holiday report of Hamilton exploits provides family and friends with annual reminder of the value of being far-flung. | Hamilton family blog and Facebook updates provide family and friends with frequent, instant reminders of the value of being far-flung. |
Best wishes for happy holidays and a memorable decade to come!
Mike, Alison, Leah, Lauren, and Maddie Hamiltona
